Much Interest as Buyers Galore Flock to this October’s Quarterly SWVA Classic Car Sale… Chris Adamson reports for ‘Wheels-Alive’ (and didn’t come home with another classic…). MGs dominated at the recent South Western Vehicle Auctions quarterly classic car and motorcycle sale in Poole Dorset, with no les than 12 of the 75 lots carrying the Octagon badge. Pride of place went to an immaculate … [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.
McLaren 650S Spider Road Test
‘If you want a convertible McLaren road car then there is only one option – the £220,000 650S Spider and Chris Adamson has had the privilege of driving one’. Words and all photos by Chris. The McLaren name will always be associated with motor racing, historically that has been through Formula One although, at the moment, the Woking team is struggling at the back of the grid. But the brand has … [Read more...]
Audi S1 2.0 TFSI quattro Road Test
A happy-smile-producing 'pocket rocket' from Audi, assessed by Chris Adamson. (All words and photos by Chris). The best things they say come in small packages and that is certainly my experience having been let loose in Audi’s baby pocket rocket, the latest S1 quattro. Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to blast around parts of Northamptonshire in a selection of high performance … [Read more...]
Audi SQ5 TDi Plus 3.0 quattro Tiptronic Road Test
Audi’s 'Go Faster' SQ5 reviewed by Chris Adamson. (All words and photos by Chris). For my money the Q5 model is the best off-roader that Audi has made so far, thanks to a combination of performance and functionality. This year, the flagship SQ5 version has been given an extra boost with the installation of a new 90 degree, 3 litre, bi-turbo V6 diesel heart that promises more power, more … [Read more...]
Toyota Mirai (Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car) Test-driven
Chris Adamson tests the 2016 World Green Car – the new hydrogen powered Toyota Mirai… (Words and photos by Chris). Dwindling and increasingly expensive reserves of petroleum products and increasing pollution of our planet from burning fossil fuels means that a cheaper, cleaner and more efficient way of using the earth’s resources is needed if we are to retain our access to personal transport… ie … [Read more...]
A Matter of Opinions… MG Owners Give Their Views of the New MG GS
MG owners tend to be very loyal to the marque, but what do they make of the company's new GS family sports utility vehicle (SUV), and in particular, would they buy one? Chris Adamson found out, when he showed the top-spec version to potential buyers who are already MG owners. Report and all photos by Chris. The new GS family car, MG’s brave debut entry into the highly competitive world of … [Read more...]
Citroën Berlingo Van Road Test
A Versatile Load Carrier from Citroën… Words and Photos by Chris Adamson. Napoleon Bonaparte reputedly described the English as a ‘nation of shopkeepers’ and in today’s modern economy it’s small businesses that keep the country working and, in turn, they need an efficient and practical form of transport to keep their company operating. One vehicle that is helping to do this, ironically, is … [Read more...]
SsangYong Tivoli XLV First Impressions
More space is provided by the latest version of the Tivoil from SsangYong… Words and all photos except the main heading shot (from SsangYong), by Chris Adamson. After successive offerings from SsangYong were roundly ridiculed for their styling and construction, the Korean car maker finally started to get things right last year when it unveiled the Tivoli, a good looking compact sports utility … [Read more...]
New MG GS First Impressions
An SUV from MG? Oh yes... and here it is. Words and photographs by Chris Adamson, who shares his thoughts after his first drive of the newcomer. Which car manufacturer would you associate with making a family-sized sports utility for under £15,000? – certainly not MG, yet that is exactly what we have with the new MG GS. On top of the bargain basement price you can add in a five year … [Read more...]
New Land Rover Evoque Convertible – a view from Chris Adamson
Impressions of the new Land Rover Evoque Convertible. Chris Adamson shares his thoughts, illustrated by some of his own photographs of the vehicle he used during his test drive... Britain’s unpredictable weather means that motorists on our island want to make the most of any day that brings clear blue skies – and it’s blue sky thinking that has created the new Land Rover Evoque … [Read more...]
