Chris Adamson test drives the latest Berlingo ‘Leisure Activity Vehicle’… (All words and photos by Chris). Citroën was among the leading players when the concept of the multi-purpose vehicle first evolved (although they like to call it the Leisure Activity Vehicle) and, like most of its rivals, it based these practical, family oriented, models on a van conversion. While others (including … [Read more...]
Features by Chris Adamson
Chris Adamson BA, 57, has been a journalist for 30 years, since 1989 he has been a full-time motoring correspondent writing for national and regional publications and websites. He is a former winner of the Jet Regional Motoring Journalist of the Year title and currently an executive committee member of The Guild of Motoring Writers. As well as a modern car, he also owns and regularly drives a 1952 MG YB 1.25 litre saloon, a 1972 MGB Roadster and a more recently acquired 1998 MGF.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Exhibition opens at Beaulieu
This is a ‘Must see’ – It’s fantasmagorical, in fact… Chris Adamson was there to see the display unveiled… (Words by Chris; photos by Chris except where individually credited). Say the name Ian Fleming to anyone and they will automatically link the English author with his James Bond novels forever immortalised on the silver screen – but how many will remember that Fleming also penned the … [Read more...]
Jaguar E-Pace – First Impressions
Chris Adamson puts Jaguar’s new compact SUV through its paces... (All words and photographs by Chris). As Jaguar’s first successful entry into the SUV market the F-Pace set pulses racing and buyers rushing to open their cheque books – now the smaller E-Pace is doing much the same thanks to its smart good looks and attractive entry price. The designers have attempted to combine a bit of Jaguar … [Read more...]
Range Rover Velar – First Impressions
Chris Adamson test drives a new alternative sporty model in the Land Rover line-up.… (All words and photographs by Chris). With its extensive line-up of rugged all-purpose all-terrain vehicles and luxury appointed Range Rovers you would imagine that Land Rover has all the bases covered when it comes to four-wheel drive – but apparently not. Into the already crowded Land Rover showrooms comes … [Read more...]
Suzuki Vitara – First Impressions
Chris Adamson test drives a 1.4 litre Boosterjet all wheel drive version of Suzuki's competent Vitara... (All words and photos by Chris). Before the sports utility vehicle became an essential part of every manufacturer’s line-up, a few car makers bravely ploughed a lone furrow with compact four-wheel drives – among these pioneers was Suzuki who never really received the credit for being ahead … [Read more...]
New MG3 – First Impressions
Chris Adamson assesses the latest version… (Words and all photos by Chris, with the exception of images of the yellow car – courtesy of MG). It’s billed as the ‘New MG3’ but even MG admit that their latest five-door hatchback is in reality a mid-life make-over – one that it desperately needed. Out has gone the thin pinched appearance of previous generations of recent MGs (see the MG6 and … [Read more...]
The Guild of Motoring Writers features in a new permanent exhibition at the National Motor Museum
The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu now has a new display all about the Guild of Motoring Writers, including its long history and what it does today... Chris Adamson reports. The Guild of Motoring Writers’, the world’s oldest and largest organisation for automotive journalists has a new expanded and updated permanent exhibition at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. The display, in its own … [Read more...]
MG ZS – Road Test
Chris Adamson comprehensively test drives MG’s compact SUV… (All words and photographs by Chris). Chris Adamson has been spending time getting to know MG’s new compact sport utility the ZS and discovers first impressions can be correct. As a motoring journalist I have attended hundreds of new vehicle launches over the years and they tend to follow a very similar format. You get a couple of … [Read more...]
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross – First impressions
Chris Adamson samples the latest Mitsubishi… Car sales in the UK dropped by almost six per cent last year but one sector that actually saw an increase was the Sport Utility which continues to grow in popularity thanks to its versatility and design ethos. One of the first brands to exploit this sector was Mitsubishi (who built their first four-by-four in 1936) – its Shogun/Pajero launched in … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Crossland X – First impressions
Chris Adamson gives his views on Vauxhall’s compact Crossland X SUV... (All words and photographs by Chris). Vauxhall was among the pioneers in the sports utility market here in the UK with the Frontera (remember that rather agricultural mud-plugger) even if it did borrow heavily from Isuzu in the first place. Times have moved on and everyone, including Vauxhall, has a model range bulging … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Golf R-Line 1.5 TSI Evo 150 – First Impressions.
