Author: Ted Welford

The first new electric GMC Hummer EV has arrived in the UK after being specifically imported.

The all-electric pick-up isn’t officially sold in the UK so has to be imported from America, with Clive Sutton being the first dealer to bring the model here.

The huge truck measures two metres in height, 2.34m in width and 5.5m in length – making it almost half a metre wider and longer than a Range Rover. It also packs a massive 200kWh battery (almost twice that of the biggest European-manufactured EVs), which allows for more than 350 miles of range.

Its powertrain also produces almost 1,000bhp, allowing this huge SUV to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.3 seconds.

Clive Sutton says demand for the model in the States is ‘sky-high’, with fewer than 1,000 said to have been delivered. American media reports in July suggested that just 12 were being produced per day, despite General Motors – the owner of Hummer – having more than 80,000 orders.

As a result, models are selling for well over the asking price in the US, with many Hummers retailing for around $200,000 (£178,500) – double the initial asking price.

By the time London-based Clive Sutton has bought the truck, shipped it over and registered it, it says the model ‘costs around £320,000’. The firm says it aims to offer a ‘manufacturer-style’ experience for customers, with the Hummer coming with a two-year, 50,000-mile warranty,

Founder and CEO Clive Sutton said: “As soon as the GMC Hummer EV was announced, our customers have been desperate to see the model in the UK.

“Now that we have imported the first one, we anticipate orders outstripping supply as buyers clamour to be among the first in Europe to own this electric supertruck.”

Clive Sutton is now accepting further orders for 2023.

New data has revealed the UK locations where a car is most and least likely to be stolen, with a huge difference recorded depending on area.

Topping the list for vehicle theft is Romford in East London, according to research from insurance comparison site MoneySupermarket, where 19.87 vehicles were reported stolen per 1,000 insurance enquiries made.

London locations dominated the list of car theft hotspots, with neighbouring Ilford recording 17.52 vehicles stolen per 1,000 enquiries. This was followed by Bromley in South East London (17.00) and Enfield in North London (16.91). Birmingham was the only location outside of London to be named in the top five, with 14.93.

Showing the staggering difference between the likelihood of a vehicle being stolen depending on location, Inverness in the north of Scotland had a car theft rate of just 0.08, followed by Dumfries and Galloway (0.36) and Llandrindod Wells in Wales (0.46).

When looking at regions as a whole, London was the least safe for car owners, with a theft rate of 11.55. Meanwhile Northern Ireland was the safest, with just 1.87 cars stolen per 1,000 enquiries.

Sara Newell, car insurance expert at MoneySupermarket, said: “One thing that insurers consider when calculating your premium is your location, and it can impact the cost of your cover.

“Car insurance will help minimise the financial impact of theft, so when your policy is up for renewal compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your policy – you could save up to £330.”

All data is taken from the 16.04m car insurance enquiries made on MoneySupermarket between September 2021 and August 2022.

Nissan has ruled out producing its new Ariya EV at its large production facility in Sunderland.

The UK plant, which produces key crossovers – such as the Qashqai and Juke – as well as the electric Leaf, seemed like a prime spot to produce the Ariya (unveiled today), given its expertise.

However, Nissan has ruled out producing this new EV alongside the Leaf in the UK, and it will instead be built in Japan at the Tochigi facility, which produces more premium Nissan and Infiniti models, along with the GT-R and 370Z sports cars.

Marco Fioravanti, vice president of product planning at Nissan Europe, said: “The Ariya is going to be produced in Japan, at the Tochigi plant, and it’s been totally changed and modernised in order to accept the new platform, which we’re launching with the Ariya.”

Nissan’s Sunderland facility employs around 7,000 people, and has recently had an uncertain future because of Brexit. The Japanese firm is holding off expanding the facility, which is the largest of its kind in the UK.

