When Irish eyes are smiling they are looking at the Hyundai i20, which has been voted Car of the Year on the Emerald Isle. And the Irish know a good bargain when they clap eyes on it. I tested a 1.2 litre version last spring and was very impressed, and I was even more impressed by its bigger brother 1.4 version driven recently. All … [Read more...]
Sophistication comes from the stone age
A touch of the Flintstones has been given bespoke treatment by one of Britain’s finest marques. Bentley Motors’ bespoke coach-building division, Mulliner, is introducing the next level of modern British automotive luxury – stone veneers. This innovative interior finish utilises state-of-the-art stone veneer technology to make a luxurious, contemporary … [Read more...]
Sara eyes GoldStars Award 2016
Number 1 British female rally driver Sara Williams of Brecon has seen an eventful 2015 season recognised by her nomination for the British Women Racing Drivers Club Elite GoldStars Award 2016. The most prestigious award offered by the association, Sara joins a number of professional female racers who have been recognised by the award. The purpose of … [Read more...]
Flood alert to car buyers
The used car market could be swamped with flood-damaged cars following the extreme weather of recent weeks. Estimating that insurers could be facing claims for up to £40 million for cars written-off by recent weather, AA Insurance says that cars which have been immersed in water may seem undamaged but can store up potentially fatal faults. Michael … [Read more...]
Honda Jazz – music to new ears in 2016?
The new third generation Honda Jazz went on sale in September with a new 1.3-litre petrol engine, new larger platform, more interior space and smarter looks. The re-styling now might improve the appeal to a younger group of family customers rather than the older generation who were its main users. Prices will range from £13,495 to £18,035 following … [Read more...]
Renault Kadjar Signature Nav 130 2WD
Before you scour the words in this new model test drive for what the word Kadjar means, it doesn’t seem to mean anything it’s just a name hatched up by those creative marketing types. You know - the people who came up with oddball names for other Renault new cars such as Twizy, Zoe Twingo and Clio. It was the question most asked of me … [Read more...]
New Mitsubishi ASX
Refreshed inside and out, the Mitsubishi ASX takes on a host of newcomers to its SUV sector. The range is renamed and given ergonomic improvements under the skin as well as some of the latest engines in the 1.6 diesel sector. There are seven models in the series of petrol and diesel powered versions from about £15,400 to £25,140 but all share the same … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE Luxury
Surefooted Land Rover looked unsteady when it launched the new Discovery Sport with the “old” turbo-diesel engine, but their newest model has taken a firm grip on the market. I cannot help but feel the company’s product planners got it wrong when the first member of the new Discovery family was brought to market with the old SD4 engine rather than the new … [Read more...]
Keeping the faith with Defender
The current iconic and legendary Defender has reached the end of the road after being born on an Anglesey beach. Production is scheduled to end in December 2015 but there is the possibility it will continue to be made outside the EU to circumvent legislation which outlaws it on pedestrian safety grounds despite continuing strong demand for this go-anyware … [Read more...]
Weekend Roadtest: VW Sharan 2.0 TDI SEL
The Volkswagen Sharan is an enduring model in the MPV sector which has seen models come and go. Twenty years after it was launched, the Volkswagen Sharan shares only the name with the first generation, and today’s popular MPV is significantly bigger and roomier. Originally a joint venture with Ford from 1995 to 2009, the new second generation … [Read more...]
