Renault has revealed UK-specific pricing and specification detail for the new, second-generation Captur ahead of orders opening later this month. The Clio-based crossover, first shown to the public at September’s Frankfurt motor show, is priced from £17,595. That gets you a Play spec model with the base 1.0-litre three cylinder TCe 100 motor, which puts out 99bhp and 118lb ft of torque. Standard equipment for the entry-level model includes full LED headlights, climate control, cruise control, a seven-inch touchscreen with DAB, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration and keyless entry. Also included is safety kit such as lane departure warning, lane keep assist and active emergency braking. Stepping up to the TCe 130, which uses a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, adds £2,800 – although in Play spec it’s auto-only, which explains the big price jump. Other engines include dCi 95 and dCi 115 diesel engines, (From £19,395 and 21,695 respectively) plus a range-topping TCe 155 petrol (from £22,895). Just three specification grades will be offered at launch, with Iconic (from £19,095) and S Edition (from £29,595) specs rounding the range off. The French maker claims to have sold more of the outgoing Captur last year than when it first launched in 2013. To continue that success, the new Seat Arona rival adopts an evolutionary approach to the exterior design that Renault describes as “more modern, more muscular and more expressive, with more SUV design cues”. The new crossover is significantly larger than its predecessor, with 100mm added to its length – with a 33mm longer wheelbase – and a 19mm increase in width. The result is claimed class-leading rear seat space, aided by a sliding bench that can be adjusted by up to 16cm, and a 536-litre boot that is 81 litres larger than the outgoing car. The Mk2 Captur sits on the same CMF-B platform first used for the latest Clio. It’s said to weigh “about the same” as the old car despite its increase in size and equipment levels, thanks to details such as an aluminium bonnet and plastic tailgate. The interior of the new car, like the Clio, has had a more substantial overhaul than the exterior. Renault claims it offers “a new dimension of quality and comfort rivalling models from the class above” with extensive use of higher-grade materials and newly designed seats. There’s also a new floating centre console, freeing up additional storage and space for wireless phone charging. The infotainment is a big upgrade, with an optional 9.3in central screen – larger than in the bigger Kadjar – combining with standard customisable 7in digital instruments (a 10in display is available on higher grades). A greater range of standard safety assist kit is offered, too. Renault is also going big on customisation: there’s a total of 90 exterior colour combinations and 18 interior configurations. From launch, the Captur will be offered with three turbocharged petrol engines and two diesels, all new to the car. The base 1.0-litre three-cylinder TCe unit puts out 99bhp and 118lb ft of torque, while a 1.3-litre four-cylinder makes 128bhp and 177lb ft in ‘130’ form, and 153bhp and 199lb ft in ‘155’ form. A 1.5-litre diesel comes in 94bhp and 113bhp form. Depending on the engine, five- or six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes are offered. The Captur will gain a plug-in hybrid E-Tech model in the first quarter of 2020. The system, for which Renault has filed over 150 patents, blends a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 9.8kWh battery and two electric motors, linked to a new ‘multimode’ continuously variable transmission, claimed to feel like a dual-clutch set-up. Renault says it can run for 28 miles on battery power alone at up to 83mph, while a braking system taken from the firm’s EV range allows strong brake regeneration for a ‘one pedal’ driving technique. Performance and efficiency figures have not yet been released, but engineers tell us it puts out around 150bhp and “substantially” more torque than the regular petrol
Origin: New Renault Captur: UK prices and specs announced for 2020 crossover
specs
New Mazda 2: prices and specs revealed for redesigned supermini
