Auto Express Special Issue, No. 1730, May 25-June 14, 2022

JUNE SPECIAL ISSUE 116 PAGES FOR JUST £3.80 Special Issue FAST BMWsNo.1,730|£3.80 DRIVEN M DIVISION AT 50 On track in half a century of great M cars SPECIALTHE CAR NEWS WISEESKLUYE FLAT OUT IN 11 BMW ICONS BRMHEWOPVTLEMNUA4ESLWECDSL M1 ● E30 M3 Ravaglia ● M635 CSI ● E39 M5 ● Z3 M Coupé ● E92 M3 GTS and many more BABY HOT HATCHES BRITAIN’SDRIVEN New Niro EV New Ford Fiesta ST vs i20 N & Polo GTI CTOAPRECAKRIT-Key Kia was worthy, but now it’s wow REVEALED New Scenic We test over 500 products Radical Renault – so you can is here in buy the best 2024 25 May-14 June Special Issue DRIVEN THIS WEEK Peugeot 308 estate 21 Fiat 500X Hybrid ● New Range Rover in UK 9 770967 450293 www.autoexpress.co.uk

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CONTENTS News | New Cars | Features | Tests | Products | Buying cars | Sport M DIVISION AT 50 18 Steve Sutcliffe drives 11 classic M cars Newsweek 6 COVER Renault set to reinvent Scenic 10 6 Renault thinks big as it plans to reinvent Scenic people-carrier 13 Concept shows brand’s vision for reborn people-carrier 14 16 COVER Kia’s all-new Niro EV driven Big-selling electric car has grown up, and it works well COVER Limited-run BMW M4 CSL revealed Hardcore edition has 542bhp – and costs nearly £130k Mercedes shows stunning AMG concept Four-door electric supercar could have almost 1,000bhp Exclusive: Stellantis UK boss speaks out How Paul Willcox aims to make all of his nine brands a hit Features COVER Celebrating a half-century of M cars 18 On track with the pick of 50 years of fabulous fast BMWs New cars 28 Range Rover D350 Autobiography 30 13 M4 CSL revealed for M’s birthday 10 On the road in rebooted Kia Niro EV 32 28 All-new Range Rover rated in UK It’s time to put luxury SUV to the test on British roads 35 PArwoadrudcst 36 Peugeot 308 SW 2022 New estate has a premium finish, but a price to match BMW iX M60 Flagship is as close as we’ve come to an electric M car Mercedes T-Class Can a posher cabin lift van-based MPV above the pack? Fiat 500X MHEV Long-serving crossover gets mild-hybrid power at last Road tests 38 COVER New Fiesta ST vs Hyundai and VW 56 58 Ford’s updated hot hatch takes on i20 N and latest Polo GTI Our cars: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo We fast-track our experience of new EV at Silverstone Our cars: Toyota Yaris Cross Baby SUV’s efficiency has made a good first impression Products 61 COVER UK’s top car-care kit 2022 We name the best products you can buy, in 20 categories Buying cars 95 Owners’ verdicts on the Lexus NX 30 First verdict on new Peugeot 308 SW 61 Our pick of the top car-care products Design and quality draw praise, but infotainment frustrates 38 Updated Fiesta ST vs i20 N and Polo GTI Used buyer’s guide: DS 7 Crossback 96 French SUV has lots of premium rivals, but a keen price Second-hand shootout as X6 faces Q8 100 Range-topping petrol SUVs from BMW and Audi clash New car prices 104 All the info you need before you head to the showroom Regulars 54 Get Auto Express delivered every week 112 114 How to net a great deal on your favourite magazine Sport Three Brits on 33-car grid for this year’s Indianapolis 500 Back chat Mike Rutherford on why high fuel prices have to go www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 3



THISWEEK Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news Editor-in-chief: Steve Fowler Rcheannagueltfiosrsoetthteinrgs ttohefoplalocwe of Deputy editor: John McIlroy Executive editor: Stuart Milne News, reviews and tests Associate editor: Sean Carson News and reviews editor: James Brodie Chief reviewer: Alex Ingram Senior test editor: Dean Gibson Video content producer: Yousuf Ashraf Staff writer: Alastair Crooks Chief columnist: Mike Rutherford Consumer CDOETNATIALSCT Consumer and features editor: Chris Rosamond Deputy consumer and features editor: Tristan Shale-Hester Products Products editor: Kim Adams Production News02038903938 Tests020 3890 4039 Managing editor: Stuart Morton Consumer & Products 020 3890 3881 Chief sub-editor: Andy Pringle Sub-editor: Paul Alton [email protected] £1FOISRSSIUJXUESST Deputy executive editor: Matt Robinson Subscriptions0330 333 9491 Digital facebook.com/autoexpress @AutoExpress Group website editor: Steve Walker youtube.com/autoexpress Web producer: Pete Baiden WE’VE written plenty about the ‘Renaulution’ SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE Online reviews editor: Paul Adam that’s transforming the famous French brand, and Senior content editor: Andy Goodwin the products that are heading our way. Now the latest, Subscribe to Auto Express today and get six issues for just Content editors: Shane Wilkinson, Harry Waring, Charlie Harvey the reborn Scenic, is previewed this week on page six. £1. If you continue to subscribe, you’ll pay just £26.99 Carbuyer & DrivingElectric editor: Richard Ingram It was launched at the Change Now climate change every three months – 43 per cent less than the shop price. Carbuyer content editors: Ben Custard, Miles Goodson, Tom Jervis summit in Paris – an odd location for the launch of a car, DrivingElectric managing editor: Stephen Errity but such is the electrification and sustainability journey Visit autoexpress.co.uk/subscribe DrivingElectric content editor: Ellis Hyde Renault is on, the organisers asked the company on board. to subscribe, and enter the code D1730 We spoke with Renault CEO Luca de Meo (above) about or call 0330 333 9491 Design & Pictures his plans to create a separate business unit to focus solely Creative director: Darren Wilson on EVs. “It makes sense from an operational and business Sixissues for £1 Every 13 issues:£26.99 Senior designer: Victoria Coquet point of view,” he told us. “If you look at it like a different Sixmonths: £53.99 Annualsubscription:£105.99 sport, it makes sense to play in another stadium with Europe:£130 Rest ofworld:£200 Picture editor: Dawn Grant other kinds of players and different training. Subs E-mail [email protected] Senior photographer: Pete Gibson “We are doing this to create a new-generation automotive company, including all the work that needs Online subscriber service Change your address and renew your Film team to be done on software and the possibility that technology subscription at yoursubscription.co.uk Head of video: Ethan Smale gives us. In a normal OEM, hardware dictates software, Senior video producers: Greg Dowswell, Jack Joy as we’ve done since software was invented. In a new- Tell us about your car for a chance Filmmaker: Michael Moreira generation company, you have to turn that around.” to win £100 of Amazon vouchers To underline de Meo’s vision, he’s brought a software Video editor: Will Ward heavy hitter on board: Luc Julia, the man behind Apple’s The UK’s number one car ownership survey, Driver Power, Special Contributors voice assistant, Siri. As chief scientific officer, Julia is wants to hear from you. Our survey is simpler to use than ever Steve Sutcliffe, Vicki Butler-Henderson, responsible for making this historic car company think and covers new and used cars, plus petrol, diesel, hybrid and Nicola Hume, Dr Andy Palmer, Andreas Conradt, more like a modern, agile tech business. electric models, as well as a range of motoring issues. Euan Doig, Sarah Bradley, Rob Keenan, Otis Clay The whole company is beginning to think differently, ● What do you love and loathe about your car? ● How good Advertising & Promotions and I visited Renault’s Refactory, cleverly reinventing the are the dealers? ● Would you recommend your car to a friend? Client sales manager: Pierre Clements 1952 Flins plant as a tech and sustainability campus. Tech To have your say, scan the QR code above or go to Account managers: Demi Meredith, Miles Taylor start-ups are basing themselves there, while Renault has Commercial publisher: Sarah Perks built a ‘used car factory’ inside to refurbish and recycle www.autoexpress.co.uk/driver-power Senior operations manager: Kerry Lambird used cars for dealers – any dealers – in the Paris area. Senior production manager: Dan Stark All car companies are changing, but Renault seems to Digital brand director: Amrit Baidwan be doing it a lot faster than most. “We’re talking about Publisher: Holly Jerram turning Renault into a 100 per cent EV brand in Europe by Publishing manager: Sophie Valentine Marketing manager: Luke Tutt 2030, so we’d better do it five Head of PR and communications: Karen Parry years before the others, rather than waiting for 31 December Autovia Limited in 2034,” said de Meo. Finance director: Kerry Okikiade STEVE FOWLER CEO Autovia: Nicola Bates Editor-in-chief CONTENT SYNDICATION SALES Our content is available for syndication. [email protected] E-mail [email protected] or @ stevefowler call +44 (0)20 3890 3998 for more details. Copyright © Autovia Limited 2022. All rights reserved. Auto Express is a registered trade mark. Auto Express is published weekly by Autovia Limited. Autovia is a trading name of Autovia Limited, registered in England and Wales no. 13018565. Registered address: 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP. VAT number 494616317. Neither the whole of this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publishers. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Pictures submitted to Auto Express are sent at owners’ risk. While every care is taken, neither Auto Express nor its agents accept any liability for loss or damage. 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TOPSTORY Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates ● Scenic nameplate to return as brand-new, all-electric family SUV OFFICIAL ● Eco concept previews latest production and powertrain tech DESIGN Exterior indicates styling James Brodie fuel cell to recharge the car’s battery, instead of a small petrol engine. direction of 2024 Scenic, and is “more [email protected] than 90 per cent production car” @JPBrods To create this sort of powertrain, Renault has devised what would be a fuel-cell INSPIRATION Renault’s diamond-shaped RENAULT has confirmed that it will vehicle, but with differently proportioned reboot the Scenic name in 2024, electric and hydrogen elements. Rated logo has inspired many details in the Scenic applying the famous small MPV nameplate at 40kWh, the battery is the same as the Vision’s angular shape and styling, as well to a new family-sized SUV. The latest car one used in the short-range version of the as a whole new lighting signature will be pure electric, and is previewed Mégane E-Tech EV and is located under the by this: the Scenic Vision Concept. front part of the floor. It holds a much larger ECO CONCEPT The newcomer has of Ren a Penned by lead designer Gilles Vidal, charge than the small batteries normally the Scenic Vision represents Renault’s seen in fuel-cell cars, yet it’s around half been designed with sustainability in mind, future on three fronts. Its exterior design the size and weight of a battery used in a using recycled materials and with a viable is representative of what the 2024 Scenic typical long-range EV on sale today. projection for end-of-life disposal will look like, and is “more than 90 per cent production car” according to Vidal. It can be directly recharged by plugging in Vision However, the powertrain technology is more at a charging point, but it’s supported by a OFFICIAL Brand’s latest SUV concept resurrects famous a preview of what Renault thinks it could 15kW fuel cell in the rear half of the floor for offer commercially post-2030, while the top-ups away from the plugs. This is fuelled interior is pure concept-car indulgence. by a high-pressure tank under the bonnet, The Scenic Vision is not merely a hint that’s smaller and lighter than in a car with at what’s to come from Renault passenger a conventional fuel cell, making it much cars in the future. The brand is flexing its easier to package. At 2.5kg, it’s half the eco-credentials, showcasing what it claims weight of the tank in the Toyota Mirai. are several breakthroughs on sustainability in production. As such, the concept is made Renault claims that beyond 2030, and from 70 per cent repurposed materials, supported by an adequate hydrogen-filling while 95 per cent of the whole car can network, a powertrain such as this could be recycled at the end of its lifespan. cover a 500-mile drive with only a five- The Scenic name summons up thoughts minute stop to refill the tank. There’d be of peak MPV popularity in the 1990s. no need to charge the battery, because the Launched as a smaller, five-seat stablemate fuel cell can recharge the pack on the move. for the Espace in 1996, it was a surprise hit in showrooms, cementing the MPV as Measuring 4,490mm, the Scenic Vision is the most popular type of car of the time. a little shorter than Volkswagen’s ID.4, and It’s a sector that has nose-dived in recent a bit longer than the Mercedes EQA. Leaning years, however, and in 2020 the Scenic into the more versatile, practical aspect of name was taken off UK sale altogether. the Scenic name, the concept has a 2,835mm When it returns in 2024, it will be wheelbase within its C-sector bodywork – attached to a C-sector SUV. Renault claims nearly 200mm longer than that of the new it will carry forward the Scenic’s original combustion-powered Austral SUV, which the brief, by being a car aimed at families Scenic will sit next to in the range. As such, and their “changing needs”. cabin space is generous for the car’s size. The Scenic Vision has a bespoke platform, but the 2024 production car will The manufacturer has resisted using use the CMF-EV architecture employed by the electric platform to design a car with the smaller Mégane E-Tech Electric and the larger Nissan Ariya. This will mean a fully electric powertrain, with batteries up to 90kWh in size enabling a maximum range of more than 300 miles on a full charge, if the Ariya’s specs are anything to go by. However, the powertrain in the concept does not reflect what will be on sale two years from now. Instead, it is a gaze into the next decade, using what Renault dubs a “one-of-a-kind” hybrid powertrain using battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell technology to drive a rear-mounted electric motor producing 215bhp. It is essentially a range-extender using a compact hydrogen “SUV will carry forward the Scenic’s original brief: a car aimed at families and their ‘changing needs’” 6 Special Issue

