Electric cars power ahead of internal combusion engine models, as Robin Roberts explains... Despite the wider car industry suffering badly from the effects of the pandemic, 2020 was a landmark year when it came to sales of battery electric vehicles with twice as many sold last year compared to the year before, and a total of more than 200,000 registered since 2010, analysis of SMMT figures by the … [Read more...]
Features by Robin Roberts
UK New car sales review
Review of new cars sold in Britain last year, by Robin Roberts. The UK new car market fell by almost a third (-29.4%) in 2020, with annual registrations dropping to 1,631,064 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. A -10.9% decline in December wrapped up a turbulent 12 months, which saw demand fall by 680,076 units to the lowest level of registrations since … [Read more...]
Aston Martin DBX – Road Test
The Aston Martin DBX premium SUV – built in Wales Aston Martin is a survivor in a world of hard knocks and is looking for a smoother ride with their latest DBX sports utility vehicle, writes Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Images courtesy and copyright Mediaphotos.co.uk After 100 years of making some of the most sought after sports cars in the world it has applied its … [Read more...]
All-electric Vauxhall Corsa – Road Test
Vauxhall Corsa-e Elite Nav 11kW plugged-in… …and driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Britain’s oldest car-maker is gearing up for the electric future, beginning with the Corsa-e. The highly popular small hatchback is a natural starting point aimed at those who mostly commute or have low mileage lifestyles. It has dabbled in the EV sector between 2012 and 2015 with the … [Read more...]
Toyota C-HR Dynamic Hybrid 2.0 – Road Test
HIGHER PERFORMANCE TOYOTA C-HR HYBRID COMPACT SUV TRIED AND TESTED Continuous improvement is the philosophy of Toyota and few car makers have as much experience of EVs and Hybrids, launching its Hybrid Synergy Drive in 1997, and rolling out more models every few years, writes Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). The Toyota C-HR is a good example of continuous improvement, first … [Read more...]
Lexus UX 250 h – Road Test
The Lexus UX 250h Takumi E-four AWD urban SUV… …tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Robin says, “Lexus has been a mover and shaker in the UK car market in every sector it’s entered and with the latest UX urban SUV its challenge intensifies”. Intended as an introduction SUV to the Lexus range, the UX is their first contemporary compact SUV with the urban driver in … [Read more...]
Latest motoring news round-up
Robin Roberts provides his round-up of recent automotive news... Classic cars have outperformed gold in terms of investment opportunity over the past decade. Using Hagerty’s average pricing for classic cars, Vanarama (https://www.vanarama.com/) has reviewed how much a classic car can appreciate in a mere decade compared to other … [Read more...]
Ford Fiesta ST-3 – Road Test
The latest Ford Fiesta ST-3, 3-door hot-hatch given an outing. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). More than any other car in modern times, the Ford Fiesta has defined British motoring and the high performance ST-series is the most desirable, particularly among motorsport fans. Consistently one of the top selling cars in the UK market, the Fiesta is the right size for thousands … [Read more...]
The drive towards all-electric cars
Robin Roberts reports on the headlong move towards all-electric vehicles… The UK Government’s drive towards electric cars and a low carbon future faces a bumpy journey, say experts. Car-makers said they are committed to them and invested billions but the challenge of the next nine years is “immense”, according to Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. "We are pleased, therefore, to see … [Read more...]
Lockdowns means far fewer new cars sold…
New car sales fall in Wales and will almost certainly do so in England, due to lockdowns... The firebreak lockdown in Wales has wiped 25% off UK new car sales, revealed figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders writes Robin Roberts. It is a warning to England which has just gone into a month's lockdown as opposed to the fortnight shutdown in Wales which ends on Monday … [Read more...]
Mazda MX-5 Convertible (special edition) – Road Test
Mazda MX-5 R-Sport SE… …the modern classic tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). As a modern classic, the Mazda MX-5 has just become more exclusive because the new MX-5 R Sport Convertible is limited to 150 examples in the UK. The MX-5 range has consistently led its sports car sector since the 1990s with revisions and upgrades. This stand-out MX-5 Convertible version … [Read more...]
Jeep Wrangler – Road Test
Iconic Jeep Wrangler – Sahara Unlimited 4-door petrol model. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). (Photographs by Chrysler and, where individually credited, by Robin). Respect is earned not awarded in the motor industry, and one of the most influential vehicle brands is Jeep, now on the eve of celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2021. Think about that for a minute; it was born … [Read more...]
Second generation Nissan Juke – Road Test
Nissan Juke 1.0 DIG-T Tekna+ manual. Tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Designed and built in Britain, you can expect a loyal following for the Nissan Juke which is now in its second generation after more than a decade setting the trend for family compact SUVs. Since September 2010 it has been snapped up by over 1.5 million owners around the world who wanted to … [Read more...]
Kia XCeed PHEV – Road Test
The Kia XCeed 1.6 GDI PHEV ‘3’ auto Crossover/SUV… …Tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The all-new Kia XCeed PHEV is their strongest challenger yet to family car rivals. The XCeed PHEV combines a powerful petrol-electric powertrain with very low emissions and ownership costs, quality fittings and finish embodied in a roomy Crossover cum SUV styled five-door … [Read more...]
Latest Jeep Renegade PHEV – First Impressions
New Jeep Renegade 4xe news and first drive views… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Jeep has turned a corner with its new PHEV plug-in hybrid electric Renegade. Without compromising its famous off-road abilities the Renegade 4xe adds emission lowering and power enhancing electric drive and it’s the first electrified Jeep to be sold in Britain. It uses the familiar … [Read more...]
Subaru XV – Brief Road Test
Subaru XV Premium Lineartronic petrol automatic family SUV briefly put through its paces… …by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). If you have to ask, you don’t know – and that’s very much the personality of the Subaru XV Premium Petrol Lineartronic family sized SUV. Subaru has never fielded a huge range or enjoyed head-turning sales, but its best sellers have and are still highly … [Read more...]
Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0 Sprint – Road Test
Alfa Romeo Giulia sports saloon… …Put through its paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). As the saying goes ‘If it feels right, it is right’ – and that’s a particularly apt saying when it comes to the Alfa Romeo Giulia. What’s more, the sporting saloon looks striking outside and inside and when it gets moving this driver’s smile widens still further. Alfa Romeo has always … [Read more...]
SEAT Mii electric – Road Test
The SEAT Mii Electric city car could fit the bill. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). SEAT is dipping its toe in the fast flowing market waters with its Mii pure electric five-door city car and the promise of many stablemates over coming years. The Mii petrol models, replaced with the first all-electric car from the Spanish subsidiary of the German VW Group, shows how … [Read more...]
Latest Audi Q7 – Road Test
The new Audi Q7 55 TFSI e quattro, auto, large SUV. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Audi like to do things differently and their latest model actually delivers less but gives you more. Their big SUV Q7 priced from £57,690 has been a hallmark for families with its seven-seat configuration but the new mild-hybrid 3.0 e TFSI petrol version costing £68,600 that I’ve just tested … [Read more...]
Ford Puma 1.0 (125hp) – Road Test
Ford Puma Titanium 1.0 MHEV 125 hp 6-speed… …tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Ford Puma is the company’s latest crossover and its strongest new generation of family cars to date. The name has been used before by Ford and between 1997 and 2002 it was on an unusual model, a compact three-door coupé. That was based on the latest Fiesta and ironically the new … [Read more...]
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