Nissan isn’t just about fuel frugal or now electric compact family cars. It has a long history of high performance, big engined Z models, going back to the Datsun 240Z days some 40 years ago. So a brief outing in the latest Z model, the 370Z GT Edition. This hard top two door, two seater coupe costs £35,025 with its six speed manual gearbox but a … [Read more...]
Roadtests
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Yaris Hybrid
The arrival of the Toyota Yaris Hybrid in July brings the latest low emission petrol-electric technology to the mainstream supermini B-segment in Britain. Arriving as the flagship of Toyota’s best selling model series in Europe, the Yaris Hybrid has been developed from the stable-mate Auris series, itself based on the Prius, but with smaller nickel … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Citigo
The smallest Skoda in modern times is big news in the city car sector. The Skoda Citigo 16-model series is available from launch on 1 June with manual gearbox in three-door body style and a five-door and automatic will follow this autumn. For now there is a new single 1.0 litre three-cylinder petrol engine electronically tuned to give either 60 or 75PS … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Audi A8 3.0 TDI
There are probably to vitally important dates in a parent's life, the birth of their first child and the marriage of their first-born, especially if it's a Dad writing this road test, and the wedding is his only child - and a daughter at that. This has recently happened to me, my one and only daughter was getting married abroad, suddenly plans change due … [Read more...]
Weekend road test: New Seat Ibiza
Redesigned, revised and re-engineered under the bonnet, the fifth generation Seat Ibiza hits UK roads. Britain is the third biggest market for Seat in Europe with just under 2pc of share but the Ibiza takes 3.5pc in its sector and last year its 125 UK dealers sold more than 19,000, over half of all Seat models. Since it was launched in 1984 there have … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Peugeot 508RXH
Peugeot is making its most determined bid so far to break into Britain's modern executive sector with the introduction of the 508RXH. It was first to bring the hybrid diesel/electric drivetrain to market with their 3008 Hybrid4 crossover SUV models in February this year and is moving this technology upwards into the D-segment with the larger 508 series. … [Read more...]
Less is more with latest Peugeot 208
Less weight, less money, more engine options, more fuel economy, more interior space and potentially more desirability should bring more sales for the new Peugeot 208 which replaces the 207 hatchbacks. The new 208 range of three and five door supermini sized hatchbacks go on sale in the UK on 28 June 2012. The new three cylinder 1.0/1.2-litre indirect … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Fiat 500 Twin Air Convertible
Fiat has put the fun back into small cars with the 500 Twin Air Convertible. The 85bhp 875cc twin-cylinder engine is not only the cleanest small petrol engine in the world but its performance is amongst the highest in the A-sector of cars and it all comes in a very sophisticated soft-top if you choose to go for this model. The fully powered hood is … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest : Vauxhall Ampera
Vauxhall open a new chapter in Britain’s automotive history with the introduction of the range extending Ampera in May. Unlike a conventional hybrid which runs an internal combustion engine alongside an electric generator, the Ampera is an electrically driven car which uses either liquid cooled lithium-ion batteries good for about 50 miles of zero … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic
It is generally accepted that Renault really popularised the MPV in Europe when it introduced the Scenic and later the Grand Scenic. After overhauling its range last year it has now returned to its roots with the latest versions Scenic and Grand Scenic lead new MPV offensive for Renault of the five seater Scenic and seven seater Grand Scenic, now their … [Read more...]