TOP SNTEOWRYSRenault Scenic Vision ConcepXtxxxxxxxxxx ault’s Scenic future name in an all-new family-friendly package due to go on sale in 2024 INTERIOR The cabin is where the most obvious elements of the Scenic Vision’s sustainable construction can be found “Facial-recognition software automatically configures the interior to passengers and drivers it remembers” Special Issue 7

TOP STORY Renault Scenic Vision Concept Q&A an unconventional shape. Instead, the are found, namely the materials used and TRIM GILLES VIDAL Scenic is still a ‘two-box’ design, although the composition of the floor, which is made some concept-car exuberance can be found out of 100 per cent recycled plastics from Cabin focuses on Vice president, Renault Design in the rear-opening back doors and the food packaging and industrial waste. recycled materials, deletion of the B-pillar. Large, 21-inch with the mainly AFTER nearly a quarter of a century designing for aerodynamic wheels also feature. No leather is used in the upholstery, such white space being Peugeot and Citroen, and heading up the styling is the focus on recycled materials. The space a result of the direction of the Peugeot brand for the entirety of the The shape and many styling details will is predominantly white as a result of the elimination of 2010s, the venerable Vidal’s signing by Renault in only be toned down slightly for production. elimination of dyes in the fabrics, which are dyes in the fabrics late 2020 was seen as a major coup. Gilles Vidal claims that the angular styling entirely made from recycled plastics. Some of the Scenic Vision has been inspired by colour is found inside by the use of dichroic Q Can you keep the Scenic name when it’s not Renault’s diamond-shaped logo, while the panelling. This can split light into distinct model introduces a whole new lighting beams of different wavelengths, creating a attached to an MPV? signature for the brand designed around natural rainbow-like pattern of colour that this theme. Further neat touches include shifts depending on the viewing angle. A For me Scenic is not the name of a shape, but C-pillar lighting and an illuminated logo on the tail-lights. Its black paint is a Facial-recognition software automatically the name of a concept. further point of interest; concepts are configures the interior to passengers and rarely finished in dark colours, but the drivers it remembers, altering seat Q Could you have used the electric platform to black pigment seen here is made using positions, infotainment preferences, recycled carbon fibres. music and more. Four ‘widget’-style create a more radical shape such as the original? small screens take the place of one The car’s doors are opened by pressing large central touchscreen and are A It is still a ‘two-box’ shape. But we wanted to a touch-sensitive Renault logo panel where totally customisable, while the the B-pillar should be; this reveals the centre of the steering wheel is a resolve something that was an issue for family- future-gazing four-seat interior. The cabin screen, too. In total, ten ‘widget’ orientated cars: they are models that people need, is also where the most obvious elements of panels are dotted around the cabin but don’t desire. So what we said to the designers the Scenic Vision’s sustainable construction for control of various functions. and team is: “Okay, this is a Scenic that if people see it in the window of a dealership or on the Internet, they can fall in love with it – just for its looks.” Q How complete is the car’s exterior? A More than 90 per cent production car. The biggest wheels will be 20 inches. All the design themes you see on the car, all the features around it, are the real ones. Q How viable are the recycled aspects of the design? A There are companies dedicated to recycling, but if you visit their places they will recycle this and that because it’s easy and viable. Against the wall you will see the bits they don’t bother recycling although it is possible, because it takes too much time so it doesn’t happen. There are a lot of leftovers that are untouched, unfortunately. “Concept-car exuberance can be found in the rear-opening back doors and lack of B-pillars” 8 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

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NEWS Kia Niro “Niro EV is expected to make up more than half of UK sales once deliveries begin in late summer” ● All-new platform, more tech and space, multiple powertrains ● We get behind wheel of 201bhp pre-production prototype EV John McIlroy Essentials [email protected] Kia Niro EV4 FIRST DRIVE @johnmcilroy Price: £40,495 Powertrain: 64.8kWh batt./1x e-motor THE Kia Niro has been a key Power/torque: 201bhp/255Nm ‘transitional model’ for the Korean Transmission: Single-speed automatic, brand – a vehicle sold as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a pure EV, and thus one that has front-wheel drive appealed to customers at various stages 0-62mph: 7.8 seconds of the electrification journey. In the UK, Top speed: 104mph it’s been Kia’s second best-selling model since it went on sale in 2016. Range: 286 miles But now, with increasing numbers of Charging: 80kW (10-80% 45mins) bespoke EVs on the market (not least Kia’s own excellent EV6), it’s time for an all-new ON SALE Now Niro. The core principles remain; this is a car with a variety of powertrains, including two DRIVEN Kia Niro E that feature combustion engines. But it gets an all-new platform plus more in-car tech screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. CABIN www.autoexpress.co.uk and interior space than before in a bid to The EV adds 17-inch wheels and a 10.25- make it a stronger all-round proposition. inch full digital dash. A Niro EV 2 costs In-car tech gives crisp, clear It’s a particularly significant arrival on the £34,995, and stepping up to the 3 takes displays, a solid user interface EV market, because the outgoing e-Niro was that to £37,745. This includes faux-leather and quick response times Britain’s second most popular EV in 2021. trim, 18in wheels, heated seats and wheel, Indeed, the Niro EV (there’s a change of keyless go plus on-board three-pin socket. name for this generation) is expected to make up more than half of UK sales once The range-topping Niro EV 4 costs from deliveries begin in late summer. The overall £40,495. This bumps up the infotainment look is clearly an evolution of what’s gone screen to 10.25 inches and also includes before, and there are novel customisable heated rear seats, front-seat ventilation, an C-pillars that sit proud of the main bodyshell upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, and helps to channel air along the flanks. a head-up display and vegan ‘leather’. The Niro EV’s single, front-mounted motor produces 201bhp and 255Nm of On the road, the Niro makes a solid torque; it’s the punchiest model overall, with case for itself without ever delivering much a 7.8-second 0-62mph time. With a 64.8kWh sparkle or delight. The electric motor’s usable capacity, the battery should give just instant torque delivers enough shove, even shy of a 250-mile range (the official claimed with a modest 201bhp in a car weighing figure is 286 miles). The car can recharge at nearly a tonne and three-quarters. up to 80kW, taking its battery level from 10 to 80 per cent in 45 minutes – and if you As with the old e-Niro, you can adjust the select a charging station as a destination, brake-recuperation settings with paddles it’ll pre-heat the battery en route to ensure behind the steering wheel –and the most you can get the fastest-possible refill rate. extreme configuration will bring the car to Kia offers the same trim structure across all three powertrains – but the EV gets a couple of handy extras, even in entry-level 2 spec. There are LED lights, back parking sensors, rear-view camera and an eight-inch 10 Special Issue

NEWSKia Niro GneowingNtihroepdliusgta-inncehyinbrtihde FIRST DRIVE Essentials Kia Niro PHEV4 Price: £38,275 Engine: 1.6-litre petrol, 1x e-motor Power: 180bhp Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch auto, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 9.6 seconds Top speed: 104mph EV range: 40 miles CO2: 23g/km ON SALE Now V charges in THE plug-in hybrid version fault is the dual-clutch of the Niro will have greatest transmission; it seems easily a halt naturally, allowing you to drive plastics, so we’ll hold our judgement appeal to those who are trying confused as it tries to juggle the using just the right-hand pedal around on cabin quality for now. But regardless, to minimise their company car different power sources to deliver town if you think far enough ahead. the in-car tech will look familiar to anyone tax while still retaining the ability the required level of acceleration. who’s driven a current Sorento or the latest to travel longer distances without We can only hope that the late Kia’s chassis engineers have clearly been Sportage – or, indeed, the EV6. That’s to stopping for recharges. pre-production prototype we briefed to curtail the Niro EV’s body roll, and say, you get crisp, clear displays with a solid Its technical credentials are tried wasn’t fitted with the you can feel how firm the basic set-up is as user interface and quick response times. solid enough, with a 1.6-litre final gearbox software. soon as you pull away. It could risk becoming petrol engine and an 83bhp unsettled at low speeds, but once you get The boot is 475 litres and there’s also a electric motor giving a combined Elsewhere, the cabin is as going it does a decent job of isolating road shallow 20-litre front boot for cable storage. output of 180bhp. Kia is strong as the Niro EV’s, but you imperfections while keeping up with direct It’s just a pity access is via the normal bonnet finalising the figures, but the aim do take a hit on boot capacity steering that feels a little over-assisted. grab handle; reaching down to the edge of is for the car to manage 40 miles as a result of the multiple power the footwell feels like a definite carryover of electric-only running – enough sources. It’s down by more than There’s no great involvement, but even from combustion-engined vehicles. for it to drop into the eight per 100 litres, to 348 – a figure with a surprisingly high driving position (for cent tax band. This could come trumped by several leading all its crossover looks, the EV set-up beneath Verdict down to your choice of trim superminis, let alone the likes delivers an SUV-like seating configuration), level and wheel size, however. of the VW Golf and Ford Focus. the Niro is a car you can lean on. It even PRICED so closely to the larger, more capable On the road, the experience is feels swift in Sport mode, helped by the EV6, we’re not sure this range-topper will a little patchy. The Niro PHEV feels Verdict decent body control. Refinement is solid be the sweet spot. But the basic package – comfortable enough running in EV enough, with wind noise and electric-motor tech, practicality and dynamics – is strong. mode around town – slower than KIA expects the Niro PHEV to whine both nicely suppressed, plus tyre the pure EV, but able to keep pace account for about one in 10 sales, rumble is less noticeable than in the e-Niro. with urban traffic. Things fall apart and we can see why. However, it slightly when you ask the car to feels a little compromised – not Some of our pre-production prototype’s get a move on, though. Most at only in its outright practicality, trim was still made from coarsely grained but also in its driving dynamics. www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 11

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NEWSBMW M4 CSL Extreme M4 CSL marks M’s 50th ● Hardcore version of coupé ● Only 100 examples for UK OFFICIAL Sean Carson STYLING CSL sits 8mm lower [email protected] than standard M4 and features an aggressively styled bodykit IN its 50th birthday year, BMW’s M division is revealing a bonanza of TRACK new models to celebrate. And the latest in a long list for 2022 is the new M4 CSL, M4 CSL lapped a hardcore version of its sports coupé. the Nürburgring in Securing its status as the most aggressive 7:15.667, making it offering from the division is a tuned engine the fastest BMW pumping out even more power, as well as ever around the chassis tweaks to contain the extra famous race track performance, and an aggressive bodykit. The L in the name stands for Lightweight, “The 3.0-litre twin-turbo and key to the CSL’s focus is its reduction in straight-six develops mass. The car tips the scales at 1,625kg, 542bhp – 39bhp more which is 100kg lighter than a regular M4, than the M4 Competition” while a carbon-fibre boot lid, roof, bonnet and other elements help save 21kg. There’s BMW M Car Celebration also a deeper front bumper with larger grilles P18 We drive 11 of M’s finest creations to improve cooling, and carbon-fibre flicks lower down emblazoned with CSL lettering. NEW GROUND The standard-fit M carbon-ceramic brakes save a further 14.3kg, while the Longer Defender 130 will CSL features unique alloy wheels – 19 feature eight-seat layout inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear. It also comes with different springs and Special Issue 13 struts for the adaptive suspension set-up, which save another 21kg collectively and lower the ride height by 8mm compared with a standard M4. This new CSL also benefits from an aluminium strut brace under the bonnet, improving rigidity. Its 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six engine produces 542bhp – an increase of 39bhp over the current M4 Competition – while torque stands at 650Nm. The eight-speed automatic gearbox means the rear-wheel- drive CSL will sprint from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and its top speed is 190mph. Inside, the cabin features a carbon-fibre centre console and one-piece M carbon bucket seats; BMW has removed the car’s rear seats completely, saving another 21kg. A switch to ultra-lightweight sound insulation has saved a further 15kg, and among the other pieces of standard equipment are BMW’s Laserlight headlights. Just 1,000 M4 CSLs will be made, and only 100 have been allocated to the UK. The car is on sale now, priced from £128,820. LWB Defender on its way TEASER LAND Rover will officially unveil its the 130 will feature the same engine line-up longer Defender 130 model on 31 May, as the Defender 90 and 110 models. and the British brand has teased the car in this new image (right). Land Rover has confirmed the Defender 130 will be available to order as soon as it’s Flicked-up sand covers most of the revealed at the end of the month, and don’t extended bodywork, but we’ve already be surprised if the car is quite a bit pricier seen the new model testing and know that than the Defender 110. This is because the the car’s long rear overhang will release Defender 130 is likely to be positioned as more space inside for an eight-seat layout. the most luxurious version in the line-up, This will boost practicality, but we expect and may only be offered in the top trims. www.autoexpress.co.uk

