Bigger is Better for the New MINI Clubman models Says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) The MINI is now in its third generation under the ownership of the BMW Group. The three door Hatch arrived first in 2015 followed by the five door Hatch and now the new larger Clubman models. The Convertible Hatch will arrive in March this year, the Clubman ALL4 in April and the new Countryman and … [Read more...]
Features by David Miles
2016 Ford Focus Zetec S Red Edition (182 hp) Wheels-Alive Road Test
First Drive of Ford’s 2016 Focus Zetec S Red Edition David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his assessment... Ford, through their latest advertising campaign, is inviting us to ‘unlearn’ the UK’s bestselling brand for 39 consecutive years – strange but true. Having returned to profit in 2015 Ford plans to increase the number of sporty cars and SUV models in its line-up and eliminate … [Read more...]
Skoda Superb range-topping Laurin and Klement 4×4 estate Road Test
Skoda’s Latest Superb Estate – Mostly Lives up to its Name... says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (Note from Kim: Recently on Wheels-Alive, Keith Ward assessed the 150 horsepower 2.0 TDi SE L Executive manual transmission front wheel drive variant; by contrast David gives his verdict on the range-topping Laurin and Klement specification 190 horsepower 2.0 TDi four wheel drive version … [Read more...]
Infiniti Q30 First Impressions
New British-built Infiniti Q30 five door premium hatchback is now on sale... By David Miles (Miles Batter News Agency) Infiniti, the premium brand from Nissan, has launched their all-new UK built Infiniti Q30 C-segment five door hatchback and it’s thoroughly British. Not only is it the first Infiniti ever to be built in Europe, it was created at the Nissan-Infiniti Paddington design facility, … [Read more...]
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV or Turbodiesel?
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) road tests the turbodiesel version... Sales of SUVs in the UK showed a 21.5% increase in 2015 and sales of PHEV plug-in ultra low emission vehicles increased by 94%. In January this year PHEV sales were up by another 33%. Combine SUV design and PHEV technology together and you get the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, but there is also the latest Outlander … [Read more...]
Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Plug-in SUV First Impressions
Should we get connected with the new Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Plug-in large SUV? asks David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) With SUV sales in Europe accelerating to the top selling market segment in Europe last year and a 21.5% increase in the UK, where it is the third largest sector, the arrival of the new Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in petrol electric hybrid is timely. Sales of PHEVs in … [Read more...]
New MINI Hatch John Cooper Works – The Most Powerful MINI Ever – First Impressions
By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Hot MINI UK Sales News With another record year of sales behind them in 2015, MINI is well placed with the introduction of their third generation range of models to continue their record breaking sales record. Last year MINI achieved 63,581 UK new car registrations, an 18.5% increase over the previous year and the sixth consecutive year of … [Read more...]
Mitsubishi Motors new L200 Pick-up – still a legend in its own lifetime
Road test by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) A legend in its own lifetime is Mitsubishi’s L200 pick-up sold globally over six decades accounting for over four million sales. Now the fifth generation versions are with us. The first generation was launched in 1978 as a single cab body style with standard and long wheelbase body options, with two wheel drive, and 4x4 traction for SWB … [Read more...]
BMW X5 xDrive 40e First Impressions
New BMW X5 xDrive 40e joins the UK's fast-growing plug-in hybrid market. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). With a record year of UK sales behind them in 2015, when they replaced Audi as the best selling premium brand, and their centenary in front of them in 2016, BMW look fully charged to have a good year. First of their new models to be handed to the UK’s motoring media at the … [Read more...]
Land Rover Discovery Sport – with Jaguar Land Rover’s own Ingenium engines.
Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency), who also highlights the continuing good news sales success story for JLR. When the Land Rover Discovery Sport premium compact SUV with permanent four wheel drive first went on sale in the UK in January 2015, with five and seven seat options, the only downside to the vehicle was that it still continued to use the long serving 2.2 litre SD4 … [Read more...]
