The 2017 Nissan Micra has been on sale for a few months, and now the third engine to join the line-up is available to order. The entry-level 71bhp 1.0-litre petrol starts from £11,995 in Visia grade, joining the 89bhp turbo petrol and 1.5-litre diesel.
Nissan has increased the base price of the Micra considerably for the new model, reflecting its new status as a full-size rival to the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. A boosted range of five trim levels has been confirmed by Nissan, consisting of Visia, Visia+, Acenta, N-Connecta and Tekna models, with the range rising to £17,435.
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Standard kit on base models includes LED running lights, 15-inch steel wheels, a two-speaker sound system with Bluetooth, auto lights and wipers and safety kit such as traffic sign recognition and automatic emergency braking. You’ll need Visia+ for air-con and stop/start, however.
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Acenta models come with 16-inch alloys, body colour door handles and mirrors, cruise control,and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android auto connectivity. top models add climate control, sat-nav, 17-inch alloys, keyless entry and a rear-view camera, while a Bose sound system with a driver’s side headrest speaker also features.
New 2017 Nissan Micra engines
The new Micra is now available with three engines; two three-cylinder petrols and a four-cylinder diesel. The base unit is a 71bhp 1.0-litre naturally aspirated triple, producing 95Nm of torque, taking a lengthy 16.4 seconds to get to 62mph and managing 98mph.
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It claims 61.4mpg combined and emits 103g/km, but most people are expected to pay an extra £970 for the 89bhp 0.9-litre turbo. With 150Nm of torque it’s much punchier, hitting 0-62 in 12 seconds, while also being more economical – managing 64.2mpg claimed and emitting 99g/km of CO2.
Volvo chauffeurs may see a considerable cost decrease the next time they renew their vehicle insurance coverage policy, thanks to the manufacturer’s City security Autonomous emergency Braking (AEB) system.
City security – which is now fitted as basic on every Volvo design except the XC90 – might save chauffeurs much more than £100 on their next insurance coverage policy, while specific Volvo designs have seen their insurance coverage groupings autumn by as much as four levels.
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It is however one of numerous technologies employed by Volvo to keep road security a priority, including Pedestrian Detection with full auto-brake as well as the recently introduced bicyclist Detection system that joins Volvo’s Lane departure cautioning (LDW) system as well as Blind area information System (BLIS).
• much more Volvo reviews
Nick Connor, Volvo Car’s UK managing director, said: “The continued introduction of all these lifesaving technologies links back to our Vision 2020 long term objective that by 2020 nobody ought to be killed or injured in a new Volvo.”
Volvo’s City security system was likewise applauded for its capability to assist chauffeurs prevent low speed accidents by Thatcham, which administers the association of British Insurers group score system for personal vehicles as well as commercials.
Thatcham has proven that City security reduces mishap rates as well as appropriate repair work costs because its XC60 introduce in 2008. It likewise avoids costly personal injury declares for whiplash triggered by low speed rear end shunts.
Following successful testing of City security AEB, Thatcham has suggested an modification in the insurance coverage grouping of Volvo designs that function the technology.
Howard Barron, Thatcham’s group score Manager, commented: “For consumers this ought to imply decreased insurance coverage premiums as well as safer motoring, not just for themselves however likewise other road users.”
The first UK prices and specs for the new Volkswagen T-Roc – the firm’s newest small SUV – have been revealed, with purchase books for select models open from today.
A total of five trim levels will eventually be available, but for now, buyers will be limited to three. Entry-level T-Roc S models and range topping R-Line automobiles will go on sale at a later date, but orders for the T-Roc SE, design and SEL can now be placed.
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• best crossovers and small SUVs on sale 2017
The T-Roc SE starts from £20,425, making use of Volkswagen’s newest 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder engine producing 113bhp. Volkswagen claims it’s capable of 55.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 117g/km. The same automobile is available with a 1.5-litre TSI EVO unit, pushing power up to 148bhp and priced from £22,200.
