Life is full of surprises but few are as welcome as the Lexus ES300h Takumi saloon delivers. A larger successor introduced in 2019 to the Lexus GS series, it has the advanced petrol & electric powertrain developed by parent Toyota over some 25 years. The experience shows. While some car makers are only now coming to terms with hybrid power, Lexus has … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swace heading for showrooms
The British-built Suzuki Swace estate is about to go on sale. A badge-engineered facelifted version of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid Estate made in Derby with 1.8 litre petrol engines from Deeside, the newcomer will be sold in SZ-T and SZ5 trim. The nominal boot space of 596 litres rises to 1,606 litres when the back seats are dropped and the … [Read more...]
Hybrids are mystery to a third of drivers
A survey by DesperateSeller.co.uk has revealed that 30.9% of UK consumers simply don’t understand hybrid cars. A poll on the used car website in July 2020 asked “What is a hybrid car?” and gave three options: a) One that can use at least two means of propulsion; b) One that does NOT have an internal combustion engine; and c) One that can run on both petrol … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Hyundai Ioniq Premium SE PHEV
The more you drive, the more energy you save with the latest Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid, writes Robin Roberts. It sounds illogical but it’s true because the familiar standard 1.6 litre petrol engine is now joined by a more sophisticated electric motor and battery system which recovers energy lost during braking. This recovered energy when … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Suzuki Swift SZ5 Allgrip
Winter weather is a great leveller for motorists, writes Robin Roberts. Heavy rain, snow showers, ice and mud can combine to make any possible winter journey an impossibility unless you have a big and expensive 4x4, or you cannily drive a Suzuki Swift SZ5 Allgrip. This is the hatch that’s a match for many winter road washouts or white-outs. What’s more it … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Lexus CT200h Premium
The Lexus CT200h set the bar for the hybrid revolution in the compact premium sector when it arrived in 2011, and its raised its game still further with the latest version, writes Robin Roberts. Using the well-engineered powertrain from its sister company’s Toyota Prius introduced in 1997, the Lexus CT200h has been further retuned and it is and … [Read more...]
Newslines 13 March
McLaren says its forthcoming ‘Hyper-GT ‘codenamed BP23 will achieve the highest top speed of any McLaren yet with the capability to exceed the 243mph of the legendary McLaren F1 road car. Only 106 of the three-seaters will be built and they are already sold to existing McLaren owners for £1.6 M plus local taxes. Audi devotees excited by the e-tron … [Read more...]
