Suzuki Jimny pick-up concept set for January 2019 debut

http://bit.ly/2CCAc7J

Steve Walker 2018-12-27 15:40

Suzuki is bringing the Jimny Sierra pick-up and the Jimny Survive concepts to the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon

Suzuki has created a pick-up version of its small but highly loveable Jimny off-roader in a bid to snatch the limelight at the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon that kicks off on January 11th. The Suzuki Jimny Sierra is based on the standard 5-door Jimny SUV but gets a pick-up style open load bed behind the front seats.

In line with usual diet of far-out modified cars we’re accustomed to at the Tokyo Auto Salon each year, the Jimny Sierra gets gold paintwork with wood paneling down the flanks featuring the famous Suzuki Rhino Club logo, there’s also chrome for the mirrors and the towing hitches in the aluminum lower bumper. A set of LED off-road driving lamps are mounted at roof level to complete the tough effect.

• Land Rover Defender bodykit for the Suzuki Jimny

Suzuki says the Jimny Sierra pick-up is designed to appeal to people who like “DIY and other hobbies” but it’s a styling exercise rather than anything signaling a future production car. Being based on an unmodified Jimny platform that’s 3,550mm long and 1,645mm wide, the vehicle’s load carrying capacity will not be a strong point but at least that means the 102bhp 1.5-litre engine should be untroubled by the kind of cargo you can cram inside.

Joining the Jimny Sierra on the Suzuki stand at the Tokyo Auto Salon will be the Jimny Survive, an even more focused off-road van model with full external caging around the cabin, a super-aggressive redesigned bumper and a range of extra off-road protection including bars covering the headlights and sections of steel plate on the corners. Both concepts are fitted with Bridgestone Dueler off-road tyres.

What do you think of Suzuki’s hardcore Jimny concepts? Let us know in the comments section below…

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New Range Rover SDV8 2019 review

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Image 1 of 17

Image 1 of 17

27 Dec, 2018 8:00am Richard Ingram

While not our pick of the range, the Range Rover SDV8 offers a fantastic combination of luxury, performance, economy and space

Here's the dilemma: You need to cover 500 miles this Christmas period – in one hit, without stopping. You also want to do it in unrivalled luxury, with all the toys and room for five adults. They’ll be bringing a boot-full of luggage and gifts for all the family, too. 

There’s only one answer, really – and that’s a Range Rover. But while a Supercharged petrol SUV might sound like the ideal long distance companion, its mammoth thirst will see you pulling over for fuel all too often. You need a diesel – a 334bhp/740Nm V8 diesel, in fact.

• Best luxury cars on sale

This engine is a great fit for the Range Rover, which was facelifted late last year with fresh styling and new interior tech. The whopping great 4.4-litre V8 is a strong performer, pulling the car’s 2,570kg kerbweight with ease. Put your foot down and the nose will raise to the sky, catapulting the SUV from 0-60mph in just 6.5 seconds.

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Image 2 of 17

It’s incredibly refined, too. On the motorway it glides effortlessly, and would happily sit at almost double the motorway speed limit if the laws allowed. It’s infinitely more tuneful than the similarly priced P400e plug-in hybrid, as well, with a proper bassy growl under full throttle. It can’t match that car’s ability to waft silently in all-electric mode, but under light loads the V8 remains hushed. 

But at exactly five metres long and almost two metres tall, the Range Rover is a big car. In its standard damper settings the SDV8 wallows through the bends and rolls from side to side – but switch things round to Dynamic and it hunkers down and attacks corners with surprising aplomb.

This is true of every Range Rover, however. The question of whether this engine will suit your needs comes down to the type of driving you do. For most, the V6 diesel will do the job; it doesn’t feel significantly slower than the V8, and will be almost as quiet on the move. The Supercharged petrol car will find favour with those looking for pure performance, while buyers who spend most of their time in town are better set with the P400e.

All things considered, then, the Range Rover SDV8 can be filed in the ‘nice to have’ rather than the ‘pick of the range’ box. It sits in a bit of a no man’s land between the entry models and the flagship versions, offering a curious blend of performance versus running costs. 

Not that it’s particularly frugal. Land Rover’s claimed 33.6mpg isn’t all that realistic; on a mixed test route of more than 400 miles we managed closer to 25mpg. The colossal 86-litre fuel tank offers an impressive range, but CO2 emissions of 219g/km put it in the very top Benefit in Kind company car tax band.

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Image 3 of 17

Of course, the V8 diesel is available in all the same trim and spec combinations as other models in the range. You can buy an SDV8 in Vogue, Vogue SE or Autobiography guise, with all cars getting at least 20-inch wheels, Matrix LED lights, keyless entry and a Meridian stereo. Upgrade to our range topper and you’ll benefit from a sliding panoramic roof, four-zone climate control and a surround camera system.

Inside, whichever version you go for, the Range Rover continues to feel like a truly premium product. There is acres of space and swathes of wood, metal and high-gloss plastics. The commanding driving position is unrivalled by near enough any car on the road, and while the infotainment system isn’t as slick as BMW’s or Audi’s current set-up, it is now available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

4

While it’s not our pick of the range, it’s hard to find fault with the Range Rover SDV8. It’s gutsy, refined and super-luxurious; the big diesel engine suits the car’s relaxed personality. If you regularly cover big miles but want the ultimate in 4x4 ability, little else comes close.

• Model: Range Rover SDV8 Autobiography
• Price: £107,205
• Engine: 4.4-litre V8 diesel
• Power/torque: 334bhp/740Nm
• Transmission: Eight-speed auto, four-wheel drive

• 0-60mph: 6.5 seconds
• Top speed: 130mph
• Economy/CO2: 33.6mpg/219g/km
• On sale: Now

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Big car quiz of the year 2018

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2018-12-25 13:05

How good is your car history? What about quirky motoring facts? Our brain-teasing quiz will test you to the limit

What happened in 2018

1. Which car was crowned Auto Express Car of the Year 2018?

• SEAT Arona
• Jaguar I-Pace
• Ford Fiesta

2. Skoda announced that a fresh mid-size hatch will join its range in 2019. By what name will the newcomer go?

• Felicia
• Scala
• Souza

3. In October, Ford revealed that it was doing what with its GT supercar?

• Adding a more affordable four-cylinder version
• Building a four-door variant
• Extending the production run by a further 350 examples

4. Earlier this year, MPs suggested that the ban on new diesel and petrol cars should be brought forward to what year?

• 2032
• 2022
• 2020 

5. Rolls-Royce joined the growing SUV market with what new model in 2018?

• Cullinan
• Bentayga
• Colossus

6. In September, the VW Group said that all its new electric models will be based on what all-new platform?

• EMB
• MBE
• MEB 

7. Vauxhall axed which model from its line-up earlier this year?

• Cascada
• Astra
• Insignia

8. Volkswagen announced that a new Grand California camper van would join the range next year.  On which van is it based?

