Move over supercars, there’s a new head turner on the road, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. Talked about for a few years and on sale last year in Britain, the very retro Buzz is one of the rare newcomers that manages to break with modern convention by being old-school conventional. Borrowing styling cues from the famous VW dubs of a few decades ago yet sweeping up the latest technology along the way … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS
As day follows night it was inevitable that Skoda would not only enter the burgeoning electric vehicle market but would bring to it something a bit different, a bit sporty. It has an impressive record among rallying and racing drivers and enthusiasts and any Skoda carrying the vRS badge is always a bit special. Enter the Enyaq vRS Coupe. The Enyaq EV first appeared as an SUV in 2020 but Skoda … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Genesis GV60 Sport Plus
To some observers it’s a Bentley, to others an Aston Martin, and some will simply ask what is it as they have never seen a Genesis on the road. Those questions are testament to the design and rarity of the Genesis GV60 pure battery SUV and they are all good points about this premium sector model from the Hyundai Motor Group. Not only does it look very up market, exclusive and sophisticated, but … [Read more...]
New Year roadtest: Porsche Taycan 4S
For many pure petrol-heads, Porsche is the pinnacle of performance and a brand which has dominated endurance racing for decades. So the challenge of defending that reputation while moving into the new era of electrification means they have to come up with something special. And they have. The Porsche Taycan 4S is a thoroughly modern and environmental expression of the company’s awesome … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Volvo C40 Recharge Twin
Volvo has set out to change its drivers’ views on mass market electric cars with the latest addition to its battery-only range. It’s different from the moment you go on line to look at the C40 Recharge, with single or twin motors utilising 67 or 75kWh batteries and powering 231 or 408hp motors with front or all-wheel-drive. After the larger XC40 Recharge the more compact C40 Recharge will … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Tesla Model Y Long range EV
The innovative Tesla Model Y was Europe’s best selling car in September as it built on its engineering expertise and shrugged off competitors. On the eve of the company’s 20th anniversary in 2023, Tesla has been the outstanding if controversial success story over the last two decades, setting engineering standards for traditional car makers to consider and compete with, producing very mixed … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Audi A1 Sportback S tronic
We all want more for our money these days and the Audi A1 brings big car luxury features to a more affordable market. The A1 was introduced as the marque’s challenger to the growing number of superminis in 2010, initially with three-doors and then a five-door Sportback was added in 2012 and this first generation continued along with a lively S1 derivative until 2018, but in 2022 it underwent a … [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...]
Weekend roadtest: Lexus UX 300e Premium Plus
Lexus has always been the quiet executive car brand and reaches a new level of refinement with its UX 300e pure battery version of the existing hybrid SUV. Some 15 years experience building hybrid cars were brought to bear when it created the UX 300e and it lacks nothing its stablemates have but adds 2020s propulsion, safety and communications technology. There are four versions with the … [Read more...]