The Mazda 2 is being updated for 2020 to bring it into line with newer rivals, and it’s available to order now with the first examples landing in dealers. The entry level SE-L model will cost £15,795, and includes rear parking sensors, 15in alloy wheels and climate control. As well a more powerful engine, SE-L Nav models and above gain the Mazda Connect navigation system, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and driver assistance features including brake assist and lane-keeping assist. SE-L Nav models start from £16,610. For £17,310, Sport Nav models add 16in alloy wheels, a gloss black grille, rear privacy glass, chrome exhausts and keyless entry. The top-rung GT Sport Nav models feature a reversing camera, leather seats, a head-up display, and heated front seats and steering wheel. Such models start from £18,110 for manual models, and £19,370 with an automatic gearbox. The Japanese firm’s Ford Fiesta and Hyundai i20 rival will retain the 1.5-litre Skyactiv-G petrol engine, but is now boosted by a belt-integrated starter/generator on all manual models. It will be offered in two stages of tune, with a 74bhp version on entry level SE-L models, and a 89bhp powertrain for SE-L Nav, Sport Nav and GT Sport Nav trims. The manual versions produce 94-95g/km of CO2, depending on trim level, with a WLTP-certified combined fuel economy of 53.4mpg. Mazda cites a number of tweaks to improve the handling of its supermini, including a new urethane top mount in the rear dampers, revised power steering and the introduction of a G-Vectoring Control Plus system, which subtly uses the brakes to aid cornering stability and smoothen your chosen line. The design changes include a revised grille with a new design closer to the Mazda 3, a wider wing, new bumper and revised LED headlights. Inside, the dashboard trim, air vents and other features have been tweaked, with new-shape seats designed to offer more comfort. Mazda also claims the use of new damping materials and the reduction in the gap around the B-pillar reduce noise and improve refinement for those
Origin: New Mazda 2: prices and specs revealed for redesigned supermini
New 2020 Ford Kuga: UK pricing and specs revealed
Ford has released UK-specific pricing and trim level details for the new, third-generation Kuga SUV. It’s priced from £23,995, with priority deliveries of the high-spec First Edition models early next year. The base price gets you in a Zetec model powered by a 118bhp 1.5-litre Ecoboost turbo petrol engine. The other trims are Titanium (from £27,245), ST-Line (from £29,345), ST-Line X (from £30,645) and Vignale (from £31,945). All Kugas come as standard with the Ford Pass Connect embedded modem, wireless smartphone charging and “advanced driver assistance and safety features”. First Edition variants of Titanium and ST-Line models bring a Bang Olufsen sound system and the Driver’s Assistance Pack. Further engine options include a 148bhp 1.5-litre turbo petrol and 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre diesels, the latter of which is also available in 187bhp form or 148bhp form with mild hybrid tech. A new plug-in hybrid option is also available from £33,095 in Titanium trim – the same price as the higher-powered 2.0-litre diesel. The Kuga has been redesigned from the ground up in a bid to attract more buyers in the still-booming family SUV sector, and the new model will be offered with petrol, diesel, mild hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. As Ford ramps up its European business restructuring, SUVs will play a crucial role. “One in three sales across Europe are SUVs, and for us it’s one in five. We want to change that,” Jorg Beyer, managing director of product development, told Autocar. The hybrid line-up in particular is expected to be key to attracting new customers. Ford has beaten many of its rivals to market with its plug-in hybrid option, which mates a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine with an electric motor and 10.3kWh battery to deliver 222bhp. The model can travel up to 34 miles on electricity alone, giving it an official economy figure of 201mpg on the WLTP cycle in PHEV operating mode (or 43.5mpg WLTP with no charge in the battery). Official CO2 emissions are just 29g/km. Buyers will also able to choose a regular hybrid set-up, akin to that of the Toyota Prius, linking the 2.5-litre petrol engine to an electric motor and smaller battery to deliver 50.4mpg and 130g/km. A 48-volt mild hybrid setup is mated to a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine to offer 56.5mpg and 132g/km. Conventional 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel variants are also available, mated to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox. Front and four-wheel drive are both available. Also striking is the new, more sophisticated and less boxy look of the third-generation Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson rival. The styling moves Ford’s design language another step on from the more contoured lines of the latest Fiesta and Focus. The interior also follows those cars, delivering an uncluttered, sweeping look despite the raft of technological functions that are offered, the majority of which are controlled