BMW has embarked on an intensive new model launch programme this year which has seen an extension of its best selling ranges and they provided a brief driving opportunity this week. Only a few months after the launch of the highly acclaimed 5-door model, the new BMW 1 Series range has expanded with the debut of an all-new 3-door Sports Hatch. With its … [Read more...]
First Drives
Weekend roadtest: Hyundai Santa Fe new generation
First deliveries of the new Santa Fe SUV begin on 15 October and they cannot come soon enough for Hyundai. The original model was one of the most strongly associated with Hyundai and brought popular SUV attributes to the mass market with the reassurance of a strong warranty. The new third-generation includes the first 2WD model and this will open up new … [Read more...]
First impressions: Hyundai Veloster Turbo SE
With two doors on one side and one on the other, the Hyundai Veloster always turned heads, and now its new high performance turbo-charged version will put them in a spin. The turbocharged version of the Veloster 1+2 door coupe will be available in showrooms tomorrow from £21,995 and is the first to feature Hyundai’s 1.6-litre T-GDI engine with a … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Kia cee’d Sportswagon
Confidence comes as standard in the new Kia Cee’d Sportswagon. On sale this week as seven models alongside the successful cee’d hatchback, the new estate not only succeeds but moves up from the former SW estate. Kia UK md Mike Cole says there is growing aspirational value in an estate or wagon model and the replacement for the cee’d SW is designed and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: New Audi A3 builds on success, delivers more
The Audi A3 v.3 is going to do for the brand in Britain what computerfiles would call system restore, with the latest upgrades you’d expect thrown in. Originally launched in 1996, the Audi A3 was arguably the first modern compact executive car and after the v.2 series debuted in 2003 it grew to account for about 20pc of the brand’s UK sales, until the A1 … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: New Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet
With hopefully a bit more sunshine to come this year, the Golf GTI Cabriolet is now more tempting with its GTI 2.0-litre 208bhp turbocharged petrol engine. There hasn’t been a go-faster cabriolet version of the Golf for nearly two decades and despite its fabric roof is instantly recognisable as a GTI with its distinctive ‘telephonedial’ alloy wheels, twin … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Focus ST
The all-new Focus ST is now in a Ford dealership showroom near you and it will be appearing at your local cinema from the 3 September. The car will be the real star in the new film version of the 1970’s TV series The Sweeney. In this remake for cinema you will find that cops Regan and Carter, now played by Ray Winstone and Ben Drew, have not only … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Prius Plug-In
As the name suggests the latest model to join the third generation Prius hybrid five door hatchback family is the Plug-In version, writes David Miles. This new addition can be charged from mains electricity to extend the driving range of the electric power only mode. The new Prius Plug-In becomes the flagship of the family and it is Toyota’s first … [Read more...]
Weekend twin-roadtest: BMW 116 and M6
As the official high profile vehicle supplier to the London Olympics, with 3,200 EfficientDynamics cars and 800 other vehicles and cycles and the event starting this week, you might think BMW already has enough on its plate. Despite the increased brand awareness the Olympics brings for the BMW premium brand, the ‘day job’ of selling cars must go on … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Audi A6 allroad
Audi doesn’t do crisis, that’s the message from a confident UK MD as he prepares to launch the comparatively small selling but highly profitable and desirable A6 allroad. The new, third generation allroad is in showroom on 7 July and its already heading towards some eager buyers. Such is the demand for the ever increasing number of new and revised Audi … [Read more...]