Fioravanti said: “Regarding Sunderland, it’s definitely one of our top priorities and it’s the heart of our European manufacturing facilities. At the moment we’re eagerly awaiting Brexit to give us the green light to expand it further.”

In June, Nissan confirmed 250 temporary jobs would go at the plant due to declining demand for new cars from the Covid-19 crisis, while it had a blow in 2019 when the Japanese firm said it would not produce the popular X-Trail SUV there as expected.

Back in May, Nissan announced it would shut its plant in Barcelona, at the expense of 2,800 jobs, though confirmed that its Sunderland operations were safe in the short-term.

The Ariya heralds a new era for Nissan – ushering in a bolder design direction for the firm. It will arrive in the UK in the second half of 2021, and offer a range of up to 310 miles.

Falling supercar prices are ‘not a cause for concern’ after a McLaren 720S sold yesterday at about half what it cost new just two years ago.

The 710bhp supercar went for £124,500 (£130,500 including fees) on the Collecting Cars auction platform, which sent a shock through social media users.

When the car was first bought in 2018, it would have cost nearly £260,000, including £50,000 of optional extras, but has seen a massive drop in value since then despite covering just 5,000 miles.

The McLaren 720S, like most luxury vehicles, doesn’t typically hold its value well at the best of times. However, there had been concern that this particularly low selling price was a sign of the potentially negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the high-end supercar market. Similar examples have been listed recently for £40,000 more.

However, Tom Jaconelli, director of supercar dealer Romans International, said a sale like this was merely a ‘temporary blip’.

Jaconelli said: “This platform is spreading a lot of negativity about the market when it’s selling cars in the middle of a lockdown where no one can even go to view the car. It is not a great indicator of the overall market.

“As soon as dealers are allowed to be fully open again you will see prices firm up so if anything these very low prices people are seeing are likely to be a temporary blip, although I would stop short of saying there will be a very quick recovery.”

“Whoever is choosing to sell their car during this time, it is likely to be a forced sale and therefore is going to get a kick in the teeth with regards to a price.”

However, the online auction platform that sold the car responded by saying cars were ‘overpriced’ in the market.

Ed Callow, head of communications at Collecting Cars, said: “The ‘asking price’ is not the ‘getting price’ and the market has been stuffed with too many cars at overambitious prices for too long. It’s a buyer’s market now, and the dealers that are listing with realistic prices are still selling cars.

“There’s going to be a temptation for some dealers to blame a lack of interest, calls and enquiries on this crisis, but the reality in many cases is that too many sellers simply have an outdated perception of the market.

“Even under normal circumstances last year, 95 per cent of sales on Collecting Cars happened without a viewing.”

If you’ve never heard of Polestar before, let’s bring you quickly up to speed.

It started out in life as Volvo’s performance car division – a key hit being the short-lived V60 Polestar. Given the firm’s continued alliance with Volvo, you can opt to have its plug-in hybrid models available with a ‘Polestar Engineered’ package – essentially bringing performance tweaks to an otherwise non-sporty model.

And it’s that performance theme that has continued, with Polestar launching in 2017 as its own standalone brand, and its first all-new model is this – the new ‘1’ GT car.

We’ve been in Florence to put it through its paces, but to also understand some of its key features. Here are five of the most interesting features available on it.

1. Longest electric range of any plug-in hybrid

Is there a point in launching a new car and brand if it’s not going to make other manufacturers wake up and take notice? Probably not, which is why Polestar aims to do things a bit differently.

Bizarrely all of its upcoming models, with the exception of this car, will be all-electric, so it’s a bit unusual that this new ‘halo’ car is a plug-in hybrid instead. But it still makes a bang – featuring a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, along with a pair of electric motors and a huge 34kWh battery. That latter figure is the focus here, as that gives the ‘1’ the longest electric range of any plug-in hybrid – travelling up to 78 miles on electricity.