through the central touchscreen. The Kuga sits on the same C2 platform as the new Focus, being longer, wider and having a larger wheelbase – and therefore improved stability and dynamics – than the car it replaces. The platform is also said to be 10% torsionally stiffer than the outgoing car’s, as well as supporting the basis for a more aerodynamic design and allowing weight savings of up to 90kg over today’s model. In particular, the new Kuga is said to deliver more interior room than before, including what Ford says is class-leading space for rear-seat passengers thnks to an 89mm length increase. In the front, occupants get 43mm more shoulder room and 57mm more hip room than in the current model, while in the rear there is a 20mm increase in shoulder room and 36mm more hip room, while the seats, split 70:30, slide fore and aft as standard. This increased rear accommodation has been achieved in part by setting the dashboard closer to the engine bay bulkhead and positioned more upright than before, allowing front seat passengers to be seated farther forward. Despite sporting a dramatic, sloping roofline and an overall height that is lower by 20mm than that of the outgoing car, the new Kuga also offers 13mm more head room in the front and 35mm in the rear, thanks to clever interior packaging. New technology for the Kuga includes Ford Pass Connect, which can provide wi-fi connectivity for up to 10 devices, a head-up display, wireless charging for a phone, a system that automatically brakes the car if it drives forwards or backwards into crossing traffic and a self-parking system that can parallel park or drive into a space perpendicular to the car at the push of a button. A hands-free boot-opening system, which is operated by waving your foot under the rear bumper, is also available. A radar and camera-guided system that detects slower-moving and stationary vehicles, and which will automatically steer around them to avoid a collision if necessary, is also available,
Origin: New 2020 Ford Kuga: UK pricing and specs revealed
New 2020 Ford Kuga SUV: UK pricing and specs revealed
Ford has released UK-specific pricing and trim level details for the new, third-generation Kuga SUV. It’s priced from £23,995, with priority deliveries of the high-spec First Edition models early next year. The base price gets you in a Zetec model powered by a 118bhp 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol motor. Further trims include Titanium (from £27,245), ST-Line (from £29,345), ST-Line X (from £30,645) and flagship Vignale (from £31,945). All Kugas come as standard with the FordPass Connect embedded modem, wireless phone charging and “advanced driver assistance and safety features”, but First Edition variants of Titanium and ST-Line models bring a BO sound system and the driver’s assistance pack. Further engine options include a more powerful 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5 and 2.0-litre diesels, the latter of which is also available in 187bhp form or 148bhp form with a mild hybrid system. A new plug-in hybrid option is also available from £33,095 in Titanium form – the same price as the higher-powered 2.0-litre diesel. The new Kuga has been redesigned from the ground up in a bid to attract more buyers in the still-booming family SUV sector, and the new model will be offered with plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid powertrains, along with conventional petrol and diesel offerings. As the firm ramps up its European business restructuring SUVs such as the Kuga will play a crucial role. “1 in 3 sales across Europe are SUVs, and for us it’s 1 in 5 – we want to change that.” Jorg Beyer, managing director of product development, told Autocar. The hybrid line-up in particular is expected to be key to attracting new customers. Ford has beaten many of its rivals to market with its plug-in option, which mates a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine with an electric motor and 10.3kWh battery pack to deliver 222bhp. The model can travel up to 34 miles on electric range alone, giving it an official economy figure of 201mpg on the WLTP cycle in PHEV operating mode (or 43.5mpg WLTP with no charge in the battery), with CO2 emissions of 29g/km. Buyers will also able to choose a self-charging hybrid set-up, akin to the Prius’s hybrid system, which links the 2.5-litre petrol engine to an electric motor and smaller battery to deliver 50.4mpg and 130g/km. A 48V mild-hybrid set-up is mated to a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel option to offer 56.5mpg and 132g/km. Conventional 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel variants are also available, mated to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox. Two