Latest news with #AutoExpress
Auto Express
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Blistering BMW M135 for a bargain £301 a month
Near-300bhp power Four-wheel drive, adaptive suspension Only £300.90 a month Hot hatchbacks with a premium feel don't come much more complete than the BMW M135. Here is a car that mixes the compactness and ease of use of a 1 Series, with a fire-cracker engine and trick four-wheel drive system. What's not to like? There's plenty to love, to be honest, but this desirable package normally comes with a steep price tag. Not so through the Auto Express Find a Car service, because right now you can get the blistering BMW for just over £300 a month. Advertisement - Article continues below This deal, from is a real steal given that it's only £4 a month more expensive than the next cheapest 1 Series on the Auto Express platform – and that is the base-spec 120 Sport. It's a two-year deal and requires £3,960.79 to be put down first, while mileage is capped at 5,000 a year. Bumping this up to 8,000 per annum costs less than £16 a month extra. For just £300.90, you'll be taking the keys to one of the most engaging hot hatchbacks around. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that pumps out 296bhp, and this is all kept in check with a clever xDrive four-wheel drive system. This latest M135 (which, incidentally, has lost the 'i' in its name to help differentiate it from BMW's electric offerings) has traded its eight-speed auto for a seven-speed twin-clutch semi-auto to deliver quicker shifts. It certainly works – it hurtles to 62mph in under five seconds, while top speed is limited to 155mph. Compared with the pre-facelift M135i, the new M135 has adaptive dampers as standard and the chassis has been stiffened. This means the pocket BMW is very engaging through the bends, plus you can soften the ride should you need a little more comfort around town. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top BMW M135 leasing offers from leading providers on our BMW 1 Series hub page. Check out the BMW M135 deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here…
Auto Express
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Six new BYD cars by 2026, but they won't all be EVs
BYD may have only started selling cars in the UK in 2023, but it has already successfully launched a diverse range of six models and the Chinese brand is not slowing down, with plans to double the size of its line-up in half that time. Speaking exclusively with Auto Express at the UK launch of the new BYD Dolphin Surf – the brand's newest, most affordable and probably most attractive offering to date – UK sales and marketing manager Steve Beattie revealed BYD will launch another six models here before the end of 2026. Advertisement - Article continues below Next to arrive in showrooms will be the new BYD Atto 2, a tech-focused compact SUV which we drove for the first time earlier this year, and is set to finally go on sale in September. Initially it'll only be available as an EV, with a choice of standard- or long-range batteries, however Beattie told us there will also be a plug-in hybrid 'DM-i' version sometime in 2026 – which will give the newcomer an edge over rivals like the Kia EV3 or Smart #1. The BYD Seal 06 estate car and saloon will also be launching in the UK before the end of the year, also featuring plug-in hybrid power, along with another BMW 3 Series-sized saloon called the BYD Seal 05. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The company is going to be updating some of its existing models soon, as well, Beattie tells us. We've already seen the updated BYD Seal – the brand's rival to the Tesla Model 3 – which features a revamped interior and LiDAR system for more advanced autonomous driving capabilities. The Atto 3 family SUV is in line for a spruce-up, too, as this was the first car the brand sold in the UK, and images of a facelifted version surfaced online earlier this year, sporting a new sharper look, more in-line with the smaller Atto 2. Advertisement - Article continues below Three more as-yet-unnamed new models will be joining the BYD line-up in 2026. Beattie didn't tell us anything about this trio, but it seems likely that the BYD Seal 06 GT will be come here eventually, as the electric hatchback could serve as a rival to the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born, plus there's a hot 416bhp version too called the Seal X. While not confirmed for the UK either, the BYD Shark hybrid pick-up truck also has a strong chance of coming to our shores. For one thing it would offer a new challenger to the best-selling, multi-award-winning Ford Ranger, a plug-in hybrid version of which recently went on sale, offering up to 27 miles of pure-electric driving. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The Shark meanwhile manages to boast up to 62 mils of EV range, thanks to its much larger 29.58kWh battery, plus a combined power output of 435bhp – compared to the 275bhp for the Ranger PHEV. However the BYD's 2,500kg towing capacity does fall short of the Ford's 3,500kg limit. Beattie informed us that BYD has now brought a few Australian-spec Shark pick-up trucks into the UK for testing. 