TWO NEW PLUG-INS FROM MG By Chris Adamson. (Photos from MG Motor). October is going to be a busy month for MG, Britain’s fastest growing car brand, as it prepares to launch two new models; the MG5 EV and the HS Plug-in SUV. The new additions will give the latest MG line-up a total of three plug-in electric vehicles helping it to cement its position as the only manufacturer to increase its … [Read more...]
Features by Chris Adamson
Chris Adamson BA, 64, has been a journalist for about 40 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 a 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.
Toyota RAV4 Excel AWD – First Impressions
Chris Adamson takes to the wheel of Toyota’s latest RAV4… (All words and photos by Chris). Over the years I have been on many new vehicle launches where the makers have claimed revolutionary prowess for their latest model – few have met this expectation but one I recall that did was the original Toyota RAV4. Billed as a fun town car with the ability to go off-road (Recreational All-terrain … [Read more...]
Classics galore change hands at Poole auction…
Chris Adamson reports from the South Western Vehicle Auctions classic sale held on Friday, 31st January... (All words and photographs by Chris). The classic car market has started 2020 on a soft note if the results from the first quarterly auction at South Western Vehicle Auctions in Poole are any indication. While 95 per cent of the lots found buyers most were close to their … [Read more...]
Kia Niro Crossover Hybrid – First Impressions
Kia Niro Crossover Hybrid – First Impressions. Chris Adamson drives Kia’s popular Niro hybrid… (All words and photographs by Chris). Hybrid petrol electric vehicles have been appearing on the high street in increasing numbers over recent years but one that seems to have slipped in under the radar is the Kia Niro crossover. One of the smaller SUVs it first appeared in 2016 and so far has … [Read more...]
MG HS – Road Test
Chris Adamson puts MG’s family SUV through its paces… (All words and photographs by Chris). Average is often seen as a negative description, certainly when applied to vehicle performance, but I have discovered that it can actually be a virtue. I have come to this conclusion after spending 10 days with the new MG HS, a family-sized sports utility that makes no claims for being the fastest, … [Read more...]
NEWS – BRITISH MOTOR SHOW 2020
BRITISH MOTOR SHOW 2020 – to be held at Farnborough. Story by Chris Adamson. Plans have been announced to revive the British Motor Show name in August 2020 - but it is going to be very different to the last time an event with a similar name was held at the Excel Centre in London in 2008. For starters ‘International’ has been dropped from the title and rather than London it is going to be held … [Read more...]
Citroën C5 Aircross – Long Term Road Test
Chris Adamson samples Citroën’s innovative C5 Aircross during an extended road test… (All words and photographs by Chris, except overall dashboard shot, courtesy of Citroën and taken by Matt Howell). Six months ago I first drove the Citroën C5 Aircross and if you have been following this website will have read that I wasn’t entirely convinced by the novel hydraulic suspension – but a longer … [Read more...]
Toyota Corolla 1.8 Touring Sport – First Impressions.
Chris Adamson test drives the latest Toyota Corolla 1.8 Touring Sport – and contrasts it with his own first Toyota.... (Photos: Toyota GB). Back in the mid-1980s the second car I ever bought was a nearly new Toyota Corolla SR liftback that I drove all round the UK and even took on holiday to France. It served me well for many years, never gave me any problems and I have to say there was a … [Read more...]
High flying classic sales at South Western Vehicle Auctions’ October event
Classics galore sold at the recent SWVA classic sale in Poole... Chris Adamson (just about) kept his hand on his wallet as the cars came through, and reports on the day... Against a packaged catalogue that included 11 Jaguars, three Porsches, a handful of Triumph TRs and a Ford Mustang it was a 1973 MGB GT V8 that stole the show as the top-selling item at this month’s South Western Vehicle … [Read more...]
Bentley Bentayga V8 – First Impressions
Chris Adamson samples a thoroughly modern Bentley… (Words and photographs by Chris). In recent months the domestic motoring community has been dominated by discussions about fuel economy, alternative fuels, battery power and the UK’s electricity re-charging infrastructure and I have not been immune from getting immersed in the debate. So it was something of a refreshing change to be able to … [Read more...]
Toyota Prius Business Edition AWD – First impressions
Chris Adamson gives his verdict on this latest hybrid Toyota … (Photos – Toyota GB) Hybrid pioneers Toyota started the drive towards self-charging multi-power cars with their leading edge Prius. Now, over 20 years later, everyone seems to have a hybrid or full electric model on their fleet but Prius is still the one they have to be matched against. While they have been developing hydrogen … [Read more...]
MG HS – First Impressions
Chris Adamson test-drives the range-topping MG HS… (All words and photographs by Chris). Having come rather late to the Sports Utility party MG is now making up lost ground by launching its third model, the new flagship HS which, in effect, takes over from the GS now this original SUV is out of stock here in the UK. Like the rest of the MG line-up, the HS is being promoted as being bigger and … [Read more...]
MG ZS EV – First Impressions
Chris Adamson samples the latest – and all-electric – MG. (Photos by Chris Adamson – the red car – & MG Motor). MG’s sporting heritage doesn’t automatically make you visualise the famous British brand as a leading exponent of electric vehicles. But that is where the now Chinese owned marque is heading (albeit a little late) with the launch of its first electric vehicle and plans for a … [Read more...]
New Forest McLaren dealership opens – and McLaren GT unveiled
Opening of New Forest McLaren dealership and unveiling of McLaren GT… Chris Adamson reports. (Photographs by Chris and McLaren). Affluent south coast motorists are the target audience for the ninth McLaren dealership to open in Britain as the British sportscar brand heads towards its target of 6,000 world-wide sales by 2024 – last year they sold 4,816 units. McLaren New Forest is located … [Read more...]
Maserati Levante GranLusso – First Impressions
(Photos courtesy of Maserati). No sector in the automotive marketplace has escaped the clutches of the Sports Utility Vehicle, not even the prestige brands, who at one time, would never have dreamed of having a chunky off-roader in their line-up. One of the most recent converts (but not quite the last) is Maserati who by their own admission are arriving rather late to the party – their … [Read more...]
Citroën C5 Aircross – First impressions
Chris Adamson gives his views on this newcomer to the market… (Photos courtesy of Citroën). Despite there being very few occasions when a family car needs to travel off-road, apart from the occasional piece of grass verge, today’s motor industry has shifted wholesale from conventional multi-purpose vehicles to the fashionable sports utility – a move I have yet to fully endorse. At one time … [Read more...]
New MG3 Race Car
MG3 RACE CAR TAKES TO THE TRACK. By Chris Adamson. (Photos by Chris and the MG Car Club). A new MG3 race car created by interns at the SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre at Longbridge (SAIC is the Chinese owners of the MG brand) has been unveiled for the 2019 competition season. The race-ready five-door hatchback has been developed in conjunction with the MG Car Club to offer a low-cost entry … [Read more...]
New MG3 – Road Test
The latest MG3... ...Tried and tested by Chris Adamson. If you are in the market for a sophisticated, sporting and aspirational modern hatchback then here is a recommendation – don’t even start considering the new MG3. However, if you want a budget priced, economical to run and spacious five-door then the new Chinese built MG3 could be just the answer. Wrapped-up in an acceptable if not … [Read more...]
Citroën Berlingo (third generation) – First Impressions
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...]
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...]