and all-wheel drive options feature. Also striking is the new, more sophisticated and less boxy look of the third-generation Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson rival. The styling moves Ford’s design language another step on from the more contoured lines of the latest Fiesta and Focus. The interior also follows those cars, delivering an uncluttered, sweeping look despite the raft of technological functions that are offered, the majority of which are controlled through the central touchscreen. The Kuga sits on the same C2 platform as the new Focus, being longer, wider and having a larger wheelbase – and therefore improved stability and dynamics – than the car it replaces. The platform is also said to be 10% torsionally stiffer than the outgoing car’s, as well as supporting the basis for a more aerodynamic design and allowing weight savings of up to 90kg over today’s model. In particular, the new Kuga is said to deliver more interior room than before, including what Ford says is class-leading space for rear-seat passengers thnks to an 89mm length increase. In the front, occupants get 43mm more shoulder room and 57mm more hip room than in the current model, while in the rear there is a 20mm increase in shoulder room and 36mm more hip room, while the seats, split 70:30, slide fore and aft as standard. This increased rear accommodation has been achieved in part by setting the dashboard closer to the engine bay bulkhead and positioned more upright than before, allowing front seat passengers to be seated farther forward. Despite sporting a dramatic, sloping roofline and an overall height that is lower by 20mm than that of the outgoing car, the new Kuga also offers 13mm more head room in the front and 35mm in the rear, thanks to clever interior packaging. New technology for the Kuga includes FordPass Connect, which can provide wi-fi connectivity for up to 10 devices, a head-up display, wireless charging for a phone, a system that automatically brakes the car if it drives forwards or backwards into crossing traffic and a self-parking system that can parallel park or drive into a space perpendicular to the car at the push of a button. A hands-free boot-opening system, which is operated by waving your foot under the rear bumper, is also available. A radar and camera-guided system that detects slower-moving and stationary vehicles, and which will automatically steer around them to avoid a
Origin: New 2020 Ford Kuga SUV: UK pricing and specs revealed
Ford’s Mustang Mach E specs leak three days ahead of debut
Fords giving the world its first look at the 2021 Mustang Mach-E on November 17, just ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show, but wasnt quick enough to get ahead of fans who discovered all the goods on this all-electric crossover three days before they were supposed to.A member of the MachEForum.com tracked down slides intended for the manufacturers consumer site, and grabbed screenshots before Ford caught on and covered them back up.With some of? most of? the cat out of the bag, we can say the cars a looker, with Mustang-inspired styling, an out-there nose with the pony in front and unmistakable taillights that cue up suggestions of its gasoline-fuelled sibling.Theres also a sunroof that covers most of the upper lid, while the dash is dominated by a Tesla-style tablet to control the functions.Depending on whether you choose rear- or all-wheel-drive, and what trim you select, youll get anywhere from about 300 miles (483 km) to 230 miles (370 km) on a single charge.If you get the GT trim with the right options, youll spring from zero to 100 mph (96 km/h) in the mid-three-seconds range, making this one super-quick (electric) Mustang, too.Plug it into a fast charger, and youll have enough power to cover 75 kilometres in just ten minutes.But wait, theres more the slides even included pricing. Its in U.S. dollars, of course, and wont be the same for Canadians, but the Mach E will run from the $43,895 Select trim up to the $60,500 GT, before any state or federal incentives for electric vehicles.Trim levels will include the limited First Edition, which will include exclusive Grabber Blue paint, the ulra-loaded Premium, and the extended-range California Route 1.LISTEN: Toyota has led the hybrid charge for two decades, and as Toyota Canada’s Stephen Beatty tells Plugged In host Andrew McCredie, is now all-in on EVs, particularly fuel cell vehicles. The company’s vice president also has some interesting things to say about some provinces’ push to create electric vehicle sales quotas for 2030, and tells us about Toyota’s fascinating, and potentially game-changing, work with Quebec to produce green hydrogen. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.Is the player not working? Click