• Caddy
• Crafter
• Transporter 

9. Which model did Fiat drop from its UK line-up after 13 years in 2018?

• Stilo
• Ulysse
• Punto

10. WLTP – the new fuel consumption and emissions test regime – came into force in September. What does the acronym stand for?

• World Health Legislation Validated Test Process
• Worldwide harmonised Light vehicle Test Procedure
• Weltmeisten Lichten von Triesta Produkten

Motoring pioneers

11. Who is credited with having invented the diesel engine?

• Karl Benz
• Rudolf Diesel
• David ‘Di’ Eselburger II 

12. What was unusual about the engine fitted to the pioneering 1900 Lanchester?

• It required changing after every journey
• It had two crankshafts that spun in opposite directions
• It was made from porcelain 

13. Volkswagen’s first battery-powered Golf appeared in 1976. What was its name?

• Elektro-Golf
• Sparki-Golf
• Futuristischer Elektrischer Antrieb

14. The 1910 Prince Henry is widely regarded as the UK’s first-ever ‘sports’ car. Who sold it?

• Bentley
• Daimler
• Vauxhall

15. When did the first electrically powered taxi cab officially take to the streets in London?

• 2016
• 1957
• 1897 

16. Which of these is the oldest motorsport event, having first run in 1911?

• Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Monte Carlo Rally
• Le Mans 24 Hours

17. By 1920, the Ford Model T accounted for what percentage of cars on the road in America?

• 12 per cent
• 50 per cent
• 90 per cent

18. Walter Arnold from East Peckham in London was the first British motorist to receive what?

• Speeding ticket
• Fine for not paying the London Congestion Charge
• Ban for drink-driving

19. Albert Durrant designed what pioneering form of London transport in 1935?

• Black cab
• Routemaster bus
• Cycle rickshaw

20. Where is the world’s first purpose-built racing circuit?

• Brooklands, Surrey
• Nürburgring, Germany
• Reims, France

Motoring icons

21. The Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy bonnet mascot was modelled on whom?

• Eleanor Thornton
• Tracy Cadbury
• Brigitte Nestlé 

22. Triumph Cars is owned by which motoring giant?

• Tata Group
• PSA
• BMW Group 

23. Legendary car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro turned his hand to what product in the mid eighties?

• Chairs – he created the famous Mastermind seat
• Computers – he was responsible for the first Apple Macintosh
• Pasta – he created the Marille shape

24. Standard Oil of New Jersey is known as which petrol brand?

• ESSO
• Texaco
• Q8 

25. Which animal appears in logos used by Ferrari, Ford and Porsche?

• Snake
• Stag
• Horse 

26. The Ectomobile that featured in the classic movie Ghostbusters is based on which car?

• A 1959 Cadillac Superior ambulance
• A 1975 Excelsior Cadillac hearse
• A 1981 Citroen CX Familiale

27. Lotus designer Ron Hickman created which of these products?

• The Sony Walkman
• The Black and Decker Workmate
• The Barcelona chair 

28. What is the origin of the name Abarth, as seen on Fiat’s performance models?

• It’s taken from the firm’s founder, Carlo Abarth
• Htraba (Abarth spelled backwards) was the birthplace of Fiat founder Giovanni Agnelli
• It’s an anagram of the words hat and bra – Fiat’s first products 

29. Who is credited with designing the car that was known internally as ‘Tipo 829’?

• Peter Stevens – the McLaren F1
• Marcello Gandini – the Lancia Stratos
• Dante Giacosa – the Fiat 500 

30. How many generations of Ford Mustang have there been?

• Four
• Six
• Eight

Motoring - the big numbers

31. How many Model Ts did Ford build during the vehicle’s 19-year production run between the years 1908 and 1927?

• 5 million
• 15 million
• 50 million 

32. Averaged out, how many new cars were registered in the UK every day in 2017?

• 6,960.6
• 405.2
• 1,066.1

33. For how much did BMW sell Rover in 2000?

• £10
• £10million
• £1billion 

34. How many tonnes of asphalt went into building the M25 motorway around London?

• 1.2 million
• 3.5 million
• More than 1 billion

35. Ford sold Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to Tata Motors for which sum in 2008?

• $2.3million
• $230million
• $2.3billion 

36. When it was established in 1926, how long was the original Route 66 in the US?

• 2,448 miles
• 3,944 miles
• 5,222 miles 

37. The Ford Fiesta topped the new car sales charts last year. How many were registered in total?

• 44,654
• 66,122
• 94,533

38. How many plug-in and hybrid cars were registered in the UK during October 2018?

• 83
• 1,766
• 10,597

39. In 1998, which model recorded a new production car speed record at the Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany, hitting 240.1mph?

• McLaren F1
• Bugatti EB110
• Ferrari F50

40. In August this year, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold at a US auction for which astronomical sum?

• $12.1million
• $23.2million
• $48.4million

Banned on the run

41. What does the DVLA issue a list of twice a year?

• Banned rude number plates
• MoT failures banned from the road
• The number of motorists banned from driving

42. In 1976, the BBC banned transmission of most rounds of the F1 season for which bizarre reason?

• The Surtees team was sponsored by condom brand Durex
• The start of the races clashed with Songs of Praise every Sunday
• BBC policy meant only quiet sports could be televised on a Sunday

43. Why did the ASA ban a Ford Mustang ad in the UK?

• It encouraged unsafe driving
• It questioned climate change
• It was too scary for children 

44. According to an RAC report, men are how many times more likely to be banned for dangerous driving than women?

• Twice as likely
• Four times more likely
• Six times more likely

45. What is the legal alcohol limit in England and Wales?

• 15 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath
• 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath
• 75 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath

