It has been years in the making but you only have a couple of weeks to save yourself £1,000 if you want to buy the latest hero car, the Ford Focus RS. With the economic recession over there are even more new hard-core performance competitors in mid-sized car growing market sector such as the Audi RS3, VW Golf R, BMW M235i, Honda Civic Type R, and Mercedes AMG A45 So market demands change and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Nissan X Trail n-tec 163 2WD
X marks the spot where Nissan started carving out a niche in the MPV market. The arrival of the Nissan X Trail in 2000 started a new line in the Japanese brand which has seen the Qashqai become one of the most popular MPVs on the UK market and that was followed by the Juke SUV, essentially a derivative of the larger car’s platform which now has its own following. The Nissan X-Trail … [Read more...]
New head of the Q: Audi RS Q3 performance
Britons love Q-ing, at least to get their hands on the SUV versions of Audi’s extensive range. The Q3, Q5 and Q7 models in the line up accounted for 18.7% of Audi UK sales amounting to 166,709 cars last year. Anna Chudley, product manager for Q3 and Q7 models, said, “The RS Q3 Performance is being launched this month as the halo model in the Q3 range, bringing sports car performance to the … [Read more...]
CV exports soar over a third higher from UK plants
Exports of British-built commercial vehicles jumped by more than a third last year, with almost nine in 10 destined for EU countries, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The figures show 47,052 of the 94,479 CVs made in Britain left UK shores in 2015 – up 34.7% over the previous year, and accounting for half (49.8%) of overall production. Of these, 41,428 (88%) went to … [Read more...]
Range topping new Renault
A new top of range Renault Kadjar has been announced.Renault has strengthened its acclaimed Kadjar line-up with the addition of a top-of-the-range Signature S Nav version and the introduction of the 7-speed efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) automatic gearbox combined with the ENERGY TCe 130 engine. Offering drivers greater choice and heightening the appeal of the award-winning Renault Kadjar, the … [Read more...]
Unlimited trim added to Vauxhall Adam and Rocks
Vauxhall has updated its popular ADAM range with the introduction of UNLIMITED and ROCKS UNLIMITED trim variants. Incorporating options from the existing JAM, GLAM and SLAM models, the new variants will provide drivers with more personalisation options than ever before. The ADAM UNLIMITED and ROCKS UNLIMITED allow the customer to personalise their model from all existing colours, wheels, … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Ford Mustang gallops into UK
Ford’s latest marketing strategy is ‘Un Learn’ as they try to remove our preconceptions of the brand and past products, says David Miles. It is therefore strange and inconsistent that they have been wheeling out nostalgia as a hook to catch owners wanting Ford’s latest and first ever official right hand drive Mustang muscle car. The arrival of the sixth generation Mustang in … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volkswagen Beetle Design 1.4 TSI 150PS
It is one of the most famous profiles on the road and proves familiarity breeds contentment with the Volkswagen Beetle. The model which originally relaunched the car maker after WW2 is now fighting for sales among far less distinctive rivals, and it is all the better for it. The Beetle range is extensive, based on the stablemate Golf chassis, running to nearly 30 models with a choice of … [Read more...]
Aston Martin Vantage S handy newcomer
Aston Martin has ushered in its 17MY range by offering a manual transmission on the V12 Vantage S. The seven-speed manual transmission features a classic dog-leg first gear position; an echo from the past that will be welcomed by driving enthusiasts. This dog-leg configuration also ensures the gears used most frequently are located in a double ‘H‘ pattern like that of a … [Read more...]
New Continental GT Speed and Black Edition
Bentley unveils the revised Continental GT Speed, raising the bar even further in terms of exclusivity and performance. The fastest production Bentley ever, with a top speed of 206 mph, now delivers even more power and torque, and a striking new Black Edition model joins the Speed family. Engineers at Bentley in Crewe have developed even more muscle from the Continental’s iconic 6.0-litre … [Read more...]