NEWS Mercedes Vision AMG AMG concept points to its ● Vision AMG EV study revealed said: “We’re creating everything from OFFICIAL ● Previews next-gen sports cars scratch, from the AMG.EA platform to the revolutionary drivetrain technology.” Alastair Crooks The Vision AMG could use the same [email protected] battery as the EQXX (roughly 100kWh) tuned for performance rather than efficiency. THE future of Mercedes-AMG’s performance cars has been teased While Mercedes hasn’t revealed any by the brand with the unveiling of its performance figures for the Vision AMG, we new Vision AMG concept car. do know it’ll use YASA radial flux motor Mercedes calls the Vision AMG a four- tech, and Auto Express sources have door, all-electric supercar – and the design indicated that the Vision AMG will produce certainly backs up this statement. close to 1,000PS, or around 986bhp. There are plenty of elements taken from the Vision EQXX concept revealed earlier The Vision AMG will remain a concept, this year, with the AMG sporting an but it will also form an important part of aerodynamic shape with a low, flowing Mercedes’ wider electrification strategy. From roofline, huge flared wheelarches and a 2025 onwards, the brand will only develop long wheelbase. The Vision AMG also new vehicles on three different electric car includes an AMG-specific grille with the platforms. Alongside AMG.EA, MB.EA will sub-brand’s trademark vertical bars, albeit cover medium to large passenger cars with blanked off to improve aerodynamic a VAN.EA platform for commercial vehicles. performance and reduce drag. The Vision AMG features 22-inch “Sources have indicated aerodynamically clad wheels and digital that the Vision AMG will wing mirrors to further improve the drag produce almost 1,000bhp” coefficient. As a nod to the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, the diffuser, side skirts SIZE and wheel rims have been finished in Petronas colours, and there’s a star pattern Vision AMG is livery just like on Mercedes’ F1 car. 5.1m long with Plenty of exposed carbon fibre signifies a wheelbase the sporting intent of the Vision AMG, and of more than Mercedes says the concept offers a three metres; glimpse of how AMG is “transferring its it’s longer than DNA into the all-electric future”. a Porsche Underpinning the Vision AMG is a new Taycan platform designed solely for electric cars. Called AMG.EA, it’s been developed entirely in-house at AMG’s Affalterbach HQ and will underpin its future performance EVs. Speaking at the car’s unveiling, Phillip Schiemer, CEO of Mercedes-AMG, Non-Tesla owners welcome at Superchargers TESLA has opened 15 of its Supercharger OFFICIAL sites in the UK to electric vehicles from rival brands, as part of a European pilot scheme. Tesla’s 15 pilot ‘open’ sites include 158 individual chargepoints and represent about one fifth of the full UK Supercharger network Non-Tesla EVs compatible with the owners who want to access the ‘open’ “Tesla says rates will also charge without a subscription, but at Supercharger Type 2 CCS connector can stations can use the Tesla app. vary by site, but will be a higher rate. Tesla says rates will vary by now use sites at Folkestone, Grays (near around 60p per kWh” site, but will be around 60p per kWh. Thurrock), Uxbridge, Birmingham, Cardiff, The pilot features a membership Wokingham (near Reading), Thetford, scheme for non-Tesla owners at £10.99 The pilot was launched in November 2021 Trumpington (near Cambridge), Banbury, a month, which offers access to lower in the Netherlands and now includes the Manchester and Flint Mountain (near charging prices per kWh. Drivers can UK, Spain, Belgium, Sweden and Austria. Chester). There are Scottish locations, too, at Adderstone, Dundee and Aviemore, as well as a Welsh site in Aberystwyth. These 15 stations contain 158 charging points capable of delivering power at more than 150kW. They make up about 20 per cent of the UK Supercharger network, which stood at 87 locations and 780 Supercharger connectors in December 2021. Non-Tesla 14 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

NEWSMercedes Vision AMG s electrified future ninebwrisef More than 1,000bhp and 4WD for electric Cayman GT4 STYLING PREVIEWING the tech that will battery that holds enough energy Ultra-rare Mercedes underpin the next generation of its for a 30-minute race stint. sets auction record Trademark AMG Cayman and Boxster – which will be design elements all-electric – Porsche has revealed Power runs from 604bhp in a race A 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut its 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance, setting up to a 1,073bhp maximum, Coupé (above) – one of two in existence – have been a track-only 1,073bhp monster that while 900-volt tech means a five-80 has sold at auction for a record £114m. incorporated into could also form the basis of a one- per cent recharge takes 15 minutes. make race series for the brand. At the Mercedes-Benz Museum in concept’s look The muscular body panels are Stuttgart, the opening bid for the 300 Based on the same chassis as the made from natural fibre composites SLR was higher than the old record of current Cayman GT4 Clubsport racer, and together with a huge rear wing $48.4million (£38.8m) for a 1962 Ferrari the ePerformance uses a pair of help to produce plenty of downforce. 250 GTO sold in 2018. Based on the two- electric motors delivering all-wheel time Grand Prix World Championship- drive, while power is supplied by a The GT4 ePerformance will make winning W 196 R, the SLR has a 3.0-litre its debut at this year’s Goodwood straight-eight engine developing 302bhp, Festival of Speed at the end of June. enabling a top speed of 180mph. LIGHTER Speed to be blamed for more accidents Composite panels help A NEW system to be introduced by the counter the National Police Chiefs’ Council will weight of result in speeding being reported as a the batteries contributing factor in vastly increased numbers of road accidents. First image of new Citroen launches UK’s Lexus RX noses in cheapest ‘car’ this summer Out of the UK’s 1,500 deaths each year on the road, fewer than 400 are TEASER OFFICIAL recorded as related to excessive speed. Police will now take account of forensic A NEW version of the Lexus RX will be VARIETY evidence of speeding, though, which revealed on 1 June, and the Japanese will make speeding the number one brand has released a teaser image Passenger and cargo cause in many forces’ areas. for its forthcoming BMW X5 rival. versions of Ami will hit showrooms ASUll-VeolenctsraicleSsinan2g0Y2o3ng The picture (above) shows the hybrid SUV will sport a more UK PRICES and specifications have been can choose from three £400 colour SSANGYONG has revealed that its aggressive look than the car it will revealed for the Citroen Ami, which will packs, while Pop and Vibe models new mid-size SUV will be called Torres, replace, and although full specs go on sale in the summer from £7,695. add customisation kit for £8,495. referencing the Torres del Paine National haven’t been confirmed, the teaser Park in Patagonia in South America. shot suggests it will be available in Given that it’s a quadricycle, it A single-seat Ami Cargo model with sharper-looking F Sport trim. can be driven by holders of a full 260 litres of storage space is offered Accompanying the announcement AM motorcycle licence; a full UK from £7,995. Range stands at 46 miles; are new teaser images that give a better www.autoexpress.co.uk car licence isn’t needed. Buyers top speed is 28mph for all versions. view of the car than the previous design sketches. The rugged-looking SUV is a big visual departure from anything in the current SsangYong line-up. The European version of the Torres will be electric only and on sale in late 2023. Special Issue 15

NEWS Paul Willcox BIG INTERVIEW PAUL WILLCOX UK Stellantis boss Steve Fowler Stellantis in the UK – tyi [email protected] Auto Express catches up with the former Vauxhall boss, who’s just been handed @stevefowler the proposition, and very much easier “The new Stellantis said Willcox. “But it’s never been our goal. THINGS move quickly in the car for everyone to understand what the role is very broad. It’s The important thing for me is consistency business. Within days of us catching technology is – we’ve bundled tech a great opportunity. in what we do, not chasing objectives.” up with Vauxhall managing director Paul in a way that’s easy to communicate. I’m excited about Willcox, he had a surprise call from his getting started” There’s much talk about the future of boss, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, “What we want to become is the most B-sector cars, with the Fiesta rumoured to be asking him to unite all of the group’s accessible, authentic British brand in auto, Paul Willcox on borrowed time in Ford’s line-up. So, what brands in the UK under his leadership. one that’s actively building products in the UK Stellantis boss about the future of the Corsa and the shape Previously, Willcox had been running UK. Obviously, there are many brands in of Vauxhall’s line-up in years to come? Vauxhall, which accounts for over 40 per the UK making cars, but we’re the only cent of Stellantis’s business in the UK and one with a long history in the UK, and still “Within the current line-up, we have includes factories in Ellesmere Port and building products. And that’s obviously a continuation – we expect to continue Luton. Meanwhile, Alison Jones oversaw something that we need to build on in to sell within the sectors we operate.” the remaining eight brands. But with Jones terms of our history and our ability to moving to a global role within Stellantis, lead the progression on electrification.” With the Insignia no longer on sale, Willcox has been charged with bringing could Vauxhall go back into that market? the UK operation even closer together and What does that mean for the two growing a total of nine Stellantis brands. plants Willcox is responsible for? “What we need to do is focus our Auto Express caught up with Willcox attention on delivery of our electrification for the second time in a week to talk about “The transformation of Ellesmere Port story within the sectors we’re currently Stellantis, on top of his thoughts for the is massive. And I think there’s an equal operating in, and we will have new future of Vauxhall – which is still one of opportunity to do something in Luton as concepts in different sectors.” the UK’s biggest car brands. well. We’ve not got a plan signed off, but “The new role is very broad,” he told I’m very keen to electrify Luton. So, we And the Manta coupé-SUV, recently us. “Obviously there are a lot of brands, are pushing hard.” scooped by Auto Express? so it’s not a simple job. All the brands are different, all the products are different. But With the Corsa being the best-selling “I think it would be a good addition,” said for me, it’s a great opportunity. I’m excited car so far in 2022, after finishing 2021 in Willcox. “The market’s changed dramatically about getting started. top spot, Vauxhall seems to be in a good in the last 30 years. Where we are today is “There’s a great opportunity to do position. “It’s nice to be number one,” not where we were even 15 years ago. I think two things. One is to deliver a massively consumers are looking for new concepts, improved customer experience – we think and it’s going to change even more.” you can make it frictionless – and obviously to reduce costs. One of the biggest challenges the industry has is how do we reduce distribution costs? I’m not talking logistics, I’m talking the whole cost from the difference between the transaction to the customer and the bit in between, between that and the list price. That’s a huge transformation in terms of the business model.” Out of his new brands, which excite him the most? “I’ll say two. One is Peugeot, because I started my career there and it’s gone through a huge transformation, so I’m excited to get back into that. “And if I’m really honest, Alfa Romeo. What a great brand! If you love cars, everyone’s got a soft spot for Alfa. There’s nothing like that brand, historically, today. The passion in there...” So where does that leave Vauxhall’s future? And what did Willcox think of the manufacturer when he was on the outside looking in? “It was a business that had gone through a difficult period,” he said. “Through the General Motors period, and moving into what was PSA at the time, I think it was a difficult transition.” One theme that constantly crops up when Willcox talks about his vision for Vauxhall is simplicity. “It’s simplicity, not being simplistic,” he clarified. And that applies to both the retail process and the product. “We had a very, very overly complex trim line-up,” admitted Willcox. “So, we’ve simplified the trim structure to make it much easier for the customer to understand 16 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

PROBE Inbox Your views Our man Steve We want to hear your views. Send your (right) dug deep questions or opinions to the E-mail address below into Willcox’s plans for the Contact Tristan Shale-Hester Stellantis brands in Great Britain HOT TOPIC New BMW 3 Series FROM: Jim Barker I’VE not been fond FROM: Peter Keane IT’S not an ugly car of recent BMW designs, such as the by any means, but it doesn’t excite iX and newly unveiled 7 Series, but me. I find this is the case with a lot the current 3 Series is a good-looking of mainstream modern cars – they car and this facelift doesn’t change can be dynamically and technically that. Modern, sleek and sharp – if very capable, but there’s a lack of only the whole range reflected this. imagination in the styling. Modern, sleek and sharp, but does BMW’s latest 3 Series look exciting? Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ng it all together ■ “Now there’s a gaping ■ “At least the kidney ■ “Not sure about that the keys to the whole Stellantis line-up in Britain maw in the bumper to grille hasn’t been infotainment screen – it Plans include streamlining tech, reducing costs and improving customer experience match the large grille. massively enlarged doesn’t look particularly It’s like a basking shark!” on this model.” well integrated.” Kyle Ellis Phil Harris FG It’s about time we Have charging port in legalised e-scooters same place on all cars FROM: Darren Clark FINALLY some FROM: Keith Gibbins ONE problem with actual confirmation from the EV charger accessibility (Issue 1,727) Government that private e-scooters is that the charging port can be almost will be legalised (Issue 1,729). These anywhere on a car – front wing, rear vehicles have a big role to play and quarter, front grille etc. If the location can’t be uninvented, so it makes of the port were standardised to one sense to create a safe, legal way position, this would solve a lot of for them to be used on our roads. problems for all EV drivers. Alfa’s future depends Are clean-air zones on more like Duetto killing off good cars? FROM: David Hands THE Alfa Romeo FROM: Ryan Hill AN elderly relative of Duetto (Issue 1,729) is exactly the mine is quitting driving and offered sort of thing that brand should be me his car for free, but it’s not ULEZ- producing. The Quadrifoglio models compliant, so it won’t work for me. have demonstrated Alfa is at its As such, a perfectly decent motor will best when making sporty, exciting, be scrapped, which I think is wasteful. engaging cars. More of this, please I wonder how many similar cases are – it could be key to the firm’s future. being caused by clean-air zones. UCosenftualcts THE following provide help Legal Used car inspections Car registration/history Problems with dealers Problems with makers with motoring problems. AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) AA: 0800 056 8040 HPI: 0113 222 2010 The Motor Ombudsman: The Motor Ombudsman: www.autoexpress.co.uk Some services are free, RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) RAC: 0330 159 0720 AA: 0800 316 3564 0345 241 3008 0345 241 3008 others charge a fee or Citizens Advice Consumer DVLA: 0300 790 6802 Consumer Ombudsman: Financial problems operate on premium-rate helpline: 03454 040506 Technical advice RAC: 0808 164 1923 womwbwu.cdosnmsaunm.oerrg- Financial Ombudsman: lines (p), while some offer Local Trading Standards AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) Traffic information RMIF: 0845 305 4230 0800 023 4567 advice for members only (m) Local Citizens Advice Bureau AA: 0906 888 4322 Scottish Motor Trade Safety concerns/recalls Driving licences RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Assoc. 0131 331 5510 www.check-mot. DVLA: 0300 790 6801 service.gov.uk Special Issue 17