Launched earlier this year, the latest seventh generation Volkswagen Golf has recently been supplemented by a new petrol engine that is set to become a big seller for the model – Chris Adamson has been putting it through its paces. (All words and photographs by Chris). In the UK market, Volkswagen was one of the leading diesel exponents until ‘dieselgate’, so now there has been an inevitable … [Read more...]
DS Automobiles DS3 Connected Chic Pure Tech 110 S&S – First Impressions
Chris Adamson assesses this compact DS with a very big name… (All words and photographs by Chris). If you are going to give a new model an extensive moniker such as the Connected Chic PureTech, then it has a big name to live up to – that’s the task DS Automobiles has set for the latest addition to its popular DS3 hatchback line-up. The new trim level for DS Automobiles best-selling model is … [Read more...]
Classic Auction Report – South Western Vehicle Auctions, 27th October 2017.
At the recent classic vehicle sale held by South Western Vehicle Auctions (SWVA) in Poole, Dorset, a wide range of classics changed hands for a variety of prices. Chris Adamson was there with his camera; here’s his report… An extensively restored 1962 Daimler SP250 which was finished in 2015 after nearly 30 years work topped the sales at the latest South Western Vehicle Auctions classic auction … [Read more...]
New MG ZS SUV – First Impressions
New kid on the block in the compact SUV market – MG's ZS has arrived... Words and all photos by Chris Adamson. (Note: The red car depicted in Chris's photos is the mid-range Excite version with the 1.5 litre engine and manual transmission; the white car is the range-topping best-seller 1.0 Auto in Exclusive trim.) Sales and marketing boss Matthew Cheyne is confidently predicting that in 2018 … [Read more...]
New McLaren 570S Spider – First Impressions
Chris Adamson test-drives the latest fast mover from McLaren... (All words and photographs by Chris). In the depths of a blustery autumn with another British winter on the horizon you can cheer yourself with thoughts of summer and the joys of open top motoring that await. If that dream also includes achieving this wind in the hair experience at close on 200 miles an hour and you have almost … [Read more...]
Edd China and the Wacky Record Breakers – At Beaulieu
Wacky Record Breakers – out in force at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. By Chris Adamson. Edd China, best known as the technical boffin half of television series Wheeler Dealers, returned to his roots, the world of weird car creations, when he helped to launch a new summer exhibition at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Edd was on hand to meet fans at the New Forest attraction and to … [Read more...]
MG XS – First Impressions
Motoring journalist and classic MG owner Chris Adamson has been taking a close look at the forthcoming MG XS – but sadly without the opportunity to drive it… (Words and photos by Chris) MG made its name worldwide with its range of practical and affordable two-seater sportscars so it’s somewhat frustrating for an MG enthusiast like myself to see the marque’s new Chinese owners developing a line … [Read more...]
Peugeot 3008 GT Line PureTech 130 Road Test
Chris Adamson gives his views on the European Car of the Year 2017, and assesses whether the car lives up to this accolade... (Words and Photos by Chris) ‘European Car of the Year 2017’ is a pretty tough title to live up to, but that’s the challenge facing the new Peugeot 3008, having beaten off some stiff opposition to claim the crown earlier this year. Visually it is hard to really … [Read more...]
Classic prices achieved at South Western Vehicle Auctions sale…
Some ‘modest’ classic commercials and cars, as well as more exclusively machinery, fetched far more than anticipated at the recent classic vehicle sale arranged by South Western Vehicle Auctions in Poole. Chris Adamson was there with his camera and notebook… (Words and photographs by Chris). A bid of £21,000 for a classic car is not normally the stuff of headlines – but it was at the recent … [Read more...]
BMW M240i Convertible Road Test
Looking ahead to sunny days in the New Year, Chris Adamson assesses a fast four seater drophead from BMW… Speeding to 60 miles an hour in just six seconds obviously isn’t quite enough for BMW’s compact 2 Series convertible – so for 2017 the boffins are throwing in another 95 horses and clipping the sprint time down to well under five seconds. Welcome to this year’s bright new young drop-top … [Read more...]
