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. First to arrive in May is the 508 RXH … [Read more...]
Roadtests
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 injection petrol engine models will arrive … [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 quick to open or close, it stops somewhere … [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 emission motoring or another 310-miles on a … [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 mainstay MPVs after dropping the Espace … [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 to over €5.3 billion in the past fiscal … [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 versatile city cars. Rounded new shape … [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 charging points available, not counting … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest : Citroen DS4 DSport THP200
Citroen really set out to create a niche brand when it created the DS series. Starting with the D3, it added the DS4 last summer and immediately started winning praise and awards for its styling, particularly the interior. It is a clever move because without directly taking on the likes of Focus and Astra, the Citroen DS4 competes very well against them, albeit in a narrowly Stylish outside … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest : Land Rover Range_e
After it was launched in 1970, the Range Rover set a benchmark for luxury off-road travel and it's about to do it all again with the new generation of diesel-electric hybrid models due in 2013. Some may think of it as a mid-life crisis but that suggests uncertainty and panic and the sure-footed engineering and marketing of the Range Rover is anything but that. It is, however, Land Rover's … [Read more...]