Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes... Twenty-nine years ago the first Audi A3 established the premium compact class and today the fourth generation sets a high standard which rivals really struggle to match. From that initial model in 1996, the A3 series has evolved into a comprehensive range of saloons and semi-estates or coupés with individual emphasis on sophistication or … [Read more...]
Contributors
Data galore – but what is it they are telling you and where does it go?
What do you – and they – really, really, know about your car? – Dave Moss asks the question… and suggests some answers! (All words © Dave Moss; photographs from car warranty specialists Warrantywise). If you own a car built in the last ten to fifteen years, you'll know all about the colourful array of dashboard warning lights that appear when you first switch on... or do you? True, in many … [Read more...]
UK market for new vehicles stalls as 2024 ends
Private UK buyers shunned BEV models in 2024 while fleet sales increased in this sector... by Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Britain’s petrol, electric car and van markets have stalled with dealers reporting contracting business in the last quarter. The very slight increase in total registrations for the whole of 2024 came about with fleets being given big discounts by manufacturers … [Read more...]
Jeremy Walton’s Audi TT Sport – 99,600 miles and counting…
"Closing in on 100,000 miles, our 5-years represents 13,000 miles together." In this ninth instalment of his series, Jeremy Walton brings us up to date with the 2024 updates completed on his 19 year old Audi TT quattro sport. (All words and images © Jeremy Walton). Jeremy writes… Maintenance-modest, individually stylish and at least depreciation-proof, following 5 years 6 months … [Read more...]
Good news from the government for motorists? Surely not…
Surprise, Surprise... Government New Year cheer... or if you prefer... Christmas comes but once every (financial) year... By Dave Moss (All words © Dave Moss; Photograph © Kim Henson). Immediately before Christmas the Government announced that almost £1.6 billion is to be made available in the 2025-26 financial year to help local councils get a tighter grip on fixing the ever-burgeoning … [Read more...]
KIA EV3 – First Impressions
Kia has something to celebrate this Christmas as it continues to carve out a big slice of Britain’s BEV sales, a decade after launching into it with the Soul EV. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports… At the time 10 years ago, Frozen was trending at the box-office, Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ rang out across radios worldwide, and social media was awash with ALS ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ … [Read more...]
Nissan future – which way will they go?
Nissan has posted a dismal prediction for its global business into next year, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Nissan Motor’s financial performance deteriorated significantly in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, between July and September 2024, with global revenues falling by 5% year-on-year to JPY2,986bn while its operating margin dropped below 0.2%. The company … [Read more...]
MG ZS Trophy Hybrid+ Road Test
MG is a becoming a brand to be reckoned with and strengthening its standing in the British market by taking a step back, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The famous octagonal badge has been seen on UK made models since 1924, but it has also been a century of change, most notably when it was saved by an unknown Chinese brand called Nanjing in 2005 and then almost immediately resold to … [Read more...]
MG Cyberster: Highly Anticipated Electric Sports Car – First Impressions
Unveiled to the world in September 2024, the MG Cyberster sees the Chinese marque produce their first ever fully electric sports car. With breathtaking styling and competitive battery technology, is this still a proper convertible sports car? George Loveridge finds out… Well, let us address that straight away. It’s certainly a convertible! We get the choice of either a black or red folding roof. … [Read more...]
Skywell BE11 FD Long Range – First Impressions
Private buyers who want a high specification electric car and business drivers with eyes fixed on a low tax penalty are targets for the new Skywell range arriving in Britain, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The Cirencester-based importer, Innovation Automotive, is also looking at traditional used car dealers seeking their first new car franchise in a local market area where they are … [Read more...]
November 2024 UK new car sales – makers pull back sales to avoid EV penalties
Deliveries of new cars fell by -1.9% in the UK during November with 153,610 joining the road, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. By Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). It is the second consecutive monthly decline, and the third decline in four months, as the market contracts amid the race to meet tough EV market share targets. Demand from private buyers, among … [Read more...]
Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate 1.6T PHEV – Road Test
The obvious doesn’t always stare you in the face and it’s therefore easy to overlook, at your cost, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Take the Hyundai Santa Fe, the big, very big, seven-seater SUV which is probably eclipsed in many eyes by its Korean stablemates along with much more expensive competitors from German and British car plants. The Hyundai Santa Fe was launched as the … [Read more...]
Honda Civic i-DTEC – Genuinely economical! Retrospective road test – and buying used.
Kim Henson writes... While some drivers will only buy new cars, for others there are some excellent secondhand buys available at a fraction of the price of a new model, and running costs can be light on your wallet, BUT you need to proceed with care. Here Kim explains, using his own Honda Civic as an example… (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson). Writing often about new … [Read more...]
Honda HR-V Advance Style Plus – Road Test
A quarter of a century after introducing the Insight as Britain’s first petrol-electric hybrid, the latest Honda HR-V is probably more relevant today, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). While rival hybrids have grown in size compared to the Insight of 25 years ago, there is not that much difference in the footprint of the HR-V. It is now in its third generation and sharing a Honda … [Read more...]
Britain’s car market is turning around
The landscape of leading car brands in Britain is looking different with the arrival of more pure electric cars… says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) Traditional market leading brands are taking a back seat as manufacturers who were among the first to "go-electric" are making big inroads among motorists and businesses seeking to "go-green" and the Skoda Enyaq was top BEV. SMMT … [Read more...]
UK’s new car market contracts in October 2024
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... October saw another month of contraction in the new car market, a concerning trend following August's end to two years of continuous growth. This decline is particularly worrying, as it highlights the volatility of the market right now, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. UK new car buyers now … [Read more...]
Kia Picanto 1.0 GT-Line – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes: If you can remember when cars were actually fun to drive you’ll enjoy the latest Kia Picanto even more with the high specification now added to this anything but basic runabout. We briefly drove the latest baby car from the Korean family in the summer and that was an entry-level model, but we’ve just managed to get our hands on the higher specified … [Read more...]
Icy screens (and other winter woes) are now on the agenda
With the clocks now having gone back and autumn turning inexorably into winter, the weather gets colder and drivers can expect frosty windscreens and icy windows, writes Robin Roberts and WheelsWithinWales. (Photograph by, and copyright, Kim Henson). Car specialist Gold Label Car Care https://www.goldlabelcarcare.co.uk has provided expert advice with 5 ways to de-ice a windscreen for … [Read more...]
Lexus RZ450e – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes: “Lexus has just raised the game in the fierce fight for buyers looking at ‘zero-emission’ pure battery cars”. Enter the Lexus RZ450e series of nine models from £55,595 to £66,695 in Urban, Premium, Premium Plus and Takumi guises, with choices of 18 or 20 inch wheels and single or bi-tone paint finishes. The 450e has the latest electronic axles … [Read more...]
SEAT Arona FR 24 LE – Road Test
SEAT has earned its place as the stylish brand for a younger generation of drivers over the last four decades, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). On sale since 2017, the SEAT Arona is one of the new generation of ‘crossover’ models or tall hatchbacks in the B-sector and the smallest in their sub-compact range under the Ateca. Its introduction has helped SEAT pass the magic million … [Read more...]
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