Origin: Ford’s Mustang Mach E specs leak three days ahead of debut
New Renault Zoe: UK prices and specs announced
Renault has revealed UK pricing and spec details of the new Zoe, ahead of orders commencing in mid-September and first deliveries in January. The new Vauxhall Corsa-e rival is, like the old car, available with two purchasing options. It can be bought outright from £25,670, or £18,670 under Renault’s battery leasing scheme. The firm hasn’t quoted monthly battery lease costs yet, however. The base Play model comes with a 106bhp electric motor, alongside kit such as LED headlamps, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB, auto lights and wipers and a 7kWh fast charging wallbox, including installation. Step up to Iconic from £27,170 (or £20,170 under battery leasing) and you’ll also get sat-nav, climate control, wireless phone charging and a driver assistance package, among other features. Iconic also brings the option of the more powerful 132bhp motor, allowing 0-62mph in 9.5sec and a limited top speed of 87mph, for an extra £500. That’s standard on GT Line trim, which gets a larger 9.3in touchscreen, a rear-view camera, synthetic leather and recycled cloth upholstery and blind spot warning. Options include 50kW DC rapid charging with a CCS connector, costing £750. Designed for those who intend to do frequent long journeys, it can deliver 90 miles of range in around 30 minutes. Effectively a heavy redesign of the outgoing model, the new Zoe will go on sale in a dramatically different market from the one its predecessor entered in 2012, with a range of competitors including the new Peugeot e-208, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Honda e and Volkswagen ID 3. Sharing the same overall dimensions as the outgoing Zoe, the car’s design is updated with new grilles and bumpers, plus new, standard-fit LED headlights and tail-lights. There is a fresh colour palette inside and out, as well as new wheel designs. The intention has been to modernise the supermini’s looks. The interior is more heavily revamped, with a new dashboard design introducing a 10.0in customisable digital instrument display as standard across the range. Top-spec cars also receive a new curved 9.3in touchscreen infotainment display, similar to that found in the latest Clio, using the firm’s Easy Link connected technology. As well as being able to locate suitable charging points, it can tell if one isn’t functioning properly. A new smartphone app can also remotely pre-heat or cool the car. Higher-quality materials and new upholstery, including one made using 100% recycled fabric, aim to give the Zoe a more upmarket air. New details, such as an electronic gearlever and parking brake, free up extra storage space in the cabin, while wireless smartphone charging and an acoustic windscreen have been added. The Zoe’s biggest developments are in the powertrain department. The previous generation, which was upgraded throughout its life, made use of a 40kWh battery in its highest spec, but now an increase to 52kWh allows Renault to claim a WLTP-certified range of up to 245 miles. Renault has also adapted the car’s charging system to optionally allow a 50kW DC charge using a CCS plug, joining existing Type 2 and AC connections behind the enlarged front badge flap. An optional 7kW wallbox enables owners to charge the battery from empty to full in nine hours. The new Zoe is now available with a choice of two motors. A base 106bhp unit – carried over from the old car – is joined by a higher-spec 132bhp version. Renault claims this power unit, which makes 181lb ft of torque, allows the Zoe to achieve the 0-62mph sprint in less than 10 seconds and go from 50mph to 75mph in 7.1sec. Its top speed rises from 81mph to 87mph. Chassis changes are limited, but Renault claims the spring and damper rates have been tweaked and all-round disc brakes appear for the first time. QA Emmanuel Bouvier, director of sales and marketing and EVs, Renault This is effectively a heavy facelift of an older design. Why not an all-new platform? “We are in the unusual situation where we have a seven-year-old vehicle whose sales are growing significantly year on year. We are confident that this Zoe has plenty of life left in it, but we are considering using a common (Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi) Alliance platform in future.” You claim the new Zoe is part of a wider assault on the EV market. What is next? “Our objective is to cover A-, B- and C-segments, with multiple shapes of vehicles (ie standard cars and crossovers/SUVs). These will be focused on being passenger cars. I cannot tell you more at this stage.” Does the recently launched City K-ZE fit into these plans in Europe, or is it just for China? “We are currently investigating if the City K-ZE has international sales potential. No decision has been made