2. Carbon fibre structure

Another key feature on the Polestar 1 is what it’s made from – carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. It’s not the first car to be made from the material – in fact it’s what its closest rival – the BMW i8 – is constructed from.

It brings a few benefits – the first weight saving, as it is 230kg lighter to be made from the material. It also lowers the centre of gravity in the ‘1’, too, which essentially results in improved handling.

3. Manually-adjustable dampers

While it’s increasingly common for manufacturers to fit their car with electronic dampers, Polestar has gone old-school with the ‘1’, as it’s fitted with manually adjustable ones instead.

They’re produced by Ohlins and can be adjusted at home without the need for it to go into a dealer to have them changed.

4. Batteries on show in the boot

Most manufacturers often scramble to try and hide the electrical underpinnings on their car – unlike an engine when they often like that to be on show. You often see them covered up underneath the boot, but Polestar’s doing things a bit differently and has deliberately left them on show in the boot of the ‘1’.

It’s a cool touch and gives the ‘1’ a particularly futuristic feel.

5. Looks exactly like a concept car

The Polestar 1’s entire inspiration is a 2013 show car – the Volvo Concept Coupe, which was a dramatic-looking model previewing a new platform that would be used in future Volvos, as well as a new styling language.

But there’s yet to be a new road car that exactly replicates that concept car. Until now. It’s remarkable how close the ‘1’ looks to that concept, with the carbon-fibre structure allowing for even more freedom to create the model exactly how the designers envisaged.

Tesla’s Model 3 was the third most popular new car in the UK in August – the first time an electric car has appeared in the top 10 best selling car charts.

The Model 3 was listed as “other” in third place behind the Ford Fiesta in first (3,978 registrations) and the VW Golf (3,439 registrations) in second place.

Tesla registered 2,082 Model 3s in August after what is likely to have been a huge delivery from America.

The car has been thwarted by numerous delays in production after Elon Musk’s firm struggled to ramp up manufacturing to cope with demand for its baby model.

Most of these UK Model 3 buyers would have placed £1,000 deposits for the car when Tesla put it on sale back in March 2016. By August 2017 there had been more than 450,000 reservations worldwide.

Tesla does not officially register its sales data with the UK’s official body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), and as such its registrations are still listed under “other imports”.

However, a spokesperson for the SMMT confirmed the anomaly in the data was due to a “recently launched electric car in the UK”.

A spokesperson for Tesla told the PA media group that it was the Model 3 that the number relates to, adding: “Tesla does not comment on sales figures.”

It is the first time an all-electric car has appeared in the list of the top 10 most popular new cars for a month and skewed the rise in EV sales up by 377.5 per cent – jumping from 659 to 3,137 registrations.

James Baggott, founder of industry publication Car Dealer Magazine, said the rise in EV registrations was an “abnormal blip”.

He said: “It’s worth noting, that the SMMT registration figures relate to cars registered, not sold in the month. Most Tesla Model 3 buyers put down their deposits years ago, so these will simply be Tesla finally delivering a car they promised back in 2016.

“This was effectively the first full month of deliveries for the Model 3 in the UK.

“It has also caused an abnormal blip in the SMMT stats – electric cars are up considerably, but it’s unlikely to be something that will continue.”

Tesla has had a number of well publicised problems with Model 3 production and UK customers have had to wait more than three years to get their hands on their cars. Model 3 deliveries first began in America in July 2018.

Mr Baggott added: “Interestingly so many Model 3 buyers chose to have their cars delivered in August – on a 19 plate – rather than wait for the new 69 plate that came along on September 1. That clearly demonstrates just how desperate they were to get their hands on this new car.”

Despite the rising popularity of EVs, overall new vehicle registrations continued to fall in August. The summer months are typically the UK’s quietest for new car sales, especially as they lead up to the September plate change.

In total, 94,094 new cars were registered in August – a decline of 1.6 per cent.

What is it?