M CAR CELEBRATION WE DRIVE 11 BRILLIANT BMW M MODELS TO MARK 50 YEARS OF THE DIVISION Steve Sutcliffe “It’s a reputation that many GENESIS The manufacturers have tried, M1 started life as [email protected] and largely failed, to emulate” a joint racing-car project between BMW’S M division might well be 50 years old this month, but to begin with it made only racing cars – Lamborghini hence M for motorsport in the name – its first-ever creation and BMW being the outrageous 3.0-litre CSL ‘Batmobile’ from 1972. At the start, the M division employed a mere 35 people. www.autoexpress.co.uk In 1978, however, everything changed. In the same year that Britain birthed its first test-tube baby, BMW Motorsport GmbH – as it was known back then – also produced its first- ever road car, the M1. Since then, it has never looked back. Five decades on, the M division has built more than half a million cars, at the same time underwriting BMW’s reputation as a creator of some of the world’s finest driver’s machines. It’s a reputation that many manufacturers have tried, and largely failed, to emulate. So for a magical couple of days in May, nearly 50 years to the hour after M was born, we brought together a rare and varied collection of the best cars made by the now-mighty division during the past half century (there have been 29 so far, and counting). Starting, of course, with the M1... 18 Special Issue

CDHIVAISMIOPNS To celebrate BMW M division’s 50th anniversary, we head to the track in 11 of its landmark cars Pictures: Pete Gibson www.autoexpress.co.uk WATCH THEM Check out our unique 50th anniversary collection of the M division’s finest cars in all their on-track glory YOUTUBE.COM/AUTOEXPRESS Special Issue 19

BMW M DIVISION AT 50 SPECIAL EVOLUTION Five decades and countless technical advances separate the M1 and the G80 M3 xDrive CLASSIC Legendary Giugiaro-designed M1 looks just as radical today as it did in 1972. Only 453 were made M1 – 1978 Engine: 3.5-litre 6cyl Power/torque: 277bhp/330Nm 0-62mph: 5.6 seconds Top speed 162mph Gearbox: Five-speed manual Weight: 1,300kg DESIGNED by Giugiaro and conceived initially as a joint once you acclimatise to it, which is not something that can appeared to be a quite immaculate M635 CSi. Powered venture between BMW and Lamborghini, the M1 – just like be said for any of the M1’s theoretically more desirable by the same 3.5-litre straight-six as the M1, but with fuel the CSL – was meant to be a racing car to begin with. But for Italian supercar rivals of the same era. injection and, therefore, a touch more power, the 286bhp various reasons the motorsport project and the partnership M635 CSi first appeared in 1984, when Filofaxes were the with Sant’Agata faltered, which left BMW with what would The driving position and entire cockpit design are pure things to be seen carrying and mobile phones had yet to be turn out to be a rather nice problem to have: what to do with mid-engined, in that you sit a long way forward – to a point invented for the masses. It was the era of big hair and wide its new mid-engined racing car that looked great and was where you quickly become acutely aware that most of the shoulder pads, which meant a suave-looking coupé such powered by a brand-new, Paul Rosche-designed, 3.5-litre car’s innards, and mass, sit well behind you. The design as the M635 CSi fitted right in – if indeed you could afford straight-six engine? Perhaps the company should put number inside is simple, functional, clean and neat. It works, even to buy one. At £45,780 it was eye-wateringly expensive for plates on it and see whether anyone wants to use it on the if it doesn’t exactly make your heart skip a beat with joy its time, yet in the end BMW made 5,855 examples, the road, someone with foresight in Munich eventually asked. aesthetically. There are few frills inside the M1, but all the identically powered E28 M5 selling in far fewer numbers basics are spot on, and I rather like it because of that. (2,241 in total) but gaining more credibility in the process In total a mere 453 road-going M1s were made between among the M-car cognoscenti. 1978 and 1981 – each with a list price of £30,000 (you It doesn’t make an especially spine-tingling sound, could buy a house for a lot less than that in 1978), all and in this example the throttle response is a bit fluffy. But On the surface, it’s not difficult to see why. Whereas the of them were left-hand drive, carrying the official model the steering, chassis and brakes are all way better than I E28 M5 was a tautly suspended weapon of a car, and was designation of E26. The M1 didn’t sell terribly well, mainly expected – this is the first time I’ve driven an M1 – and the the first genuine super-saloon, the M635 was a far softer, because it didn’t carry much credence with the sort of way it behaves, generally, is extraordinary. Even in 2022. less aggressive, more chilled machine with packaging punters who wanted ‘a real Italian supercar’ to be seen that would be deemed laughable today. Yet to drive, this in, not one from Germany that had been made by BMW. No, it doesn’t ignite your emotions like a Countach might delightful example still feels relevant, even if it’s ultimately have done back in the day, but there’s a purity of purpose to a relic from a bygone age. The ride is deeply soothing, the Yet in the end the M1 would go on to form the basis for the M1, not to mention a quality of build and engineering power-steering light and accurate enough to allow you to the entire M division’s legacy, all on its own to begin with. that was often absent from its Italian rivals in the seventies. place that big, charismatic nose with reasonable precision For Munich’s bean-counters, even though they didn’t know through any corner. It’s relaxed but not remote, and its it at the time, it really was the golden ticket. Cards on the table, I was amazed by how relatively engine and five-speed manual gearbox are both an modern and, yes, not rubbish the M1 was to drive (and drive absolute delight, sweeter and more potent than those of Back then it must have felt like an incredible, cutting- quite hard) around our track at Llandow – to a point where, the M1. The cleaner response of the fuel-injection system edge car, because even today the M1 still seems yes, I really do understand why this example is insured for undoubtedly makes a big difference to its driveability. surprisingly sharp and rapid to drive. It weighs only £450,000. In logical terms it’s simply worth that much as 1,300kg, so although the straight-six has a mere 277bhp, a car, and that’s before you even begin to think about the Truth is, I thought the M635 CSi would feel old and it still goes hard enough, still sounds authentic, and most historical importance it also carries. irrelevant in this company, but in the end I loved it and was of all it still feels precise and clean in its responses. Even once again amazed at how well it has stood the test of time. the five-speed dogleg (first) gearchange is pleasingly slick I could have driven it all day, to be honest, but there were many other great M cars to re-experience, so after one more lap I parked the M1 carefully and grabbed the keys to what 20 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

MSPCEACRIAL “Back then it must have felt like an incredible, cutting-edge car, because even today the M1 still seems surprisingly sharp and rapid to drive” SUAVE M635 M635 CSi – 1984 CSi sums up the eighties, yet still Engine: 3.5-litre 6cyl feels relevant Power/torque: 286bhp/340Nm at the wheel 0-62mph: 6.1 seconds Top speed: 158mph Gearbox: Five-speed manual Weight: 1,450kg www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 21

BMW M DIVISION AT 50 SPECIAL E30 M3 Roberto BRILLIANT Ravaglia Limited Hardcore CSL and GTS are Edition – 1989 cut from same cloth. Both feel even more special now Engine: 2.3-litre 4cyl than when they were new Power/torque: 212bhp/230Nm 0-62mph: 6.7sec Top speed: 143mph Gearbox: Five-speed manual Weight: 1,200kg RARE Special-edition Roberto Ravaglia was a road-legal competition car NEW PERSPECTIVE Time has worn heavily on originally highly regarded E30 M3, which has lost some of its shine UNLIKE, I’m sorry to say, the infinitely more expensive and, here can be had for just £20,000 nowadays. I bought and FOND MEMORIES Thanks to its in historical terms, far more highly regarded E30 M3. But ran an E39 M5 in the early 2000s, and I absolutely loved effortless potency, the E39 has then this particular example – a rare and much sought-after it. It had such a broad repertoire I ended up thinking it was stood the test of time well Roberto Ravaglia Limited Edition (only 505 of these were all the car anyone could ever want, with an easy-going made, of which a mere 25 came to the UK) – has clearly 400bhp from its creamy 4.9-litre V8 engine, a great six- E39 M5 – 1998 done some hard miles as BMW GB’s one and only press speed manual gearbox, exploitable but refined handling car, so maybe that’s not being very fair. and a lovely interior. In 1998 it was expensive at £52,000, Engine: 4.9-litre V8 but it was worth the price because it was so much car. Power/torque: 395bhp/500Nm Thing is (and you’ll need to whisper this very quietly), 0-62mph: 5.3 seconds Top speed: 155mph I’m old enough to remember driving the E30 M3 when it Today, it still drives well, if not quite at the cutting edge Gearbox: Six-speed manual was new. One of the first big comparison tests I was ever beside its more modern M5 cousins – although, having said Weight: 1,795kg involved with as a car journalist was between a red E30 that, I think it’s stood the test of time better overall than the M3 and the just-launched Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth. E60 M5 (the one with the V10 engine and the not-very-good www.autoexpress.co.uk So I know the E30 M3 quite well, and have a deep-rooted SMG gearbox) that followed it. What I liked most about the recollection of it being one of the most exciting, most pure and E39 back then, and still do now, is its effortless potency. It just plain best sports coupés that there has ever been, Amen. doesn’t look all that much, but even today it still goes very hard indeed in the mid-range. Its cabin still feels relatively Yet for various reasons this one didn’t quite hit the same modern, even though it’s almost quarter of a century old spot. Its driver’s seat was somewhat knackered for starters, now, and its chassis has an honest simplicity to it that failing to clamp me in position behind the E30’s fixed left- doesn’t need a whole load of different drive modes to hand-drive-only steering wheel with anything like the same adjust to unlock its best secrets. Instead, you just climb in, precision as it would have done when new. But also the fire up, maybe press the Sport button if you fancy a bit more 2.3-litre four-cylinder motor didn’t feel anywhere near as urgency from the engine map, and off you go. It was lovely clean or punchy as I remember, with a coarseness above when new – and for £20,000 it is even more lovely today. 5,000rpm that was either not there back in the day or whose appeal has simply diluted over time; a bit of both, I suspect. Less so the E60 M5, which I thought was fantastic in 2005 but reckon hasn’t aged terribly well since. All the ingredients The dogleg gearbox is still a delight, as are the steering, for greatness are there. It has a 5.0-litre V10 engine with a chassis and brakes – the latter especially. Due to it being a monster soundtrack that delivers either 400bhp or an insanely road-legal competition car, the E30 M3 had ventilated discs aggressive 500bhp, depending which mode you select. And back in 1989, and even in 2022 they provide major stopping then there’s the theoretically fast-changing six-speed SMG power and a lovely snap of feel through the pedal. But in the gearbox with another button that allows you to scroll up end, no matter how rose-tinted one’s spectacles are, truth is through the shift speeds, plus a typically well developed the E30 M3 no longer feels terribly quick or dynamic. It’s still rear-drive chassis, again with numerous modes than can be a lovely thing just to be around, to talk about and to reminisce dialled up or down, depending what kind of mood you’re in. over. But the edge it once had has long since faded, at which point you do wonder; can it really be worth £100,000 But for a variety of reasons, the E60 now seems quite more than it cost to buy when new (£29,000) back in 1989? cumbersome and not especially sharp. To be honest, it feels compromised by its technology, not improved by it, with the In logical terms, no, not when the hugely more modern, gearbox action even worse these days than it was 17 years faster and immeasurably more capable E39 M5 you see 22 Special Issue

MSPCEACRIAL “CSL has deliciously uncorrupted steering and fantastic damping, plus one of THE great six-cylinder engines of all time” NUMBERS Here’s the full list of risers, fallers and numbers built M1 – 1978 E60 M5 (V10) – 2005 Number built – 453 Number built – 20,589 Price new – £30,000 Price new – £65,330 Value now – £450,000 Value now – £20,000 M635 CSi – 1984 E92 M3 GTS – 2009 Number built – 5,855 Number built – 150 Price new – £45,780 (15 for UK) Value now – £20,000 Price new – £117,630 E30 M3 Ravaglia – 1989 Value now – £180,000 Number built – 505 1M Coupé – 2011 (25 for UK) Number built – 6,309 Price new – £29,000 Price new – £40,000 Value now – £115,000 Value now – £45,000 ago, mainly because so many excellent automatic E39 M5 – 1998 F10 M5 30 Jahre E60 M5 – 2005 transmissions have appeared since. Amazingly, the Number built – 20,482 Edition – 2011 car also doesn’t feel that quick, not beside the likes of Price new – £52,000 Number built – 300 Engine: 5.0-litre V10 the G80 M3 or the F10 M5 that followed it, nor even the Value now – £20,000 Price new – £91,890 Power/torque: 500bhp/520Nm Z3 M Coupé that we’ll come to in a bit. Z3 M Coupé – 1998 Value now – £48,000 0-62mph: 4.7sec Top speed: 155mph Number built – 6,291 G80 M3 Competition Gearbox: Six-speed SMG Either way, of all the M cars we assembled for this Price new – £35,845 xDrive – 2021 onwards Weight: 1,855kg story, the E60 M5 was probably the most disappointing Value now – £40,000 Number built – ongoing to drive – possibly because I’d been so looking forward E46 M3 CSL – 2004 Price new – £78,425 MIXED BAG E60 M5 has all to reacquainting myself with it, and possibly because Number built – 1,383 the ingredients for greatness, I was expecting too much from it. Price new – £58,455 but hasn’t aged terribly well Value now – £115,000 www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 23

