Author: Tom Wiltshire

It might seem as though the MPV sector is dead. It’s certainly a shrinking class – while back in the early 2000s just about every manufacturer offered a slab-sided people-mover, your options in 2018 are rather more limited as these practical machines are phased out in favour of ‘in-trend’ SUVs.

But an MPV actually has a few advantages over the equivalent SUV. They tend to be more spacious for their footprint – a seven-seat SUV will very often struggle to seat adults in the rearmost row, whereas a large MPV may be able to accomodate seven in comfort. Sure, they might not be as stylish or rugged – but does that really matter when all you need to do is carry the kids and their clobber?

We’ve rounded up ten of the best MPVs you can still buy.

Citroen C4 SpaceTourer

Citroen has a strong track record with MPVs – its Xsara Picasso was one of the most popular compact people-movers going. The latest in the line are the SpaceTourer and Grand SpaceTourer, and despite the silly name (even worse than ‘Picasso’) they’re thoroughly accomplished cars.

Bold styling inside and out is quintessentially French, and all that glass area pays dividends – frontal visibility in this car is staggering. It’s also superbly comfortable and, with one of the 1.6-litre BlueHDI diesel engines, amazingly efficient, too. Truly one of the best of the breed.

Seat Alhambra

The Alhambra adopts a different approach than the Citroen does – it’s straight, sensible and spacious in every sense of the word. With sliding doors for added practicality and genuine room for seven adults, this is a brilliant MPV.

It’s perhaps not what you’d expect from the stylish Spaniards at Seat, but here’s a secret – the Alhambra is the exact same car as the Volkswagen Sharan, only with a healthy price cut. That’s worth considering for anybody.

VW Touran

While Volkswagen’s Sharan is the brand’s flagship MPV, the smaller Touran is arguably more useful for smaller families – who can benefit from the car’s boxy practicality, while only using the rear seats for very occasional passengers.

With driving dynamics and a dashboard shared with Volkswagen’s smaller passenger cars, the Touran is thoroughly inoffensive to own. Perhaps that’s not the highest of praise, but it should be – you won’t miss your SUV if you opt for a Touran.

SsangYong Turismo

The SsangYong Turismo is old-fashioned, poor to drive and has styling only a mother could love. However, it does have two major plus points – space and price. Put simply, this is the most metal you can buy for your money anywhere on the market.

The Turismo will accommodate seven adults in seriously spacious surroundings in a 2-2-3 layout, with a decent boot behind the rear bench. Best of all, prices start at under £20,000 – or around the same amount you’d spend on a decently-equipped supermini.

Peugeot Rifter

While the old Peugeot Partner Teepee was unashamedly based on a van, its replacement hides its commercial origins rather better. The Rifter is actually based on the same underpinnings as Peugeot’s own 308 hatchback, endowing it with decent driving dynamics and a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines.

Best of all, those van-like proportions give it an incredibly practical interior. There’s actually more storage cubby space in here than there is in the entire boot of a supermini – and the boot itself is truly cavernous.

Kia Carens

The Kia Carens isn’t the biggest MPV about, nor is it the best to drive, but it’s a thoroughly accomplished all-rounder. With seven seats as standard and – even more impressively – a seven-year warranty, it’s ideal for buyers who want to keep their car for a long time.

It’s also reasonably stylish for an MPV thanks to Kia’s tiger-nose grille, and an excellent reputation for dependability plus good crash test scores are just two more feathers in the Carens’ cap.

Ford S-Max

The best-driving MPV may seem like a pretty poor accolade – a bit like receiving the ‘best loser’ award at a school sports day – but in the case of the S-Max it’s both justified and impressive. The S-Max is based on the same platform as the previous Mondeo, giving it seriously impressive handling – this is one MPV that you might actually want to hustle down a back road.

Seven decent-sized seats and pleasantly angular styling are also handy to have, while a range of efficient diesel engines help keep costs down.

Ford Tourneo Connect

On the other end of the spectrum to the comparatively luxurious S-Max is Ford’s own Tourneo Connect. It’s based on the Transit Connect van, but like the Peugeot Rifter is better to drive than its commercial vehicle origins would have you believe – and it’s available with some amazingly efficient engines.

There’s even the option of a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol if you’re looking to move away from diesel, while the vast boot and capacious interior make short work of family life.

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

The 2 Series Active Tourer was two ‘firsts’ for BMW. It was the brand’s first MPV, sure, but it was also the first front-wheel drive car – a move which purists denounced as blasphemy.