'We're driving those around at the moment and it's definitely been getting some really good and interesting reactions from the UK team.' Advertisement - Article continues below He added that the team is working to bring the truck to the UK, because 'we want that truck here, because I think there's an opportunity for it here.' The opportunity he's referring to is double-cab pick-up trucks used to be classed as commercial vehicles, meaning company car drivers running one had to pay a flat tax rate of little as £792 per year. However these types of trucks are now classed as private vehicles, like passenger cars, and because they're not very efficient, they fall into the highest Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band for company car tax. But of course, electric or plug-in hybrid trucks get around this thanks to their much greater fuel efficiency and zero-emissions driving capabilities. That's why the Ranger PHEV attracts as little as 19% company car tax, while the equivalent diesel is slapped with the maximum 37% rate. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below '[The pick-up truck] market is dominated by the Ranger and Ford does an incredible job with that. But what's interesting is the market has just changed for that vehicle because it was effectively a company car tax break, but [trucks] are now being classed as cars 'So, ultimately, all of those diesel [pick-up truck drivers] now have to move to something that is either plug-in hybrid or electric, and this being plug-in hybrid I think is going to fit really well. 'It's also just something different, you know. We've seen that with Tesla Model 3 customers and Model Y customers, they say 'I've had this for a while, I want to change into something different' and that gives us an opportunity. Now for those Ranger customers, we'll have an alternative here.' As well as launching six cars in less than two years, BYD accounted for 2% of all new cars sales in the UK in April and May this year, with Beattie hoping to retain that market share this month. Another milestone that seems in sight is 20,000 sales within the first half of the year. All the while, BYD plans to continue expanding its dealership network, which included 50 locations at the start of the year, but now stands at 75, and according to Beattie will reach 90 locations by September. Tell us which new car you're interested in and get the very best offers from our network of over 5,500 UK dealers to compare. Let's go… Find a car with the experts Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more Best cars & vans 13 Jun 2025 Fastest-accelerating cars in the world 2025 Combustion-engined supercars are making a last stand against electrified machines in the fastest accelerating car stakes, here are all the top contend… Best cars & vans 5 Jun 2025 Tesla overtaken by China's BYD in the UK car sales charts Chinese giant beats Tesla in monthly sales in May as UK car market grows year-on-year BYD's plug-in hybrid onslaught to be led by 124-mile secret weapons Plug-in hybrid tech looks like playing an increasingly important role in BYD's future, but expect more EV range, faster charging and better fuel econo… New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
Auto Express
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Prepare to be ruthless when buying a new car
Along with my official duties as a member of the Auto Express team, I'm also the unofficial go-to car guru for family, friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, passers-by, and pretty much everyone else who has a remote idea of what I do for a living. I'm always happy to help, but a recent encounter has left me feeling a little perturbed. Advertisement - Article continues below In the same week, I was approached by my partner's best friend and one of my old university lecturers – two people I was more than willing to assist with car buying (especially when they admitted that their know-how was somewhat limited). One had sadly seen their beloved Vauxhall Corsa written off due to a distracted lorry driver (thankfully nobody was injured), while the other needed a replacement for their trusty but ageing Citroen Xsara Picasso. After a bit of discussion, as well as a few test drives, they respectively decided on a Vauxhall Crossland and a Volvo XC40. So far so good. However, once it was time to talk money, a dealer sensed one of my car-buying apprentice's knowledge-gaps and used it as an opportunity to pile on the pressure. When I received a panicked phone call regarding the Crossland, I was troubled to hear: 'I need to put the deposit down today because the salesperson has to meet a target'. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below My advice to the Crossland buyer at that moment is the same advice I'm going to give you right now: if a seller is piling on too much pressure, hold your ground and say no, or simply walk away. Either way, their targets are simply not your problem. Advertisement - Article continues below Maybe I sound a bit harsh, but please hear me out. Salespeople and dealerships have targets to meet, and this concept isn't an issue, nor would I ever dream of preventing someone from achieving some kind of bonus to help pay the bills. However, what I can't tolerate is guilt-tripping and ultimately piling unacceptable levels of pressure on a buyer – especially one who's anxious about handing over thousands of pounds. Whether it's a deposit you're not certain about, a finance contract that's unsuitable, or anything else you don't wish to fork out on, never be afraid to say no to a salesperson, no matter how insistent they might be. The good news is that my Crossland buyer walked away and ended up with a better example at a different dealership. In the majority of cases, your buying experience will be stress-free, and the salesperson will be professional and polite. However, if for any reason you feel uncomfortable, please don't be afraid to say no or even walk away. It's your money and your decision. Of course, for the smoothest buying experience you can always use our Auto Express Find a Car service. Take the faff our of buying a car! Our dealer network has some fantastic cars on offer right now with new, used and leasing deals to choose from... Find a car with the experts New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
Auto Express
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Best fast Fords - the greatest high-performance cars ever built by Ford
Few manufacturers have delivered as many truly iconic performance cars as Ford. From the Le Mans-winning GT40 and the rally-bred Escort Mexico, to the raucous Focus RS and playful Fiesta ST hot hatches, fast Fords have always struck a chord with car enthusiasts across the generations. So which are the best fast Fords ever made? With so many icons to choose from, it's a hard question to answer. Everyone has their own favourite depending on era, driving style or personal nostalgia for a particular model. In order to find the standout picks, the team at Auto Express has selected the models that left the biggest mark on them. These cars defined eras, beat the competition, delivered serious thrills to drivers and have earned a place in the fast Ford hall of fame. By Ellis Hyde On sale dates: 1964 to 1969 1964 to 1969 Power/engine size: 485bhp/7.0-litre 485bhp/7.0-litre Engine/gearbox: V8/four-speed manual V8/four-speed manual 0-62/top speed: 4.2 seconds/215mph 4.2 seconds/215mph Price new/price now: N/A/£10,000,000 Advertisement - Article continues below Everyone knows the story: in 1963, Ford tried to buy Ferrari, Enzo regretted the deal at the final hour and this put Henry Ford II on the warpath, determined to prove his company could dominate Ferrari in motorsport. Specifically, at the hallowed 24 Hours of Le Mans. The result was the Ford GT40: the greatest car the company ever made, and one of the most legendary cars ever. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below A mixture of British and American expertise brought the GT40 to life, with the first iteration completed less than a year after Mr Ford issued his decree. It stood just 40 inches tall, hence the name, looked like a missile with a windscreen, and a 4.2-litre V8 allowed it to reach 200mph. Just 31 road-going versions were built alongside the racers. However it wasn't until the heavily revised Mk2 took to the track in 1966 that the GT40 started to win races, including a podium lockout at Le Mans that year. Thanks in part to a new 485bhp 7.0-litre motor, the car broke lap records and hit 213mph. The GT40 went on to secure four consecutive victories for the Blue Oval from 1966 to 1969. By Tom Jervis On sale dates: 1963 to 1966 1963 to 1966 Power/engine size: 105bhp/1.6-litre 105bhp/1.6-litre Engine/gearbox: 4cyl twin-cam in-line/four-speed manual 4cyl twin-cam in-line/four-speed manual 0-60/top speed: 13.6 seconds/108mph 13.6 seconds/108mph Price new/price now: £1,100/£70,000 Advertisement - Article continues below The Ford Cortina Lotus, as it's officially named, was born after Ford noticed Lotus founder Colin Chapman had commissioned a twin-cam version of the Ford Kent engine for use in the Lotus 23 racing car. Ford asked Lotus to fit this revised powertrain to the Cortina for Group 2 touring car racing. It produced just over 100bhp, while the car sat on revised suspension and had lightweight body panels in iconic cream and green paintwork. The original plan was to produce just 1,000 examples, but in fact around 7,500 were produced across two generations. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The Cortina took touring car racing by storm, with Jim Clark winning the British Saloon Car Championship with Team Lotus and Sir John Whitmore securing the European Touring Car Championship under the banner of Alan Mann Racing – although this is just touching the surface of the Lotus Cortina's success. By Chris Rosamond On sale dates: 1967 1967 Power/engine size: 355bhp/7.0-litre 355bhp/7.0-litre Engine/gearbox: V8 twin-carb/three-speed auto V8 twin-carb/three-speed auto 0-62/top speed: 6.5 seconds/128mph 6.5 seconds/128mph Price new/price now: £3,700/£150,000 There are plenty of fast Ford Mustangs, but one of the most iconic is the 1967 GT 500 produced by racing driver Carroll Shelby's firm, Shelby American. Hired to spice up the Mustang and make it more suited to competition, Shelby first created the 289ci V8-powered GT 350 in 1965, with a relatively modest set of modifications including a bigger carburettor, free-flowing intake/exhaust and better brakes. Advertisement - Article continues below Then, in 1967, Shelby introduced a new variant using Ford's 428ci (7-litre) big block V8 making 355bhp in standard tune, and featuring various fibreglass body panels to help keep weight down, but also to give Shelby's Mustang variant a more aggressive look. Around 2,000 cars were built, and survivors are highly collectable today. There are plenty of replicas around, too, sporting the iconic twin stripes down the full length of the car, and GT500 lettering on the front wings. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Shelby American continues to market variations of hot Mustangs today, but there's nothing quite like the original GT 500 – the archetypal sixties muscle car. By Alastair Crooks On sale dates: 1970 to 1975 Power/engine size: 86bhp/1.6-litre 86bhp/1.6-litre Engine/gearbox: 4cyl in-line/four-speed manual 4cyl in-line/four-speed manual 0-60/top speed: 10.7 seconds/99mph 10.7 seconds/99mph Price new/price now: £1,150/£70,000 In 1970 entrepreneur Wylton Dickson came up with the bright idea of the 16,000-mile London to Mexico Rally, ending just in time for the World Cup in Mexico that year. The winner was the Mk1 Ford Escort, beating the likes of the BMW 2002 Ti, Citroen DS 21 and Mercedes 280 in the process. To celebrate the win, Ford decided to create a special version of the Escort - aptly named Mexico. Ford had conveniently just built a brand-new plant called Advance Vehicle Operations (AVO) in Aveley, Essex that became the home of the Mexico. Up until AVO's demise in 1975, 10,352 Escort Mexicos were built. Advertisement - Article continues below Its popularity wasn't based solely on its fabulous Coke-bottle shape, flared wheelarches and unique decals; there was also plenty to get excited about underneath. The 1.6-litre engine only produced 86bhp but it went to 13-inch rear wheels, while the car's superb balance was made all the more enjoyable by responsive steering and a sensational gearshift. True to its rally roots, the Mexico also received a strengthened body, and a revised suspension set-up. By Paul Barker On sale dates: 1984 to 1986 Power/engine size: 246bhp/1.8-litre Engine/gearbox: 4cyl in-line turbo/five-speed manual 0-62/top speed: 6.1 seconds/150mph Price new/price now: £49,995/£450,000 Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The wild RS200 was built to homologate a rally version that didn't manage to be competitive before the ill-fated Group B cars were banned. Just 200 road cars were built in the mid-eighties, with 246bhp from a mid-mounted turbocharged 1.8-litre Cosworth engine. In line with the car's slightly bizarre history, the road-going models were actually built by Reliant, famous for its fibreglass expertise with the not-so-legendary Robin three-wheeler. Around a third of the car, including most obviously the Sierra tail lights, was from Ford parts bins, but more than 40 years later it can still turn heads at a level massively out of proportion with its success or driving experience. Which is why I love it. Advertisement - Article continues below I was fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of Ford's own heritage RS200, and it's a heavy and uncompromised beast that you wouldn't fancy rolling down the high street in. But once you get over the fact that you're driving a piece of Ford history, and get used to having to be a bit brutal with the controls, it's a lot more lightweight and excitable than it feels. Clunky and clumsy at low speed, build the confidence to get faster and it dispels any notions of not wanting to meet your heroes. By Dean Gibson On sale dates: 1986 to 1987 Power/engine size: 224bhp/2.0-litre 224bhp/2.0-litre Engine/gearbox: 4cyl in-line turbo/five-speed manual 4cyl in-line turbo/five-speed manual 0-60/top speed: 6.5 seconds /149mph (RS500) 6.5 seconds /149mph (RS500) Price new/price now: £20,000/£150,000 Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Ford shook up the repmobile market with the jellymould Sierra, but it gained a lukewarm reception from conservative car buyers. To help inject some life into the car, Ford Motorsport joined forces with old sparring partner Cosworth to produce a car that would dominate Group A touring car racing. The road car's whale tail spoiler and deep front bumper were functional, while the flared arches were designed to accommodate racing slicks. Under the bonnet, Ford's tried-and-tested 2.0-litre Pinto four-cylinder received a makeover, with the turbocharged YB version making 224bhp in RS500 guise, while racing versions have been tuned to make a reliable 550bhp. Advertisement - Article continues below I've driven a Sierra RS Cosworth, and it's the epitome of a turbocharged sports car – it's very humdrum at lower revs, but