Opinion: An all-electric Porsche Macan is a great idea

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February 27, 2019

Porsche has just announced that the next-generation Macan SUV, coming in 2021, will be electric-only.

That means no petrol, no diesel, no hybrid. Electric only. And we think that’s a great idea.

Better performance, better looking

An electric Macan makes sense. Firstly, the shape of small SUVs is conducive to electric powertrains. There’s plenty of room for batteries, and lowering the centre of gravity would be no bad thing.

More freedom to style and shape the body wouldn’t hurt either. There’s no way current crossovers will get worse in terms of looks or handling if they go electric-only.

But better than Tesla?

Imagine, if you will, a smaller Tesla Model X, with more range and quicker charging. It has also exchanged silly doors for Porsche badges, Porsche styling and indeed Porsche build quality. And it costs £30,000 less.

That sounds like a pretty appealing package to us.

Better than the current four-cylinder

The four-cylinder engine at the bottom of the current Macan range simply isn’t enough. It sounds asthmatic and has nowhere near the get-up-and-go you expect of a Porsche.

There’s no joy lost in exchanging it for electric motors and an 80kwh bank of batteries. You can bet the electric Macan won’t hang about.

More range than petrol?

There probably won’t be any economy or range lost either. We estimated we’d get a maximum of 450 miles out of a tank in the four-cylinder Macan when tested.

That was based on it achieving a deeply unimpressive 30mpg. Even that proved ambitious at times.

We’d wager that the next-generation electric Macan will get very close and possibly surpass that range, with performance to frighten a Macan Turbo. Indeed, it’s due to get a version of the 800-volt technology we’ll see in the Taycan later this year.

We hope we’re not being optimistic with our number plucking. An electric Macan that can do all of the above sounds like Porsche-badged perfection in an Elon Musk electric utopia.

It’s time for electric cars without caveats. And if anyone can do that, it’s Porsche.

Five stars: Euro NCAP names safest new SUVs

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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February 27, 2019

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The new Mercedes-Benz G-Class is one of three new SUVs to be awarded a maximum five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP – highlighting the reinvention of this iconic off-roader.

Safety first: the history of Euro NCAP crash tests

What’s even more impressive is that the G-Class – a left-hand-drive G 350d – was subjected to Euro NCAP’s more stringent protocols of 2019, making a five-star rating harder to achieve than last year.

The Mercedes scored 90 percent for adult occupant safety, 83 percent for child occupant safety, 78 percent for vulnerable road users, and 72 percent for safety assist technology.

Seat’s new seven-seat SUV, the Tarraco, delivered an even better performance, scoring a near-perfect 97 percent for adult occupant safety. For child safety, pedestrian safety and technology, the Tarraco scored 84 percent, 79 percent and 79 percent respectively.

What makes this all the more impressive is that the Tarraco shares its platform with the Kodiaq, with the Skoda receiving lower scores in every category when it was crash tested in 2017.

Finally, the new Honda CR-V is awarded a maximum five-star rating, scoring 93 percent for adult safety, 83 percent for child safety, 70 percent for vulnerable road users and 76 percent for safety assist technology.

The power of consumer testing

Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, said, “Here we have three new vehicles, competing in the same segment and getting top safety ratings.

“That’s impressive enough, but the fact that all three off-roaders are equipped with pedestrian and cyclist AEB systems really demonstrates the power of consumer testing not only to encourage better performance but also to promote new technologies as standard-fit across Europe.”

Last year, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class was named the safest small family car by Euro NCAP, with the Lexus ES scooping the award in the large family car and hybrid/electric categories. The Hyundai Nexo was the safest large off-road car of 2018.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Fiat Panda received a zero rating while the Jeep Wrangler was awarded just a single star.

Jaguar XE overhauled with new gadgets and ‘cleanest in class’ diesel engine

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Richard Aucock

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February 26, 2019

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Jaguar is aiming to turn around the fortunes of its BMW 3 Series-rivalling XE saloon with interior tech borrowed from the I-Pace electric SUV and a diesel engine that’s cleaner than every single rival.

Revealed in London at The Bike Shed in Shoreditch, the 20MY Jaguar XE (that’s 2020 model year, although it’s on sale right now) at first glance doesn’t look all that different.