However, sharing a platform with the Mini hatch means that the 2 Series Active Tourer is actually very good to drive – and BMW’s trademark quality interiors make for a seriously pleasant environment in which to travel.

Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

The Zafira Tourer has officially left production, pushed out by the Grandland X SUV, but you’ll still be able to find brand-new examples of the firm’s popular MPV on dealer forecourts. And that’s a great thing, as it’s actually a very good car.

It’s spacious, economical and super-comfy, especially when fitted with Vauxhall’s brilliant 1.6-litre ‘Whisper’ diesel engine. Add in a good reputation for reliability and safety and the Zafira Tourer is a sound choice – plus, it’ll be a bargain.

Heads of state tend to be pretty staid in their transport choices – big, sobre limousines are usually the order of the day. But the head of the Catholic church is able to have a bit more fun with his choice of vehicle.

The Pope’s transport has to protect the pontiff, while allowing him to commune with the adoring crowds that characterise his visits. As such, a custom ‘Popemobile’ tends to be the vehicle of choice – affording his Holiness a commanding view of his surroundings atop a raised platform surrounded by bulletproof glass – deemed necessary after the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981.

That’s not to say the Pope exclusively travels by Popemobile – there are a few other vehicles blessed enough for him to use.

Here are some of the best…

Mercedes M-Class Popemobile

This is perhaps the best-used and most recognisable Popemobile around. Based on a 2007 Mercedes M-Class SUV, it features a raised platform at the rear, with a full-height door and steps leading into it.

Inside, there’s a handrail so that his Holiness can stand and wave, but there’s also a pair of comfy seats in case the weight of all that Catholicism gets to be too much to handle.

Lamborghini Huracan

Being the Pope isn’t always easy – after all, if you were gifted a customised Lamborghini Huracan, you’d probably want to get in and go for a drive. But with the Vatican boasting so few roads, there’s little point in ownership – so when Pope Francis was given this gift by the Italian supercar manufacturer, he instead decided to sell it.

Resplendent in papal white with gold detailing, the Lamborghini fetched £630,000 for charity when RM Sotheby’s auctioned it off earlier this year. The Pope’s signature on the bonnet possibly helped the sale along.

Leyland Popemobile

When Pope John Paul II visited the UK for five days in 1982, he was transported around in something a little heftier than the traditional Popemobile – a necessary evil due to an attempt on his life just a year earlier. The response from the UK was this monster – the 24 ton Leyland Popemobile.

It rode on a Leyland Constructor chassis, which was chosen because of its ability off-road as well as impressive acceleration for a commercial vehicle. Visitors to the British Commercial Vehicle Museum can still see the first of two such popemobiles in all of its glory.

Renault 4

The current Pope, Francis, is well-known for being a very humble man – eschewing the finery of many of his predecessors and leading a less grand existence than you may expect. The same is reflected in his own personal transport, which is over thirty years old.

The Renault 4 was gifted to Francis by Father Renzo Zocca of Italy, and his Holiness uses it to nip about the Vatican.

Fiat Campagnola Popemobile

With the Vatican being fully surrounded by Italy, it’s no surprise that the pontiff spends a lot of his time in Fiat vehicles. This Campagnola is one of the more popular models, but fell out of favour in 1981 after an attempt on Pope John Paul II’s life. Since then, most Popemobiles have been fitted with bulletproof glass.

Seat Panda Popemobile

Not all Popemobiles have to be based on SUVs. This adorable Seat Panda – build on Fiat Panda designs under license by Spanish brand Seat – was used in 1982 during John Paul IIs visit to Spain.

Ferrari Enzo

The 400th and final Ferrari Enzo was gifted to John Paul II by Ferrari – another example of a Pope being given a supercar he can’t drive. It’s presented in a rare Rosso Scuderia colour, with a unique bare carbon-fibre spoiler.

It was auctioned off in 2005, sadly after the death of John Paul II – but his successor, Benedict XVI, received a cheque with the proceeds to be donated to charity. The Enzo was last sold in 2015 by RM Sotheby’s, making over $6 million.

Skoda Rapid

The latest transport to be used by his Holiness is slightly more auspicious than some of its predecessors. Set to be used by Francis on his visit to Dublin next week, the modified Rapid has been donated by Skoda of Ireland, and will be supplied with toughened glass, flag holders on the front wings and a custom armrest to keep the pontiff comfortable.

Skoda Ireland has announced it will lend its support to the 2018 World Meeting of Families – a yearly gathering of the Roman Catholic Church.