46. Which piece of in-car gadgetry is banned in many EU countries?

• Speed camera detector
• Reversing camera
• Adaptive cruise control

47. Until June, learner drivers were banned from which roads?

• Unlit A-roads
• Motorways
• Single-track roads

48. An Alabama (US) motoring law specifically outlaws which act?

• Driving blindfolded
• Driving with earplugs
• Sneezing at the wheel 

49. Which category of World Rallying was banned at the end of 1986 following multiple fatalities?

• Group A
• Group B
• Group D

50. When was using a mobile at the wheel made illegal?

• 2011
• 1992
• 2003

On the telly

51. What car maker used the phrase “Hand-built by robots” in its eighties ad campaigns?

• Audi
• Fiat
• Saab

52. A Peugeot 403 Cabriolet was the chosen steed of which television detective?

• Frank Drebin
• Lt Columbo
• Hercule Poirot

53. In the TV cartoon series Wacky Races, who drove the Compact Pussycat?

• Professor Pat Pending
• Gruesome Twosome
• Penelope Pitstop 

54. In the TV Scandi-drama The Bridge, troubled detective Saga Norén drove which car?

• 1977 Porsche 911
• 1982 Volvo 760 Estate
• 1990 Saab 900 Convertible

55. In the 2018 TV series Five Go Rallying, pop pairing Martin and Shirley Kemp had to abandon their first car after rolling it. Which car were they in?

• 1960 Morris Minor
• 1972 Mini
• 1978 MGB GT

56. What were the first and last modes of transport shown in Honda’s Impossible Dream advert?

• Monkey Bike and hot air balloon
• C90 Cub and Grand Prix car
• Civic and NSX

57. The Canyonero is a car seen in which American TV series?

• Friends
• Seinfeld
• The Simpsons

58. In the hit US TV show Breaking Bad, which car does Walter White drive?

• Pontiac Aztek
• Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
• Pontiac Fiero Sport Coupe 

59. Which car did James Bond drive in the 1977 movie The Spy Who Loved Me?

• Aston Martin DB5
• Lotus Esprit
• BMW 2002

60. What car company used the tag line “Ask before you borrow it” for a 1995 advertising campaign?

• BMW
• Nissan
• Daewoo

Where in the world?

61. By what name is the Italian motorway network called?

• Autostrada
• Drivafasta
• Speediamo

62.  Jaguar sold the E-Type under what name in the US?

• XKE
• Yee-Type
• Cat Coupe

63. How many miles of motorway are there in Iceland?

• 0
• 1
• 152

64. Bowling Green, US is the birthplace of what American motoring icon?

• Ford Mustang
• Chevrolet Corvette
• Dodge Viper

65. Dena, Haima S7 and Runna are cars manufactured in which country?

• Russia
• Bulgaria
• Iran

66. Kei class cars are traditionally associated with which country?

• South Korea
• Japan
• Thailand

67. Which car company has its factory in Normal, Illinois?

• Tesla
• Rivian
• Faraday Future

68. At which maximum speed can you drive on a stretch of Texas State Highway 130 in the US?

• 55mph
• 85mph
• 100mph

69. If you were to find yourself on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, which country would you be in?

• Germany
• Austria
• Switzerland

70. The Öresund Bridge links which two countries?

• Denmark and Norway
• Finland and Estonia
• Sweden and Denmark

Sporting chance

71. Which popular racing championship celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2018?

• British GT Championship
• British Touring Car Championship
• Ford Capri Challenge 

72. In Formula One, who announced that he was leaving the Red Bull Team for Renault in 2019?

• Daniel Ricciardo
• Max Verstappen
• Brendon Hartley

73. Which controversial safety feature was introduced at the start of the 2018 Formula One season?

• Indicators
• Halo cockpit protector
• Pedestrian airbags

74. In MotoGP, former world champion Jorge Lorenzo announced that he would join which team for 2019?

• Yamaha
• Honda
• KTM

75. What was unusual about the 2018 British MotoGP race?

• It was delayed by 24 hours after the surface melted
• It didn’t take place due to heavy rain
• The course was reversed 

76. Citroen dropped which British star from its WRC rally team after a troublesome start to the 2018 season?

• Matthew Wilson
• Kris Meeke
• Elfyn Evans

77. Who was crowned Formula E world champion in July?

• Jean-Eric Vergne
• Felix Rosenqvist
• Lucas di Grassi

78. How many laps did the victorious Toyota TS050 complete in the process of winning the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours?

• 388
• 309
• 412

79. For which team will ex-Formula One World Champion Kimi Raikkonen drive in the 2019 Formula One season?

• Red Bull
• Sauber
• Haas

80. Who won the 2018 British Touring Car Championship title?

• Tom Ingram
• Andrew Jordan
• Colin Turkington

Sequential shift

Can you complete the sequences in these motoring lists?

81.  T-Cross, T-Roc, Tiguan…

(Clue: climbing the Wolfsburg SUV ladder)

• Tiguan Allspace
• Amarok
• Passat

82. Australian, Bahrain, Chinese…

(Clue: Fast fellas racing around the world)

• Spanish
• Azerbaijan
• Russian

83. Volvo XC90, Jaguar F-Pace, Land Rover Discovery…

(Clue: our star cars)

• Jaguar I-Pace
• Skoda Kodiaq
• Peugeot 3008

84. Red, red and amber, green…

(Clue: follow the sequence to stay safe)

• Green and amber
• Red and amber
• Amber

85. Sebastien Ogier, Sebastien Ogier, Sebastien Ogier…

(Clue: rally good driver)

• Sebastian Ogier
• Ott Tanak
• Thierry Neuville 

86. 718, Macan, Cayenne…

(Clue: rising porker prices)

• 911
• Panamera
• Mission E

87. 1, 12, 4…

(Clue: Raging bull motor fires up)

• 9
• 3
• 2

88. Corley, Hilton Park, Stafford…

(Clue: take a break heading North)

• Knutsford
• Keele
• Tebay

89. General Motors, Romano Artioli, Proton…

(Clue: key masters at Norfolk’s finest)

• Geely
• Ford
• Tata

90. Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett…

(Clue: car caper cast)

• Dean Martin
• Sammy Davis Jr
• Dom DeLuise

Spot the detail 

Can you identify all these new cars from their photos?

91.

Image 2 of 11

Image 2 of 11

92.

Image 3 of 11

Image 3 of 11

93.

Image 4 of 11

Image 4 of 11

94.

Image 5 of 11

Image 5 of 11

95.

Image 6 of 11

Image 6 of 11

96.

Image 7 of 11

Image 7 of 11

97.

Image 8 of 11

Image 8 of 11

98.

Image 9 of 11

Image 9 of 11

99.

Image 10 of 11

Image 10 of 11

100.

Image 11 of 11

Image 11 of 11

Click here for the answers to our big car quiz of the year 2018...