Jaguar admits styling changes are restricted to new bumpers front and rear, dark-tint tail lamps with a new LED lighting pattern, plus full LED headlights with their own fresh LED running light design. The cutouts in the front bumper are wider and lower, making the XE look wider, and the graphics are more distinctive from a distance (or in a rear-view mirror).

The chassis is largely unchanged too, with just a few tweaks to make the XE a little bit sharper and smoother-riding. “We really focused on the things that mattered to our customers,” said Jaguar Land Rover MD Rawdon Glover. Updates to the exterior and chassis are thus “subtle”.

Inside is where the big news is, with a set of changes “completely transforming it from the outgoing model”. And not before time: the sub-par interior was always a key weakness of the original XE.

Described as all-new by Jaguar, the centrepiece of the interior is the new Touch Pro Duo ‘twin-screen’ setup in the centre console. Nabbed from the I-Pace, this is leagues ahead of the plasticky climate control setup on the old XE. The HD infotainment screen also now comes with Apple CarPlay, at long last.

There’s a steering wheel from the I-Pace, with touch-sensitive controls, plus a 12.3-inch driver display also nabbed from the electric SUV. The gearshifter, meanwhile, is taken from the Jaguar F-Type sports car: all 20MY Jaguar XE are automatics.

Jaguar promises “extensive use of soft-touch materials, premium veneers and all-new door trims that improve usability and practicality”. It still won’t be the roomiest of cars in the rear seats, but at least it’s a nice place for those in the front to sit in.

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Clean diesel

Big news for company car drivers is the new XE D180 RWD version: it’s the first 2.0-litre turbodiesel to be RDE2 NOx compliant. What does this mean? Exhaust emissions as clean as a petrol car – and a 4 percent saving on company car tax.

Private buyers also enjoy a first-year saving on VED road tax. No rival is yet available with an RDE2 diesel engine, giving Jaguar a handy advantage in a hotly-fought market.

Jaguar adds that diesel haters now have little to dislike. The clean diesel is as green as a petrol, gives 25 percent better fuel economy and emits 15 per less CO2. Drive over 12,000 miles a year? Diesel is the most cost-effective solution for you.

Also available in the new XE are 2.0-litre petrol engines in either 250hp or 200hp guise; they’re labelled P250 and P300. With optional four-wheel drive fitted, the P300 does 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds.

Jaguar XE 20MY: prices and specs

Jaguar XE prices start from £33,915 and it’s offered in a simpler line-up of S, SE and HSE trim levels. For each grade, a sporty-look R-Dynamic pack can be added on (the red car above is R-Dynamic): this has performance exterior design tweaks, sports seats with contrast stitching, and satin chrome gearshift paddles.

Every new Jaguar XE comes as standard with 18-inch alloys, leather seats with electric operation, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, a rear camera and lane-keep assist.

Jaguar has crunched the numbers and says the new car is better value than before. The D180 R-Dynamic S, at £36,145, costs £670 less than the old XE R-Sport… even better, it has £1,100 of extra kit, making a total saving of £1,770.

The New Jaguar XE is available to order now, with deliveries expected from the summer. Just don’t expect to see it at the Geneva Motor Show next week, if you’re heading over: neither Jaguar nor Land Rover are attending – and they’re not the only ones…

PSA Group on a roll: Vauxhall in profit, Peugeot going to the USA

By

Ethan Jupp

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February 26, 2019

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In the summer of last year it was reported, to the surprise of many, that Vauxhall/Opel was returning to profit under new PSA Peugeot/Citroen ownership.

This was a quick turnaround following PSA’s acquisition of the two marques from General Motors not two years previously. Final numbers indicate that Vauxhall/Opel’s profit margin was 4.7 percent in 2018.

Brexit confidence

Peugeot, Citroen and DS, meanwhile, have doubled profits in the UK since the Brexit vote two years ago. Indeed, chairman Carlos Tavares isn’t worried about Brexit, saying “Vauxhall is warm to the hearts of UK consumers. Maybe we are the ones who have the best opportunity out of it”.

That doesn’t necessarily secure the safety of the Ellesmere Port plant, though. Tavares is no stranger to making difficult choices in the pursuit of progress: “If we have to make tough decisions, we will”.

Going global

With revenue up 18.9 percent compared with 2017 (at more than £63 million), PSA Group is now looking to go global. Just two years after Opel was withdrawn from Russia, there are plans to return. This is part of a strategy to increase sales outside Europe by 50 percent, which also includes Citroen heading to India.