Part of this commitment includes providing the pontiff himself, Pope Francis, with transport. As such, when the Pope touches down at Dublin Airport he will be transported to Aras an Uachtarain, the Irish presidential residence, in the back of a specially modified Skoda Rapid.

Pope Francis is famed for his humble choice of vehicle, often choosing modest cars over the classic glass-sided ‘Popemobiles’ more associated with his position. He even drives himself around the Vatican in an ancient Renault 4.

https://twitter.com/SkodaIRL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1029670228270215168&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent-wordpress.pressassociation.com%2Farchives%2Fstory%2Fskoda-to-support-papal-visit-with-fleet-of-rapids

Fitting then, that one of Skoda’s humblest vehicles – sitting above only the Fabia and Citigo in the brand’s range – should transport the Pontiff around Ireland.

Of course, the Rapid has had a few changes to bring it up to Pope-spec. Skoda Ireland’s head of marketing, Raymond Leddy, spelled out the changes: “Three identical Skoda Rapid vehicles, each fitted with unique identification registration plates, have been reserved for the event.

“As part of the Papal fleet, we are commemorating Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland, with vehicle registration 182-C-1979 and, of course, marking this year’s event with vehicle registration 182-C-2018. 182-D-9093 is the primary vehicle, which, when the digits 9093 are inverted, spells out the word Pope.

“Each Skoda Rapid provided has been customised to requirements. Modified glass has been installed and each vehicle has been provided in a unique navy-blue colour as requested. Small chrome flag poles have also been installed to the passenger-side fenders, which will display the Vatican flag.”

There’s also beefed up window glass for extra protection and a custom armrest for the pontiff’s comfort.

As many as 500,000 people are expected to attend mass under Pope Francis in Dublin’s Phoenix Park during the event. A fleet of Karoq, Octavia and Superb models will provide support to the Pope’s staff and other dignitaries throughout the visit.

For owners of petrol or diesel cars, fuelling up is a simple process that takes just a few minutes. If you drive an electric car though, it’s not as simple as visiting a petrol station.

Electric charging points aren’t always located in convenient spots and once you’re there, you’re in for a wait of at least half an hour before they put any meaningful juice in your car.

However, there’s one big advantage that electric cars have, and that’s the ability to charge at home. It’s something that EV manufacturers would love owners to consider more often – treating an electric car as they would a smartphone, and simply topping up every night for use the next day.

But how can you charge your electric car at home?

The first option is simply to use an existing plug socket. All electric cars are supplied with their own charging cables, which should be plenty long enough to stretch from a driveway to a conveniently located power socket inside your house.

There are disadvantages to this route. Charging from a standard plug socket takes a long time – you’ll probably need to plug in at dinnertime for a full battery the next morning. Routing cables can also be ugly or a treacherous trip hazard.

You can get around the latter by using an extension cable but many manufacturers discourage this on safety grounds, so check your owner’s manual.

The other choice is to install an external plug socket. This remains a slow charging option but is at least tidier, without cables trailing all over the place. You’ll need a qualified electrician to install it safely.

Finally, the best option for those who need a faster charge, you can install a home charging point. Many companies operate these points, and they connect directly to the mains supply to provide a faster charge. Most electric vehicles will be fully charged in a few hours.

Installation can be quite pricey but once in place this is the best option for electric vehicle charging at home.

The crossover class is a juggernaut, steamrolling sales of MPVs, hatchbacks and family saloons in its path. There’s no escaping it – buyers just like the combination of rugged styling, a high ride height and the feeling of security that a bulky crossover provides.

But as with every car class, not all crossovers are created equal and there are some real standouts on the market. We’ve sorted the wheat from the chaff and rounded up 10 of the best crossovers on sale today.

Seat Ateca

The Seat Ateca shares most if not all of its components with its siblings from the Volkswagen Group, but manages to retain a distinct identity – and for that, we love it. Thanks to a combination of a stiff but comfortable ride and really well-judged controls it’s one of the best crossovers on the market to drive, but it’s also spacious and feels premium inside.

Add in a list price lower than its Volkswagen Tiguan sibling and sharp exterior styling and the Ateca is a real winner.

Citroen C3 Aircross

The old Citroen C3 Picasso was one of the victims of the crossover craze. A compact MPV, it was ditched in Citroen’s range and replaced by this – the C3 Aircross.

With far more rugged styling, the Aircross is more styling and eye-catching than its older brother but retains that car’s practicality and ease of driving.