Many might consider the Polo, Golf and Passat as Volkswagen’s longest-serving nameplates on sale today, but it is in fact the Transporter van that holds this accolade – offering an astonishing 70 years of service to breakdown firms, couriers and independent businesses.

We’re now in the Transporter’s sixth generation, hence the T6 – a logical nameplate, for a change – with over 12 million being sold since 1949. It’s also Volkswagen’s best-selling van by some distance, and the fourth most popular overall van in the UK.

Four years after the T6 first went on sale, here we have the facelift T6.1, but can it deliver?

What’s new?

The days of vans being backwards next to cars are long over, and this latest Transporter shows this vividly – predominantly in the cabin.

A new dashboard gives the Transporter an ever more car-like feel, while VW has bolstered connectivity levels through the standard 6.5-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring and VW’s ‘We Connect’ range of online services.

Safety has also been enhanced significantly, with the Transporter coming as standard with new driver assistance features, such as autonomous emergency braking and crosswind assist – the latter automatically applies brakes if the van becomes unstable.

The Transporter has also been given a trademark ‘nip and tuck’ facelift, but more on that later.

What’s under the bonnet?

Volkswagen ditched petrol engines a couple of years ago in the Transporter (they accounted for just one per cent of sales, says VW) so diesel completely rules here, and it’s the infamous 2.0 TDI that accounts for all versions.

To meet tight emissions regulations, there has been a few changes to the line-up – some engines becoming more powerful; others less. In the new engine range power outputs of 89, 108, 148 and 196bhp are now offered.

Our test van is the 108bhp version, which is paired to a five-speed manual gearbox. This level of power doesn’t sound much, but a plentiful 250Nm of torque means that this engine is surprisingly eager to get up to speed.

Next year Volkswagen will also introduce an all-electric version of the Transporter – broadening the van’s appeal further.

What’s it like to drive?

The Transporter has always had refinement on its side, and this facelift has thankfully not changed that.

It remains one of the best vans to drive on sale today – offering a comfortable and supple ride (ideal for delivery drivers bouncing over seemingly invisible speedbumps). As with any van, when it’s unloaded, the lack of sound insulation is noticed immediately, but once fully loaded (we tried both) it helps to iron out the issue.

The relatively light steering is also a bonus around town – making the Transporter no more difficult to manouevre than a typical hatchback, albeit opting for rear parking sensors and a reversing camera would likely be a worthy investment to make from the options list.

How does it look?

The cynical might compare the styling of the new T6.1 (the ‘.1’ meant to resemble an iPhone-style update) to the T5, which debuted in 2003. However, a lot has changed in that time – it’s just hard to go too outlandish with a commercial vehicle’s design.

The most notable changes are at the front, which is headed up by new twin headlights (LEDs on range-topping models), along with revised daytime running lights. A redesigned front bumper is another feature on the facelift, along with a new grille with a more imposing chrome strip.

Choosing between the trim levels can hugely affect the van’s looks, as opting for the entry-level Startline brings black plastic bumpers and steel wheels, while those wanting something a bit classier to look at should choose the Highline – bringing alloys and painted bumper trim.

What’s it like inside?

Step inside the T6.1, and purely looking at the dash you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a Polo or Golf – the quality is that good. The plastics all feel solid and built to stand the test of time, with the switchgear also being easy to use.

A big difference on this update comes in the form of the now standard 6.5-inch touchscreen – known as ‘Composition Colour’. While not coming with satellite-navigation, it brings smartphone mirroring and We Connect, which adds a host of online connected services. These include access to emergency call and a parking locator.

Up front there is also a decent amount of room for adults to sit three abreast, while the load bay is also a generous size, with buyers able to choose a long-wheelbase version – adding an additional 40cm of room. Unfortunately, VW has not yet announced details on the payload of the Transporter.

What’s the spec like?