By far the most interesting facet of PSA’s future expansion, however, is the plan to reintroduce Peugeot to North America. We never thought we’d see the day where a Peugeot 508 vs.Toyota Camry twin-test was a possibility in Automobile magazine.

Overall, the group aims to launch 116 new models by 2021. A Core Energy Strategy will also see 50 percent of the Group’s offerings electrified by 2021, with 100 percent targeted for 2025.

Baby steps have already been made with the new 208, available with a 50kwh electric powerplant from launch. So too with the new Vauxhall Corsa later this year, which will be available with electric power.

Tavares’ success

This will be the fifth year in a row that Carlos Tavares has delivered impressive results for the Peugeot Citroen Group. What’s the secret to his success?

Agility is a word that keeps popping up, as a descriptor for the Group’s ability to adapt to new challenges. Tavares claims that “we will be continuing our Darwinian transformation and approaching each challenge as an opportunity to stand out against our competitors”.

Brexit tax: new car prices could leap by 22 percent

By

Ethan Jupp

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February 26, 2019

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Independent car buying website Carwow has developed a tool to predict Brexit price rises for individual car manufacturers.

On average, it says, new car prices will rise by £8,000 if no deal is reached between Britain and the EU.

That doesn’t mean that middling Ford Fiesta is going to leap from £16,000 to £24,000, of course. The £8,000 figure mostly refers to premium models, which will be the most affected by the EU exit.

Premium jumps

After March 29th, cars from marques such as Volvo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo, Volkswagen, Fiat and Audi could be around 22 percent more expensive.

For a Maserati that costs £67,000 at present, a £14,000 increase is on the cards. And the Alpine A110 is expected to jump by £10,000.

The news follows many marques from the Volkswagen Group announcing potential 10 percent rises post-Brexit.

Budget brands ‘safe’

As for more affordable cars, there’s better news. While there are rises predicted, cars from Nissan, Ford, Mini and Vauxhall will likely only increase by about three percent.

A typical new Ford is due to set you back an extra £727, according to the prediction tool. A new Mini is predicted to cost an extra £644, while a new Vauxhall will be £631 more.

The tool is a response to Carwow research that revealed only seven percent of Brits are prepared to pay more for a new car post-Brexit. On the plus side, there could be some superb deals over the next five weeks.

One thing is certain. If you’re in the market for a new car, your best bet is to buy now and make sure your delivery date is before 29 March. If not, buy straight off a forecourt. Uncertain times are ahead…

Kia Soul EV: another real-world long-range electric car is coming

By

Richard Aucock

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February 26, 2019

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The march of the mainstream electric car continues. After bringing us the impressive Kia e-Niro, the firm is doubling down on this with another entrant in the crossover SUV sector: meet the new Kia Soul EV.

Making its European debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the new Soul EV arrives in EU markets this spring. UK prices and an on-sale date will follow later – but, as with the e-Niro, we can expect an on-sale price of under £35,000.

Indeed, as well as the range-topper, which has a 64kWh battery, Kia’s also selling a lesser Soul EV with a 39.2kWh battery. This one could actually squeeze under the £30k mark, if the firm decides to bring it to the UK.

The longer-range is the one most will want though. At 280 miles, it has an almost identical range to the e-Niro. And because the battery is bigger, Kia can fit a powerful 204hp motor, giving 0-62mph in a scant 7.6 seconds.

Don’t expect the Soul EV 39.2kWh version, with its 136hp motor, to be anywhere near as fast. The range isn’t as good either: 172 miles, rather than 280 miles. It will share the longer-range model’s regenerative braking paddles though, allowing ‘one-pedal’ driving and charging the battery at the same time.

Both version will charge up from zero to 80 percent charge in just 42 minutes, via a public 100kW fast charger.

Third-generation Soul

The new Soul EV is the third generation of Kia’s leftfield crossover SUV. This one is still very distinctive, but more refined and fully-formed than earlier versions. It even has sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, instead of a cheaper torsion beam setup, so should drive much better.

At 4,195mm long, it’s 55mm longer than before, and is a fulsome 1,800mm wide. Plenty of body height means Kia’s been able to create a lot of space inside – this is the roomiest Soul yet, despite the all-electric drivetrain (other global markets will get petrol and diesel Soul, but for Europe and the UK, it’s Soul EV only).