BMW M DIVISION AT 50 SPECIAL MY experience with the E60 M5 was the complete opposite because I thought it was expensive and heavy at £118,000 SURPRISE Z3 M Coupé to what happened when I drove the Z3 M Coupé, the E46 and 1,580kg respectively. But time has been kind to the was better to drive M3 CSL and the E92 M3 GTS. I sampled all these cars when GTS, and it feels utterly addictive in 2022, to a point where than remembered they were new, and for a variety of reasons I didn’t think any it was my outright favourite car on the day. – and quicker, too of them was as mind blowing as most of my colleagues reckoned they were back then. With a higher-revving 4.4-litre version of the E92 M3’s 1M Coupé – 2011 4.0-litre V8 linked to what is still a sharp-shifting seven- I remember the Z3 M as being a wild, but not especially speed dual-clutch ’box, the GTS goes like the proverbial Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo 6cyl wonderful car to drive. Yes, it boasted a great six-cylinder you-know-what in a straight line, and the sound it makes is Power/torque: 335bhp/450Nm engine beneath its long bonnet, but it also had a cramped downright rude. But its steering, chassis and brakes define 0-62mph: 4.7 seconds Top speed: 155mph and claustrophobic cabin and a surprisingly wayward it as something above and beyond the norm, even by M-car Gearbox: Six-speed manual chassis. The CSL I recall as a truly great car that was ruined standards. As does the stripped-out, zero-frills interior with Weight: 1,495kg by a rubbish SMG gearbox, which deserved no place in its bucket seats and full racing harness, both of which a chassis this good, while the uber-rare V8 GTS seemed would be a pain to live with everyday but, just to use on ridiculously expensive at £118k in 2009 and, I thought, special occasions, lift the GTS experience to another level. just wasn’t as special as it should have been to drive. Not beside Porsche’s then-cheaper 911 GT3 RS, at any rate. All it takes is one committed lap in this car, assuming its drivetrain and Cup tyres are up to temperature (and if But at Llandow all three of these cars blew me away, they’re not, don’t even think about giving it the full beans) albeit for entirely different reasons. The Z3 M was far better and you will be either completely hooked or slightly to drive than I was expecting, and far quicker than I recall, terrified. That’s the kind of car the GTS is. So even though it’s too. It proves that when you have a mere 1,420kg to propel, 13 years old now, it allows you to do things on a track that in 321bhp from a high-revving, atmospheric straight-six most other models, latest G80 M3 included, you can’t even engine is all you need and then some, thanks – especially contemplate trying. It’s essentially a racing machine with when linked to a sweet shifting five-speed manual gearbox. number plates, much like the E30 M3 was originally, yet in You put up with the movement around the tail in the Z3 M, and instead just hang on tight while wearing a huge grin for most of the time. Truth is, I enjoyed driving this model about five times more than I thought I was going to. In a weird kind of way, it felt more relevant and interesting now than it did when new in 1998, possibly because cars have become so much more predictable since. The CSL has also aged well. Its chassis is still an absolute peach, with deliciously uncorrupted steering and fantastic damping, plus it has one of THE great six-cylinder engines of all time. It still feels properly quick, and its ’box, although far from cutting edge beside more modern paddleshift autos, doesn’t seem as much of a hindrance today somehow. Either way, I couldn’t get enough of the CSL at Llandow. Just to sit in it feels incredibly special, and from the outside it looks even more gorgeous today than it did in 2004, when it cost £58,455. That’s risen today to more than £110k for a mint example such as this, but if ever a car deserves to be worth double what it cost new, 18 years later, this is it. I ache to own it, possibly because I know I never will. Same goes for the M3 GTS, only more so. As I say, I wasn’t a huge fan of this car when it appeared in 2009, E46 M3 CSL– 2004 Engine: 3.2-litre 6cyl Power/torque: 355bhp/370Nm 0-62mph: 4.9 seconds Top speed: 155mph Gearbox: Six-speed SMG Weight: 1,385kg SPECIAL E46 M3 CSL feels special just to sit in, and from the outside it looks even more gorgeous than in 2004 www.autoexpress.co.uk 24 Special Issue

MSPCEACRIAL unlike the E30 it still feels modern, relevant E92 M3 GTS – 2009 and virtually untouchable dynamically. Engine: 4.4-litre V8 Power/torque: 444bhp/440Nm Unlike the 1M, which was a freak of a car 0-62mph: 4.4 seconds Top speed: 190mph when it was launched in 2011, and feels like even Gearbox: Seven-speed DCT dual-clutch Weight: 1,580kg more of a fruitcake today. As a result, you either love the 1M or you do not. Very few people drive this model and think, yeah, it’s OK. Even the way it looks divides opinion, although most car people tend to like its ‘mini He-Man’ styling. I’ve got to be honest, though; the 1M feels like a right old hotch-potch of a car in 2022, and I’m not sure the past 11 years have been all that kind to it. It’s very quick, concerningly so if you over-commit to a corner – which is all too easy to do with 335bhp and a huge 450Nm beneath your right foot. This car weighs less than 1,500kg, remember. But if the steering, chassis and brakes felt endearingly edgy in 2011, in 2022 they seem borderline at times. It feels like you could have an almighty accident if you pushed things just a bit too far, and you’d have no idea how or why it happened. For some, that’ll be the holy grail, for others it will be the reason to walk away. But then the M1 was always a Marmite car, and the brew seems stronger today than ever. Z3 M Coupé – 1998 Engine: 3.2-litre 6cyl Power/torque: 316bhp then 321bhp from 2001/350Nm 0-62mph: 5.1 seconds Top speed: 155mph Gearbox: Five-speed manual Weight: 1,420kg SUPERB E92 M3 GTS still seems modern, relevant and virtually untouchable dynamically, even 13 years from debut FREAK Love it or hate it, 1M Coupé will keep even the best driver on their toes www.autoexpress.co.uk

BMW M DIVISION AT 50 SPECIAL G80 M3 Competition xDrive – 2021 onwards Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo 6cyl Power/torque: 503bhp/650Nm 0-62mph: 3.5 seconds Top speed: 155mph Gearbox: Eight-speed auto Weight: 1,780kg PINNACLE In many ways the G80 M3 Competition ROUND-UP xDrive is the most rounded M car yet produced Notable absentees AND that just leaves the two most modern M models in our old-fashioned driver appeal thrown in for good measure. As collection, the F10 M5 – seen below in rare 30 Jahre Edition a result, it probably represents a pinnacle of achievement INEVITABLY there are some notable absentees from specification – and the current G80 M3 xDrive. The F10 was for the M division. In many ways it’s the most rounded car our collection, such as the E28 and E34 M5s – both the epitome of technical perfection when it came out in yet produced, combining massive speed, a great four-wheel- of which are absolute legends, but neither of which 2011 – the same year as the 1M, incredibly. I remember drive chassis and vast amounts of safety and communications we could source for our shoot, sadly. We also didn’t driving this car on its international launch in Spain, thinking tech with a genuine dose of raw driver satisfaction. feature the E36 M3 from 1992, because it wasn’t it was deeply impressive but also felt oddly aloof. Not quite the M division’s finest moment – nor with hindsight emotionless, but clearly a machine that was led and Its electric power steering isn’t all that much compared was the F80 M3 from 2014, at least not compared therefore defined by its technology. with most of its predecessors here, and it weighs a with the G80 that followed it. seemingly ludicrous 1,780kg – that makes it an entire It was also the first turbocharged M car, and the first M5 Caterham heavier than the first M3. In these respects, 50 To be honest, though, there have been no real to use a dual-clutch auto, plus it weighed two tonnes-plus years of evolution have done the BMW M car few favours. lemons from the M division, and that is no mean with a driver on board. So even though it was the first M5 achievement after 50 years in the game. to do a sub-eight-minute Nürburgring lap, it felt more like an But overall, the progress of the M division through the M7 than it did an M5, and nothing much has changed since. decades is genuinely astonishing, and in the M3 xDrive The march oftechnology the results (crazy kerbweight aside) really do speak for You respect the F10 for what it can do – for its broad themselves. This is an incredible car that can do all kinds ONE of the things that becomes achingly obvious repertoire, for its sophisticated and refined cabin, and of incredible things, but at its core it’s still a seriously fun when stepping from one M car to the next is the because is it very rapid indeed. This 30 Jahre Edition has and engaging machine to drive. One that invites you to unashamed march of tech. Take the steering wheels. 592bhp and 700Nm from its twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8. Uncorked enjoy it – just like its best predecessors. To begin with there were no buttons at all, then it could probably top 200mph with four people on board, towards the turn of the century one or two had started without feeling overly dramatic. But by a long chalk it is not No question, the M division is on a roll right now, with to appear in models such as the E39 M5. Now, the the most memorable M5; it’s a bit too cool for school for that. all sorts of exciting cars on the horizon, and not all of them latest M3’s steering wheel is festooned with buttons. powered by fossil fuels. Then again, they’ve always been The latest G80 M3 xDrive, on the other hand, manages to on a roll at M, ever since it all started in May 1972. So The same thing goes for the cars themselves, combine similar technical capabilities with a serious hit of here’s to the next 50 years… in which the tech count has gone up unimaginably over the years. Most of this is welcome, but not all F10 M5 30Jahre Edition – 2011 of it, because although fundamental safety levels have increased immeasurably, so has the weight. Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 Power/torque: 592bhp/700Nm The mid-engined BMWs 0-62mph: 3.9 seconds Top speed: 155mph Gearbox: Seven-speed DCT Weight: 1,990kg WHEN M1 production ceased in 1981, the next mid-engined BMW wouldn’t appear for another 36 years and came in the form of the hybrid-powered, and somewhat more modern, i8. However, it was the M1 that set the template, so it’s the M1 that will be remembered most fondly as BMW’s best mid-engined car, no matter how much more relevant the i8 may have become today. Prices then,values now VALUES of many M cars have gone up, not down, over the years, the biggest risers being the models that were limited in numbers. Take the M3 GTS. In 2009 it cost a heart-stopping £117,630, which at the time seemed ludicrous. Yet today, because only 150 were built worldwide, a GTS is worth £180,000-plus. The E39 M5, on the other hand, cost £52,000 in 1998 yet today is worth less than half that – partly because some 20,482 were made. 26 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

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NEWCARS Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives “A clear focus on comfort doesn’t come at the expense of handling” Range Rover Performance Running costs 0-62mph/top speed 35.6mpg (official) 6.1 seconds/145mph £132 fill-up FIRST UK DRIVE It’s the original upmarket SUV, but is it still the best in a crowded sector? Matt Robinson integrated into the dash. It’s a shame Land surprisingly loud thud of wheel and tyre produces 345bhp and 700Nm of torque for a Rover hasn’t made the most of the floating noise, even if the suspension does a good 6.1-second 0-62mph time. It delivers all the [email protected] arrangement and moved it closer to eye job of absorbing the bump itself. straight-line performance you could need. @matt_201 level, yet it’s a slick system overall. In terms of ride, then, it’s mostly good The final string to the Range Rover’s bow THE original Range Rover kick-started We’d prefer some sort of tactile control, news. There’s a clear focus on comfort, but is practicality. For the first time ever, you can a whole new genre when it launched but the touchscreen is responsive and the it doesn’t come at the expense of handling. have it as a seven-seater. You still get the more than 50 years ago. The automotive menus are clear and easy to navigate. The There’s a very satisfying moment when you familiar split tailgate, while in the front world has changed considerably since then, graphics are really crisp, too, but we’re not reach a bend at a decent pace, expect a big there’s an abundance of cubbies. of course, and the SUV sector has, too. As fans of the surprisingly aggressive haptic roll, yet are bemused at its relative absence. such, the originator must now cut it in a feedback. Thankfully, turning this off is However, the Range Rover still has some more crowded marketplace than ever. easy. Although the screen is big enough to Some SUVs corner flatter, of course, but areas for improvement. Inside, it perhaps An all-new version is just what Land Rover accommodate digital climate controls, Land those have a more sporting nature that ought to feel a touch more special given needs to stay relevant. Except, while the MLA Rover has – thankfully – resisted the urge, compromises comfort. In the Range Rover, the cost (the average UK sale price so far Flex platform is fresh, from the front this car and left some buttons and dials below. the ride and handling are balanced well, is around £125k; this Autobiography starts doesn’t look all that different. The changes making it more fun than you’d expect. The from £122,375). Even so, the Range Rover are there, however, including new LED light On the move, the smooth, cosseting ride steering, meanwhile, isn’t brimming with blends luxury, comfort and driver clusters and a different-shaped grille. and almost deathly quiet running impress, feedback, but it’s well weighted and suits engagement better than anything else out At the rear, the deviations are more but there are limits to the car’s talents in the car. Rear-wheel steering helps here, too, there for the money. A Bentley Bentayga obvious, with the most radical aspect of these areas. While great at ironing out most as well as when manoeuvring and off-roading. betrays its Audi Q7 links if you look too the design being the lights hidden within imperfections, the Range Rover is curiously closely, and the BMW X7 isn’t as premium. a black panel. It’s a clean, unfussy look. vulnerable to high-frequency bumps, One less successful aspect is the eight- Inside, there’s a noticeable improvement particularly at high speed, transferring speed gearbox. Most of the time it fades into You probably don’t need to spend quite in quality. The 13.1-inch Pivi Pro infotainment more chop into the cabin than we’d like. the background, as all good autos should, as much as this, however. Impressive is new, but curiously, it still sits fairly low, but on occasion its shifts can be abrupt. though the Autobiography is, the £108,775 where it might be located if it were still At lower speeds, meanwhile, larger Our test car was equipped with a 3.0-litre D350 HSE or the £105,675 D300 in the hits can sometimes transmit a dull but mild-hybrid six-cylinder D350 diesel, which same trim will tick all the boxes for most. 28 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