Dacia Duster

The Dacia Duster has a unique selling point. It’s not just one of the cheapest crossovers you can buy today – it’s one of the cheapest cars, full stop, with a starting price of under £10,000.

Surprisingly that low price tag doesn’t have you scrabbling around in the dark ages either. Sure, the basic engine is a bit gutless, and bottom-spec models don’t even come with a radio, but step up a few trim grades and for the price of a basic city car you’ll get a very decently-equipped crossover with bags of room. It’s well worth considering if you’re on a budget.

Volkswagen T-Roc

It took Volkswagen a while to get in on the crossover game, but it didn’t hesitate in making up ground.

Launched just last year, the T-Roc boasts trademark Volkswagen quality and style, along with a strong range of engines. It’s also one of the best driving — thanks largely to the engineering input of Karsten Schebsdat, of Porsche fame.

Kia Sportage

It might surprise you to know that the Kia Sportage recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, over four model generations. Where does the time go?

Of course, since its introduction in 1993 the Sportage has undergone a total transformation, morphing from rough-and-ready South Korean tat into a genuinely good urban crossover. The current model is bang up-to-date, with refinements such as an optional hybrid powertrain and plush interiors.

Mazda CX-5

Mazda has a habit of producing some real hidden gems – cars that may not enjoy the sales success of their rivals but often beat them in key areas. The CX-5 is one of those, enjoying a great reliability record, good looks and most importantly, an absolutely brilliant drive.

The DNA of the MX-5 is alive and well in its crossover sibling, and the CX-5 is both entertaining and comfortable without being overly firm or sporty. It’s a genuine delight from such a non-premium manufacturer.

Suzuki Vitara

Although small in the broad scheme of things, the Vitara is the largest car Suzuki currently makes — and it’s also one of the best.

Not only does it look pretty good, but offers serious value for money, bags of practicality, competitive levels of efficiency and perhaps above all, Suzuki reliability. There’s no wonder it’s the brand’s best-seller in the UK.

Ford Fiesta Active

The Ford Fiesta is probably the best new car on the market — as sales figures will show — so it seems obvious a crossover version would be just as good.

Albeit little more than a slight ride height increase and some ‘rugged’ aesthetic tweaks, the Fiesta Active has all the ingredients for success. It maintains the impressive driving experience the regular hatch is so famed for, and brings a more commanding driving position. Better still, it actually offers improved ride quality over the car it’s based on.

Nissan Qashqai

The Qashqai is arguably the car which started the crossover craze, with Nissan choosing to produce it instead of the traditional Almera hatchback way back in 2007. Over a decade on, things have changed, but the Qashqai continues to retain its crown as Britain’s best-selling crossover.

And why shouldn’t it? Qashqais have proven easy to drive, easy to live with and easy to own, cheap to run and capable of slotting effortlessly into family life. Sure, it’s not the most exciting choice, but family transport rarely is.

Skoda Karoq

The supposed ‘budget’ arm of the VW Group has produced a really premium-feeling crossover in the Karoq. It’s actually around the same size as the Seat Ateca or VW Tiguan, but rivals the smaller Seat Arona for price.

There’s bags of room inside and the usual array of Volkswagen Group petrol and diesel engines under the bonnet. Add in sharp styling and Skoda’s excellent dealer service and you have a product that should provide faithful service for many families.

What is it?

The family hatchback sector is under siege from SUVs, but that doesn’t mean it’s dead – far from it. There’s enough life in this market sector yet that Kia has gone in all guns blazing with this – the all-new Ceed.

Though it may come from a Korean brand, the Ceed is designed, engineered, built and sold entirely in Europe, so in theory it should be perfect for European tastes. But there’s no denying the strong competition – the best-selling Ford Focus and VW Golf are both seriously good cars, with considerably more heritage than the 2006-born Ceed.

What’s new?

Been driving the new F̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶F̶o̶c̶u̶s̶ Kia Ceed. It's a goodun. pic.twitter.com/JZp2Sghw6c

— Tom Wiltshire (@mctreckmeister) June 19, 2018

Let’s get the trifles out of the way first – the new car loses the apostrophe of the old Cee’d and simply becomes Ceed: Community Europe, European Design. Easy.

Of more note is the new bodywork, which is wider and lower than the outgoing car, though identical in length and wheelbase. The styling’s sharper, there’s a new LED daytime running light signature front and rear, and the cabin is now oriented towards the driver.

A 48V mild hybrid system is coming later, but for now the only new tech to note is a host of safety improvements including level 2 autonomous ‘Lane Follow Assist’, which can steer, brake and accelerate the car in traffic.