The designers are particularly proud of the ‘island’ tailgate, which opens up to a so-so 315-litre boot; fold the seats and it grows to 1,339 litres.

Sales of the outgoing Soul convinced Kia to go all-electric for Europe. There was a previous-generation Soul EV and, explained Emilio Herrera, CEO for Kia Motors Europe, “in 2018 – the outgoing model’s final year on sale, Kia sold more of the zero-emissions Soul EV in Europe than petrol and diesel versions combined.

“Electrified vehicles account for one in eight Kia cars sold in Europe in 2018, up from one in 10 in 2017, and the Soul EV will further build on this momentum.”

Kia adds the new Soul EV’s electric motor and battery are so advanced, they’re up to 30 percent more energy-efficient than Europe’s current best-selling electric car. Which is? We’re looking at you, Nissan Leaf – such is the pace of how quickly things move on in the electric car world.

Indeed, even Nissan already has an answer to the launch Leaf’s so-so range…

New Skoda Kamiq revealed: baby SUV to take on big-selling Nissan Juke

By

Richard Aucock

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February 26, 2019

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The new Skoda Kamiq, which makes its world debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show next week, is the Czech brand’s third all-new SUV and the smallest one it’s launched to date.

Billed as a city SUV crossover, the new Kamiq is gunning for the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Vauxhall Mokka X (as well as its Seat Arona sister car). Skoda hopes it will bring brand new, younger customers into dealers, those who have never considered the brand before.

At 4,241mm long, it’s only slightly larger than a regular supermini, and shorter overall than a family hatchback like a Volkswagen Golf (or, indeed, the upcoming new Skoda Scala). But the higher ground clearance gives it a safe and sturdy feel inside, and the tall body creates plenty of space.

Chunky styling draws from the Skoda SUV family DNA, with a wide grille and contoured bonnet. Even the smallest wheels are 16 inches in diameter; up to 18 inches are available, underlining the tough and chunky look.

The Kamiq is “powerful and emotive, despite its compact dimensions,” said Skoda head of design Oliver Stefani. He’s proud of the split LED headlights; choose optional full LED lights and the daytime running lights “appear like four gemstones above the main headlights”. Crystalline 3D effects further enhance the “glistening jewels” appearance.

The Scala introduced Skoda’s new interior layout, with a large, freestanding infotainment screen in the centre of the dash. The Kamiq is the second – and at 9.2 inches, the screen is the largest in the city SUV segment.

There’s lots of soft-touch materials and more crystalline textures, while ambient lighting in three colours – white, red and copper – help it feel more spacious at night. Luxury touches include optional heated seats in the rear as well as the front.

The boot is enormous – 400 litres with the seats up (20 litres bigger than a VW Golf), 1,395 litres with them folded. Skoda will even let you option a fold-down front passenger seat, so loads up to almost 2.5 metres can be loaded in.

Skoda’s selling the Kamiq purely in front-wheel drive guise: people care more about fuel economy than off-road traction in this sector (although it does have 37mm more ground clearance than a Scala, add the engineers). There is a diesel, a 115hp 1.6 TDI, but the best-sellers will be the turbo petrol engines – a 1.0 TSI with 95hp or 115hp, plus a 1.5 TSI with 150hp.

Those who want a sportier drive can have a sport chassis setup, that’s 10mm lower and comes with adaptive suspension – choose from normal, sport, eco and individual modes.

There are lots of standard safety features, plenty more optional ones, and a Skoda wouldn’t be a true Skoda without a plethora of so-called ‘Simply Clever’ features. The Kamiq? It has no fewer than 20 of them.

These include sector-first door edge protectors, an electric tailgate, removable LED torch and a Skoda Connect app that allows you to remotely check whether the Kamiq is locked, or how much fuel is in the tank, from your smartphone.

Ford gets first Reader Recommendation from Good Housekeeping

By

Ethan Jupp

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February 25, 2019

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The Good Housekeeping Reader Recommendation is a highly sought-after accolade for anything in the consumer sphere – be it technology, clothing or indeed housekeeping.

Now cars are on the iconic magazine’s radar, with the Ford Kuga and Ecosport earning a first ever automotive Reader Recommendation.

The Reader Recommendation comes with a combination of the ‘expertise of Good Housekeeping’s acclaimed testing institute’ as well as the insights of readers giving their personal experiences of a product.

