Classic car enthusiast Emily follows her dream… The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu has appointed a new workshop apprentice as an investment in the future of its historic vehicle collection, at a time when few specialist workshops are taking on trainees. New apprentice Emily Leese, aged 18, joins the museum’s experienced workshop team to help maintain and restore its collection of more than … [Read more...]
Features by Kim Henson
In life, sometimes there are things that you just have to do. In my case many of them relate to my twin loves of 1) motoring, and 2) using writing to convey to others (and share with) my fascination for the subject.
I have been passionate about cars for as long as I can remember, and have always had a thirst for knowledge concerning how and why they work, and how to keep them operating as they should. In addition, I’ve always enjoyed driving, and trying to fairly assess and compare the various good and bad points of different makes and models.
News: FairFuelUK campaign demands fairness to motorists in air quality legislation
On Wednesday, at 8am - 13th Sept 2017 - FairFuelUK launches a Crowd Justice Funding Campaign to raise funds for a 2-part legal challenge: To convince the Mayor of London to reverse the implementation of his cash grabbing unwarranted ‘T-Charge’ on drivers. To get the Prime Minister and Defra to set up an Independent Public Inquiry to fairly investigate other more effective ways to improve … [Read more...]
Kia Driving Day, notably including the latest Picanto – First Impressions
Driving Kia's latest Picanto (and other models). Kim Henson reports… (with all photographs by Kim). Arriving in Britain in 1991, Kia, part of the south Korean Hyundai Group, has been posting increasingly good sales figures here. Indeed the UK represents Kia’s largest market in Europe, and the fourth largest in the World after South Korea, China and the United States. More than a … [Read more...]
Event Report – Beaulieu International Autojumble 2017
Classic car enthusiasts flocked to the National Motor Museum for this year’s Beaulieu International Autojumble. Kim Henson, who has attended every ‘Beaulieu’ for the last four decades, reports on this, THE biggest autojumble in Britain – the original such event, and widely acknowledged still to be the best… (With some photographs, individually acknowledged with thanks, provided by Chris … [Read more...]
Event News – ‘Lincolnshire Props and Pistons’ (28th August) to help a Leukaemia charity
The sky’s the limit for Props & Pistons! Up to £20 million worth of planes and cars to take centre stage in Lincolnshire Props & Pistons, to feature the classic Jaguar XJ220 for first time at the August 28 Bank Holiday event, and with Bridgestone ,making its presence felt at the event for another year. One of the Midlands’ most popular automotive and aviation shows is promising to be … [Read more...]
News – A security flaw on many or most recent cars can take out safety (and other) systems… Is this really progress?
The internet/world-wide web is a wonderful means of communicating, but now that many modern cars are linked to it, the potential for attacking and disabling vehicle computer systems is very real… Yesterday, researchers discovered a security flaw that could potentially (and probably does) affect all new vehicles. It allows an attacker to turn off safety features, such as airbags, ABS brakes, and … [Read more...]
News – Servicing and repair costs – Great variations between makes?
Cheap and Cheerful or Expensive and Exclusive? Your motoring costs will be significantly affected by your choice of car make. Kim Henson takes a look at the figures… Does the brand of my car make much of a difference on the cost of maintenance? Whocanfixmycar.com have studied their own data and found the cheapest and most expensive brands for common service and repairs. If … [Read more...]
News – First Stop adds Tomato Tyres to its operation…
Tomato on the menu for First Stop … Kim Henson reports. First Stop’s recipe for success has seen the addition of London-based Tomato Tyres to its portfolio of fast-fit garages throughout the United Kingdom. The rapidly expanding Tomato Tyres has been trading throughout the commercial vehicle industry, keeping businesses on the road around Heathrow and surrounding areas. Joining the First … [Read more...]
News – Bridgestone wins two safety awards
Bridgestone’s safety work commended with two top awards. Kim Henson reports… Outstanding achievement and innovation awards presented to company DriveGuard praised for its stress-relieving, road safety features Bridgestone’s range of safety campaigns and initiatives earn praise at TyreSafe Bridgestone’s unwavering commitment to road safety has been honoured with two … [Read more...]
Wheels-Alive’s Kim Henson visits… An amazing collection of classic vehicles at Studio434 in Hertfordshire…
Classics Galore at Studio434... Kim Henson travelled to the Home Counties and counts himself very lucky to have visited a ‘dreamworld’ private collection of 325 classic cars plus 65 motorcycles. He was delighted by the variety of vehicles, the numbers of which are increasing all the time. However that’s only part of the story. Here’s what he found… Hertfordshire is famous for many things, … [Read more...]