Review of the Year 2018

• Review of the Year 2018: index
• The BIG car new highlights of 2018
• The big car quiz of the year 2018 • Head-to-head: the best car group tests of 2018
• A year in pictures: our best car photos of 2018
• Why our cars are stars: best long-term tests of 2018
• Inside the world of cars: best motoring features of 2018
• Best car videos 2018: watch our video highlights
• Motorsport review 2018: from Formula 1 to Formula E
• Amazing moments: our years in cars 2018

Associated Advanced Gallery 

Big car quiz of the year 2018 - pictures

from Featured Articles http://bit.ly/2EJUFsP

Used Volkswagen Golf R review

http://bit.ly/2Cx755B

Image 1 of 10

Image 1 of 10

24 Dec, 2018 9:00am Richard Dredge

A full buyer’s guide on the Volkswagen Golf R covering the Golf R Mk7 (2014-date)

When a team of engineers from Volkswagen created a hot Golf Mk1 in their own time, the result was the Golf Sport concept, which made its debut at the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Volkswagen took a lot of convincing that there was a viable market for a hot hatch, but it put the Golf GTI into limited production, and was overwhelmed by the demand.

The GTI became something of an icon as it made its mark as a staple part of the Golf line-up, accounting for up to 10 per cent of sales. As the bar was raised ever higher, so the GTI got increasingly powerful.

Then, the even more performance-orientated Golf R32 was launched, and that was followed by the Golf R, which reached the milestone of breaching the 300bhp barrier for the first time.

Models covered

• • Volkswagen Golf R Mk7 (2014-date) - Hottest Golf blends fine performance with impressive everyday versatility. 

Volkswagen Golf R Mk7

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Image 3 of 10

History

Whereas the original Golf GTI packed a 110bhp punch, the original four-wheel-drive Mk6 Golf R that arrived in February 2010 was rated at the much higher figure of 265bhp. The Mk7 Golf R featured here was launched in March 2014 with an even more potent and mouth-watering 296bhp.

The newcomer was available with three or five doors, and there was a choice of six-speed manual or DSG automatic gearboxes. Power came from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. By July 2015 the R was also offered in a more practical Estate body style, with the same mechanical specification as the hatchback version.

An updated Golf R arrived in April 2016 with LED lights all round, digital dials, a new infotainment system, a 10bhp boost and a number of exterior design tweaks. 

Volkswagen Golf R Mk7 reviews

Volkswagen Golf R in-depth review
Volkswagen Golf R review
Volkswagen Golf R Performance Park review
Volkswagen Golf R Estate review

Which one should I buy?

Most Golf Rs have five doors and a DSG automatic transmission; if you prefer a sportier look and don’t care too much about rear seat access, a three-door model might better suit your needs.

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Image 5 of 10

Both manual and auto boxes are great to use, so which one you go for is just a matter of personal preference. All Golf Rs come with sports suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and xenon headlights.

A Performance Pack was also introduced in November 2017. Available only with the DSG transmission, it brought 19-inch alloys, stronger brakes and a 166mph top speed (168mph for the estate). There was a sporty rear spoiler for the hatchback, too. 

Alternatives to the Volkswagen Golf R Mk7

The Golf GTI and GTD offer many of the R’s features and benefits, but in packages that are cheaper to buy and run.

After the urgency of the Golf R, these might seem rather anaemic, though, which is why Audi’s 362bhp (later to be 395bhp) RS 3 might hold more appeal for those after a performance-focused experience. Yet while the RS 3 is beautifully built and well kitted out, it’s also costly to buy and run, with second-hand prices starting at £30,000.

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Image 6 of 10

These factors also apply to the 355bhp Mercedes-AMG A 45 which, as with the RS 3 and Golf R, comes with four-wheel drive.

Don’t overlook the 326bhp BMW M135i and its replacement (from May 2016), the 340bhp M140i, both of which are great fun with their rear-wheel-drive set-ups. 

What to look for 

Convertible

Volkswagen offered a Golf R Mk6 Cabriolet, but a very poor sales performance meant a Mk7 version never saw the light of day.

Gearbox

The Golf R hatchback came with a choice of either a manual or automatic transmission, but the Estate was offered in DSG auto form only. 

Noise

Some owners have been irritated by the issue of squeaky door rubbers. Applying some Gummi Pflege is the easiest solution to this problem. 

Alloys

The wheels on all Golf Rs can suffer from corrosion, while the 19-inch rims can also buckle if the car runs through too many potholes. 

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Image 7 of 10

Interior

There are no surprises inside the Golf R; it’s clearly laid out and very well made. As a result, this car’s cabin is an absolute breeze to live with. Facelifted models from April 2016 get a digital dashboard that looks much smarter than the previous set-up. Boot space stands at 340 to 1,233 litres – 37 litres less than in a front-wheel-drive Golf – but the Estate offers extra room for those who need it.

Prices

You can buy a nearly new Volkswagen Golf R for between £17,250 and £37,290 on our sister site BuyaCar. 

Running costs

Golf R owners can choose fixed or variable servicing. The former is set at 12 months or 10,000 miles; the latter allows up to two years and 18,000 miles between checks. Expect to pay £144 for an oil change, £232 for an intermediate service and £376 for a major inspection.

The pollen filter (£34) should be replaced at each service, and the oil in the four-wheel-drive system’s Haldex coupling should be changed every three years; budget £79 for this. There’s no cambelt to replace, but after every 40,000 miles the oil in a DSG transmission needs to be renewed. This job costs £199.

Recalls

The Golf Mk7 has been recalled five times. VW can’t say which specifically affects the Golf R, but put a registration or VIN into www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/recallsSubmit and that will tell you if any safety-related work is needed.

Recalls have been issued for wheel bearing and lighting failures, faulty child locks on the rear doors and airbag problems, plus ESP and anti-lock braking glitches. 

Driver Power owner satisfaction

While the Golf R doesn’t get its own dedicated entry in our Driver Power satisfaction surveys, the ordinary Golf Mk7 performed strongly in this year’s new car poll, ranking in 18th place, and finished 14th in the used car survey. It scores well in every category, and although its lowest rating in both polls is for running costs, the Volkswagen still beats many rivals here.