What’s under the bonnet?

There is a choice of three petrol engines and a lone diesel. Kicking off the range is a naturally aspirated 1.4-litre petrol, which is likely to be best suited to town use given its measly 99bhp output.

We’d opt for the middle ground, a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder which puts out 118bhp. Though acceleration isn’t exactly scintillating, it has enough power to overtake in relative comfort, and cruises effortlessly thanks to long gearing. Put your foot down and the muffled thrum it emits is quite pleasant, too. A turbocharged 1.4-litre unit sits above, with 138bhp.

High-mileage drivers and penny pinchers will enjoy the diesel, which is smooth, quiet, and torquey. All of the engine options come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with a slick seven-speed dual-clutch automatic available with the most powerful petrol and diesel engines.

What’s it like to drive?

Kia has invested heavily in making the Ceed drive as well as its rivals – and with a talented team including ex-BMW M division engineer Albert Biermann, the transformation is remarkable.

The Ceed feels confident in the corners, staying flat and gripping well. The nicely-weighted steering rack is intuitive, making smooth cornering easy, and it pairs well with the willing engines and slick manual gearchange.

The caveat is a slightly firmer ride – a conscious decision on the part of Kia, as it chased ‘firm, but never uncomfortable’. The lessons the brand has learned with the performance-oriented Stinger really show – one can even call the Ceed ‘fun’. It’s not quite as engaging as a Focus, but beats out rivals such as the Peugeot 308.

How does it look?

At first glance, the Ceed is a little disappointing – imagine averaging out the differences between a Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. Step closer and smart details do start to make themselves known, however.

Bold LED daytime running light signatures feature front and rear, and the nose has the latest incarnation of Kia’s ‘Tiger Nose’ grille.

Gone is the old car’s rising beltline – this Ceed has a strong horizontal focus across the sides and rear, making it look longer and lower.

There are six new exterior colours on offer as well as some really striking alloy wheels available on higher trim levels.

What’s it like inside?

Inside is classic contemporary Kia – which brings with it some pros and cons. On the plus side, everything inside is fantastically intuitive, with controls exactly where you’d expect them and an infotainment system that, despite not being the newest or shiniest, remains one of the easiest to use in the business.

However, there’s no denying that it’s all a bit black and basic in here. Though materials are good quality, they’re not particularly pleasant to look at, and the end result looks slightly cheap.
It is very spacious, though. Kia claims the best rear leg and shoulder room in the class while the boot, at 395 litres, is not only one of the largest in capacity, it also boasts the widest opening and lowest load sill. The estate model is bigger yet, with a boot that dwarfs many cars from the class above.

What’s the spec like?

High equipment levels are a major pull factor for first-time Kia buyers, and the brand hasn’t disappointed with the new Ceed. Eschewing entry-level ‘1’ trim in the UK, the range kicks off with ‘2’ trim, which features a 7-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, automatic lights, keyless entry and a raft of standard safety equipment including autonomous emergency braking, high-beam assist, lane departure warning and blindspot monitoring.

Spec up and you’ll gain Lane Following Assist, which can drive the car itself in traffic as well as a great JBL-tuned stereo.

Pricing isn’t quite such a bargain as the previous car, but it’s still on the low end considering the level of standard equipment. For the Kia’s £18,295 starting price you’d barely get four wheels and an engine on a Volkswagen Golf.

Verdict

The Kia Ceed has come of age, and in the process become a seriously good C-segment hatch. It’s good to drive, seriously roomy and, with that class-leading seven-year warranty – a good option for private buyers who keep their cars for a long time.

A Volkswagen Golf still feels the superior product in terms of quality, while the Ford Focus is better to drive. But the Kia doesn’t disgrace itself and feels like a product you’d recommend on more than just its warranty and reliability.

Facts at a glance

Model as tested: Kia Ceed 1.0 T-GDi 2
Price: from £18,295
Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl petrol
Power (bhp): 118
Torque (Nm): 172
Max speed (mph): 118
0-60mph: 10.9 seconds
MPG: 50.4
Emissions (g/km): 128

Whether you’re heading to France on the ferry, doing a fly-drive to Frankfurt or simply milling round Milan in a Mini, there are several laws, regulations and rules for driving in Continental Europe that you’ll need to familiarise yourself with before getting behind the wheel.

Though most European countries are perfectly easy to make your way around, if you don’t want to get on the wrong side of the gendarmes you’d better toe the line – exactly as you’d follow the rules back home.

