Updated Renault Kadjar now available to order from £25,595

Renault’s updated Kadjar SUV has gone on sale ahead of deliveries in February 2022, the brand has announced.

The model gets a refreshed trim structure with two new specifications called Equilibre and Techno. Both models come with a 138bhp petrol engine that gets up to 44.1mpg.

The range starts with Equilibre, which Renault says has been designed to offer a balanced specification across comfort, driving experience and style.

Standard equipment includes a seven-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as cruise control, front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera, and automatic wipers and headlights.

Other equipment found on this model includes 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, chrome styling parts, synthetic leather steering wheel, and automatic dual-zone climate control.

Prices for this model start at £25,595 with a six-speed manual gearbox or £27,195 with an automatic.

Step up to the Techno grade and you get 19-inch alloy wheels, full LED headlights with LED turn indicators and fog lights, automatic high-beam, black synthetic leather and cloth upholstery and an active emergency braking system.

These models start at £27,195 for the manual and £28,795 in the automatic.

These two trims are currently the only specifications available on the Kadjar, and Renault says they will be introduced across more models in its range.

The updated trim levels are aimed at giving the Kadjar a new lease of life ahead of its replacement next year. The new model will be called Astral and will have combustion engines, but is expected to get electrified powertrains too.

Electric Vauxhall Corsa-e and Mokka-e can now go further between charges

Two of Vauxhall’s electric cars can now go further between charges thanks to updates to their hardware.

The Corsa-e supermini and Mokka-e crossover are the cars in question and gain an increased range of 6% and 4% respectively.

This means the Corsa-e can now travel up to 222 miles from 209 miles, while the Mokka-e can go 209 miles, up from 201 miles.

The increase has been achieved through optimisation of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as the propulsion system.

Vauxhall says some of the measures include improving the efficiency of the heat pump, which warms and cools the interior. This then uses less energy from the battery, which is said to be particularly noticeable during the winter months. Other moves include a new transmission piece and new low rolling resistance tyres.

These updates are available on new Corsa-e and Mokka-e, which cost from £17,380 and £21,835 respectively.

All of the firm’s electric models fall under the Plug and Go offer, which brings a free home charging unit, eight years’ roadside assistance and battery warranty, a free six-month BP Pulse subscription and three years’ free servicing.

Vauxhall says the offer is designed to ’remove the barriers to making the switch to electric and simplifies the EV ownership experience’.

Like all manufacturers, the Luton-based firm is pushing its electric cars at the moment, with an electrified version of every model it makes coming by 2024. It will also have a fully electric line-up of cars by 2028 ahead of the government phasing out the sale of new petrol- and diesel-powered cars between 2030 and 2035.

Subaru gives more detailed look at upcoming Solterra

Subaru has given a full walkaround look at its new Solterra EV.

Due to go on sale in Europe in the middle of next year, Subaru’s first electric car will sit on a dedicated platform designed specifically for EVs.

It shares much of its makeup with Toyota’s upcoming bZ4X, including its all-wheel-drive powertrain and mid-size SUV shape. The batteries are also used to increase the car’s structural rigidity to aid in the event of an impact, too.

This platform is particularly important as it allows both companies to easily expand the number of EVs they can offer. Toyota has recently announced it plans to sell 3.5 million electric cars by 2030, in fact.

Much the same as the bZ4X, the cabin of the Solterra offers plenty of space thanks to a long wheelbase, while the batteries have been fitted low in the car so they don’t intrude on the interior of the car. There’s also a large central touchscreen that incorporates Apple CarPlay, while a secondary display sits ahead of the steering wheel, too.

The Solterra uses a dual motor setup - with one on each axle - delivering 160kW and 335Nm of torque. Subaru claims it’ll do 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds, too. It’s expected to return a range of up to 280 miles, while 150kW charging speeds will allow an 80 per cent charge to be conducted in 30 minutes. As mentioned, the Solterra is expected to go on sale in Europe the middle of 2022, prices and specifications announced closer to that time.