The Volkswagen Golf R is pretty much all you could ever want in a car. It’s blisteringly quick, very well made, has lots of kit and is very discreet. Thanks to its 2.0-litre engine, it can also be reasonably frugal, plus you get the security and efficiency of part-time four-wheel drive. That AWD system means the boot is slightly smaller than a regular Golf’s, but if load capacity is a priority there’s the Golf R Estate. Thanks to keen leasing deals new, supply of used Rs is plentiful; most came without any options. Despite this, we can’t think of a good reason not to buy a Golf R.

from Featured Articles http://bit.ly/2T9H55T

Tailgating: does it make you stressed?

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Alex Ingram 2018-12-22 09:00

Tailgating is not only one of the most annoying aspects of driver behaviour, it's also one of the most dangerous

What’s the most annoying driving habit that you notice from day to day? Motorists on their mobile phone? Speeding outside schools? Or maybe middle-lane hogging? Well, according to detailed research by Highways England, it’s tailgating that irritates us the most.

The Government-owned company responsible for motorways and major trunk roads says almost nine out of 10 people have experienced tailgating, while over a quarter of drivers admit to having tailgated someone else.

• Top tips on how to drive in floods and heavy rain

But accident data indicates the practice is a real killer. One in eight road casualties is said to be a result of tailgating, which is linked to 100 deaths or serious injuries on our road network each year.

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Image 5 of 14

Then there are phantom traffic jams. These hold-ups appear to have no cause but are closely linked to tailgating, because constant braking and accelerating from motorists driving too close to the car in front creates a ‘caterpillar’ effect in traffic, slowing everyone down.

With so many issues related to this common yet dangerous habit, Highways England has conducted an extensive study into tailgating, and it invited Auto Express to the National Traffic Operations Centre (NTOC) west of Birmingham to find out what this research involved.

The study takes in data from hundreds of motorists. As different drivers will react to situations in different ways, participants were separated into categories, including those who consider themselves nervous or confident drivers, and those who drive on a professional basis.

Image 7 of 14

Image 7 of 14

The study consists of two elements; one is conducted on the road, while the other involves recorded examples of bad driving being shown on a computer screen.

First comes the practical part, and before the work starts, prep is needed on the Suzuki Swift Sport I’m running on the Auto Express fleet, and on me. A heart rate monitor is wrapped around my wrist to compare my resting heart rate relative to how it alters on the road, while the Swift is hooked up with a series of cameras – one facing forward, another backward and one pointing at my face.

The route we’re taking mainly comprises motorway driving: out of the NTOC centre, onto the M5, the M42, then turn around at Hopwood Park Services before retracing our steps. It’s a journey of about 28 miles and, traffic permitting, 45 minutes. I answer a brief questionnaire about how I’m feeling before heading out, picking a smiley face from the list of available emojis.

For the vast majority of my drive, everything seemed uneventful, to my eyes, at least. This was in part due to the quiet mid-afternoon motorway traffic, but was also a result of the traffic officer who was following me, keeping watch on my experiment and allowing our photographer to get shots. Of course, the full subjects of the study covered thousands of miles to my 28 and didn’t have the escort. I spent much of the journey wondering how relevant my data would be.

Just towards the end of my drive, however, the gantries above the M5 slip road indicated a 40mph speed limit due to stationary traffic ahead. I coasted down to this speed, much to the annoyance of a following Vauxhall Insignia, who closed right up behind me. Tailgating!

A second questionnaire about my on-road driving followed my return to base. Insignia incident aside, I didn’t recall anything that stressed me out in particular, so was interested to see the results of my heart rate monitor. This, as it turned out, brought up more instances of potential stress than I had expected.

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Image 9 of 14

Analysis showed two situations in particular caused spikes in my heart rate. The first was a lane change by a lorry, causing a speeding van to move into the outside lane. While this didn’t immediately affect me, my reaction was likely due to the realisation that I needed to consider moving not just one lane to overtake, but two.

The second situation arose when I was overtaking another lorry, and a van was overtaking me at the same time. Being surrounded by significantly larger vehicles is a regular occurrence for many road users, and this situation caused my heart rate to increase by 10 points, and remain raised for almost a minute after the incident.

Overall, my heart rate rose by the smallest amount on motorways, and most on the roundabouts leaving them. For those who are nervous or less experienced on motorways, these results would likely have been reversed.

Practical assessment over, it was now time to try the next part of the test from the comfort of an office chair.

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Image 12 of 14

This section involved watching two scenarios reminiscent of those in a hazard-perception exam. A facial tracker would assess my emotions during each scenario, and I would answer questions based on what I saw. 

The first scenario was, in essence, a control test, as it showed no adverse driving at all. On the westbound M3 junction with the M25, a driver indicated, then calmly and safely moved over from the right-hand lane to the left. I was asked to convey my emotions at the manoeuvre, which were indifferent. The facial tracker corroborated my opinion, recording no obvious reaction.

The second scenario certainly prompted a response, though: another driver’s violent manoeuvre saw their car veer from lane three to one, swerving around the back of a lorry as it headed on to the slip road at the very last second, causing ‘my’ camera car to brake sharply to avoid a collision. I resisted the urge to shake my head, and noted frustration as my overriding emotion. The facial recognition software suggested a feeling of ‘surprise’.

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Image 14 of 14

My results were largely echoed by the full study carried out by Highways England. The researchers found that the most common reactions to being tailgated were surprise, followed by anger and contempt, while heart-rate spikes were consistently recorded in participants. My own heart rate spikes, meanwhile, show that even little things that don’t immediately register as dangerous can raise stress levels.

Tailgating remains among road chiefs’ biggest concerns. Richard Leonard, head of road safety at Highways England, summarises the problem succinctly. “If you get too close to the car in front, you won’t be able to react and stop in time if they suddenly brake,” he says. “If that leads to a collision, then people in both vehicles could end up injured or killed.”

So what should you do if you find yourself being tailgated? Highways England advises drivers to maintain their speed and not stare in the mirror to the point of distraction. If you’re on a motorway and there’s a clear lane to your left, signal clearly and pull over to the side, allowing the offending car behind to overtake.

But prevention is always better than cure, and all drivers should leave a two-second gap between them and the car in front, doubling that to four seconds when roads are wet. Leonard has a simple message: “We want everyone to travel safely, so the advice is: stay safe, stay back.”

Do you have any tips for avoiding tailgaters? Let us know in the comments...

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Old vs new: 30 years of Auto Express road testing (1988-2018)

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22 Dec, 2018 8:00am

To celebrate our 30th anniversary we put the star cars we were testing in 1988 up against the class leaders of 2018

Auto Express is 30, with 2018 symbolising a landmark three decades of Britain’s biggest-selling weekly car magazine. So to mark this special anniversary (and deliver something a bit different for the festive season), we’re looking back through the ages and pages to see how the automotive landscape has changed since 1988.