Fully 98 percent of readers rated the Kuga as very good or excellent. And 96 percent said they would recommend the crossover to friends or family.

The Ecosport scores slightly lower, with 96 percent of readers giving a good/excellent score and 91 percent saying they’d recommend it. Still, not a score to be sniffed at.

Alongside the success and acclaim the Fiesta and Focus are accruing, Ford has quite the award-winning lineup on its hands.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first automotive manufacturer to be Reader Recommended,” said Mandy Dean, marketing director, Ford of Britain. “It’s great to have Ecosport and Kuga, two very popular vehicles in our range, receive further validation from such an established and respected consumer voice, representing everyday users.”

“It’s great to see a brand like Ford engaging in our rigorous Good Housekeeping testing programme to ensure they’re providing the best quality for the ever-discerning consumer,” added Jim Chaudry, automotive director at Good Housekeeping publisher, Hearst UK.

Tesla Model 3: consumer watchdog withdraws its recommendation

By

Ethan Jupp

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February 25, 2019

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Respected American watchdog Consumer Reports has revoked its recommendation of the Tesla Model 3, following numerous complaints of sub-par build quality.

Viral social media threads and online ranting are one thing, criticism from an organisation like Consumer Reports is quite another. And Tesla’s Model 3 troubles have come to a head with this critical blow.

The company faced issues getting its entry-level electric car to market, both in terms of quality and speed of delivery. Although it was thought that such kinks had been ironed-out, Tesla’s troubles clearly aren’t over yet. As a result of the CR decision, its stock dropped 2.2 percent last Thursday.

Tesla Model 3: the issues

Owners had reported everything from paint defects and poor quality trim, to windows cracking out of the blue in cold conditions and electronic glitches. Even the Consumer Reports test car got a crack in its rear glass during a cold snap.

The screens in the car’s cabin have been reported as freezing and ‘acting strangely’. “The touch screen would intermittently begin acting as if someone was touching it rapidly at many different points,” reported one Consumer Reports member. “This fault would cause music to play, volume to increase to maximum, and would rescale and pan the map in the navigation system.”

Suspension issues have also been reported, although these are largely exclusive to earlier 2017-build cars.

On the plus side, the actual driving systems have largely been reliable. Consumer Reports puts that down to the simplicity of electric powertrains versus conventional internal combustion engines.

Tesla’s response

Tesla was swift to respond to the Consumer Reports decision, saying that “significant improvements” had already been made to address the issues owners raised with the organisation.

“The vast majority of these issues have already been corrected through design and manufacturing improvements, and we are already seeing a significant improvement in our field data,” said a Tesla spokesperson.

Insurance auto-renewals cost UK drivers £1.2 billion

By

Ethan Jupp

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February 25, 2019

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Insurers are costing UK motorists £1.23 billion every year with expensive auto-renewals on car insurance policies.

Research by Go Compare has revealed a ‘loyalty trap’ that around 4.6 million fell into at their last renewal. These drivers could have saved up to £262 per person if they’d shopped around.

Misplaced loyalty

Nearly a third of the 62 percent who let their policy roll over didn’t query or shop around because of a feeling of loyalty to their insurance providers.

That beats the 22 percent who lacked the confidence to switch, the 15 percent who assumed other insurers wouldn’t be able to compete on price and the 10 percent who couldn’t be bothered because of the hassle.

The lowest earners pay the most

Those who pay for their insurance monthly (and more often than not, therefore, pay more) are 54 percent more likely to allow their policy to continue past renewal.

Drivers from the lowest earnings groups are 38 percent more likely to pay monthly, and in turn will pay out an average of 18 percent more in fees and interest as a result. That’s not even taking into account the costs of letting a policy roll over.

It doesn’t hurt to ask

You can save serious money simply by getting other quotations, going back to your insurer and threatening to leave.

Inflated renewals are a liberty that insurers are often allowed to take. As such, they will often be happy to re-quote on the threat of your departure, just to keep your custom. Loyalty is fine, just don’t let them take advantage of it.

A few tips from Go Compare, condensed by us:

Don’t accept your renewal quote without checking the price is competitive
Note your renewal date and give yourself time to check prices
Check the small print, make sure there are no hidden costs
If you can only afford monthly payments, consider a low-rate credit card to pay off over the course of a year