30 PEUGEOT 308 SW 32 BMWiX M60 35 MERCEDES T-CLASS 36 FIAT 500X HYBRID We test new family- More powerful iX Van-based MPV aims Mild-hybrid power focused hybrid estate brings M performance to tempt buyers with for Fiat’s funky car in high-spec trim to all-electric SUV premium feel compact SUV Essentials EQUIPMENT Digital dash and new Pivi Pro COMFORT Cabin is trimmed in a mix of Range Rover D350 infotainment work well and are a big step on lovely materials that means the Range Rover Autobiography for Land Rover; this new, fifth-generation Range feels like a luxury product – even if it’s very Rover is more technologically advanced than much priced like one, too. Its rear seats are Price: £122,375 ever and, as a result, is even better on the road cosseting and comfortable, and the ride is good Engine: 3.0-litre 6cyl turbodiesel Power/torque: 345bhp/700Nm Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 6.1 seconds Top speed: 145mph Economy/CO2: 35.6mpg/208g/km ONSALE Now NEED TO KNOW Car’s refinement is superbly impressive, and for such a big machine the Range Rover also handles well www.autoexpress.co.uk “D350 delivers all the straight- line performance you could need” Verdict A UK drive in the high-spec D350 Autobiography reveals a few chinks in the 2022 Range Rover’s armour, but it remains an incredibly convincing luxury car overall, with a vast breadth of ability. The engine is superbly refined and punchy, and the ride (mostly) is a brilliant match. However, the big surprise is how the Range Rover mixes this with impressive handling, thanks to clever kit underneath. There’s more strong tech inside, where this iconic model does luxury as well as it ever has, too. Special Issue 29

NEW CARS Peugeot 308 SW Alastair Crooks Essentials PRACTICALITY Boot space in Hybrid model INFOTAINMENT Tech has taken a forward [email protected] Peugeot 308 SW drops compared with regular 308 SW, from 608 step; new system has sharper graphics, and Hybrid 225 GT Premium litres to 548. This is due to the position of the i-Toggle touchscreen menu makes swapping THE recent facelift of Peugeot’s family 12.4kWh battery, which takes one hour and 55 between functions easy. Digital dash is also favourite, the 308, ushered in hybrid Price: £40,670 minutes to charge fully from a 7.4kW wallbox clear, but i-Cockpit means it’s not easy to read power for the first time, but the inclusion of Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol PHEV this tech also means that the car is more Power/torque: 222bhp/360Nm expensive. Here we’re testing the new Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, Hybrid 225 in GT Premium SW estate guise. This body, engine and trim combo is front-wheel drive the most expensive 308 you can buy, and 0-62/max: 7.6 seconds/146mph while the family hatchback-based hybrid Economy/CO2: 240mpg/27g/km estate segment might sound niche, the Electric range: 37 miles 308 SW has plenty of rivals. Plug-in hybrid versions of the SEAT Leon and Skoda ONSALE Now Octavia estate models remain strong contenders, and from within the Stellantis group (Peugeot’s parent) there’s the new Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer PHEV. The new 308’s interior feels as upmarket as any of its competitors’ and seems on par with premium rivals, such as the Audi A3. This top-spec car features lots of Alcantara around the cabin, but the ‘Renze’ fabric of the cheaper models is perfectly adequate. GT Premium is well equipped, with electronically adjustable, heated and massaging seats. You also get wireless phone charging, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and auto-dipping wing mirrors – which, given the extra length of the estate, come in handy. There’s also a 360-degree camera with park assistance, as well as a powered tailgate with a foot sensor. Safety features “The SW scores highly for comfort, and even Performance on large wheels, the suspension is composed” It’s not lacking in driving aids or 0-62mph/top speed safety features either, with the NTOEEKDNOW 7.6 seconds/146mph ‘Drive Assist Pack’ as standard, adding adaptive cruise control, Interior feels high there’s precious little difference between lane-positioning assist, long-range in quality, but GT them. The steering itself doesn’t give much blind-spot detection and rear cross- Premium spec feedback, but it’s quick enough and the traffic alert. Helpful tech like speed- is a pricey option comfy suspension is still communicative. limit recognition and AEB is also included. Peugeot claims the 308 SW Hybrid 225 Peugeot’s i-Cockpit layout makes the 308 returns an average combined 240mpg. But feel different to its rivals. The buttons are all it’s important to take this figure with a pinch angled towards the driver, while the 10-inch of salt – and keep the battery topped up. screen is clear and responsive; the new i-Toggle set-up underneath makes it easy The rear seats have plenty of leg and to switch between menus on the move. headroom and the spaciousness continues in the boot. Like most of its rivals, the 308 There’s another 10-inch screen behind Hybrid sacrifices some boot capacity due and above the steering wheel, and although to the battery, but the 548-litre space still it’s configurable with different readouts, the beats an Octavia iV estate’s 490 litres. shrunken steering wheel (another part of the i-Cockpit design) blocks most of it. However, at £40,670 for this top-spec 308 SW Hybrid 225 GT Premium, it’s a To drive, the SW feels virtually identical to pricey car. We can’t help feel the Hybrid the hatchback. It scores highly for comfort, 180 is the better option if you’re dead set and even on the larger 18-inch wheels, the on buying a plug-in hybrid. 308 SW’s suspension remains composed over rough roads and speed bumps. This 222bhp Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine mated to an electric motor and will sprint from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds – only 0.1 seconds faster than the 178bhp Hybrid. Acceleration is good, but the eight-speed automatic gearbox is sluggish, while the electric motor could engage more quickly; the 308 never feels quite as potent as hoped. However, its quiet nature is a positive, and it can be driven on electric power for 37 miles in Electric mode. Sport and Hybrid are the other two settings, and aside from Sport’s slightly heavier steering and quicker gearchanges, 30 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

NEW CARSPeugeot 308 SW Peugeot 308 SW FIRST DRIVE Upmarket push brings plug-in hybrid tech – and higher prices www.autoexpress.co.uk Verdict THE 308 SW’s premium interior is its stand-out feature and there’s potential for the Peugeot to steal sales from the likes of BMW and Audi. Practicality in this hybrid estate is near the top of its class, and while the 308’s powertrain isn’t as accomplished as some rivals’, it’s nicely refined. However, the driving position is frustrating and we can’t help but feel the Hybrid 180 in mid-spec trim represents better value. Special Issue 31

NEW CARS BMWiXM60 BMW Alastair Crooks there’s more to the M60 than just speed. car’s weight. But the comfort on offer In a car weighing 2.6 tonnes, even the is excellent, even on the new 21-inch [email protected] M division had its work cut out to give the M Sport wheels. The seats also look iX M60 a sporting edge. But air suspension quite flat at first, but they’re softly BMW revealed in 2017 that it plans to is a big help here, because the M60 has padded and surprisingly supportive. make all-electric M cars. We’ve still yet iX M60 two driving modes: Efficiency and Sport. to see one, although last year’s i4 M50 gave The interior isn’t exactly conventional, us a good indication of what to expect. Choose the latter and the dampers but it is full of character and quality, and it stiffen up and you get the sense it’s ready feels remarkably airy. A standard-fit, full- Now there’s the iX M60. It also bears the to handle the monstrous power. There’s length ‘Sky Lounge’ panoramic roof lets in M division’s logo, just like the i4 M50, and also some augmented drivetrain noise plenty of light, and visibility is good. With has been tweaked by BMW’s sporting arm, channelled into the cabin through a a fully flat floor in the front, there’s a huge but this is not a full-blown M car. Bowers & Wilkins sound system as part amount of legroom for passengers, and Just like the iX xDrive50, the M60 uses FIRST DRIVE of the M60’s M Sport sound. It aims to it’s superbly roomy in the rear, too. Range-topping iX give the driver a slightly greater sense of a 105.2kWh battery. With 195kW charging is as close as BMW involvement, but it’s easily switched off. The iX M60’s boot remains at just 500 capability, it’ll take 39 minutes for a 10-80 has yet come to litres, however, which is on the small side per cent top-up – or 11 hours from a home an electric M car In long, sweeping corners the M60 for a big car; the similarly sized X5 SUV socket. What BMW’s M division has done shows tremendous grip and not too much delivers 650 litres in non-hybrid form. is to release more power from the electric body roll. But find some tighter corners motors – 611bhp, in fact – along with a that require more abrupt steering inputs, BMW’s OS 8 infotainment system, ridiculous 1,100Nm of torque. and the suspension isn’t quite able to which appeared for the first time on the keep up. The steering is fairly light but iX, remains for the M60, with a stylish, With four-wheel drive, the iX M60 can quick, and the chassis is composed single curved panel on the dashboard. sprint from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and enough to instil plenty of confidence. That’s a good thing, because the 14.9- it feels mind-bogglingly fast for a big SUV. inch central touchscreen has crisp Off-the-line speed is the M60’s real party Switch the M60 into Efficiency and the graphics and the menus are intuitive. piece (especially with launch mode engaged), Performance air suspension softens – although you but where we’ve come to expect electric wouldn’t call Sport mode overly harsh. At £111,905, the iX M60 is £15,000 cars to tail off, at motorway speeds, the 0-62mph/top speed In fact, we’d like a bit more separation more than the xDrive50 and a whopping between the two settings, given that the £39,000 more than the entry-level 3.8 seconds/155mph M60 is the fastest iteration of the iX. xDrive40. There’s not much between the two models in terms of interior tech and iX M60 just keeps on pushing. In any mode, the iX has a tendency quality, so you’ll have to really want the Throttle response is immediate and the to squat under hard acceleration, such extra pace to choose this range-topper. swell of torque available means overtaking is Electric motor is the softness of the set-up and the no issue. However, if you regularly tap into the immense power, then the claimed 348- Power/range 611bhp/348 miles mile range (down 32 miles on the xDrive50) will be an impossible target to achieve. Yet 32 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

KNNEEODWTO BMWiXM60 NEW CARS Bowers & Essentials Wilkins stereo feeds augmented BMW iX M60 powertrain noise Price: £111,905 into the cabin Powertrain: 105kWh batt/2x e-motors Power/torque: 611bhp/1,100Nm www.autoexpress.co.uk Transmission: Single-speed automatic, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 3.8 seconds Top speed: 155mph Range: 348 miles Charging: 195kW (10-80% 39mins) ONSALE July PRACTICALITY There’s plenty of space for passengers on offer inside, in both the front and rear, while comfort is helped by supportive seats and a lovely, smooth suspension set-up BOOT SPACE At 500 litres, iX’s boot could be bigger, but at least there’s no loading lip and the space is a useful shape. Overall, there’s still enough practicality on offer here for buyers Verdict BMW has yet to make an all-electric M car, but it’s an inevitability and one we’re fascinated to see unfold – especially after driving this new iX M60. It’s an expensive option and the range isn’t class-leading, but given the mix of blistering pace, comfort, technology and a showstopping interior, there’s no doubt that BMW has a position near the top of the all-electric luxury SUV segment. Special Issue 33

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NEW CARSMercedes T-Class Essentials Mercedes T 180 d 7G-DCT Price: TBC Engine: 1.5-litre 4cyl turbodiesel Power/torque: 114bhp/260Nm Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 13.2 seconds Top speed: 103mph Economy: 50mpg CO2: 147g/km ONSALE Autumn Mercedes T-Class EQUIPMENT UK specs and prices FIRST DRIVE Van-based MPV tempts buyers with premium feel have still to be confirmed, but the T-Class feels like a cut above its van- Steve Walker levels increase without any major gain based MPV rivals inside, offering some in performance, so it’s far better to cruise premium materials and solid tech [email protected] around gently in a manner befitting a van- based MPV. The T 180 d will happily sit in PRACTICALITY T-Class offers IF the appeal of a van-based MPV is sixth gear at 40mph, it’s quiet enough at space and utility at a modest price, why motorway speeds, the ride is smooth, and plenty of cabin space, with sliding doors would you spend thousands extra to get claimed efficiency of up to 50mpg is good. providing easy access to the rear. A one with a Mercedes badge? This is the big larger, even more practical seven-seat question around the T-Class, a people carrier In town, there’s noise from the suspension model will join the line-up next year based on the new Citan compact van, which as it deals with bigger bumps, but the light shares its platform with Renault’s Kangoo. steering and tight turning circle make for Verdict Mercedes is confident that it has an an easy drive – as does the good all-round answer that will resonate with buyers, visibility. The body sways in faster direction IT’S no great claim to fame, but the namely that the T-Class receives the full changes, so it’s not the sharpest drive, but the new T-Class is certainly the poshest three-pointed-star treatment. No cynical target market is unlikely to care about that. compact van-based MPV. The badge-swap exercise, says the Stuttgart PR Tech inside reflects the T-Class’s relatively question is, will enough buyers in machine; Mercedes engineers have had a high price, with touchscreen as standard this utility- and cost-conscious sector hand in T-Class development from the start. pay for the privilege? With UK specs Soundproofing and the mapping for the “The sliding side doors aid access and you can and prices yet to be announced, the engines and seven-speed gearbox have all easily get a couple of adults in the back seat” jury is out. If Mercedes can get the come in for attention, as has the cabin – costs right, the T-Class has a chance. the design of which is perhaps the biggest It matches its rivals for refinement difference over its Renault Kangoo sister car. and practicality, while eclipsing Every T-Class features a seven-inch them with some premium polish. touchscreen with the MBUX infotainment, while the materials are mostly a cut above the Special Issue 35 norm in this class. They need to be, because you can bet that the T-Class won’t be one of the cheaper van-based MPV options, even if UK prices have yet to be announced. From a practical perspective, the van has a lot to offer. It’s being launched as a five- seater (a seven-seat version will follow in 2023), but even that has a 520-litre boot. The sliding side doors aid access and you can easily get a couple of adults in the back seat. Kneeroom is a little tight for taller passengers, but there’s loads of headroom. We tried the more powerful 114bhp T 180 d diesel auto model, which isn’t fast, but is smooth and impressively quiet below 2,000rpm. Extend the engine and the noise www.autoexpress.co.uk

