As British in character as a Sunday roast, but with a hint of Italian styling flair, the Cambridge models from Austin, and equivalent Oxfords from Morris, were respected in their time, and make effective ‘family’ classics today. Kim Henson investigates… As the 1960s beckoned, angular styling and pointed rear fins were all the rage. Echoing this trend, the popular ‘mainstream’ Austin and … [Read more...]
Contributors
Jaguar XJ6/XJ12 and Daimler Sovereign Double Six (to 1986)
Graceful, fast, roomy and supremely comfortable, early Jaguar XJs and equivalent Daimlers can provide you with a great deal of classic car for your money. However, to win in this respect you need to take great care to purchase a genuinely good example. Kim Henson is your guide to these iconic British sports saloons. Arriving on the British motoring scene in 1968, the Jaguar XJ6 four door saloon … [Read more...]
Austin A30/A35
The ‘baby’ Austin Seven helped to keep the Austin Motor Company in business through the 1920s, and the stature of this diminutive icon grew throughout the 1930s. During the 1950s the original Seven’s successors, the A30s and A35s, built further on the success of their pre-War counterparts. Kim Henson tells the story… In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Austin Motor Company introduced … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Golf (third generation) Ecomatic 1.9 Diesel
Kim Henson goes back to the future in a fascinating Golf... Such is the rate of change in terms of technologies built into the latest cars, that I feel often it is useful to drive an older model to appreciate just how much things have altered. In any case, as friends and colleagues will testify, I need little excuse to drive any part of automotive history! To me, a car built in 1994 is not … [Read more...]
VW Golf
First impressions of the seventh generation of Volkswagen's trusted family favourite. Kim Henson drives three of the new models, and samples an ahead-of-its-time Mark III version from 1994… Please click on the images below to read about each version test-driven: If you were around in 1974, I expect you will have changed a bit – but most likely you’re still much the same at … [Read more...]
Peugeot 308 e-HDi
Kim Henson appraises Peugeot’s popular family hatchback, in super-frugal e-HDi form. It’s laudable, of course, to build a family-friendly car that, on paper at least, also does its bit both for the environment and running costs, in terms of low emissions and excellent fuel economy respectively. However, two pertinent questions arise. First, how well do the various technologies incorporated … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Mokka (and model ’round up’)
Kim Henson is your guide to a selection of the latest Vauxhall models... The new Vauxhall Mokka Vauxhall’s recently-introduced and distinctively-styled Mokka is part of the company’s continuing revolution in its model line-up, and represents its first steps into the increasingly popular compact SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) market. So the new car will be fighting for sales against the likes … [Read more...]
VW Golf S 1.6 TDI 105 PS
My first test drive of a new Golf model was in the five door S 1.6 litre TDI (105 PS) version. The car felt well-made and was comfortable, with a supple ride quality and plenty of room in the passenger compartment (in both the front and rear). Boot space was impressive too. It also felt safe and stable on twisty roads. While this variant is not intended to be a roadburner, performance is … [Read more...]
VW Golf SE 1.4 TSI 122 PS
My next outing was in a higher-specification SE variant, in this case powered by VW’s 1.4 litre turbocharged TSI engine, producing 122 PS and driving through a six speed gearbox. The engine is especially smooth-running and quiet, helping to give the car a very refined feel. It also pulls very strongly and without fuss from low engine speeds; indeed the torque available from the 1.4 litre … [Read more...]
VW Golf GT 1.4 TSI ACT 140 PS
The third of the trio of new Golfs I sampled was a GT variant, with the 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine. This was especially interesting in technical terms as it was equipped with VW’s ‘Active Cylinder Technology’ (ACT) system. As explained in my introductory text, this is designed to shut down the central two cylinders of the four, to save fuel when the car is running under light load … [Read more...]
1994 VW Golf III Ecomatic 1.9 Diesel
Such is the rate of change in terms of technologies built into the latest cars, that I feel often it is useful to drive an older model to appreciate just how much things have altered. In any case, as friends and colleagues will testify, I need little excuse to drive any part of automotive history! To me, a car built in 1994 is not very old, but in fact nearly 20 years is quite a long time in … [Read more...]
The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu – ‘A Grand Day Out!’
I count myself very lucky as, over the years since the age of eight, I have fairly often been able to visit the vehicular mecca that is National Motor Museum at Beaulieu (and its forerunner, the Montagu Motor Museum). I always enjoy time spent there, and marvel at the exhibits. Usually, in recent times, my visits have been made in a professional capacity, researching car-related books (the … [Read more...]
Seat Exeo Sport Tech
by Kim Henson It is now over a quarter of a century since the Spanish manufacturer Seat introduced its first Ibiza model to British buyers, and during that time the company has gone from strength to strength… In the UK the firm has just enjoyed its best ever month for sales, achieving a market share of 1.98 per cent, and its dealership network is growing. It has also just been announced … [Read more...]
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