But there’s another pertinent point that’s worth mentioning. With Britain and its car manufacturers staring down the barrel of a difficult Brexit, the industry is on the cusp of yet another change.

While there’s been turmoil and torment over the past 30 years, certainly, there have been many success stories, too. Auto Express has always been a champion of the British motor industry (we featured an important new British car on the front cover of Issue 1, no less), so with the iconic pairings we’ve assembled here, we’re looking at how the products we’ve been buying have morphed over this time – and without getting too political, what we hope for the future.

Click on the links to the left or below to see our old vs new head-to-head tests...

• • MINI Jet Black (1988) vs MINI Cooper 5dr (2018)
• • McLaren 12C Spider (2012) vs McLaren Senna (2018)
• • Jaguar XJ40 (1988) vs Jaguar I-Pace (2018)
• • Ford Fiesta XR2 (1988) vs Ford Fiesta ST (2018)
• • Nissan Bluebird (1987) vs Nissan Qashqai (2018)
• • Best of British - Aston Martin to Vauxhall

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Facelifted Audi Q7 spied during winter testing

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Luke Wilkinson 2018-12-20 16:24

Audi’s largest SUV receives a mid-life facelift, borrowing technology from the company’s flagship Q8.

The updated version of Audi’s Q7 has been caught on camera during its winter testing programme. It appears to borrow a number of design cues from the Q8, the company’s recently-released flagship SUV.

Exterior alterations to the new Q7 aren’t particularly dramatic. The front bumper has adopted the design of the larger Q8, with a shallower front grille and more defined side intakes. Also, the rear bumper now hides the exhaust tips under the body.

• Best SUVs and 4x4s to buy

Its LED headlights and tail-lights appear to have been borrowed from the current generation Audi Q8. As the Q7 and Q8 share the same MLB Evo platform, we expect more parts-sharing to occur between the models, with the smaller SUV borrowing the flagship’s dual 12.3-inch infotainment displays and driver convenience systems.

A range of engines will likely be available, including a four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol, a six-cylinder 3.0-litre petrol and a six-cylinder 3.0-litre diesel. A 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 diesel will sit at the top of the range in a new RS Q7 model, with around 430bhp and 900Nm of torque.

Now read our review of the old Audi RS Q7. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below...

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Peugeot 508 vs Volkswagen Arteon

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2018-12-20 16:00

Posh family cars are hitting back against SUVs. But is Peugeot’s 508 a better buy than its Volkswagen Arteon rival in petrol guise?

Not too long ago, a large family car was rarely an object of desire; it was built to carry a family in comfort at an affordable price. Few were handsome or stylish, and following the rise of the SUV, they’ve faced a tough test.

But now there’s a group of sleek family cars fighting back. Peugeot’s new 508 Fastback is the latest challenger and it’s targeting premium rivals such as the Volkswagen Arteon.

• Best executive cars

Both models are more premium alternatives to regular family saloons, yet while these cars are designed to appeal to buyers’ sense of style, they still have to offer enough space and usability for family and work life, to match the core strengths of their mainstream counterparts.

When we tested the mid-spec diesel 508 (Issue 1,546), it fell behind rivals because it was pricier. However, here we’ve lined up the more upmarket VW Arteon in petrol automatic form to see how well the Peugeot compares.

Both cars’ sporty looks are matched by the trim levels we’re testing them in, GT Line and R-Line respectively, and with petrol engines, buyers will expect them to be good to drive, too. But which is the better all-rounder?

Peugeot 508

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Image 2 of 29

The new 508 Fastback has a clear focus on sharp looks and an upmarket interior, but is that enough to win here? We’re testing the GT Line version, which costs from £31,239 with the 179bhp PureTech petrol engine and an automatic gearbox.

Design & engineering

With its bold grille and prominent headlights and tail-lamps, the 508 is one of the most distinctive cars in its sector, and is quite clearly born of the same design language as its sister 3008 and 5008 SUVs. In this class, it is only really rivalled by the Arteon.

It uses MacPherson-strut front and multi-link rear suspension, matching its rival here, and like the VW it is also available with adaptive suspension. However, on this PureTech 180 model, the suspension is passive as standard, with the adaptive set-up an £820 option.

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Image 7 of 29

At £31,239, it’s cheaper than the £34,590 Arteon in equivalent R-Line trim. That puts the Peugeot at an advantage when it comes to value for money, because standard kit is generous in GT Line spec.

Satellite-navigation is included, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate and cruise control, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, front and rear parking sensors and autonomous braking. There’s also wireless phone charging, LED lights, keyless go and a reversing camera. It’s slightly better equipped than its rival because the latter two are extra on the VW.

Material quality in the 508 isn’t quite as good as in the VW, though, with some shiny plastic surfaces that attract fingerprints and feel a bit cheap. But that’s offset by the fabric on the doors and dashboard, which is very upmarket. Also, the 508’s cabin has a very attractive design that is centred upon the large 10-inch touchscreen infotainment display.

Driving

Unfortunately, one aspect of the interior that doesn’t quite work is the driving position. The tiny steering wheel that sits below the digital dash is set too low and it feels unnatural in a large car like this. While the i-Cockpit layout is effective in models such as the 3008, where the seat is set high up, it frustrates here, particularly for tall drivers.

The small steering wheel and fast steering make the car feel agile, and the 508 handles well enough to keep up, but there’s a lack of precision that means it’s not as easy to place on the road as the VW.

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Image 4 of 29

The 508 deals with most road surfaces pretty well, and in Comfort mode is almost as relaxed as the Arteon is on adaptive dampers. Going over big potholes is harsher in the Peugeot than in the VW, but both cars mask undulations in the tarmac and smaller bumps nicely on the motorway.

Its 1.6-litre petrol engine is well isolated from the cabin, too, so it’s refined at speed. The motor sounds strained at higher revs, however, and since the unit produces its maximum 179bhp at 5,500rpm, you’ll need to push it harder than the Arteon; its larger 2.0-litre motor delivers 187bhp at 4,180rpm.

In our performance tests the 508 was 0.9 seconds slower than the Arteon from 0-60mph. The VW has a launch control feature that maximises its getaway the line, while its DSG gearbox shifts much faster than the auto box in the Peugeot. Due to its lower power and torque figures, the 508 was slower in our in-gear tests, too, but performance is still adequate.

