The benefits of electrification are not just about making cars cleaner and more fuel efficient. There are also real opportunities to deliver a more exciting driving experience, as Lexus’s radical new RX 500h F Sport Performance model proves. This exclusive member of the all-new RX family of large luxury SUVs is a new kind of hybrid electric model – one with a primary focus on performance. The … [Read more...]
Lexus RX 450h+ raises the stakes
The pleasures of owning a large luxury SUV are well-established: you choose a vehicle that can carry several passengers in great comfort over long distances, with all the space you need for luggage or leisure equipment. The cabin environment is perfectly controlled; the in-car entertainment and connectivity are seamless; and you can trust in the latest generation of safety features. Today, … [Read more...]
Grenadier is on the march
The first production Ineos Grenadier 4X4 has rolled off lines in its facility in Hambach. “We’ve come a long way since the project kicked off in 2017 and this is a landmark moment for INEOS Automotive as a vehicle manufacturer,”said Mark Tennant, INEOS Automotive Commercial Director. “To get to this point is a testament to the resilience and hard work of the entire INEOS Automotive team, our … [Read more...]
First drive: Suzuki S Cross Full Hybrid
Suzuki has passed another milestone on its road to future mobility with the arrival in UK showrooms of the latest Full Hybrid S Cross SUV. Using the same powertrain from its Vitara stablemate, the S Cross Full Hybrid is a logical development of the mild-hybrid S Cross introduced at the end of 2021. That has been a runaway success for Suzuki despite constraints imposed by this year’s … [Read more...]
Tradelines 28 September
The all-electric Fisker Ocean SUV will debut at the 2022 Mondial de l'Auto held at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 17 October. Costing about €70,000 the 380 miles range SUV has been designed to be the most sustainable SUV on Earth, using ethically sourced, upcycled materials throughout. Volvo has developed an internal radar system to alert drivers if a pet or child is left in a … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Audi RS3 Sportback
The latest Audi RS3 is really a supercar, for sensible money. There has been a long line of highly acclaimed Audi RS3 models, higher performance versions of the popular A3 series which launched in 1996 and included the S derivatives three years later before the original Audi RS3 appeared in dealerships in 2011. The revised RS then ran from 2015 until 2020 and in late 2021 we saw the current third … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota RAV4 PHEV Dynamic
Toyota’s original SUV is now its flagship hybrid and most powerful. However, it’s not all about power as it also delivers excellent economy and a long electric-only range with good real-world performance. For MY2023 it’s sold in Design, Dynamic and Dynamic Premium specifications, a far cry from when it hit our roads in the mid-1990s. Prices start at £44,140 and equipment fitted and option … [Read more...]
First drive: Mazda CX-60 SUV
The new Mazda CX-60 now going on sale is the most powerful model ever from the company. The range-topping SUV is Mazda's first plug-in hybrid and it combines their acclaimed Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 100 kW electric motor and a 17.8 kWh high-capacity battery. Together these produce 327ps and use an eight-speed automatic transmission to put down power to all four … [Read more...]
Range Rover is top of flops
Land Rover Range Rover is the most unreliable used car, according to Warrantywise’s annual Reliability Index. Warrantywise, the country’s leading extended car warranty provider, reveals that Land Rovers, BMWs, and Porsches take up seven out of ten of the least reliable models from the Reliability Index data range. The data, only including cars that are less than ten years old, outside of … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Suzuki Hybrid Vitara SZ5 Allgrip
To those in the know, Suzuki has a very strong engineering history and its 4x4 models’ capabilities are legendary and affordable. It’s the same story with the new Suzuki Vitara Full Hybrid just tested as the more powerful electric motor has been introduced to not only increase power but also efficiency and economy, and it’s reflected in a lower exhaust emissions figure as well which, of course, … [Read more...]