Origin: New Renault Zoe: UK prices and specs announced
New Mitsubishi L200 pick-up: UK specs and pricing finalised
The revamped Mitsubishi L200 pick-up truck has gone on sale in the UK, with prices starting from £25,755 for private buyers. The firm says it has made more than 2400 changes from the previous version. The heavily facelifted update of the fifth-generation pick-up was launched in Thailand last year, and featured a revamped design including the latest version of the Japanese firm’s ‘Dynamic Shield’ grille. The four-wheel-drive machine is offered with a choice of manual and automatic six-speed gearboxes, and has a WLTP-certified fuel economy of between 29.1 and 32.1mpg. The entry-level 4Life Club Cab models, which start from £21,515 for commercial buyers, feature 16-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, air conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity. The 4Life trim is also available with a larger Double Cab, starting from £27,195 (£22,715 for commercial buyers). Higher-level trims are available with the Double Cab only. Warrior trim starts from £31,617 (£26,400 commercial) and adds 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and running lights, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, a reversing camera, infotainment touchscreen and land departure warning. Barbarian trim, costing from £35,097 (£29,300 commercial) includes hill descent control, an off-road mode, front heated seats, mood lighting and rear USB ports. The range-topping Barbarian X trim is only offered with an automatic box, and starts from £38,577 (£32,200). It adds a 360-degree camera, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, LED fog lamps, parking sensors, a heated steering wheel and Barbarian X decals. The revamped version of the L200 was unveiled just three years into its life cycle, to mark the 40th anniversary of the model. The L200 went on in Thailand and other Asian markets – where it is known as the Triton – last year, and is being rolled out to 150 countries worldwide. The revised L200 is one of 11 new or refreshed models Mitsubishi will launch by the end of 2020 as part of its ‘Drive for Growth’ strategy, which follows its acquisition by Nissan to become part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Mitsubishi COO Trevor Mann said that the changes to the L200 were “significant” and far exceeded a regular midlife update, adding that they were designed to “reinforce what this car should be”. He added that the relatively early update “made sense” because the company could identify opportunities to improve it. The revisions include a new design that features the brand’s ‘Dynamic Shield’ grille concept at the front, along with revised headlights to give it more road presence. There are also extended wheel flares, new accents and revised bumpers and rear lights, and a revised interior. A quick (and wobbly) video tour of the new Mitsubishi L200 pick-up. Story here: https://t.co/jHYUCHzjE5 pic.twitter.com/Xfb2kCrUoM — Autocar (@autocar) November 9, 2018 The more angular styling has been designed to appeal to both business and private buyers, and is intended to reflect Mitsubishi’s ‘Engineered Beyond Tough’ slogan. The L200 features two different four-wheel-drive systems, and a number of new drive modes. These include new off-road drive modes for gravel, snow, sand and rock that help to regulate engine power, transmission and braking to reduce wheel slip. A hill descent control system has also been added. The five-speed manual gearbox has been replaced by a six-speed automatic. The pick-up includes a range of driver assistance features, including forward collision detection, blind spot warning and rear-cross traffic alert. Mitsubishi also cites a number of smaller ‘detail’ changes, including larger front brake discs and calipers, and larger rear dampers to smooth performance. The L200 is one of Mitsubishi’s bestselling vehicles in the UK, rivalling the Outlander PHEV, and is increasingly popular among private buyers. The L200 will continue to be produced exclusively at Mitsubishi Motor’s Thailand facility in Laem Chabang, south of
Origin: New Mitsubishi L200 pick-up: UK specs and pricing finalised
James Ruppert: Rose-tinted specs make it hard to spot a banger