The French model’s gearbox slurs its shifts more than the VW and is better for it much of the time. The smoother shifts mean making gentle progress is easier and more comfortable in the 508.

Practicality

While both cars look like they might have a saloon boot, they’re actually hatchbacks. There’s a similar amount of space in both at first glance, but the stats reveal that the 508’s 487-litre luggage space is the smaller of the two, because the VW has 563 litres available. Both are easy enough to load, thanks to their wide openings.

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Image 15 of 29

The Peugeot also falls behind the Volkswagen for rear passenger space, because there’s not as much head or legroom. Both cars are spacious enough for adults to sit comfortably, however, but their sloping rooflines result in smaller rear windows, so there’s not much light in the back.

Ownership

Safety kit is a strong point for the 508, with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and distance alert all standard. Also included is the Safety Plus pack, which adds blind spot detection, an alertness monitor, automatic high-beam headlights and road sign recognition.

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Image 9 of 29

Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the 508 yet, but we’d expect a strong result. Peugeot scored poorly in our Driver Power 2018 customer satisfaction survey, with the brand finishing 17th out of 26 manufacturers and coming 17th out of 28 in the dealer poll.

Running costs

The 508 is cheaper to buy than the Arteon and also emits less CO2, at 125g/km. The Peugeot sits in the 26 per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax band. Many of these large family models are run as company cars, so the BiK rate is a key factor here. Higher-rate earners will pay £3,226 per year to run the Fastback, whereas the pricier Arteon will cost buyers £3,845 a year in tax contributions.

However, the Volkswagen will depreciate less, so its residual value will be higher after three years’ ownership. Yet because it’s pricier to buy in the first place, you’ll still lose more money during that time: £17,714 in the VW and £17,347 in the 508.

Volkswagen Arteon

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Image 3 of 29

The Volkswagen Arteon has beaten premium models such as the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4 Series in previous tests, but in that company it was a good-value choice. At £34,590 in R-Line trim here, it’s the more expensive model this time, so is it worth the extra cash compared with the 508?

Design & engineering

Just as the 508 is based on architecture that underpins many models in the Peugeot line-up, the Arteon uses the versatile MQB platform, which is shared with Volkswagen cars such as the Golf.

As with the 508, the VW uses MacPherson-strut suspension at the front and has a multi-link rear set-up. Our test car was fitted with optional adaptive dampers (£820), which can be configured to deliver a softer or firmer ride depending on the drive mode you select from behind the wheel.

The engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol turbo that produces 187bhp and 320Nm of torque, and is linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. So while the Arteon is more expensive, you do also get an extra 8bhp and 70Nm of torque. However, at 1,601kg, the Volkswagen is also the heavier of the two cars; the 508 weighs in at 1,420kg.

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Image 18 of 29

This R-Line model matches up to the 508 in GT-Line spec, and offers parking sensors, sat-nav, adaptive cruise and climate control, heated leather seats and LED headlights. On the technology side, there’s Bluetooth, smartphone connectivity, DAB radio and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The top of the dash and the door cards are made of soft-touch materials, with harder plastics only really found lower down, where you’ll rarely come into contact with them. That, along with the excellent infotainment system, means the VW feels slightly more upmarket than the 508, but the design is drab in comparison. The driving position is much better, although you do sit slightly too high up.

Driving

The Arteon’s larger steering wheel and precise steering set-up mean that while it doesn’t have a lot of feel, it’s the more natural car of the two to drive, and also the greater fun. It has lots of grip and the engine is more vocal than the Peugeot’s, emitting a nice rasp when you rev it, but staying quiet when you don’t.

The VW performed significantly better in our track tests, too; it was nearly a second faster from 0-60mph, and took just 6.6 seconds from 30-70mph through the gears. The 508 needed 7.9 seconds, because its auto box doesn’t shift as quickly as the Arteon’s. However, the Peugeot’s slower shifts improve comfort at lower speed; the VW’s DSG sometimes clunks into gear when slowing down and speeding up again, for example at a junction.

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Image 5 of 29

In manual mode the DSG is much better, though, because it responds quickly to inputs, and the more powerful engine makes the most of each ratio. The Arteon took 3.5 seconds to go from 30-50mph in third, a second quicker than its rival, and 12.2 seconds to cover 50-70mph in seventh (1.4 seconds faster).

Adaptive dampers are a worthwhile extra, because in Comfort mode they even out rough roads well. Large potholes upset it a bit, but the VW is marginally more comfortable than the 508 overall in this setting.

However, switching from Comfort to Normal or Sport modes undoes this, because there is almost no change to the handling, yet the ride does become uncomfortable as the dampers firm up.

There are loads of fine-tuning options if you select the Individual mode, so it’s possible to have the powertrain in its sportiest option and the dampers in their most comfortable setting.

Practicality

The Volkswagen has a bigger boot with the seats up, as well as a larger total volume with the rear seats folded, although at 1,557 litres, it’s only 20 litres up on the 508 in this configuration. A powered tailgate is a pricey choice, at £900; that is more than twice what the same option costs in the 508, although it’s not difficult to open the boot, so it’s not worth the extra for most people.

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Image 25 of 29

There’s more space inside the Volkswagen for occupants than in the Peugeot, both in the rear and up front, where the cabin feels lighter and less cramped, thanks to the smaller centre console.

A full-size spare wheel is included as standard in the Arteon, while you’ll have to make do with a space-saver tyre that is limited to 50mph if you have a puncture in the Peugeot.

Ownership

In our Driver Power 2018 satisfaction poll, owners ranked Volkswagen in fifth place overall, out of 26 brands, which was a much stronger result than Peugeot’s 17th.

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Image 20 of 29

The VW also achieved a five-star rating from Euro NCAP when it was crash-tested. Standard safety kit includes autonomous braking with collision warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise and seven airbags. However, blind spot assist (which is standard on the 508) is part of a £510 option pack.

Running costs

The Arteon and 508 were close when it came to fuel economy on test; the VW managed 39.2mpg, while the 508 returned 37.6mpg. That works out at an annual petrol bill of £1,809 and £1,886 respectively over 12,000 miles.

While there is only a small difference in what you’ll pay at the pumps each year, the Arteon’s higher list price means the German model is not as cost-effective to run as its French rival over a typical ownership period, because you’ll lose more money in depreciation or pay more company car tax.