Of course, you should always research the specific country you’re driving in before you travel – but these are some general rules that apply to most of Europe.

Drive on the right

We’ll kick off with the really obvious one – in all of continental Europe, except the UK, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. Don’t forget it or you’ll be in for a nasty shock. Roundabouts and other junctions all work in reverse, too.

Preparation

Most European countries require several items to be carried with you in the car at all times. The requirements do vary from country to country, but it’s a good idea to put together a general European ‘car kit’ with the essentials in. This should include:

– A hazard warning triangle

– High-visibility jackets for every occupant of the car

– A GB sticker to be displayed on your tailgate

– Certificate of motor insurance and ownership documents if it’s your car

– A first aid kit

– Headlamp adjustment stickers – for cars with non-adjustable headlights, to be fitted all the time you’re driving on the right-hand side of the road

– Disposable breathalysers

Headlights

If you’re on a motorcycle, you should ride with your dipped headlights on at all times when moving. For cars, the requirements differ from country to country – but you can be given a hefty fine for not using your headlights when you should, so err on the side of caution.

Speed limits

Remember, speed limits on the continent are different to those in the UK and will be given in kilometres per hour or km/h. Most cars will have km/h speeds printed on their speedometers, or for modern cars with digital speedometers you should be able to switch to km/h.

If this isn’t clear to you, consider sticking a small cheat sheet to your instrument panel with the speed limits and their equivalents in mph – making sure not to cover anything important as you do.

In some countries, speed limits vary depending on the weather. In France, for example, the standard speed limits of 90km/h, 110km/h and 130km/h for rural roads, expressways and motorways respectively are lowered in inclement weather to 80, 100 and 110km/h.

One final point, radar detectors – of the sort used to pinpoint speed cameras and officers performance speed checks – are banned in almost all of continental Europe. The same applies to sat-navs or smartphones with a built-in speed camera alert, and this will need to be disabled.

Tyres

Of course, it goes without saying that you should check your tyres regularly for tread depth and inflation, but if you’re heading to some of Europe’s more northern excesses you’ll need to make sure you’re running on the correct type of tyre too.

During the winter, many countries mandate winter or at least all-season tyres be fitted – while in really slippy areas, snow chains are recommended too.

Drink-drive limits

Forget that continental drinking culture – at least, if you’re planning on driving. With the exception of Malta, every country in Europe has a lower drink-drive limit than the UK, and stiff penalties if it’s breached.

While England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland has a separate, lower limit) allow a blood alcohol content of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, most other countries operate on a lower limit of 50mg. Others, such as Lithuania, Poland and Estonia, operate lower limits still, and a few including Hungary, Romania and Slovakia have a totally zero-tolerance policy.

The Renault Megane R.S. is already something of a performance beast, but the French firm has taken it a step further with this more focused version — the Trophy.

So, what makes it special? Let’s start with the sheer numbers. The 1.8-litre turbocharged engine here produces 296bhp and 420Nm of torque — up from 276bhp and 390Nm that the standard car boasts. It can be paired up with either a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the result of all this power is 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, with a top speed of 162mph.

The Trophy also utilises the Megane’s Cup chassis option, which offers stiffer suspension and a Torsen limited-slip differential and brings enhanced front brakes housed in 19-inch alloy wheels that reduce unsprung weight by 8kg.

Inside the car, Recaro bucket seats now feature on the options list, which are trimmed in Alcantara and sit 20mm lower than previously.

New Mégane R.S. Trophy has new ceramic bearing for the turbo. Spinning at close to
200,000rpm reducing friction by a 1/3, reducing spool time and giving faster responses. 0-62mph is achieved in 5.7s https://t.co/1MXsxzJWpr#MeganeRSTrophy #RSspirit #RenaultSport pic.twitter.com/KvndWTVlh1

— Groupe Renault UK PR (@RenaultUKPR) July 19, 2018

There’s little in the way of external visual indication that this is a Trophy, aside from stripes added to the F1-inspired front splitter. Although you’ll be able to hear the difference, thanks to an upgraded exhaust system that features a mechanical valve — allowing the car to be set sociably quiet or arrogantly loud.

Fans of Renault’s hot hatches will be familiar with the Trophy moniker, which has been applied to the most potent version of each Renaultsport-fettled Megane since the first was introduced in 2004.

The new Renault Megane R.S. Trophy is set to go on sale in the autumn, with customer deliveries beginning in the last quarter of the year. Pricing has yet to be confirmed but expect to hear more on that shortly.

