Mum’s the word when it comes to the new second generation Nissan Qashqai now going on sale. While most designers agonise over the finer points of shape and style and marketing departments pour over running costs, the senior engineer responsible for the marketability of the new second generation Nissan Qashqai, Mark Fowler, applied a more down to earth consideration – would his mother like … [Read more...]
First Drives
More for less in revised Mitsubishi ASX
More specification, more performance but much less money to buy one is the headline for the arrival of the revised Mitsubishi ASX 2014 range of two and four wheel drive, five door, five seater, mid-sized crossover. Toby Marshall, Mitsubishi’s Sales and Marketing Director said at the media launch, “The prices of the better equipped ASX models are 9 to 10% lower than the 2013 models they replace … [Read more...]
Hybrid power boosts Range Rovers’ appeal
Land Rover has seemingly pulled off the impossible and mixed electricity with water in the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Hybrids. The uncompromising design and purpose of the Range Rover has been maintained with the development of the latest Hybrid luxury models. In its Autobiography top of the range specification the Range Rover Hybrid costs £98,415 and the Range Rover Sport is … [Read more...]
Christmas roadtest: New Audi R8
The R8 supercar with Coupe and Spyder body options is very much a niche product in a niche area of the market. Around 300 units a year are available to the UK market. The Coupe version accounts for 70% of these sales and 92% of all R8s sold in the UK will have the new S tronic twin clutch auto transmission which marginally reduces CO2 emissions and speeds up the zero to 62mph acceleration time … [Read more...]
Skoda Rapid Spaceback is not what it appears to be
Rapid is a good description of the record breaking UK sales of Skoda after four years of record new car sales and already in 2013 they have exceeded total sales of 2012. By the end of October Skoda had sold 55,217 new cars, a 19.3% increase over the same period last year. This makes Skoda the fastest accelerating VW family group brand in the UK in the terms of sales growth. Audi has … [Read more...]
Weekend road test: Peugeot 308
The New Peugeot 308 is lighter, leaner, cheaper to live with and looks a whole lot better for it. Gone is the pronounced ‘nose’ on the bonnet while under the streamlined skin it’s much lighter, powered by new or revised engines and it’s bristling with technology and equipment. It comes to the UK on 2 January up to £1,400 less than the outgoing model and it promises to be cheaper to run, … [Read more...]
Audi redefine queue jumping with latest RS models
A queue can be dangerous, unless you drive the Audi RS Q3, writes Robin Roberts. I was faced with a lengthy line of assorted vehicles on the Fosse Way when testing the new super-quick SUV from Audi and I was immensely grateful for the grunt it delivered and meant I could safely and swiftly overtake one or two at a time when the opportunity arose. Within a few minutes of nipping in and out of … [Read more...]
New BMW X5 builds on success
The third generation BMW X5 SUV, or Sports Activity Vehicle as BMW calls it, goes on sale in the UK from 16 November priced from £42,590 and rising to £63,920. But in reality the on-the-road prices will be much higher due to must-have options and packs. There is the £2,760 Design Pure Experience pack, the £2,160 Design Pure Excellence and £2,995 Dynamic Package add-ons, plus loads of single … [Read more...]
Skoda kicks up the dust with its sporting models
It's an unlikely brand to shoulder its way into the performance market but Skoda punches above its weight in many ways. Skoda, a full member of the Volkswagen Group since 2000, started as a bicycle manufacturing business in 1894 and the links to cycling continue today with vehicle support for the Tour de France, Tour of Britain and most recently Ride London. After bicycles came motorcycles in … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: New Jeep Grand Cherokee
The iconic American heavyweight in its new form is in so much demand in its home market that right hand drive models for the UK are very limited. Nothing says more about the heritage of the Jeep brand than the latest Grand Cherokee models are still built in motor city Detroit, albeit a significantly updated production line with retrained quality conscious motown line workers. After the … [Read more...]