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...]
Roadtests
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...]
Weekend roadtest : Audi A4
The iconic A4 has helped Audi stay in the black, but now it's going greener for 2012. The Audi Group once again set records for deliveries, revenue and key earnings data in 2011. The brand with the four rings sold more than 1.3 million cars in the past year, at the same time increasing revenue to €44.1 billion. Operating profit for the Audi Group rose … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest : New Fiat Panda
After 32 years on sale the new Panda by Fiat has matured and developed a more rounded look and generous proportions to meet the demands and desires of modern drivers. With 6.4 million Pandas sold in three decades and three series, it is undeniably a very popular model which drives from the heart of Fiat's soul for small, agile, comfortable, economical and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Renault Fluence ZE
Despite the UK Government's £5,000 subsidy to each buyer of an electric powered new car sales have been underwhelming. Up until the end of 2011 only 1,082 electric cars were sold last year and there are only 2,149 electric cars which have gone onto our roads since 2006. According to official figures published at the end of last year there were 2,500 UK … [Read more...]