Audi R8 Coupe V10 Plus First Impressions
Who says supercars have to be Italian? Certainly not Audi – who keep on improving their head-turning R8 Coupe. Author: Chris Adamson (who also photographed the blue car driven for this article). The second generation R8 is even more dynamic and go-getting than its predecessor, being faster, lighter and more responsive; it’s also laden to the rooftop with goodies. Visually the V10 example can … [Read more...]
Wheels-Alive News – New MG Sports Utility Revealed
Words and photos by Chris Adamson A new era for MG was unveiled in Battersea Park when the covers came off the marque’s first ever sports utility vehicle – the attractive and contemporary styled all-new GS. The brand’s forthcoming capacious flagship model was the star reveal during press preview day at the first modern day London Motor Show (for more from Chris about the Show, please click … [Read more...]
The (new) London Motor Show 2016
Report by Chris Adamson on the latest Motor Show to be held in our capital city... Battersea Park, bathed in spring sunshine, was the venue for the first all-new London Motor Show that showcased the best of British automotive design, engineering and pioneering work in road safety. HRH Prince Michael of Kent officially opened the event and took the opportunity to try out the Stop the Crash … [Read more...]
MINI John Cooper Works First Impressions.
The fastest production MINI to date... Reviewed by Chris Adamson Alec Issigonis may have been the creator of the original Mini but it was the vision of performance specialist, the late and much missed John Cooper, that is really responsible for its iconic status. His inspiration continues today with new owners BMW retaining the John Cooper Works (JCW) tag-line for its range-topping, … [Read more...]
Jaguar F-Type Convertible First Impressions
Jaguar F-Type Convertible – Transport of Delight? Written and photographed by Chris Adamson Ever since the demise of the iconic E-Type almost half a century ago, Jaguar has been attempting to recreate the sporting aura that gave a fresh and original injection of energy into the famous, quintessentially, British brand. With the rear-wheel drive Ian Callum penned F-type (the name is a big … [Read more...]
Citroën C4 Cactus – First Impressions
Chris Adamson is your guide… The Oxford English dictionary defines cactus as: ‘a succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem which typically bears spines, lacks leaves and has brilliantly coloured flowers’. Not the most inspiring definition if you want to relate it to a car but I suppose you could reference the prickly nature of the plant to the response that some people seem to have on … [Read more...]
MG Sales Record – and Revisiting the MG3 in a short Road Test
Chris Adamson looks at the continuing growth of MG, and drives the 2016 MG3 New MG registrations in the UK topped the 3,000 mark last year (2015) setting a record figure for the famous British brand since its acquisition a decade ago by Chinese car giant SAIC Motor. This was almost 1,000 more than in 2014 and surpassed the 2013 and 2014 sales figures combined. Driving the sales success was … [Read more...]
Sunbeam Start-up – National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
Sir Malcolm Campbell’s land speed record breaking 350hp Sunbeam has been fired up in anger in the New Forest for the first time in over 50 years following a major eight-year mechanical rebuild. BY CHRIS ADAMSON The first car to exceed 150mph it was also the first vehicle to carry the famous Bluebird name and over its life set numerous speed records. Prior to this week’s start-up at the … [Read more...]
Kia pro_cee’d GT
Kia is best known for its low prices and industry-leading seven-year warranty – now it is hoping to inject a little excitement into the brand image with its first serious hot hatchback, the pro_cee’d GT. A quick glance at the three-door GT and it is clear Kia has serious intentions, if only from the way that the car looks – and it has taken five years of design work to get it looking like … [Read more...]
Peugeot 2008
by Chris Adamson Crossovers started life as slightly shrunken 4x4s with the option not to have four-wheel drive – now there is a new sub-compact class that comes from the opposite direction by pumping up standard hatchbacks and among the newest is the Peugeot 2008. Based on the latest 208 the extra zero sees the body grow by 197mm (7.75in) in length and 92mm (3.62in) in height while retaining … [Read more...]