Design trim level automobiles are provided with the same two engine choices, priced from £21,125 and £22,900 respectively. For now, SEL models are priced from £24,520 for the automobile with a 1.5-litre TSI EVO unit, while a 2.0-litre TSI producing 187bhp and mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox driving a 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system will also be among the options for early T-Roc adopters, priced from £31,485. Diesel automobiles will go on sale at a later date, with 114bhp 1.6-litre TDI and a 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI options lined up.
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Specific details concerning the equipment provided on each trim level are mostly under wraps for now, but dual-zone climate control, an eight-inch infotainment system, Bluetooth, DAB radio, USB connectivity, 16-inch alloy wheels and a suite of chauffeur assists and safety equipment will be conventional across the range. The active info display will be conventional fit on SEL automobiles upwards.
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The Chevrolet Volt was the first car to bring plug-in hybrid technology to the masses when it launched back in 2011, so while the rest of the industry is just getting to grips with the tech, the second-generation Volt is already deep into development.
Spotted here for the first time wearing full camouflage the new Volt – which will also spawn new versions of the Vauxhall Ampera and Cadillac ELR – is expected to go on sale in 2016, with production at GM’s Hamtramck factory in Detroit beginning in summer 2015.
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Any fresh design details have been covered up, but it’s clear the Volt’s overall proportions will be evolutionary, with the same low nose and steeply rising waistline. Under the skin however, GM is ringing the changes with a new front-wheel drive platform – believed to be based on the Chevrolet Cruze to cut costs – and a revised powertrain.
While the building blocks of the hybrid system – such as the 1.4-litre petrol engine and electric motor – will be similar to the outgoing model, GM is expected to reduce the size of the battery pack, for a smaller electric-only range, to reduce costs and cut weight.
“The Ampera has one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings of any car, but it’s simply too expensive,” Steve Girsky, Vice Chairman of GM and interim president of GM Europe, told us. “If you want to make money it’s not about the cleverest technology, but who can deliver fuel economy at a lower cost.”
Currently the Ampera is capable of travelling up to 50 miles on battery power, which is key to its 235.4mpg fuel economy. but the battery pack alone costs more than £12,000 to produce.
“In the coming years I don’t think you will need 100km [62 miles] of electric range,” revealed Thomas Sedran, GM’s Vice president of strategy and Operations. “Around 30 to 50km [18 to 30 miles] should be enough to get you in and out of town and after that you still have the range-extender engine to help.”
This first sighting of the new Volt coincides with GM’s announcement last week that will be investing $449m (£267m) in the Hamtramck factory in Detroit where next generations of the Volt, Ampera and ELR will all be built. According to a SM statement $384m will go towards new tooling and equipment, while the remaining $65 will go towards a nearby battery assembly plant.
Gordon Murray has already started work on the follow-up to his spectacular T.50 supercar – and he has revealed to car express that the next model will be much more budget-friendly while still using the T.50’s high-revving, typically aspirated V12 engine.
The T.50 and its T.50s track version are both now sold out, despite before-tax price labels of £2.3m and £3.1m respectively. The first examples of the road model, which is limited to 100 units, ought to arrive in customers’ hands in 2022.
New track-only Gordon Murray T.50s Niki Lauda arrives with 725bhp
But as his Gordon Murray group announced a £300m investment plan that will allow it to develop its own pure-electric car architecture, the former F1 designer revealed that his team is already formulating the automobile that will follow the two Gordon Murray Automotive fan-assisted supercars.
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Referred to as project Two, the automobile will have a much more conventional two-seat layout instead of the T.50’s three-seat configuration – and this implies that its construction will need to be developed from scratch. “The T.50’s powertrain feeds back into project Two,” Murray said. “But it is a brand new platform; we’re starting again on that. The T.50 was a distinct monocoque because of the fan and the central driving position, and it’s very challenging to take that and adapt it to a two-seater.
A government cash incentive for motorists who get cars with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) technology could save 60 lives and cut severe injuries by up to 760 in just three years.
That’s according to the insurance industry’s automotive research centre, Thatcham. It claims that this figure would increase to 1,220 lives saved and 136,000 casualties avoided over 10 years.