Ford teams up with Mobility Roadshow 2017 (1st to 3rd June)
Ford: Official Manufacturer Partner for The Mobility Roadshow 2017. Kim Henson reports. The Mobility Roadshow, organised by Goose Live Events on behalf of Mobility Choice, is delighted to welcome Ford as the official Manufacturer Partner for the 2017 event. (NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, 1st to 3rd June.) The Mobility Roadshow (incorporating Get Going Live!) is the original and largest … [Read more...]
Bridgestone tyres for new Alfa Stelvio SUV
Bridgestone has been selected by Alfa Romeo to be a tyre supplier for its first premium mid-size SUV, it has been revealed. Kim Henson reports… Engineered with Run-Flat Technology and designed with all season capability, the Dueler H/P Sport tyre from Bridgestone will equip the all-new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. “Bridgestone is honoured to supply tyres for the much anticipated Alfa Romeo … [Read more...]
Diesel Delusion?
Wot, NO Diesels? Wheels-Alive reports on comments made today regarding future plans for outlawing diesel cars… Alex Buttle (pictured), director, car buying website Motorway.co.uk, comments: “When it comes to his plans for diesel cars, we have to ask has Tim Farron been smoking some of the substance he’s looking to legalise? “A total ban on diesel cars is likely to be highly unpopular for the … [Read more...]
Motoring for Fun – ‘Wirral Going on a Summer Holiday’ (and to the Austin Counties Car Club Rally) – in a 1954 Austin A40 Somerset, says Kim
Wirral Going on a Summer Holiday – in a 1954 Austin A40 (Somerset) Coupé… Kim Henson explains... I have to admit that until 2014 I had never before visited the Wirral peninsula, nor indeed Liverpool, but twice in that year I made brief visits to that part of the world, and was keen to return to explore in more detail. For those who may not know, the Wirral peninsula sits between (to the west) … [Read more...]
Repair costs compared between different makes within the Volkswagen Group
Thinking of investing in a Volkswagen, an Audi, a Skoda or a SEAT? The comparative cost of repairs within the Volkswagen Group makes interesting reading... By Robin Roberts and Kim Henson Volkswagen has been in the news a lot lately, and not always for the right reasons. However, the German manufacturer still reigns supreme when it comes to car sales, with the company shifting 10.3 … [Read more...]
Air-free bicycle tyres on track for arrival in 2019…
Wot, no air for your bike tyres (and, possibly in the near future, tyres for other vehicles too...)? Kim Henson reports. In Tokyo the Bridgestone Corporation has announced that, together with the Bridgestone Cycle Co, Ltd, the company has developed a next-generation bicycle tyre in an effort to realise practical application of their “Air Free Concept”, a technology for creating tyres that do not … [Read more...]
NEW SERIES! ‘Golden Oldies’; Kim’s Retrospective Road Test No. 1 – 1996 Vauxhall Astra 1.7 LS turbodiesel (Isuzu engine).
Astranomical! In the first of a new series on Wheels-Alive, Kim Henson assesses Vauxhall’s family hatchback of the 1990s, in the form of a 1996 Vauxhall Astra F (‘Mark 3’), powered by Isuzu’s fuel-sipping 1.7 litre turbodiesel engine. (All words and photographs by Kim). “Astra from Vauxhall. It’s every car you’ll ever need – or want.” So proclaimed Vauxhall when promoting their 1996 Astra … [Read more...]
Volvo V90 D4 AWD Cross Country – Kim’s (brief) First Impressions
Kim Henson briefly samples Volvo’s state-of-the-art V90 D4 AWD Cross Country estate. In line with developments in engineering and computer systems generally, the rapid pace of change in terms of automotive technological innovation is clear when driving any vehicle produced in the last year or two, and especially so in the case of so-called ‘premium’ brands. This generalisation is certainly … [Read more...]
Firestone Music Tour 2017 takes to the road
Keep calm and festival on! Kim Henson tells more... With so many different languages actively used across the continent, music is the one language that has the power to bring together people from different countries and cultures. The Firestone Music Tour gives Firestone the opportunity to connect with music-lovers from across Europe via authentic music experiences. Firestone will be … [Read more...]
Latest Honda Civic – Kim’s First Impressions
Kim Henson samples contrasting examples of the latest (10th generation) Honda Civic… (All words and photos by Kim). Ask any Honda Civic owner, or anyone in the motor trade, or any diagnostic specialist, who has had anything to do with the model, or Hondas in general, and I am convinced that nearly all (if not 100 per cent) of these people will tell you that the Civic is an excellent motor car … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- …
- 17
- Next Page »