It’s a bit warm, isn’t it? With the current heatwave sending temperatures soaring over 30 degrees in some parts of the country, the shorts are on, the Pimms is out and the freezer sections of supermarkets up and down the country are seeing unprecedented bloodshed.

But the worst place to be during this weather is in the cripplingly hot interior of a car for the ten or so minutes it takes for air-conditioning to start working. If parked in direct sunlight, the interior of a car can reach as high as 60 degrees Celsius – and black surfaces such as the dashboard can reach a terrifying 85 degrees.

That’s hot enough to rustle up a tray of freshly baked cookies, but it could also cause third-degree burns on your skin, and even cause serious heat injury or potentially death to children or pets.

But how do you stop your car from becoming an oven in the summer? These are our top tips…

Park in the shade

It’s direct sunlight, rather than ambient temperature which causes your car to heat up so much. Parking in the shade can alleviate this so look for a tree, building or covered car park if at all possible.

Invest in reflective covers

Reflective windscreen covers are available from every motor retailer for a very low price and can reduce interior temperature by several degrees. They also keep direct sunlight from your dash or steering wheel, so you’re at less risk of burning.

Towels

If you can’t park in the shade, you can create your own. Trap towels in the doors or windows and you’ll block the sun from entering your vehicle. At the very least, drape a hand towel over the steering wheel to make it more comfortable when you set off.

Leave your windows open just a little

Obviously leaving your windows all the way down is an open invitation for would-be thieves, but there’s little danger in cracking them by an inch – and doing so allows air to circulate round your car, keeping it cooler.

Use the doors, Luke

When you get back to your car, don’t just immediately get in and trust the air-conditioning to do its work. Instead, open one rear door, and repeatedly open and close the opposite front door around 10-20 times. This will circulate fresh air around your vehicle quickly.

Turn off stop-start

Stop-start technology is great for saving fuel, but it can reduce the effectiveness of your air-conditioning. You’ll use more petrol or diesel in traffic by switching it off, but you’ll stay cooler.

Put it away

Not strictly a tip to keep your car cool, but definitely something worth remembering. Intense heat can destroy personal possessions, and delicate items such as electronics or CDs will soon be damaged. Keep them out of direct sunlight and in the boot if possible.

Get in-vent-ive

It’s tempting to point every single available air-conditioning vent right at your face. We know, we’ve done it ourselves. But this isn’t actually the most efficient way to cool your car – it’s best to point the vents upwards and cool the entire cabin at once. If you’re lucky enough to have multiple central air vents, though, you might be able to spare one for facial duties.

Prevention is better than cure

Like any component, your car’s air-conditioning system needs regular maintenance. Cabin air filters clog up and review airflow, so you should get them cleaned or replaced at least every year or at every service interval. Systems can leak or run out of gas too, so make sure to get the system checked and re-gassed at regular intervals. After all, the worst time to find out your air-conditioning needs fixing is when it’s already too late.

Like any beloved best-selling car, the Fiat Panda has a fiercely loyal fanbase. Launched in 1980, the boxy and utilitarian Panda is a true Italian icon.

Though it’s now been around for nearly 40 years, the Panda is only in its third generation. Compare that with the Volkswagen Golf, which has gone through seven iterations in the same period, and you’ll get some idea of how enduring the Panda is.

So Panda owners clearly love their cars, and what better way to celebrate that than with the world’s largest gathering? We joined Panda people from across Europe in the aptly named town of Pandino, just outside Milan, to see why these cars are loved so much.

Today I'm driving a Panda to the world's biggest Panda gathering. Wish we could pick up this survivor on the way! #PandaToPandino pic.twitter.com/53pHoBZ4kJ

— Tom Wiltshire (@mctreckmeister) June 24, 2018

Our own chariot, kindly provided by Fiat, was a new Panda Cross – rather more modern than the ’80s and ’90s cars that made up most of the gathering. It marks a major upgrade to the Panda, which can now be fitted with a smartphone dock and connectivity to the social navigation app Waze – which Fiat says makes it ‘the most connected city car of all time’. Though this is available through Android Auto on larger cars, the Panda is the first city car in the world to have it built in – and it made short work of Milan’s roads. In a populated area, Waze is definitely the app to have.

We’d be joining the Pandino rally for two main fixtures. In the afternoon, we’d lead a grand procession of Pandas through Pandino and the surrounding villages, but first we had to set a record…

We pulled in front of the 14th-century Castello di Pandino and parked up carefully, adding to the roster of almost 400 cars – 200 of which, including ours, made up the word ‘Panda’. With the previous record of 277 soundly thrashed, we headed towards the other letters and started exploring.