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The research body is calling for the government to introduce a £500 grant for any individual getting a car with the kit. At present, 23 per cent of new cars either have it fitted as an option or standard. but less than 10 per cent of buyers select it.
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An insider explained that the idea had been presented to road ministers in government and that while they had been receptive to it, they questioned where the money for such an incentive could come from.
“A responsible motorist who pays extra to minimize the potential impact of their car must benefit from a helping hand from the Government,” explained Thatcham chief executive Peter Shaw.
“The time is ideal to demonstrate to consumers that automobiles with AEB must be their natural choice, and we calculate that with a£500 cash incentive – about half the additional cost of the AEB system – the government would be meeting the motorist halfway.”
Road safety summit talks new safety tech
The rapid growth of technology will be a help and hindrance to road safety over the next five to 10 years, say safety bosses and researchers.
Talking at the UK road safety Summit, roads minister Robert goodwill and shadow roads minister Richard problem both marked out autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as a crucial aspect in future road safety. However, Richard Cuerden of the transport research laboratory alerted that MoT testing will need to keep up with the rise of this kind of tech as garages make sure systems such as AEB are working correctly.
• Twelve-year wait to repair UK’s pothole-ridden roads
The summit also touched on autonomous driving, and although the views were mainly positive, all speakers questioned legislation and laws. chief Constable Suzette Davenport, association of chief police Officers national roads policing lead, questioned how the policies would work relating to drink-driving and licences in these vehicles. but she said: “Remote stopping will be a real benefit. We have to balance the risk of pursuing people if they’re doing something wrong.”
However, she also said legislation needs to be brought up to date for current technology, such as Internet in cars and the impending arrival of Google Glass.
Driverless trucks are to be trialled on major British roads from next year as part of a £8.1million job to reduce business costs as well as cut pollution, the government has said.
The department for transfer has provided the eco-friendly light for transfer research study lab to trial “platoons” of driverless trucks.
• Ultimage guide to self-driving vehicles
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Up to three lorries will travel in a convoy led by a lead vehicle that controls steering, braking, as well as acceleration. The trucks will be linked with linked innovation as well as automated driving systems however will function drivers in each cabin to take over control.
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The lead truck will be driven by a human driver as well as will manage the speed as well as direction of the convoy. The trucks complying with the lead driver will immediately mimic the movements, preserving a provided distance to the lead truck. This is stated to enhance fuel economic climate as well as reduce emissions as the lead truck pushes air out of the way, making vehicles in the convoy more efficient.
The trials will be brought out in three phases. preliminary testing will be done on closed test tracks to determine the correct distance trucks in the convoy must maintain, with road trials expected to show up by the end of 2018.
The department for transfer stated similar trials have already been brought out somewhere else in Europe as well as in the United States. transfer priest Paul Maynard said: “Advances such as lorry platooning might benefit businesses with cheaper fuel expenses as well as other road individuals thanks to lower emissions as well as less congestion.”
However, the trials have increased road security concerns. Edmund King, president of the AA explained that the big convoys might block road indications as well as junctions for some drivers.
How would you feel driving next to a convoy of autonomous trucks? tell us in the comments below…
Mercedes has exposed two new special edition G-Class SUVs at the Frankfurt motor Show, positioned as new variety topping versions of the firm’s old-school off-roader.
Both V8 powered G 63 as well as V12 powered G 65 variations will soon be offered in special edition trim levels, however we won’t be getting them right here in the UK – British purchasers aren’t even provided the routine G 65 in the very first place.
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• Frankfurt motor show 2017
Exclusive edition cars and trucks are marked out by a number of style as well as trim revisions inside as well as out. Protective stainless steel plating runs around the underside of the car, while distinct AMG racing stripes run down the sides of the doors. around the back, the spare wheel cover is completed in the primary body colour, too.
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Both cars and trucks trip on a set of 21-inch five-twin spoke alloy wheels, completed in matt black on G 63 cars and trucks or ceramically polished on the G 65 model. together with these wheels, both cars and trucks can be completed in a distinct monza grey magno matt paint finish.