Any car is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. So it was good to hear from Damien, who told us of his affection for sports cars from a few decades ago. “I’m a child of the 1980s and my second car was a 1992 Toyota Celica ST with the fabulous 21R engine,” he said. Like most of us, he has had a recent attack of nostalgia and has been rather taken by a dealer-owned ’84 one. Apparently it’s pretty much as new, so there is a stiff £23,500 asking price, reduced from an even more preposterous £25k. Hardly surprising that it has been hanging around for a year, is it? Realistically, Damien sees it at £15,000 maximum, and he’s probably right, although even that was more than he was prepared to pay. Classic car prices, and indeed all used car prices, are hard to predict at the best of times because there are such variable factors. However, this Celica had an automatic gearbox, which is not a major selling point when it comes to a sports car. What we have here is a premium price because of the mileage, which is just under 4000. Otherwise £12,000 would seem to be fair, but it all depends on what the dealer paid and their stand-in value is (including what has been spent on any refurbishment). That explains why the dealer is holding out. Classic cars will always be a special case and, nominally with most used cars a decade or so old, a little book could help you. Sure, there are classic price guides, but there is so much more to it than that: the seller is hoping that the buyer will be so drunk on nostalgia that the actual price becomes academic. Do you want the classic or don’t you? I know about Minis and I saw a Morris-badged van at £12,495 – and, actually, that’s not half bad at all. I could make a commercial case for that, once sign-written. The working Minis were mostly run into the ground, so the survivors are few and this isn’t a silly price. The dealer with that one also had a Ford Escort RS 2000 Custom up for £47,995. To me that seemed like an absurd amount of money. Old Fords don’t do it for me, so that perfectly demonstrates how we all look at classic cars: individually. What is a fortune to some is making a dream come true for others. Damien has nothing to lose by making an offer for his dream Celica. You just never know, they might want to move it on, but that mileage is so marginal, why not duke it out? Someone somewhere will want to buy it. After all, a car is only worth what someone is prepared to pay. What we almost bought this week A great name and a great solution for those summer festivals and race meets when all you want to do is ogle motors, enjoy a barbie and settle down for the night in the car park. Anyway, that was our thinking when we saw this 2005-reg four-wheel-drive eight-seater with powered pop-up roof, electric blinds and automatically folding rear seats. Tales from Ruppert’s garage Here’s a thing. The Flying Pig looked like it had a problem because it leaked coolant. Indeed, a reader sent me a terrifying picture of their Audi Q7, which needed a 20p plastic pipe whose replacement involved the removal of most of the front of the vehicle. I’ll show that when I can find it. So I’m pleased to report that the leak seems to have fixed itself. No Radweld or anything, plus we’ve done a good few 300-mile round trips and the fluid levels stayed normal. Praise be. My daughter, though, can still detect the aroma of wet dog. Reader’s ride David Robertshaw is back, with a rather marvellous 2002 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 estate. He says: “This one came to me in January on 87k miles and looking ready for the scrap yard, with faded paint, running issues and two weeks’ MOT. But it was free! I got it home, gave it a machine polish and saw it was solid and original. The interior looks unused. It failed its MOT on brake lines and a headlight, then I got it through the re-test, gave it a service and traced the poor running to a faulty ECU. A used one was £38 and fitted in a couple of hours. It now runs nicely and has just completed a 250-mile round trip without issue. I quite like the low-down torque of the eight-valve engine – it’s faster than I thought it would be.” Readers’ questions Question: The automatic ’box in my ageing BMW 750iL is playing up. I love the car (it was a company vehicle I bought on retirement) and want it fixed by a competent specialist. Can you recommend one? George Walker, Bristol Answer: It’s risky for us to recommend a business without direct experience, but fortunately there’s an organisation dedicated to encouraging high standards in the automatic transmission industry, and they should be able to help: the Federation of Automatic Transmission Engineers. Visit fedauto.co.uk for details of your nearest qualified repairer. John Evans Question: I’ve seen a 2016/16 Renault Kadjar 1.5 dCi Dynamique Nav with 60k miles for £8995 and a same-age Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi Acenta with Tech Pack and 43k miles for £1000 more.