Results

First place: Peugeot 508

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Image 6 of 29

It’s a close result, but the Peugeot is better equipped and, crucially, cheaper to buy and run than the Arteon. The French car is also comfortable and refined, so it squeezes into first place here. The 508 is very nearly as practical as the Volkswagen, too, while offering lower running costs. It makes the most sense as an automatic, because the PureTech 180 petrol engine is quiet and punchy.

Second place: Volkswagen Arteon

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Image 17 of 29

The Arteon is better to drive, more comfortable, more spacious and faster than the Peugeot – but only slightly. Running costs and price combined are crucial for cars such as these and this greater disadvantage here is where the Arteon starts to trail its French rival. It’s a marginally better car than the 508, but its loftier price and less kit mean the VW drops slightly behind.

Other options for similar money…

New: Audi A5 Sportback

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Image 28 of 29

Model: Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI Sport Price: £35,915 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp

It’s pricier than both cars in this test, but the Audi A5 Sportback is stylish, good to drive and has a superb interior. It shares its engine with the VW, so it delivers similar performance. Strong residuals mean it may be more affordable on a PCP than you’d think.

USED: Alfa Romeo Giulia

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Image 29 of 29

Model: Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0 Veloce Price: £32,490 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 276bhp

If style is your thing, you can’t go far wrong with an Alfa Romeo Giulia. Buy used and for this budget you can afford a Veloce, which mixes comfort, handling and performance, so the Italian saloon is even harder to ignore. We saw one with delivery miles for just £28,998.

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Volkswagen Arteon receives more powerful engine

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Luke Wilkinson 2018-12-20 15:53

Volkswagen’s flagship saloon receives a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine

Volkswagen has updated its Arteon saloon with a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. On sale now, prices start at £39,065.

The new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine produces 268bhp and 350Nm of torque. Power is sent through a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox to an all-wheel-drive system as standard, allowing a 0-62mph sprint of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 155mph.

• Best executive saloons to buy

Despite the hike in power and the addition of a four-wheel-drive system, the new engine should still be relatively efficient. Volkswagen claim the new Arteon will achieve 40.4mpg on the combined cycle, while emitting 160g/km of CO2.

The four-wheel-drive system hasn’t encroached on boot-space either, with the new, more powerful Arteon retaining the old model’s 563 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place and 1,557 litres with the rear seats stowed.

Both Arteon trim levels can be specced with the new powertrain. Elegance models start at £39,065 and offer 18-inch alloys, a 12.3-inch infotainment system, adaptive cruise control and self-levelling headlights. R-Line models are slightly more expensive, priced from £39,850, but add 19-inch alloys, R-Line bumpers, R-Line badging and R-Line sports seats.

What are your thoughts on the new, more powerful Volkswagen Arteon? Let us know in the comments below...

 

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New BMW i3 120Ah 2018 review

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Image 1 of 17

Image 1 of 17

20 Dec, 2018 1:30pm Sean Carson

Bigger battery means more range for updated i3, but can it keep pace with more modern rivals?

BMW’s bravery, vision, determination – call it what you will – ensured the i3 was a roaring success when it launched back in 2013. It was the first premium electric vehicle and although it was pricey, it sold strongly.

But as time has passed and new rivals have popped up offering even more affordability and better all-electric ranges. Now, though, the i3 has undergone change in the area that really matters most to EV buyers: the battery.

• Best electric cars to buy

BMW does things differently and rates its cars by amp hours (Ah). The i3 launched with a 60Ah battery, or 22.6kWh in normal EV parlance. An update in 2016 pushed this to 94Ah or 33kWh – and now this new i3 gets a 120Ah, or 42.2kWh battery. To put that into perspective, the Nissan Leaf now comes with a 40kWh battery, while the Hyundai Kona Electric is available with a choice of 39kWh or 64kWh cells.

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Image 2 of 17

It means the i3’s claimed WLTP-rated range is up to 193 miles, while BMW expects a real-world 162 miles from a full charge. That is nearly a 30 per cent improvement over its predecessor.

An 80 per cent top-up takes 15 hours from a standard three-pin supply, just under nine hours 30 minutes with a 3.7kW wallbox, or a little over three hours with a faster 11kW unit. The i3 also supports 50kW DC rapid charging – hook up here and the recharge time drops to just 45 minutes.

In all other respects, the i3 is as it was, which means there’s a choice between the standard car with 168bhp, or the 181bhp i3s. BMW no longer offers the petrol-electric i3 Range Extender model, however.

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Image 3 of 17

The regular i3 will accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds (nearly a second faster than a Suzuki Swift Sport) and top out at 93mph. But as with any EV it’s more about the torque – 250Nm in this case – and the instant response and shove it provides.

Up to 30mph, and in the urban environments these EVs will inevitably spend most of their time, it’s better than brisk. Away from the lights the motor whine is kept to a minimum, and the regenerative braking that allows one pedal driving is still one of the most intuitive setups on the market. BMW has really got this element nailed compared with some of its competitors, even if the switch between the regen and friction brakes could be smoother still.

As the i3 remains unchanged in most ways, the car still posses all of the flaws of the old one, and a big drawback is the ride. The clever carbonfibre construction is still present, but so is the brittle, sometimes crashy ride that’s afflicted the i3 since it launched.

Boot space is also limited, at 260 litres with the rear seats up. But given how most will use the i3 this should be sufficient most of the time. Only longer journeys will test its practicality.

The rear-hinged back doors are as cool as ever and a neat solution, but still reveal a cramped rear cabin. However, this is constructed with the same reclaimed materials as you’ll find in the front, and offers a cool but techy feel thanks to the equipment on offer.

For your £31,680 (including a £3,500 government plug-in car grant) you get BMW’s Professional nav system with the great iDrive interface. You’ll also find a selection of connected services, Bluetooth, LED lights, heated seats and parking sensors. However, autonomous braking is part of the £790 Driving Assistant Plus package, while Apple CarPlay costs £235.

4

More range can only be a good thing when it comes to EVs, and the BMW i3’s price means it’s still relatively affordable for a premium electric car. New i3 owners will benefit from more flexibility, but they’ll also be dogged by the same flaws, which haven’t been addressed with this update – namely the poor ride and the lack of standard safety and connectivity tech.

• Model: BMW i3 120Ah
• Price: £31,680 (inc gov grant)
• Engine: Single-speed electric motor
• Power/Torque: 168bhp/250Nm
• Transmission: Single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

• 0-62mph: 7.3 seconds
• Top speed: 93mph
• Range: 193 miles
• CO2: 0g/km
• On Sale: Now

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