The Budget is first aid for the motor industry but will not fix underlying long term ailments, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders... ...writes Robin Roberts. “Today’s budget provides some encouragement to an automotive sector hit hard by the pandemic and additional trading costs but it falls short of the support needed to transform the industry and market to the net zero … [Read more...]
Features by Robin Roberts
Latest Citroën C3 – Road Test
Citroën C3 PureTech 110 tried and tested… …by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). When a car-maker refreshes and updates one of its best selling models their rivals and customers had better take notice and the new Citroën C3 deserves that attention. Not to be confused with the Citroën C3 Aircross compact SUV styled models, the C3 supermini sized hatchback underwent an extensive … [Read more...]
Aston Martin’s St Athan plant will be vital in the company’s future
Aston Martin St Athan plant will play a crucial role in the company's recovery and future plans... ...by Robin Roberts. The luxury car maker will almost double production at St Athan and its Garden, Warwickshire sites this year after working through stock it's held and which has plagued them since its 2018 shares floatation. The British company plans to make 6,000 vehicles this year … [Read more...]
Fiat 500X Sport SUV – Road Test
The Fiat 500X Sport hot-shot small SUV… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Fiat know a lot about turning the ordinary into the extra-ordinary, like they have with the hotter version of the very popular 500 series. Their best selling city car for some 60 years, the Fiat 500 range has been boosted by the X Sport small SUV given a beefier 150 bhp 1.3 litre four-cylinder engine in … [Read more...]
Citroën C5 Aircross plug-in hybrid – Road Test
The new Citroën C5 Aircross 180 PHEV Auto test driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Citroën C5 Aircross has been a winner for the French marque from its 2017 launch and it’s about to take them into a new era. Within six months of going on sale, over 50,000 models had been delivered and its latest updates include a PHEV Plug-in Hybrid Electric version. That brings a … [Read more...]
Calls for MoT Test changes to incorporate aspects of electric, hybrid and high-tech. modern vehicles
Robin Roberts writes: The MoT test may need a radical shakeup to reflect the arrival of electric power and very sophisticated technology fitted to the latest vehicles. That’s the view of KwikFit, which tests about a million vehicles annually, and head of their service Eric Smith. He points out that currently hybrid models and battery electric vehicles are not tested for emissions and these and … [Read more...]
Fiat 500 Hybrid – Road Test
Fiat 500 Lounge Hatchback 1.0 70hp Mild Hybrid Fiat 500 models can be a classic Italian dish for drivers claims road tester Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The 500 put Fiat back on the road after WW2 as the Cinquecento and it saved the company again with a comprehensive make-over in 2007, since when three-million have been sold. A new refreshed line-up is going on sale Spring … [Read more...]
Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 4xe PHEV – Road Test
Hybrid electric power features in the Renegade… …Jeep’s landmark 80 year history position in the off-road sector is now joined by the Renegade’s claim to fame as the first of the brand’s electric models, writes Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Renegade was a defining vehicle for the brand being the first Jeep model to be made outside the US as it’s assembled in Italy, Brazil and … [Read more...]
Ford Escort Mark 1 and 2 bespoke re-creations arrive
New Welsh supercars with familiar look… …By Robin Roberts (Wheels Within Wales). (All photographs ©Images MST Cars). They’re new supercars coming out of Wales, with familiar faces… After the launch of the Aston Martin DBX from its new state of the art St Athan factory in South Wales last year, altogether different cars are being built in a small industrial unit in North Wales. While the … [Read more...]
Nissan confirms faith in Sunderland plant, and X-Trail seven seater Road Test
Nissan commits to the UK, says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). News announced today, 22nd January 2021, the Japanese car manufacturer has committed to continuing long-term production of some of its models in the UK following the recent post Brexit trade deal with the EU. The Sunderland Plant had recently been operating at less than half its 500,000 annual capacity and has 6,000 direct … [Read more...]
TVR factory preparation and conversion starts
Welsh Government and TVR will begin work on its Ebbw Vale factory renovation and enhancement programme in mid-January, writes Robin Roberts. Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd has been awarded the principal contract for works including replacement of the main building’s roof, the recladding of the building, extensive groundworks and also preparation of a prototype build area at the side of the intended … [Read more...]
Volvo V90 B6 estate car – Road Test
Volvo’s V90 B6 AWD petrol engined estate given a festive outing... ...by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The estate car has been a part of British life for decades. Originally developed to take shooting parties around estates during the grouse and deer culling seasons, they soon found new uses before and after. That was a long time ago and today’s family car of choice has become … [Read more...]
Electric cars charge ahead…
Electric cars power ahead of internal combusion engine models, as Robin Roberts explains... Despite the wider car industry suffering badly from the effects of the pandemic, 2020 was a landmark year when it came to sales of battery electric vehicles with twice as many sold last year compared to the year before, and a total of more than 200,000 registered since 2010, analysis of SMMT figures by the … [Read more...]
UK New car sales review
Review of new cars sold in Britain last year, by Robin Roberts. The UK new car market fell by almost a third (-29.4%) in 2020, with annual registrations dropping to 1,631,064 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. A -10.9% decline in December wrapped up a turbulent 12 months, which saw demand fall by 680,076 units to the lowest level of registrations since … [Read more...]
Aston Martin DBX – Road Test
The Aston Martin DBX premium SUV – built in Wales Aston Martin is a survivor in a world of hard knocks and is looking for a smoother ride with their latest DBX sports utility vehicle, writes Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Images courtesy and copyright Mediaphotos.co.uk After 100 years of making some of the most sought after sports cars in the world it has applied its … [Read more...]
All-electric Vauxhall Corsa – Road Test
Vauxhall Corsa-e Elite Nav 11kW plugged-in… …and driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Britain’s oldest car-maker is gearing up for the electric future, beginning with the Corsa-e. The highly popular small hatchback is a natural starting point aimed at those who mostly commute or have low mileage lifestyles. It has dabbled in the EV sector between 2012 and 2015 with the … [Read more...]
Toyota C-HR Dynamic Hybrid 2.0 – Road Test
HIGHER PERFORMANCE TOYOTA C-HR HYBRID COMPACT SUV TRIED AND TESTED Continuous improvement is the philosophy of Toyota and few car makers have as much experience of EVs and Hybrids, launching its Hybrid Synergy Drive in 1997, and rolling out more models every few years, writes Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). The Toyota C-HR is a good example of continuous improvement, first … [Read more...]
Lexus UX 250 h – Road Test
The Lexus UX 250h Takumi E-four AWD urban SUV… …tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Robin says, “Lexus has been a mover and shaker in the UK car market in every sector it’s entered and with the latest UX urban SUV its challenge intensifies”. Intended as an introduction SUV to the Lexus range, the UX is their first contemporary compact SUV with the urban driver in … [Read more...]
Latest motoring news round-up
Robin Roberts provides his round-up of recent automotive news... Classic cars have outperformed gold in terms of investment opportunity over the past decade. Using Hagerty’s average pricing for classic cars, Vanarama (https://www.vanarama.com/) has reviewed how much a classic car can appreciate in a mere decade compared to other … [Read more...]
Ford Fiesta ST-3 – Road Test
The latest Ford Fiesta ST-3, 3-door hot-hatch given an outing. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). More than any other car in modern times, the Ford Fiesta has defined British motoring and the high performance ST-series is the most desirable, particularly among motorsport fans. Consistently one of the top selling cars in the UK market, the Fiesta is the right size for thousands … [Read more...]
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