there's instant surge once the turbo spools up. There's a fine line to tread, too, because too much power will quickly overcome the relatively skinny rear tyres. The rest of the driving experience is great, with decent steering and a nimble chassis that still delivers a relatively comfortable ride. By Richard Ingram On sale dates: Power/engine size: 224bhp/2.0-litre 224bhp/2.0-litre Engine/gearbox: 4cyl in-line turbo/five-speed manual 4cyl in-line turbo/five-speed manual 0-62/top speed: 5.7 seconds/150mph 5.7 seconds/150mph Price new/price now: £21,380/£75,000-plus A manufacturer only needs to mutter the words 'homologation special' and you know the result will be something a little out of the ordinary. And that was exactly the case with the iconic Escort RS Cosworth – a poster car (alongside the Lamborghini Diablo and Ferrari F50!) of my youth. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Built to allow Ford to go rallying in the nineties, the RS Cosworth was so much more than an Escort with a bodykit and big wing. Fitted with a bespoke, longitudinally mounted Cosworth YBT 2.0-litre engine and a massive turbo, a five-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drive, cars left the factory with around 225bhp. Few stayed that way due to the highly tunable nature of the powertrain, however. Finding an unfettled example these days is nigh-on impossible. Advertisement - Article continues below Do so, and you'll be knocking on the door of £100,000; it seems some of those who coveted them as a child (me) can now afford (not me) the vastly inflated price it takes to secure one. By Alex Ingram On sale dates: 1997 to 2002 1997 to 2002 Power/engine size: 123bhp/1.7-litre 123bhp/1.7-litre Engine/gearbox: 4cyl in-line petrol/five-speed manual 4cyl in-line petrol/five-speed manual 0-60/top speed: 8.8 seconds/126mph 8.8 seconds/126mph Price new/price now: £14,550/£1,000 Any reader of our sister title evo magazine will know The Knowledge; the back pages where every evo-worthy car's stats are stated along with the verdict on the car. For a time, two cars stood out for their identical summary, 'Pros: Everything. Cons: Nothing.' One of those cars was the Ferrari 550 Maranello. The other was the Ford Puma 1.7. It might be hard to believe that a little Fiesta-based coupe could be held in the same regard as a Ferrari, but it doesn't take long behind the wheel of one to appreciate why Evo's verdict was so on the money. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Firstly, there's the engine. The Yamaha-developed 1.7-litre is to this day one of the smoothest four cylinder units around, and its appetite for revs let you wring all 123bhp out of it - all of the time. That it's matched to a sublime manual gearbox is merely a bonus - Mk2 Escort aside, no other Fast Ford shifts as sweetly. Advertisement - Article continues below But it's the chassis that's the real star. The Mk4 Fiesta was a fine handling supermini in its own right, but the Puma gained a sportier suspension setup and a wider track to make it among the most playful, approachable, communicative and agile cars of its era - and any other. It's the way that the chassis and powertrain feedback gel so perfectly in the Puma that make it such a delight to drive. While the Racing Puma is more exclusive and slightly quicker, it's no more fun to drive and becoming hugely expensive now, so the fact that a 1.7 can still be picked up for less than a grand makes it seem like the bargain to topple all Fast Ford bargains. By Ryan Birch On sale dates: 2009 to 2011 Power/engine size: 300bhp/2.5-litre 300bhp/2.5-litre Engine/gearbox: 5cyl in-line turbo/six-speed manual 5cyl in-line turbo/six-speed manual 0-62/top speed: 5.9 seconds/163mph 5.9 seconds/163mph Price new/price now: £27,575/from £22,000 Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Fast Fords have always been popular with enthusiasts, but fewer cars from the Blue Oval had a bigger impact on the world than when the Mk2 Ford Focus RS was launched. The car's deep front splitter, side skirts, vents and rear spoiler added the visual clout which made the RS stand out against the Mk2 Focus ST. More importantly, while the RS might have borrowed the same 2.5-litre in-line five cylinder engine from the ST, Ford gave it some serious steroids. With bespoke pistons and camshafts, a larger Borg Warner K16 turbo, a special exhaust system and a bigger intercooler, the Focus RS produced a stonking 300bhp and 324lb ft of torque. This was more than enough to put some of the best sports cars around at the time to shame. Advertisement - Article continues below At low speeds, the Mk2 RS wasn't that different from the regular Focus hatch, just a bit on the firm side. But open the taps up and the car will be tugging from side to side due to the prodigious amount of torque steer it produces. Ford developed the RevoKnuckle front suspension and heavily modified the Quaife limited-slip differential from the first-gen RS, but even that wasn't enough to eliminate the effect. That's all part of the charm, though, because the overall driving experience is spot on. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The car had plenty of power and was huge fun to drive. Plus it could do all the practical things the regular Focus could do. By Jordan Katsianis On sale dates: 2012-2017 Power/engine size: 180bhp/1.6-litre 180bhp/1.6-litre Engine/gearbox: 4cyl in-line turbo/six-speed manual 4cyl in-line turbo/six-speed manual 0-62/top speed: 7.0 seconds/142mph 7.0 seconds/142mph Price new/price now: £18,950/£6,000-£10,000 Ford's best drift car ever may well be the Mk7 ST – even though it's front-wheel drive. This relatively unassuming supermini, with its 1.6-litre engine and tiny wheels changed the hot hatchback genre when it arrived in 2012, with a balance that didn't just kill fun-sapping understeer, but actively promoted oversteer when off-throttle in a corner. Many supermini-sized hatches have had a sweet chassis, but here, it's not at the expense of usability. The ride, while very firm on earlier models, wasn't a bar to daily driving, while the excellent seats and practicality only helped matters. A sweet chassis balance wasn't this car's only ace card, as the turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder 'VCT' engine and six-speed manual transmission were just as finely honed and brilliantly executed as the rest of the car. Sure, some of the interior plastics were a little low-rent; the glovebox lid doubled as a parmesan cheese grater, so rough was its finish, and the infotainment system was more like a child's game than a grown-up user interface. But this really was a highlight in Ford's already illustrious career in designing and engineering hot hatchbacks. Shame it'll never be repeated. Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals… Car Deal of the Day: Grab a Ford Focus while you can for less than £250 per month The Ford Focus may be on its way out, but it's still great value. It's our Deal of the Day for 15 June Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more Best cars & vans 13 Jun 2025 Volkswagen Golf alternatives: great options for family hatch buyers The Volkswagen Golf is often thought of as the default family car, but there are plenty of other models to consider in this class Best cars & vans 10 Jun 2025 Ford Focus alternatives: ten cars to consider instead of the family hatch icon As the Ford Focus prepares to bow out, we suggest some other great cars worthy of your attention Best cars & vans 6 Jun 2025 New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
Auto Express
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
If you want safer roads, learn to drive better
Along with some of the Auto Express team, I was lucky enough to head up to Yorkshire recently to go back to school for the day. Many of us haven't really thought about how we drive since that joyous moment an examiner told us we'd passed our test, but a day with Paul Ripley's excellent instructors was a chance to reset and consider bad habits. Advertisement - Article continues below The course revolved around on-road hazard awareness, reading the signs and clues all around so you're in a position to spot danger earlier, and be better placed to deal with it when it occurs. In this job, where we spend a disproportionate amount of time driving unfamiliar cars on unfamiliar roads, it's important to make sure the Auto Express team is as skilled as possible. But everyone would benefit from stepping back to look at their driving as a skill rather than an activity. As much as it gets you thinking about your own driving, the course is also about giving you the mentality to side-step the poor decision making of others – even if there's apparently no such thing as a below-average driver. Statistically, of course, half of those behind the wheel are sub-par, but how many people have you ever met that would admit to being in the bottom half? Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Being curious and interested in driving is a good start, because people who look around and can read what the road is telling them are immediately ahead. From looking at everything, such as road markings, to being alert enough to spot dangers early, any driver should be constantly assessing, processing and adjusting their behaviour according to the information around them. Often, even learning to drive is about how quickly you can get your licence. For many drivers, those hours of tuition are the only formal tuition they will ever get. Compare that with the continuous training heavy goods vehicle drivers are quite rightly required to go through, and the difference is clear. Maybe the roads would be a little bit safer, a little bit less stressful and a little better for everyone, if we all considered our mindset when driving. Our streets could be a nicer place if we took stock of our own driving skills and made an effort to improve on areas where we know, but perhaps wouldn't admit, we sometimes fall a bit short. Did you know you can buy a used car with Auto Express? Choose from tens of thousands of cars with trusted dealers around the UK. Click here to buy used with Auto Express now... Find a car with the experts New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