The majority of cars were first-generation models of all shapes and colours, with 4×4 models some of the most desirable – an unlikely marriage of the Panda’s tiny body to a surprisingly rugged and capable four-wheel-drive system.

We were particularly enthralled by the Italia 90 special edition – a World Cup special with football-styled wheel covers and a wonderful interior with the mascot lovingly stitched on to each seat.

The entire event was as stereotypically European as it gets. A modified Panda covered in lights sat in the middle of the second ‘A’, blasting out Eurobeat at around four billion decibels, while all around us owners and fans baked in the heat. Parked up around the side of the castle was a Panda ambulance, next to a jacked-up 4×4 with a full-sized roof tent – next door to stalls selling all kinds of Panda-related merchandise.

And of course, there were droves of standard Pandas – from basic and early ‘30’ and ‘45’ models to special ‘Young’ editions and Panda vans. There were modified Pandas and concours-level Pandas, old Pandas and virtually new Pandas, though sadly no giant Pandas – nobody had seen fit to turn one into a limousine.

Found some Pandas. #PandaToPandino pic.twitter.com/aX0KkjzKKM

— Tom Wiltshire (@mctreckmeister) June 24, 2018

As we strolled through the crowds, a couple of English accents broke through the chatter and we quickly accosted the owners – Ian Fearn and his partner Sue. They were part of a three-strong contingent of Brits who’d joined forces for the Panda to Pandino run.

“We adore the Panda,” they told us, though that much was obvious, as we saw that ‘JuJu’ – a white 1994 1.0 CLX – was immaculate. “We had one as a hire car in Croatia and fell in love with it. Before we got back, we’d got on the internet and bought our ’95, sight unseen.”

Sadly, one of the UK cars didn’t make it – stranded in the Netherlands with a faulty alternator – but the other two vehicles were present and correct: a third-generation 1.2 Easy in white and a French-registered ’95 model.

We are on our way to Pandino ?? from the UK ?? ….. first stop Epernay!!!#FiatPanda #Fiat #Panda #PandastoPandino18 #PandaaPandino18 pic.twitter.com/uK2k5m0D0J

— Pandas to Pandino (@PandinoPanda) June 22, 2018

It was the latter that had the most gruelling trip with Geoff Kershaw, the owner, taking it from Normandy to Stockport in Greater Manchester to collect his partner Penny before heading to Italy. Despite this 1,500-mile journey, the car – nicknamed Ginette – never missed a beat.

“They’re old cars, but if you look after them they’re bulletproof,” he told us. “Other than a respray to tidy her up, Ginette hasn’t had any major mechanical work.”

Ginette is of course a rarity. Geoff bought her three years ago as a one-owner car, serviced from new by the same garage in northern France – and with just 70,000km on the clock. He’s since pushed that up to 90,000km, with regular trips between Normandy and his partner’s home in Stockport.

The final car was the most modern – a 2015 Easy model, nicknamed Kevin and piloted by David, Tracey and George Storey, who’d set up the ‘Pandas to Pandino’ Facebook page that united the cars.

Next it was time for the Panda Parade, which we’d be leading as guests of Fiat. We stepped back into our new Panda (somewhat wishing it were 30 years older, as the classic models had full-on stolen our hearts) and set off. This latest model is actually fairly close in spirit to the original – ours was fitted with a two-cylinder TwinAir engine, aping the air-cooled two-cylinder of the original, and even had four-wheel drive.

Perhaps more importantly, the modern Panda is still a charming car. It’s not as refined as a Volkswagen up!, nor is it as cheap to run as a Suzuki Celerio – but with the metallic rasp of the two-cylinder engine and the adorable ‘squircle’ motif everywhere you look, it’s packed with personality.

Creature comforts were of course vastly improved over the original cars. While the owners of ’80s and ’90s models baked in 30-degree heat behind us, we were cocooned in air conditioning – though of course we had to keep the windows down to wave at the crowds.

Everyone we passed – even the poor drivers held up by sharply dressed Italian police so we could drive through – seemed delighted to see the Fiat convoy. People in Italy are clearly besotted with the Panda – it’s the best-selling car in the country, the best-selling city car in Europe and has shifted 7.5 million units across its three generations. Though the addition of Waze may have connected the Panda to more than 100 million users worldwide, the Panda doesn’t need to leave Italy to be instantly connected to the hearts of 60 million Italians.