Volkswagen has made big strides when it comes to the standard equipment of the Transporter, with features such as electric windows, electric mirrors, Bluetooth and a 6.5-inch touchscreen all now being added to the list of kit included. The Startline is the base model, with provisional prices expected to start from £21,635. Full pricing will be revealed when order books open in November, though it’s expected to be slightly more than comparative rivals.

From launch the only other grade available on the van will be the Highline, which gains alloy wheels, painted bumpers, cruise control, rear parking sensors and a heated windscreen. It’s the best-selling trim – being most popular with independent businesses and one-man-bands, with the Startline being the fleet favourite.

The Transporter van annoyingly misses out on certain features found on other T6.1 derivatives (Caravelle, for example) – such as digital dials and the Volkswagen Group’s latest 9.2-inch MIB3 infotainment system.

Verdict

The Transporter has long been regarded as one of the best vans on sale today, and that continues with the T6.1. It is now more connected than ever, and comes with a much lengthier list of standard equipment.

These improvements have only enhanced the Transporter, which will likely continue to make this model one of the best-selling vans on sale in the UK. However, it’s only when full pricing and technical data is announced when we’ll know if the T6.1 is class-leading.

What is it?

The A4 is Audi’s greatest success story. In the model’s 25-year history, the German firm has sold 7.5 million examples of its executive car, with 345,000 A4s being built in 2018.

Little wonder then as to why this Audi receives the most updates and alterations. The German firm gave the A4 the subtlest of all changes in 2018 – bringing more standard equipment, trapezoid-shaped exhaust tips and larger wheels. And that’s about all.

But just a year later, here we have a proper facelift of the A4. This is an important refresh, given that the current A4 was unveiled back in 2015. Much has changed in the executive car class in that time, with all rivals updating their cars since then. So, can the updated A4 compete?

What’s new?

Audi has developed a bit of a reputation for its ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ approach to facelifts, and the same is arguably true here.

The A4 benefits from Audi’s latest design language – meaning it features a larger front grille and standard-fit LED headlights with their own unique signature

Inside it comes with a new 10.1-inch touchscreen that is much slicker than the previous car’s monitor. The excellent digital Virtual Cockpit is also now a standard feature – rather than a pricey extra like before.

And finally, the facelift introduces two new trim levels, which sit each side of the existing line-up. That means you have a new entry-level Technik grade sitting bellow the Sport, S line and Black Edition, and a Vorsprung grade acting as the new range topper.

What’s under the bonnet?

The current cheapest engine is the one fitted to our test car – a turbocharged 187bhp 2.0-litre petrol unit. Power is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox – the latter a feature on every new A4.

The 187bhp petrol unit is a good match for the A4 – delivering smooth performance that never feels sluggish nor outlandish. A 0-60mph time of 7.1 seconds is possible, along with a top speed of 150mph.

One disappointment is the S tronic automatic gearbox, which is sometimes hesitant to transfer the power to the tarmac. As for running costs, Audi claims 42.2mpg is possible, along with CO2 emissions of 133g/km.

Elsewhere, there’s a 242bhp 2.0-litre petrol with all-wheel-drive, and a 2.0-litre diesel unit producing either 161bhp or 187bhp. Smaller and more affordable engines will join the A4 range later in the year.

What’s it like to drive?

As with the previous A4, this model feels at its best at a steady cruise. The refinement is top notch, with little road or wind noise making its way into the cabin. The 2.0-litre petrol engine is also impressively refined, while the 18-inch alloy wheels on our test car also help to provide a supple and comfortable ride.

But as with the pre-facelift A4, this German saloon still lacks the excitement and driver involvement of the BMW 3 Series. The steering offers very little feel, although it remains easy to place through sharp corners.

It stays planted to the tarmac, though, with little body roll being seen from our saloon test car, even without the quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Yet excitement isn’t the name of the game here – rather comfort and refinement shine through.

How does it look?

Audi certainly hasn’t gone overboard on this latest facelift – keeping the visual changes to a minimum.