Origin: James Ruppert: Rose-tinted specs make it hard to spot a banger
Porsche reveals base 911 Carrera prices and specs
Porsche has released details of the most affordable 992-generation 911 you can buy: the Carrera, now available to order. Priced from £82,793 in hardtop form and £92,438 as a Cabriolet, the Carrera is more than £10,000 cheaper than the S model. It sees power from the 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder unit dropped from the 444bhp of the Carrera S to 380bhp. That’s 15bhp more than the old, 991-generation Carrera, although Porsche hasn’t yet quoted a torque output for the new car. 0-62mph is dispatched in 4.2sec for the coupe: half a second slower than the Carrera S and 0.6 seconds quicker than a manual version of the old 991 Carrera. The time is quoted with the eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, as currently a manual version isn’t available to order. The Cabriolet is expected to be around 0.2sec slower. An optional Sport Chrono package can drop the Carrera coupe’s sprint down to four seconds dead, however. The top speed for the coupe is 182mph, while WLTP-certified economy figures range from 26.2mpg to 28.5mpg, depending on spec. Porsche hasn’t changed a significant amount in terms of the chassis from the Carrera S; it still gets features such as the new Wet Mode as standard, too. However, slightly smaller brakes do feature, down to 330mm on both axles with black painted callipers. To mark it out externally, smaller wheels (down to 19in at the front and 20in at the rear) feature alongside different tailpipe covers. Inside, Porsche claims the interior is unchanged from the Carrera S, with the same 10.9in touchscreen display and range of connectivity
Origin: Porsche reveals base 911 Carrera prices and specs
New Kia Xceed crossover: UK prices and specs announced
Kia has released UK pricing and spec details for its new Xceed crossover, revealed last month. The model, which is the fourth in the latest Ceed range, is available to order now priced from £20,795 – around £2000 more than the equivalent Ceed five-door hatchback. That gets you the 118bhp 1.0-litre turbo petrol T-GDi in 2 trim, which comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, LED headlights, keyless entry, cruise control, an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen and a rear-view camera. Also available are 1.4-litre turbo petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines, while 3 and First Edition increase the amount of standard kit significantly. The priciest model is the 1.4 T-GDi First Edition with an automatic gearbox. First deliveries of the Xceed are expected in December. The front-wheel-drive Xceed is said to marry hatchback-style driving dynamics with the practicality of a small SUV, wrapped up in a sportily styled body with a bespoke design. The similarly conceived Ford Focus Active is lined up as its closest competitor. The technical base for the Xceed is the five-door hatchback, and it shares that car’s 2650mm wheelbase. Kia says only the front doors are carried over and rest of the body is new, including the windscreen and sloping roofline. The new body is 85mm longer and 26mm wider than the hatchback’s, thanks to extended front and rear overhangs that increase the length of the Xceed to 4395mm. Kia hopes these dimensions will put the Xceed in a different class from big-selling small SUVs such as the Nissan Juke and its larger sibling, the Qashqai. Kia, of course, has to position the Xceed between its £15k Stonic small SUV and the £19k Sportage family SUV. “There is growing desire for cars that offer more emotion and dynamism than an SUV, yet these customers don’t want to lose the practicality offered by a larger car,” said Kia Motors Europe chief operating officer Emilio Herrera. To give the Xceed a little more rough ground-covering ability and raise the driving position to improve visibility and in/out access for the driver, the ride height is pushed up by 42mm to create 174mm of ground clearance. This also raises the Xceed’s roofline to 1490mm – just a few millimetres lower than successful small SUVs such as the Fiat 500X and Audi Q2. With the higher ride height and the dynamic handling target, Kia has re-engineered the suspension using some unique components and a bespoke set-up. Kia said the target was to deliver “a mature ride and engaging handling character in all conditions”. The front axle features new hydraulic rebound stoppers, the front springs are softened by 7% and the rear springs by 4%. The steering is carried over from the hatchback, but it’s retuned to give quicker initial response and a slightly lighter feel. Kia claims the retuned steering, together with the chassis changes, endow the high-riding Xceed with similar handling dynamics and roll control as the Ceed hatchback. Refinement, meanwhile, is said to have been improved by a new dynamic damper for the rear crossmember. Kia says that the interior “carries over the cabin architecture of its Ceed stablemates” with an optional upgrade to a fully digital 12.3in instrument cluster – a first for Kia. Five engines will be on offer – three petrols and two diesels, all taken from the rest of the Ceed range. The range starts with a three-cylinder turbo 119bhp 1.0 petrol and moves up to a four-cylinder turbo 138bhp 1.4. A 201bhp 1.6 from the Ceed GT is available in other markets but Autocar understands this isn’t destined for the UK for the time being. The diesels are both 1.6 capacity in outputs of either 114bhp or 134bhp. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic optional on all engines except the 1.0. Plug-in hybrid and 48V mild hybrid versions will be launched in early
Origin: New Kia Xceed crossover: UK prices and specs announced
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