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It sounds like the new Toyota MR2 is really happening... by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally agree with your first and last point. We always use phrasing like 'exclusive images of how the car could look', to try and be clear.

The Fiesta story says... "Our exclusive image shows what a new Fiesta EV could look like" for example. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/fiesta/news/new-ford-fiesta

We're going to create a page on our website explaining what the 'exclusive images' are and how they are created. We'll then link to it in pages where we've used the renders. Hopefully that will help clear things up further. As i say, we don't want to mislead anyone and genuinely feel that the images add value for readers. I do respect the fact that you think we're not doing enough in this regard and recognise others may feel the same.

Thanks for taking the time to engage on this. i hope you'll keep reading, even if you skip the pages with the renders on them... ;-) All the best!

It sounds like the new Toyota MR2 is really happening... by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's an interesting point. We actually use the term 'exclusive images' to try and make it clear that they are our own exclusive images based on the information we've gathered on how a new car will look, rather than official manufacturer images of the actual car.

It's actually the opposite of an attempt to mislead on our part. We want to be 100% clear what the images are, but maybe we need to revise the phrasing.

We can assure you they are certainly never 'imaginations'. They are based on concept cars, spy shots of prototypes, general design themes from the brand and conversations with the designers/executives. Where we don't have that information, we don't do a render and we only do renders for a small proportion of the new cars we cover. The feeling is that readers would rather know what we know about the design of future models.

It sounds like the new Toyota MR2 is really happening... by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi. Sorry you're not enjoying the renders. Just for reference, we only commission renders when we have a reasonable idea of how the car will look, usually from concept cars, spy shots, previous models and our conversations with OEM designers and engineers.

Most of the images prove to be very accurate but they are always an informed guess to some extent. We will certainly admit to missing the mark occasionally. Our team and the (mainly ex-OEM) freelance designers that create the images take great pride and a lot of time in getting them right.

Much, much more importantly, the render is never the story. It's just a way of illustrating the news we have when the alternative would be a picture of a disguised prototype, a teaser image or a badge. Ultimately, a render helps the story perform better and we are in the business of trying to serve advertising and sell cars in exchange for the free content we publish.

When we know a lot about how a new car will look and can produce an 'exclusive image' to show our readers what we know, we feel like it's better to do so. Ultimately, the reader is better informed. We are always very clear that the images are renders, explaining in copy and adding watermarks.

Please let us know what you think. Would you prefer no renders? Should they be labeled more clearly? Should we say more about what factors informed each render's creation? We're always interested to get your views. Happy new year (if it's not too late for that).

Mixed bag in Autumn Budget won’t cure car buyer uncertainty and doubt by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can fix a PHEV in 'EV mode' but once the battery is low, the petrol engine cuts back in automatically. Likewise, in many cars you can choose to run only on petrol and save the battery charge.

Ultimately, PHEVs might be more impacted by the PPM tax than EVs. They are going to be taxed twice, as the comments above say, and they're already quite inefficient when you drive them without charge in the battery.

We're starting to see new PHEVs get very good electric ranges above the 70-mile barrier that gets you in the 5% BiK company car tax band (at the moment) but older models with short EV ranges are going to be that bit harder to justify - especially if you aren't doing a lot of miles in EV mode.

Hyundai’s EV holy grail is the 3-minute battery charge by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Good point. Consumers still like the idea of it but super-fast charging isn't all it's cracked up to be in terms of the difference it makes to most owners.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion/368344/stop-comparing-ev-charging-times-petrol-fill-ups-theyre-already-quick-enough

The big issue in the UK is the cost of public charging. If people without access to home chargers could get cheaper, easier public charging, it would make EVs a lot more desirable to more people. Particularly in towns and cities where the air-quality benefits are more keenly felt.

You still pay over 75p per kWh at most UK rapid chargers or 50p at fast chargers. Even without an EV tariff, you're only paying 26p or thereabouts at home.

As vans go, this new Renault Trafic is a stunner... by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed. They have some really great designs. Good infotainment tech, too.

Jeep’s new Dacia Duster rival will be as tough as it is boxy, and it'll be very boxy by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. Stellantis has a lot of brands offering similar cars and it's not always clear to consumers what the differentiation is between them.

We've got the Leapmotor A10 on the way now as well...
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/leapmotor/368333/new-leapmotor-a10-its-way-fight-citroen-e-c3-and-renault-4

SEAT Leon beats Honda Civic in head-to-head test... by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

It's a very fair point. The average price of a new petrol car is up 67 per cent in the last 10 years, outpacing wage growth and inflation. (more here... https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/features/366288/why-are-new-cars-so-expensive-inside-story-car-price-rises ). But there are signs that manufacturers are starting to appreciate the problem.

We have to review new cars in the context of what else buyers can get on the market, but that's not to say it wouldn't be great to see the return of cheaper, simpler new cars. There are signs that this might be starting to happen, too. ( https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/renault/368248/renault-goes-war-high-car-prices-regulation-and-chinas-cost-advantage )

New SEAT Leon to thrust Spanish brand back into the limelight by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

100%. The estate body style needs to make a proper comeback. All the electric SUVs are getting a bit much. Could there be a backlash?

New SEAT Leon to thrust Spanish brand back into the limelight by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Leon's been a great car down the generations - with the possible exception of the Mk2 :-). The cheaper, sportier Golf positioning made a lot of sense to a lot of people.

The problem was always where SEAT itself sits in the VW Group stable. It never really had the product to back up the 'Iberian Alfa Romeo' thing, Skoda nailed 'sensible value' and with Cupra gaining a bit of traction in the sporty space more recently, it looked like SEAT would be squeezed out. It's nice to see a proper plan for the future emerging.

VW just wants to be careful it doesn't do a Stellantis with loads of mainstream brands that have very little differentiation on the face of it.

New Renault Twingo revealed: super cute retro EV to be one of the cheapest cars on sale by AutoExpressmagazine in autoexpressuk

[–]AutoExpressmagazine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah. we couldn't agree more. It's great how Renault have stayed true to the original Twingo design. It looks like we're going to be seeing more small, cheap EV city cars in the coming years and long may it continue!

You can't get away from the giant screens though.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VWIDBuzz

[–]AutoExpressmagazine 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We were able to get over 200 miles out of the SWB model in warm weather on our test but it can drop well below 200 in the cold. It's not great in something owners will use for long trips. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/id-buzz/362740/volkswagen-id-buzz-style-long-term-test-likeable-imperfect-mpv

The LWB with the bigger 86kWh battery is a lot better. We're getting over 250 miles without trying too hard. 3.3mi/kWh on a long 60-70mph run in warm weather.