Been driving this updated trio in Italy over the last couple of days, which now feature mild hybrid tech, a facelifted look and a new infotainment system. Driving impressions out next week… pic.twitter.com/3rKrKMT2af

— Ted Welford (@TedWelford) July 9, 2019

Look at the latest A6 and A8 saloons, and it’s easy to see where the updated A4 drew its inspiration from. At the front and rear, new LED lights feature with their own signature, while elsewhere the A4 gains a larger Singleframe front grille and new trim detailing.

But the visual appeal hugely depends on trim level. Our silver test car with 18-inch alloy wheels looked unremarkable. However, switch to the higher-spec S line and Vorsprung models and these car’s larger alloy wheels and sportier bodykits help to transform the car into an S4 lookalike.

What’s it like inside?

Audi interiors are usually the one element where the Ingolstadt brand’s cars stand out above the rest, and the changes made to the facelifted A4 have only built on that. It not only looks like a grade A-quality cabin, but it also feels that way with upmarket materials used throughout.

But undoubtedly the highlight of this facelift is the new 10.1-inch touchscreen, which is standard across the range. It uses the Volkswagen Group’s latest MIB 3 operating system, and offers a host of new connected features – such as parking information as you approach your destination. It also works seamlessly with a fully-digital Virtual Cockpit, with superb graphics used on both.

Cabin space is also generous, with plenty of room for adults to sit in the rear in both the Saloon and Avant (estate) – the latter offering a far more usefully-shaped boot.

What’s the spec like?

Audi has made the A4 more appealing than ever thanks to a new entry-level Technik trim level and enhanced standard equipment. Basic features include the 10.1-inch touchscreen, the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit, LED headlights, heated front seats and a reversing camera. Technik models will be available shortly after launch, with prices starting from an affordable £30,750.

Sport (from £35,585) adds leather seats, LED interior lighting and sports seats, while popular S line versions (from £37,160) add signature LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels and leather and Alcantara upholstery.

Sitting at the top of the range is the newly-introduced Vorsprung, which costs from a rather pricey £50,010. This ticks just about every box – Matrix LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive sports suspension, a head-up display and a Bang & Olusfen sound system.

As a rule, it’s the cheaper A4s that make the most financial sense – particularly with the much-improved standard equipment levels.

Verdict

The updated A4 continues to do what modern Audis are known for – class-leading interiors and excellent refinement. The new touchscreen and updated operating system moves the A4 into line with its key rivals from BMW and Mercedes, too – an area of improvement the last A4 needed to improve on.

The introduction of new more affordable engines and trim levels will also extend the A4’s appeal, and likely continue to ensure the A4 remains Audi’s best-selling model.

While the driving experience might be lacking the dynamic edge of the BMW 3 Series, and the automatic gearbox is far from perfect, the A4 is a seriously well-rounded car that now deservedly sits alongside the class best.

Facts at a glance
Model as tested: Audi A4 40 TFSI Sport S tronic
Price: £35,585
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine
Power: 187bhp
Torque: 320Nm
Max speed: 150mph
0-60mph: 7.1 seconds
MPG: 42.2
Emissions (g/km): 133
Rivals: BMW 3 Series, Jaguar XE, Mercedes C-Class

What is it?

The Volkswagen Group is pretty good at churning out some of the best family hatchbacks in the business. Volkswagen has its Golf, Seat its Leon and Audi its A3. But where does Skoda fit into all of this?

Well, now we have this – the all-new Scala. Offering class-leading practicality, a well-built interior, loads of standard equipment and an affordable price tag, it could help to get Skoda back into the minds of family hatchback buyers.

What’s new?

Taking advantage of Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform used across the range of brands, the Scala is essentially an all-new model, and a vast distance apart from the Rapid, even if Skoda is clear to say that it doesn’t “replace” that model.

