CUPRA continues to accelerate the transformation of its business and the electrification of its premium performance range, opening the order books for the new CUPRA Leon plug-in hybrid in the UK. Customers can purchase the CUPRA Leon e-HYBRID VZ2 245PS, with 1.4-litre TSI engine, 85PS electric motor and 13.1kWh battery pack, from £34,495, with order books for pure-petrol variants opening early … [Read more...]
Newcomers: Cars
Sunday drive: BMW 5 Series Touring 520d M Sport
The longest serving model range in the BMW line-up is the 5 Series launched seven generations ago in 1972, writes David Miles. Since the last new models were launched in 2017 over 66,000 of them have been sold in the UK and 600,000 of them globally, now it the latest updated models which have just gone on sale and there are more versions to follow. Competitor’s models in the executive car sector … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda MX-5 R-Sport SE
The world’s best selling two-seater sports car has just become much rarer. The Mazda MX-5 R Sport Convertible is limited to 150 examples in the UK, where it has consistently led the sector since introduced in the '90s with revisions and upgrades keeping it at the forefront of demand without diluting its simple and so satisfying basic design. This stand-out MX-5 Convertible features … [Read more...]
Ares show S1 Project Spyder limited edition
Luxury Italian coachbuilder ARES will produce a limited edition run of 24 stunning S1 Project Spyder sports cars. Based on the company’s recently launched S1 Project, the S1 Project Spyder’s clean top line is enriched by the absence of the car’s windscreen and roof. To assure the ultimate driving experience, the company’s Centro Stile designed two wind deflectors. Elegantly emerging from the … [Read more...]
Latest news from VW and Kia
The new VW ID.3 has secured a five-star safety rating in crash tests. The first full electric vehicle designed from the ground up has passed the Euro NCAP rigorous tests with flying colours and sets a standard for others to emulate. The all-new Kia Sorento is the first car to be equipped with Kia’s innovative Multi-Collision Brake system, helping to prevent passengers from being involved in … [Read more...]
Fiat Panda updated for 2021
Fiat has updated the Panda range for 2021. New features for MY2021 include updated bumpers, new colour options, new 16-inch alloy wheels and an updated interior with seats and dashboard created from recycled materials. Three different ranges now available to choose from: Life, Sport and Cross, with updated trim levels: Panda, City Life, Wild 4x4, Sport, City Cross and Cross … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: BMW 420i M Sport Coupe
In these days of health and safety in this Covid era holding mass motoring media product test driving events is not easy, you need space. And to meet that space requirements for this week’s BMW UK Media Showcase event of their new and updated models they used an aircraft hangar at the Bicester Heritage Centre for the media to assemble and collect their test drive cars. This event heralded the … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swift flies in with new look
The Suzuki Swift is undergoing a facelift and specification improvement for 2021. All models will come with an enhanced 48V Hybrid system for their 1.4 engine added earlier this year and there’s a new SZ-L grade with boosted driver safety systems and also a new 83ps 1.2 Dualjet Hybrid engine with 111gkm emissions giving up to 57.2mpg. CVT gearbox will be an option on SZ-T and SZ5 with front … [Read more...]
Order books open for new Peugeot SUVs
PEUGEOT has confirmed prices and specifications for the new 3008 SUV and new 5008 SUV as retailers open orders for the award-winning models. With a choice of efficient petrol and diesel powertrains – including a choice of advanced plug-in hybrids for the new 3008 SUV providing fuel consumption of up to 235mpg WLTP – the new SUVs will arrive in UK showrooms early next year, with the 3008 SUV … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Honda Jazz Crosstar e-HEV
It might be music to some people’s ears that Honda is bringing us more Jazz but their F1 programme looks more like hokey cokey, observes David Miles. Announced last week Honda F1 is quitting at the end of next year, they were first involved in 1964 and out in 1968, in again in1983 and out in 1992, back in again in 2000, out in 2008 in again in 2015 and now out again in 2021. The company says it … [Read more...]