NEW CARS Fiat 500X Hybrid 500X is nice and easy to drive around town, Fiat 500X Hybrid but far from the most dynamic small SUV FIRST DRIVE Mild-hybrid option for popular city car’s big brother TNOEEKDNOW Alastair Crooks (RED) special- [email protected] edition model features red styling THE Fiat 500 was one of the top 10 think the 500X has the Puma or most rivals if you’re going slowly enough, the 500X accents on the best-selling cars in Europe last year, beaten for driving fun. It’s not the most will run solely on electric power. dashboard. Driving and with good reason. The retro city car responsive engine when you need a burst of position is good has oodles of charm, is fun to drive and acceleration, because the new dual-clutch Ride comfort isn’t quite as good as in is now offered as a pure-electric model. transmission is annoyingly slow to kick down. the SEAT Arona or Skoda Kamiq, but the In theory, then, the larger but still pretty Fiat’s suspension does well in coping fashionable 500X crossover should be even In the corners, there’s surprisingly little with severe potholes and bumps in more popular thanks to its extra practicality. body roll, although the steering doesn’t built-up areas. The chassis, which is And although there’s no all-electric model, inspire too much confidence. The 500X’s shared with the Jeep Renegade, can feel there is a mild-hybrid. This (RED) special reactions are fast enough, but it’s numb a little firm at higher speeds, however. edition, developed with the international and the car doesn’t offer all that much grip. AIDS charity of the same name, costs an The interior of the 500X is a positive additional £1,000 over the already high- The Fiat is far happier when you’re and much of it is familiar from the petrol- spec Dolcevita trim, but features the Comfort travelling at lower speeds in town, where engined Fiat 500. Step in and you’re met Pack, red piping on the seats, a red dash its light steering and raised driving position by glossy plastic on the dash (offered in and red electrically adjustable door mirrors. combine for easy progress. There’s a bit of different colours) and 500 badges. There Our car uses Fiat’s latest ‘Firefly’ mild- a rattle from the engine at lower speeds, but are virtually no hard edges and it manages hybrid 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder to still feel retro and fun, unlike the dark unit mated to a 48-volt belt-driven starter- and gloomy interiors of some small SUV generator and a compact battery. However, rivals. It also feels pretty hard-wearing. its economy of 46.8mpg is only 3.5mpg higher than the 120bhp 1.0-litre non-hybrid Unfortunately, the tech on offer isn’t model, while a mild-hybrid automatic Ford cutting edge. The seven-inch touchscreen Puma claims 49.6mpg by comparison. The Fiat’s powertrain develops 128bhp and 240Nm of torque, meaning that the 0-62mph sprint takes 9.4 seconds, a second quicker than the old model and just enough to pip the hybrid Puma. But don’t “The 500X’s suspension does a good job of coping with severe bumps in built-up areas” Essentials Fiat 500X MHEV (RED) Price: £28,595 Engine: 1.5-litre 4cyl petrol MHEV Power/torque: 128bhp/240Nm Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 9.4 seconds Top speed: 121mph Economy: 46.8mpg CO2: 129g/km ONSALE Now TECHNOLOGY Dashboard design is funky www.autoexpress.co.uk and still feels fashionable, but the seven-inch touchscreen is now outdated, with grainy graphics and a relatively small display area. This is an area where Fiat can improve 36 Special Issue

NEW CARSFiat 500X Hybrid infotainment includes built-in sat-nav, DAB, Verdict Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as standard, but the FIAT’S mild-hybrid 500X compact rear-view camera has the clarity of an old SUV doesn’t quite live up to the fun- Nintendo GameBoy Colour. Still, the steering to-drive characteristics of the Italian wheel-mounted buttons are intuitive and brand’s all-electric 500 city car, while the air-con is easy to use via the physical it’s far from the most comfortable controls rather than the fiddly touchscreen. model in its class. However, plenty of buyers will be sold on the car’s looks We’d like a bit more storage, but there’s alone, plus the option of the Dolcevita lots of room for front and rear passengers. and (RED) models with a full-length Choose the Dolcevita model and headroom fabric roof, which really adds some in the rear drops due to the full-length fabric flair. But we’d like some more modern sunroof. However, practicality is enhanced infotainment and engine tech, though. by the Comfort Pack, which adds an adjustable front armrest, powered lumbar Special Issue 37 support and a rear USB port. Boot capacity is just 350 litres – 106 litres less than in the Puma – but the rear seats fold down easily, opening up a 1,000-litre load space. Mild-hybrid small SUVs are still relatively thin on the ground, but the Puma remains a tough competitor and the upcoming full- hybrid Nissan Juke should also have plenty in its armoury to become a force in the segment. That leaves the hybrid Fiat 500X already feeling a little dated, even with this new powertrain. It’s not exactly cheap, either, with prices starting from £27,595. www.autoexpress.co.uk

ROAD TESTS Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives Ford Fiesta ST-3 Volkswagen Polo GTI DSG Hyundai i20 N Price: £27,245 Price: £27,805 Price: £25,250 Engine: 1.5-litre 3cyl turbo, 197bhp Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, 204bhp Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbo, 201bhp 0-62mph: 6.5 seconds 0-62mph: 6.5 seconds 0-62mph: 6.2 seconds Test economy: 38.9mpg/8.6mpl Test economy: 41.5mpg/9.1mpl Test economy: 42.5mpg/9.3mpl CO2: 151g/km Annual road tax: £165 CO2: 154g/km Annual road tax: £165 CO2: 158g/km Annual road tax: £165 38 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

Feel the heat Does the revised Ford Fiesta ST have the beating of the Hyundai i20 N? Or is the VW Polo GTI finally worthy of its famous badge? Pictures: Pete Gibson SUPERCARS are the celebrated attainability. All of our challengers weigh in the Volkswagen Polo GTI benefits stars of the performance car world, at well under £30,000 – or around £400 per from some subtle upgrades. but hot hatchbacks are the unsung heroes. month on a three-year lease. These are the cars that are quick enough So where does that leave Hyundai? The N to be exciting, yet right-sized and with Two of our favourites have been revised division first sprinkled its magic on the i30, the right level of power, so they can this year. The Ford Fiesta ST has been a but it’s the smaller i20 N that we reckon is be exploited on public roads. clear pinnacle of the sector for several an even greater hit. We already know that Best of all, these superminis with attitude years now, and mechanical and cosmetic this is a phenomenally appealing and have perhaps the most exciting quality of all: upgrades here aim to keep it fresh against talented trio, so we squared them off one of its oldest foes. As with the Fiesta, to decide which is the real super car. www.autoexpress.co.uk Special Issue 39

ROAD TESTS Ford Fiesta ST vs rivals MODEL TESTED: Ford Fiesta ST-3 PRICE: £27,245 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 3cyl turbo, 197bhp ONE of the most obvious changes to the � Running costs facelifted Fiesta ST is the introduction of the � Mean Green paint that features on our test car. It’s a 38.9mpg (on test) £775 option, which brings the total cost of the ST-3 £69 fill-up/£165 or 35% tax model in these pictures to £28,320. Practicality Denegsiingnee&ring 4sco.r3e Boot (seats up/down) FOR 2022, Ford has applied a range 292/1,093 litres of updates to the ST which align it with those introduced to the rest of the Fiesta range. Chief Performance among the changes is the styling, particularly at the front, where there’s a reshaped grille with a big Ford 0-62mph/top speed logo placed in its centre. The headlights are more 6.5 seconds/143mph slender than before, and on the ST they feature matrix LED technology as standard. Details Inside, the key cosmetic change is that the old Fiesta only comes in car’s Recaro seats have been replaced by a pair of Ford high-spec ST-3 trim Performance items. That and an extra smattering of now, while Mean Green carbon fibre-effect trim aside, the changes are pretty paint is exclusive to minimal, but a tech boost comes from the 12.3-inch this hot variant digital driver’s display taken from the Puma SUV. Ford Fiesta ST There is one subtle powertrain upgrade, too. The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine has received Update introduces more kit and sharpened looks, but extra mid-range punch, courtesy of a 30Nm increase is it enough for pocket rocket to regain its crown? in torque. It’s now rated at 320Nm, while the 197bhp maximum remains the same as before. Power is www.autoexpress.co.uk transmitted to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, with a Quaife limited-slip differential diverting torque to the wheel with the most traction. Both the Ford and the Hyundai are equipped with high-performance tyres – Michelin Pilot Sport 4s for the former and Pirelli P Zeroes for the latter. The Polo, meanwhile, uses less exotic Michelin Primacy rubber. Driving 4sco.r7e BASED on grin-factor alone, the Fiesta ST is the star of this group. In fact, it can hold its own against performance cars that cost many times more. The chassis takes the most credit for this; throw the ST into a corner, and the agility of the front axle allows the car to keep up with a very quick steering rack. It’s precise, too, so you can feel the front tyres start to load up and reach their limit, which is well beyond those of most superminis, if just fractionally lower than the Hyundai’s. The Fiesta ST also transmits the fact that the front end is better tied down than the rear, which means that if you lift off aggressively mid-corner, you’ll need to be prepared to apply some opposite lock as the back axle tries to swing around. At this point you can get back on the throttle and the differential will help haul the car around at staggering speed. Learn to be more sensitive to this response, and the Fiesta ST allows you to adjust its line more precisely than either of its two rivals. As a result, you feel like your inputs – and your driving ability – matter more here than in either the Hyundai or Volkswagen. The suspension is quite firm around town, but there’s a distinct quality to the damping; the result is that bumps are rounded off effectively, so it never feels unduly harsh. At higher speeds, this sophistication manifests itself through the ST’s ability to shrug off mid-corner bumps more effectively than either of the other two cars here. It’s a cylinder down on its rivals, but the Fiesta ST’s 1.5-litre triple loves to be revved hard, and it pulls 40 Special Issue

ROAD TESTSFord Fiesta ST vs rivals www.autoexpress.co.uk Performance ST is as focused as ever, and its fun drive is joined by a sporty soundtrack SpSepceiacliaIslsIusseu4e141

ROAD TESTS Ford Fiesta ST vs rivals strongly from low revs. It sounds interesting, too; � we reckon it’s got the most charm of the three – even if having one less cylinder means that you get a � touch more vibration transmitted into the cabin. � There’s very little in the shift quality of the six-speed gearboxes in the Fiesta and the i20 – both are great. Firm low-speed ride aside, the Ford is relatively easy to live with every day. But there’s a little more road noise than in the VW, which makes the German car a more relaxing long-distance companion. Practicality 4sco.r0e EXCITEMENT clearly plays a huge part in the hot hatch experience, but everyday usability is vital, too. And passengers sitting in the back of the Fiesta ST are likely to be the least happy – not only because of its Interior sporty chassis and firm ride, but also because there’s less kneeroom than in either the Polo or the i20. Facelift introduced The regular Fiesta supermini is more cramped digital dials, but old anyway, but the deep sports seats up front car’s eight-inch make things even tighter in this hot version. infotainment The boot takes the middle ground in this group system remains with a volume of 292 litres (smaller than the Hyundai’s, but bigger than the VW’s), while there are a couple of bag hooks to secure smaller items. The seats fold in a 60:40 split, although there’s a small step in the floor. With the Polo’s boot floor in its highest position (the only position if, like our test car, an optional spare wheel is equipped) then the load space is level with the rear seats folded. Ownership 3sco.r9e NONE of these three brands has covered themselves in glory in our Driver Power satisfaction surveys, but Ford fared the worst in our 2021 poll. Of the 29 brands covered, it took a lowly 25th place, behind both VW (17th) and Hyundai (16th). Its dealers did better, though, ranking 12th of 21 networks, with VW just trailing Hyundai again – the pair took 16th and 15th places respectively. Running costs 4sco.r2e GET a little too keen with your right foot in any of these three hatches, and fuel consumption will take a hammering. However, settle down and none will be too alarming at the petrol station till, especially if plenty of motorway miles are brought into the equation. Rear seats Of the three, the Hyundai is the most frugal, achieving 42.5mpg. Next up it’s the Fiesta was Volkswagen at 41.5mpg, with the Ford already a bit of bringing up the rear at 38.9mpg. a squeeze, but Cover 20,000 miles at a current average petrol sports seats price of £1.65 per litre, and that’s the difference mean the ST between spending £3,534 for the most is even tighter affordable and £3,861 for the most expensive. Testers’ notes “Delve into Ford’s accessories catalogue, and £1,829 will get you Ford Performance coilover suspension with adjustable settings.” Alex Ingram Chief reviewer 42 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

ROAD TESTSFord Fiesta ST vs rivals THROUGH THE RANGE Which trim level might suit you? WHILE the pre-facelift Fiesta ST was offered All offers and finance prices correct at time of going to press in several trim levels, the current version is only available in top-spec ST-3 trim. That means kit levels are strong; among the included features are 18-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights and LED rear lights, tinted windows, climate control, keyless entry and a reversing camera. Safety and driver-assistance kit includes cruise control and lane-keep assist, while the standard-fit Performance Pack means the ST comes with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres and a Quaife limited-slip differential. Optional extras are few and far between; among the worthwhile upgrades are a heated steering wheel (£350) and a powerful 10-speaker B&O surround- sound system (£425). We compared three-year lease deals for each car, with a six-month payment up front and a 10,000-mile annual limit. The best deal we found for the Fiesta ST came to £371 per month. Our choice: Options only NEXT CAR Digital dials taken from the standard Fiesta have been added as part of the ST’s facelift Seats ST isn’t the most practical hot supermini for boot space, and there’s a high load lip, too Performance- branded seats replace older Recaro items, but they’re still set slightly too high Brushed metal kickplates help to remind you that the ST is something a bit special Special Issue 43