In the cabin, the Designo special interior trim bundle is included as common together with two-tone leather upholstery. The Seat comfort bundle is likewise bundled in, introducing multicontour as well as climate-controlled seats for the chauffeur as well as front passenger. costs in Germany will begin at €163,125.20 – approximately £150,000.
What do you make of the new special edition Mercedes-AMG G-Wagens? tell us in the comments…
This is the new Kia Sedona, officially revealed ahead of its debut at the new York motor show this week. As suspected, the mid-size MPV has been given a radical design overhaul following teaser images released earlier this month.
Up front, the revised front fascia is a lot more pronounced, featuring Kia’s trademark ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, which merges with the raked-back headlights. The rear also gets an updated look, with new horizontal taillights now integrated into the boot lid and echoing the wraparound design at the front. A bumper guard and roofing spoiler also adds a sportier dimension.
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The new Sedona is also a lot more angular than its predecessor, and benefits from a sleeker profile with minimized front and rear overhangs. The wheelbase is nearly 41mm longer than before, helping create an airier cabin with improved motorist visibility.
Inside, there’s room for either seven or eight passengers depending on the configuration, as well as a range of storage options. customers can also spec Kia’s ‘First Class’ lounge seating for the middle row, which comes with retractable leg rests and can slide backwards for added room.
The new look continues inside, with the Sedona getting a distinctive and sophisticated layout. The interior comes in a choice of three colours, while the new flagship SXL model is trimmed in Nappa leather as standard.
There’s a revised version of Kia’s next-generation UVO Infotainment system, too, which now includes motorist aids such as Geo-fencing, speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score. Kia’s app store is also available, allowing motorists to download content from iTunes or Google Play for use within the car.
Standard safety equipment is fairly comprehensive, including features such as ESC, traction control, ABS, Hill-start assist Control, cornering brake control and roll over mitigation technology. customers can also option a forward collision alerting system, blind spot detectors and rear cross traffic Alert.
Kia has also replaced the previous generation’s 3.5-litre V6 with a a lot more powerful 272bhp 3.3-litre GDI V6 petrol engine, twinned with a six-speed automatic gearbox. A range of diesel CRDi engines are also likely to be made available. The chassis is also stiffer, with Kia claiming it’s 36 per cent greater than its closest segment competitor.
There are currently no plans to bring the new Sedona to the UK, but it is to go on sale in the us later this year, with prices to be announced closer to the launch date.
To celebrate auto Express’ 25th anniversary, we thought we’d wind back the clock to see how the cost of motoring has changed since our first issue hit the shelves back in 1988.
Our research shows drivers have been hit particularly hard in the wallet over the past five years. The cost of automobile insurance has reached new heights, with the average policy costing £1,193. go back just four years and it was almost half this price. and in 1988, we were paying an average of just £150 a year.
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Fuel hasn’t fallen below £1.30 per litre for over two years. but a decade ago, we were paying just 76p – so the average 55-litre tank would have cost £42 to fill up; in 2012 it was £75.
It’s not only motorists who’ve been hit; drinkers and smokers have, too. A pack of 20 cigarettes has shot up from £1.48 in 1988 to £7.10 in 2012; a pint of bitter has gone from 88p to £2.80.
But how have automobile costs fared when compared to inflation? have drivers really been clobbered hard? Our chart below reveals all.
Litre of fuelCar insurancePrice of a carAverage wages (gross weekly earnings)
198836.7p£150£12,207£218
199349p£304£16,400£316
199865p£343£19,152£393
200376p£588£19,585£489
2008£1.07£650£22,399£578
2012£1.36£1,193£27,919£609
Pint of draught beerCigarettesPrice of a houseNewspaperFirst-class stampCinema ticketsPint of milk (pasteurised)
198888p£1.48£49,35525p19p£2.1726p
1993£1.36p£2.24£64,23945p25p£3.4234p
1998£1.69p£3.19£86,83545p26p£3.6934p
2003£1.94£4.24£155,48555p28p£4.4436p
2008£2.39£5.31£211,38880p36p£5.2042p
2012£2.80£7.10£233,000£1.2060p£6.3746p