Aside from introducing a new style language, the Scala’s key improvement is the cabin, where a touchscreen size of up to 9.2-inches is offered alongside a 10.25-inch digital virtual cockpit, which are both some of the largest screens in its class. The VW Group’s latest MIB3 infotainment package is also offered, which boasts a host of new connectivity services, with scope for services such as door unlocking and parcel deliveries when using a Skoda app.

What’s under the bonnet?

There are no surprises when it comes to powertrains, with the Scala being offered with three of the Volkswagen Group’s staple engines.

The 1.0-litre petrol engine is expected to account for the vast majority of sales – particularly in 113bhp trim, which is the car we tested. The three-cylinder turbocharged unit is willing, and despite its modest power output, is still able to accelerate the Scala to 60mph in under 10 seconds, and keep going onto a top speed of 125mph.

The six-speed manual transmission is slick to shift, albeit the engine can feel a bit unrefined and noisy under harsher acceleration. It should also prove to be cheap to run, with Skoda claiming a fuel economy figure of 56.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 113g/km.

An 84bhp 1.0-litre unit and a 148bhp 1.5-litre engine round off the petrol line-up. A singular diesel unit is also offered, which delivers 113bhp and comes with the option of a manual or DSG automatic transmission.

What’s it like to drive?

Expect the Scala to offer the same level of thrills as the Ford Focus and buyers will come away disappointed – however, it’s ideal for those in the market for a comfortable cruiser.

The Scala is a refined car under steady acceleration – even at higher speeds – and delivers one of the most accommodating rides in its class. Larger alloy wheels don’t affect the quality of the ride either, and generally it’s a refreshing change for a family hatchback to be offered with such a supple and relaxing ride.

An optional ‘Sport’ mode – part of the dynamic chassis control package – which firms up the ride to deliver more thrills is also offered, although we don’t see the need to ever use it.

The steering is remarkably light and feels ideal around town, if a bit lifeless on twisty back roads. Body roll could be better controlled, and the experience just doesn’t feel quite as polished as rivals. But that’s at the expense of offering a more comfortable ride, and one we think buyers should appreciate.

How does it look?

Skoda has gone down a slightly different path with the Scala’s styling, and it’s a direction that’s worked. But sure, it’s still immediately recognisable as a Skoda with its high bonnet line, flowing lines and hexagonal-shaped grille.

Based on the styling of the Vision RS Concept shown at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, the Scala offers a sportier look than the Rapid it replaces. The Scala also offers some ‘firsts’ for Skoda, as the hatchback is the Czech manufacturer’s initial model to have the brand’s letters spelt out at the rear as opposed to a traditional Skoda badge.

Our only real gripe about the way the Scala looks, as with many new models, is that the radar sensors for the suite of safety features is poorly integrated into the design behind the front grille. It looks untidy and almost like an afterthought, despite it being fundamental to the overall design.

What’s it like inside?

The Scala undercuts the best-selling Golf in terms of price by quite some margin, but its interior doesn’t feel that way. Skoda’s rounded off the cabin with plenty of soft-touch plastics and it looks like a model that occupies a more premium sector than it does, albeit some of the switchgear feels more Primark than Prada.

All models also come with a touchscreen – a 6.5-inch unit on ‘S’ variants, with our top-spec SE L test car benefitting from the large 9.2-inch setup included as standard to the range-topping trim. It’s a classy-looking and intuitive system that houses satellite navigation and a host of safety functions, although we had a minor battle with setting up the satellite navigation, and it doesn’t feel quite as slick as past Volkswagen systems.

Offering the largest boot in its class (excluding more saloon-style bodies such as the Honda Civic), the Scala comes with 467 litres of load space, with an adjustable boot floor adding further scope. Rear seat space in the Scala is also very generous for a model of this size.

What’s the spec like?

Value has always been a selling point of Skodas, and the same is true of the Scala. The range kicks off at £16,595, or roughly the same as a mid-spec supermini these days. And despite its cheap price, plenty of kit is still offered as standard.

