On a regular basis the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders get together the latest new models at one of their test days for accredited motoring journalists to briefly sample the latest new car offerings. At the most recent event, due to the fact that sales of SUVs of all sizes and prices are booming and accounting for one of every three new cars sold, I took the opportunity to … [Read more...]
First Drives
First drive: New Peugeot 508 Fastback
The D-segment saloons and estates have had a tough decade of diminishing desirability, especially if they do not carry a premium brand label, writes David Miles. Customers have either downsized to newer higher specification hatchbacks and estates that are cheaper to purchase/lease, with lower Benefit-in-Kind taxes and more affordable running costs or have moved to fashionable SUVs. And Peugeot … [Read more...]
First Drive: New Audi A6 Saloon and Avant
Audi success has been built on the sum of its parts, writes Robin Roberts. Whether that’s quattro technology, TT-style or out-and-out performance through the wheels of the R8, but it’s also been piling up sales with estates. The runaway demand for its RS4 and RS6 estate or avant models over years is probably better known than the popularity of its 100 and then A6 wagons, and the A6 last year … [Read more...]
First drive: New Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4h SUV
The new 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle five seater SUV with 4WD is now available in the UK priced from £34,255 including the Government’s £2,500 plug-in vehicle grant, writes David Miles. It is available at launch with five specification levels, Juro, 4h, 4hs, 5h and 5hs with the top model priced at £43,100. The best selling version is expected to be the 4h variant … [Read more...]
First drive: Audi Q8 sharpens range
Britain’s booming SUV market has a new player, writes Robin Roberts. The Audi Q8 raises the game for the company as the new flagship in its sporting range and it’s also a real challenger to rivals from Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Maserati, as well as Bentley. The new five-seater-only Q8 has a coupe-styled five-door body with quattro drive and 48v mild-hybrid 286ps 3.0TDi … [Read more...]
First drive: New MG3 is safe and sound
Having been through many periods of ownership, including BMC and British Leyland, today MG is in the hands of SAIC, China’s largest car manufacturer, writes David Miles. They sold 6.9-million new cars last year globally, 3.52-million in the first six months of this year, and MG is now the global brand for SAIC outside China and for the domestic market their brand of different models is … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: MINI Cooper S Convertible
The Mini brand when British owned, or MINI now under the control of Germany’s BMW Group, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2019. This year the Convertible celebrates its 25th anniversary after going on sale in 1993 as the Rover Mini Cabriolet. Although now German owned, Oxford Plant remains the British home of MINI although some models are built in other countries now to meet the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: BMW roadtrip
It's been a tough 12-months and there are still issues for the motor industry, but BMW is putting on a brave face and rolling out its newest models, writes David Miles. Falling UK new car sales due to the repercussions of Brexit, potentially less investment in new cars built in the UK, higher interest rates, demonisation of diesel, tit-for-tat trading tariffs, the autumn implementation of new … [Read more...]
New Ford Focus redefines family motoring
Britain’s best selling family car moves up several gears in September with the new Ford Focus. Building on its reputation for good handling from its launch 20 years ago, the newest generation is brimming with the latest technology under the all-new stronger bodies, including the latest Dragon petrol engines from Bridgend along with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The new Focus … [Read more...]
Business drive: Mitsubishi Shogun Sport
A new tough Mitsubishi Shogun Sport is being launched into the booming SUV sector and the only European country to get it is the UK, writes David Miles. Unlike most of today’s 4x4s/SUVs/Crossovers on sale, the Shogun Sport is a no nonsense hard-core five door SUV with seven seats, a large 3,100kg towing capacity and impressive off-road abilities. A two-seat commercial version will be added to … [Read more...]