ROAD TESTS Ford Fiesta ST vs rivals MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Polo GTI DSG PRICE: £27,805 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, 204bhp THE revised Volkswagen Polo GTI is priced � Running costs higher than its rivals here, and that cost can � spiral further with a few choice options. With the 41.5mpg (on test) optional Kings Red paint with black contrast roof £66 fill-up/£165 or 35% tax (£965), heated front seats (£315) and a Driver Assistance pack that includes lane-departure Practicality warning and a semi-autonomous parking system (£520), the car you see in these pictures costs Boot (seats up/down) £30,135 – up from the base price of £27,805. 287/1,079 litres Design & 4sco.r2e Performance engineering THE Polo’s transformation to 0-62mph/top speed full-blown GTI comes with some key 6.5 seconds/149mph mechanical upgrades. The basic layout is much the same as the standard Polo’s – MacPherson struts up Details front combine with a rear torsion bar – but the ride height drops by 15mm and adaptive dampers are GTI has a distinct look fitted as standard. Unlike the Ford’s mechanical to separate it from rest limited-slip differential, the Polo gets the XDS of Polo range, with system, which mimics an LSD by using the brakes. twin exhausts, 17-inch alloys and red accents The VW’s 2.0-litre turbo engine is a detuned version of the unit from the Golf GTI, and it has the VW Polo GTI largest capacity here. The Polo GTI is the only one of these three to have an automatic gearbox, too, a It hasn’t gained cult status like the Golf GTI, but can seven-speed DSG. With 204bhp, it’s a touch more the latest Polo model cut it against its rivals here? powerful than its rivals, and its Fiesta-matching peak torque of 320Nm arrives 1,000rpm lower at www.autoexpress.co.uk 1,500rpm. However, the Polo needs all the help that it can get; at 1,361kg, it’s 81kg heavier than the Fiesta ST, and 171kg more than the i20 N. The VW’s cabin feels like it’s had enough effort put in to separate it from lesser models in the range. Key to this are the seats – although they’re not as extreme in their sportiness as the other two, the tartan upholstery works well with the subtle red highlights and flat-bottomed steering wheel, and just looks a little bit more special. It doesn’t feel any more special, though. The facelift has brought in updates to other Polos, including a touch-sensitive climate control console. It’s more fiddly and confusing to use than the previous physical controls, and it’s a backward step. Perhaps more confusing is that, while all three cars have hard plastics, the Polo was the only car with one or two trim rattles – not great considering it had only covered a couple of thousand miles. In contrast the i20 felt brand new, even though it had roughly 14,000 miles on the clock. Driving 4sco.r2e THANKS to that auto gearbox, the Polo is the easiest car of these three cars to drive at a relaxed pace. The DSG transmission can be left to its own devices, shuffling through the ratios with little fuss. The steering is light and, with the adaptive dampers switched into Comfort mode, the ride is smoother than in either the Ford or the Hyundai. The exhaust gives off a gentle burble, which hints at the performance on offer without being obnoxious about it, although some might find it a little too polite. While the 2.0-litre engine is the largest here, it doesn’t really feel like it has any more muscle than its opponents. A 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds is a match for the Ford’s, but just behind the Hyundai’s. However, it’s the way it delivers that power that fails to excite, 44 Special Issue

ROAD TESTSFord Fiesta ST vs rivals www.autoexpress.co.uk Performance Polo GTI’s softer chassis set-up means it’s not as thrilling to drive as its rivals here SpSepceiacliaIslsIusseu4e545

ROAD TESTS Ford Fiesta ST vs rivals especially in this company. The throttle response is � Interior keen enough, but the engine feels linear and a little flat as a result; there’s not much incentive to rev the � Polo’s older car all the way to its red line. The soundtrack doesn’t � touchscreen add much encouragement, either – beside the gargle system is better of the Ford’s triple and the anger of the Hyundai’s to use than the four, the VW sounds subdued. latest VW set-ups As with its engine, character is something that the Polo’s chassis lacks. The Primacy tyres don’t deliver enough grip and the VW’s responses are lazier, while its light steering offers little feedback. The traction control is quite restrictive, and the electronic differential doesn’t haul the car out of tight corners like the mechanical set-ups in the Ford or the Hyundai. The Polo GTI is still a very effective cross-country tool, and one which less experienced drivers will be able to exploit more easily than the other two. If you’re more experienced, you’ll certainly feel like you’ve covered ground quickly, but also maybe that you haven’t had as much fun. Practicality 4sco.r1e THERE’S little to separate the GTI from the standard Polo range, and that means it’s still a spacious supermini. Here, it has a small edge over the i20 N and is noticeably more accommodating than the Fiesta ST. Isofix mounting points are not only on the outer two rear seats, but the front passenger seat, too. That similarity with the regular Polo also brings the same benefits and foibles when it comes to cabin storage. The smartphone shelf is large, and the surrounding lip means that your device won’t fall out easily, but the bin between the front seats is small, and the cup-holders are both tiny and an odd shape, so not much will fit in them. Ownership 3sco.r9e BOTH the Fiesta and the Polo achieved five stars when they were assessed by Euro NCAP back in 2017. The VW fared better of the two, with an impressive 96 per cent rating in the adult occupant protection category, compared with the Ford’s 87 per cent score. The i20 has still yet to be tested by Euro NCAP. The closest indication of what it might achieve is with the i20-based Bayon compact SUV; that car scored four stars in 2021, although the assessment today is more stringent than it was back in 2017. Running costs 4sco.r1e Rear seats IF you want to get your hot hatch There’s slightly thrills as a company car user, then the more room in the Polo GTI’s higher list price means it will be back of the Polo the most expensive car to choose. A higher-rate than found in the income tax-payer can expect Benefit-in-Kind Fiesta, but the i20 deductions of £3,803 for the VW, compared with matches the VW £3,634 for the Ford and £3,544 for the Hyundai. Testers’ notes “As the supposedly ‘posher’ choice of this trio, it seems stingy that VW charges £270 for a reversing camera when the others get one as standard.” Alex Ingram Chief reviewer 46 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

ROAD TESTSFord Fiesta ST vs rivals THROUGH THE RANGE Which trim level might suit you? BESIDE its hot hatch rivals here, and All offers and finance prices correct at time of going to press especially the i20 N, the Polo GTI is a little short on equipment. Tick the boxes for heated seats, a reversing camera, wireless smartphone charging and keyless entry (all of which are standard on the Hyundai) and you’ll add £1,055 to the GTI’s asking price. Other options include 18-inch alloy wheels (£415), a panoramic sunroof (£875) and velour upholstery (£915). What you do get as standard are a set of 17-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights with scrolling indicators, climate control, cruise control and three Isofix points (including one on the front passenger seat). In terms of tech, both of the digital screens are standard, and built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are thrown in, too. When we matched the three-year lease terms applied to the Fiesta ST, the best deal we found for the Polo came in at a competitive £336 per month. Our choice: Options only NEXT CAR Digital dials feature a black-and-red theme, but they’re largely similar to standard Polo’s Seats Polo’s movable floor means it’s the only car here with no loading lip to lift things over Sports seats feature tartan trim in a nod to the original Golf GTI, while red stitching appears throughout www.autoexpress.co.uk Polo’s drive modes are selected by using a button to the side of the DSG gear selector Special Issue 47

ROAD TESTS Ford Fiesta ST vs rivals MODEL TESTED: Hyundai i20 N Detail PRICE: £25,250 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbo, 201bhp Racy additions include oval exhaust tip, a tailgate spoiler THE Hyundai i20 N is the only car of this trio to and dark grey not have received a nip and a tuck – so is our 2021 18-inch alloys Hot Hatchback of the Year still able to hold its own? When it comes to price, it’s off to a very promising Running costs start; at £25,250 before this car’s optional Performance 42.5mpg (on test) Blue paint, its on the road price is £995 less than the £66 fill-up/£165 or 36% tax Fiesta ST’s and £1,555 cheaper than the Polo GTI’s. � Design & 4sco.r2e Practicality engineering SOME hot hatchbacks use their Boot (seats up/down) appearance to shout louder about their performance than others, and the i20 N’s deep front 352/1,165 litres splitter, side skirt extensions, and roof-mounted rear wing make it the most outlandish here. We reckon it looks its best in the Performance Blue shade that is also found on Hyundai’s i20 N World Rally Car. The blue highlights continue inside. The cabin feels Performance a little cheap in places, but it’s lifted by other details, such as the supportive sports seats and the fantastic 0-62mph/top speed tech. Stitching, door inserts and subtle highlights on 6.2 seconds/143mph the climate control switches all get that Performance Blue shade, but it’s the big colourful buttons on the sports steering wheel that are most intriguing. One accesses N mode – the most driver-focused of the five drive settings (known collectively as the N Grin mode). The other allows the driver to tailor the characteristics of the throttle response, steering, stability control, and exhaust note to their own taste. The Ford’s driving mode buttons are also on the wheel (albeit smaller) while the Polo’s can be scrolled through via a switch beside the gear selector. The transformation from regular i20 into hot N model includes a mechanical overhaul led by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. Its 201bhp splits the other two contenders here, but with 275Nm, it has the least torque. The exhaust sounds very fruity in its extreme mode, while engine noise is augmented through the car’s speakers. As in the Ford, there’s a mechanical limited-slip differential to send torque to the front wheel with the greatest traction, and there’s also a launch control system to achieve Hyundai i20 N optimum standing-start acceleration. The chassis has been reinforced at 12 different points beyond the standard supermini, while at the front there’s increased negative camber, a new anti-roll bar, plus revised springs and shock absorbers. The rear gets a stiffer torsion beam axle, too, while Our current class favourite undercuts its rivals on price, the front brake discs measure 320mm in diameter, but it still delivers plenty of thrills on the right road which is 40mm larger than the standard i20’s. � Driving 4sco.r6e THE Hyundai isn’t quite as playful as the Ford, but it’s still thrilling and is even more effective point-to-point. The N division has managed to engineer a front end that’s as keen as the Fiesta ST’s, but the back tyres hold on gamely, making the i20 N feel a little more neutral. That may sound like a slight on its enjoyment, but it isn’t; there’s still plenty of adjustability in the chassis, it’s just that it’s not quite as playful when you reach the limits of its grip. On public roads, there’s not a hint of understeer to suck the fun out of a drive. Some will prefer that tiny extra degree of security, while others will prefer the Ford’s lairy character. Both the Ford and Hyundai feel firm at low speeds – the i20 is marginally less compliant, and 48 Special Issue www.autoexpress.co.uk

ROAD TESTSFord Fiesta ST vs rivals www.autoexpress.co.uk Performance There’s lots of grip in the i20 N, which gives you the confidence to push the car harder SpSepceiacliaIslsIusseu4e949

ROAD TESTS Ford Fiesta ST vs rivals certainly less forgiving than the Polo. Build the � speed up, however, and the stiffer pair show real sophistication to their damping, while the Polo � begins to feel a little more flustered. At 6.2 seconds, � the i20 N has the quickest 0-62mph time here. That’s in part helped by long gearing – it’ll just crack that benchmark in second gear, but with third running to over 90mph, we feel that a closer-ratio gearbox would make things even more exciting. Bringing things to a halt is no worry, though. The Hyundai feels powerful and stable when braking. The Ford’s more mobile rear axle makes it feel slightly less secure, while the Polo’s brakes, though strong, feel over-servoed, which is at odds with its other controls. Practicality 4sco.r1e Interior A SUPPORTIVE driving position Large digital has an important part to play in any screens add a performance car, and from this perspective hi-tech feel, while the i20 feels great – the pedals are well aligned and steering wheel there’s plenty of adjustment in the seat and wheel. buttons select The Polo has the least sporty position, but is drive modes comfortable, while we’d like the Ford’s heavily bolstered seat to adjust just a fraction lower. www.autoexpress.co.uk If load space is as much of a consideration for you as the drive, then the i20 N is the one to have. At 352 litres, its load bay offers up 60 litres more storage than the Ford’s and 67 litres more than the VW’s. That’s impressive when you consider that the Hyundai is the shortest car here. It’s great for back-seat passengers, too. Knee and headroom are a match for the Polo’s, while the i20 N has a smaller central hump that makes it a more comfortable place for a third passenger on the soft middle seat. Ownership 3sco.r9e LIVING with the Hyundai will most likely offer the greatest peace of mind out of these three, given that a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty is standard on the i20 N. Both the Ford and VW come with three-year agreements limited to 60,000 miles. All three have a single year of breakdown cover included from new. Running costs 4sco.r2e AS desirable yet reasonably affordable performance cars, all three contenders manage to hold on to a strong proportion of their original value. The Fiesta is the only one to lose Rear space more than half of its value after three years; the Polo depreciates at a marginally slower rate, while the Clever packaging i20 N is the best of all and is expected to lose roughly means that front 44 per cent of its value over the same period. sports seats As the cheapest car here, that means you stand to don’t impact too lose the least cash with the Hyundai – an estimated badly on rear £11,125 over three years compared with £13,855 for legroom the Polo and £13,862 for the Fiesta. Testers’ notes “A big, red button on the steering wheel lets you switch off the rev-matching downshifts to allow you to master your heel-and-toe technique.” Alex Ingram Chief reviewer 50 Special Issue