Gone are the plastic wheel trims you would typically find on the entry-level ‘S’ version, and instead it comes with 16-inch alloys, as well as a 6.5-inch touchscreen, LED headlights and autonomous emergency braking.

Splashing out an extra £1,185 pays for the SE, which adds even more kit.

Rounding off the range is the SE L, which costs from £19,580. This brings treats such as keyless entry, climate control, a digital ‘virtual’ cockpit and a large 9.2-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and connected services.

Verdict

The Scala is everything we’ve come to expect from a modern Skoda. It’s good to look at, hugely practical, comfortable and yet the firm’s long-lasting principal of value remains.

It might have the better-driving Ford Focus snapping at its ankles, and it may not be as polished as the more premium Volkswagen Golf, but with such an attractively low price, it’s a hugely compelling model and deserves to be yet another sales hit for Skoda.

Facts at a glance

Model as tested: Skoda Scala 1.0 TSI 115 SE L
Price as tested: £20,385
Engine: 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol
Power (bhp): 113
Torque (Nm): 200
Max speed (mph): 125
0-60mph: 9.6 seconds
MPG: 56.6
Emissions (g/km): 113

The Geneva Motor Show is known for its exotica, and this year’s event was no different.

With glittering unveilings from Bugatti, Ferrari, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Pininfarina and more, there was no shortage of luxury and performance models on show.

But the big question on the minds of many preparing to splash their cash on these high-value models is “what’s the investment potential?”

JBR Capital, a specialist in providing high-end finance for this type of vehicles, has today revealed the list of the greatest appreciating and depreciating cars over the past 10 years that launched at the Geneva show.

The highest appreciating model comes from Lamborghini with its seldom-seen Veneno, which saw its debut in 2013. Just five of the Aventador-based hypercars were ever made, and it was priced at a cool £2.6m when new. Six years later, a Veneno Coupe is valued at £7.3m – an 180 per cent increase in value, and a gain of over £4m.

Other winners include the Ferrari LaFerrari, which was also unveiled in 2013. Ferrari’s latest hypercar now looks like a bargain back then with a launch price of £1.15m, compared to its current price of £2.4m – an impressive 109 per cent increase in value.

Those who have just ordered Koenigsegg’s latest Jesko hypercar, which is said to be capable of 300mph, will be hoping their cars rise in value in a similar way to the firm’s 2014 One:1, which has doubled its value and is now worth £4m.

Rounding off the top five are the 2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque, which has risen in value by 54 per cent to £2m, as well as the 2010 Koenigsegg Agera, which is now worth £1.3m – a 49 per cent increase on its £875,000 list price.

But not everyone’s been so lucky. Buyers of the 2013 Maserati Quattroporte might have loved the styling and luxury of their saloon at launch, but six years later, a low-mileage Quattroporte is worth just £32,000 – a 71 per cent loss.

The Bentley Continental GT Supersports has also plummeted by 54 per cent since its unveiling a decade ago, and is now worth £75,000, as opposed to £163,000 when new.

Elsewhere, the 2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage S has dropped by 47 per cent to £56,000, the 2014 McLaren 650S by 37 per cent and a 2016 Jaguar F-Type SVR by 32 per cent to £75,000, according to JBR Capital.

Steven Halstead, executive chief operating office at the finance company, said: “It’s unsurprising that the Lamborghini Veneno, Ferrari LaFerrari and Koenigsegg One:1 have stolen the limelight in terms of current values. The Veneno is quite simply an outstanding car.”

As for this year’s unveilings, JBR Capital is hedging its bets that the one-off Bugatti La Voiture Noire, the Pagani Huayra BC Roadster and the Pininfarini Battista are the hypercars that will see prices soar. It has also recommended the Lamborghini Aventador SVR Roadster and Ferrari F8 Tributo as the supercars to keep an eye on where values are concerned.