BMW at the top of the tree – and our Road Test on their latest 320D M Sport model
BMW moves back to the top of the premium brand UK new car sales league. Report by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) With the UK’s new car market reaching an all-time sales record in 2015 with 2,633,503 registrations, a rise of 6.3% over 2014, BMW returned to the top spot for premium brands. They had a 12.4% increase registering 167,391 new cars. Audi, the previous leader, also saw an … [Read more...]
A New Year, A New Suzuki Vitara S 1.4 BOOSTERJET Compact SUV
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) drives the new range-topping Vitara On sale from January 2016 is the latest addition to the Suzuki Vitara compact five door SUV range. The new Vitara range was launched eight months ago when it replaced the larger, durable, tough, well-liked and long serving 4x4 Grand Vitara range. Now there is an additional model in the softer styled SUV Vitara range - … [Read more...]
New Year Road Test: The latest Honda Jazz – Music to new ears in 2016?
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his verdict… The new third generation Honda Jazz went on sale in September with a new 1.3-litre petrol engine, new larger platform, more interior space and smarter looks. The re-styling now might improve the appeal to a younger group of family customers rather than the older generation who were its main users. Prices will range from £13,495 to … [Read more...]
New Peugeot 308 GTi from Peugeot Sport – Road Test
Our own 'Santa Claus', alias David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) delivers… ‘A CHRISTMAS CRACKER’ ROAD TEST– THE NEW 308 GTI BY PEUGEOT SPORT In the PSA, Peugeot, Citroen and DS, group of brands Peugeot’s aim is to move their brand up-market and part of this process is to further inject some sporting pedigree into a family best known in the main for their fuel efficient, family and business … [Read more...]
Mazda’s latest MX-5 Road Test
LIFTING THE LID ON A SECOND OPINION ‘Car of the Year’ in Japan – driven by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Actually my colleague covered the UK press launch for the new fourth generation Mazda MX-5 a few months ago at its media launch, but these one day events only allow for a brief period of time in the car. So what is the new MX-5 really like to live with? My week long test driving … [Read more...]
Range Rover Evoque (2016 model year) First Impressions
2016 MODEL YEAR RANGE ROVER EVOQUE FIRST DRIVE by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) The Range Rover Evoque for 2016 gets a mid-life refresh, but most importantly those updates include the use for the first time of Jaguar Land Rover’s own 2.0-litre Ingenium turbodiesel engines, which replace the previous Ford manufactured 2.2-litre units. First launched to great acclaim in 2011, the … [Read more...]
Jaguar XJ First Impressions – plus the latest product news from Jaguar Land Rover
JAGUAR AND LAND ROVER ROLL OUT THEIR 2016 MODELS David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports, and takes to the wheel of the revised 2016 model year Jaguar XJ Saloon… First, Jaguar Land Rover ('JLR') activities It is that time of year when 2016 models are rolled out by most manufacturers eager for the publicity to get customers placing orders for their latest updated products. High … [Read more...]
Honda HR-V SUV Road Test
HONDA RETURNS TO THE COMPACT SUV MARKET WITH THEIR LATEST HR-V RANGE by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Honda first put a toe in the compact SUV sector in 1999 with the original HR-V in both three and five door body styles. Recently they have re-entered this fast growing sector with the latest HR-V available with petrol and diesel engines options but only as a five door and only with … [Read more...]
Mitsubishi ASX Road Test
LATEST MITSUBISHI ASX COMPACT CROSSOVER ADDS TO SALES GROWTH By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Since 1983 Mitsubishi have been well known for their off-roaders, starting with the tough and durable Shogun three and five door range, winner of the Dakar rally for numerous years. But times change as customer’s buying requirements alter due to the higher rates of tax imposed to force down … [Read more...]
Renault Kadjar SUV Road Test
THE RENAULT KADJAR – ANOTHER IMPORTANT NEW MID-SIZED SUV CROSSOVER by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Before you scour the words in this new model test drive for what the word Kadjar means, it doesn’t seem to mean anything – it’s just a name hatched up by those creative marketing types. You know - the people who came up with oddball names for other Renault new cars such as Twizy, Zoe, … [Read more...]