More stringent “real world” emissions tests come into force today... Robin Roberts reports. The new laboratory test, called Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure, will introduce much more realistic testing conditions for measuring pollutant and CO2 emissions than the previous, out-dated lab test. The WLTP will provide a more accurate basis for measuring a vehicle’s fuel … [Read more...]
Features by Robin Roberts
Latest Audi A5 Cabriolet – Road Test
Audi’s A5 Cabriolet... ...test-driven by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). Audi know a thing or two about successful niche marketing, and the revised A5 Cabriolet is a brilliant example of the brand doing what it does best, but at a price. It’s not cheap but its very, very good and the range is extensive and comes with a lot of tempting options – which you have to very carefully pick … [Read more...]
News – German Motor Show shunned by exhibitors
Major car makers are shunning the Frankfurt motor show next month... By Robin Roberts. The enormous cost of taking part and appearing wing to wing with rivals is being weighed against turning visitors into buyers of the brands. About 12 months ago, Paris saw a reduction in brands with Ford, Mazda and Volvo deciding not to attend and now this trend has continued at Frankfurt, which is the … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Astra Elite diesel hatchback – Road Test
Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency) test drives the Vauxhall Astra Elite diesel hatch… You could be forgiven for wondering how conservative Vauxhall would emerge as one of Britain’s Brexit champions with its Astra. This family-focused C-segment, five-door hatch and sports tourer is now in its seventh generation and rolling off the Ellesmere Port production lines bound for British and … [Read more...]
Volkswagen up! ‘beats’ – Road Test
Volkswagen up! 'beats’ 1.0 TSI 90 3 door. Assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The peoples’ car is certainly all things to all men and women looking for a city car and considering the Volkswagen up! Launched in the UK in 2012, the up! underwent a comprehensive revamp in 2016 and there is the promise of still more to come in 2018. Essentially, the up! range comprises 18 … [Read more...]
News and Views – The motor car is not dead yet!
Rumours of the imminent demise of the motor car may be exaggerated… By Robin Roberts (a highly-regarded regulor contributor to 'Wheels-Alive', and Chairman of the Western Group of Motoring Writers, as well as a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers). So, the car as we know it is going to be dead inside a generation by 2040. Somehow I think not. The continuing story of the automobile … [Read more...]
Peugeot Traveller MPV – Road Test
The Peugeot Traveller MPV – When Bigger is Best By Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency) A good big one always beats a good small one, and few MPVs come bigger than the Peugeot Traveller. Launched to compete in the executive travel market but considerably undercut the longer established players, the Traveller is a serious MPV. There is a massive 27-model range in the Traveller series, … [Read more...]
Renault Clio – Road Test
The Renault Clio Dynamique S Nav dCi 110… Road tested by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). Consistently one of the best sellers in the Renault range and frequently refreshed, the Clio ‘supermini sector’ five door hatchback can hold its own against rivals and is positively ahead of many with its refinement. It slots very well into its competitive sector in terms of size and design, its … [Read more...]
News – New car sales figures dip again in June
Brakes on UK car sales for third month. By ROBIN ROBERTS. The UK new car market has declined for a third consecutive month with 243,454 new units registered in June, said SMMT. Registrations fell at a slower pace than in the previous two months, by –4.8%, as demand continued to stabilise following a record first quarter and the subsequent market turbulence caused by the recent changes to … [Read more...]
Bridgestone DriveGuard ‘run flat’ tyres available for more vehicles – News and Road Test
Bridgestone’s Driveguard safety ‘run flat’ tyres are now available to help more motorists. Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) reports, and road tests the tyres... Family motoring safety has just turned the corner. In a significant move for tens of thousands of parents, Bridgestone has extended its acclaimed run-flat tyre range to most popular saloons and hatchbacks as well as small and … [Read more...]
Hyundai Ioniq hybrid – Road Test
Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency) assesses the new Hyundai Ioniq hybrid Premium SE 1.6 GDI. There has been a headlong rush towards hybrids, and one-time minnow Hyundai is now a big fish… Hyundai showed us the fuel cell ix35 over a year ago and probably more significantly it launched the Ioniq five door mid-sized hatchback in the UK last autumn as the first car with three powertrains, a … [Read more...]
Welsh Government backing for Circuit of Wales denied…
Welsh Government has turned down backing for the proposed Circuit of Wales, writes Robin Roberts. Welsh cabinet politicians yesterday (Tuesday 27 June) said the deal was too risky and it questioned the claims about thousands of jobs being created during and after the £400 Million project was built, and likely spectator numbers bringing in money. It has taken over six years for the scheme to … [Read more...]
Honda HR-V Compact SUV/Crossover Road Test
Honda’s latest HR-V – Driven by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). SUV-drivers are very style conscious so I was pleased as punch when a few I know quite well praised the Honda HR-V. One asked what it was while another said they loved the sweeping lines, and both said they would certainly think of buying one next time around. Honda’s compact SUV was deliberately styled to give it a … [Read more...]
BMW X4 3.0d M Sport coupé styled SUV – Road Test (in brief)
BMW X4 3.0d M Sport SUV – Assessed by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). Ticking boxes is what it’s about with the BMW X4, the five door mid-sized SUV with coupé styling. This beefy brother to the 3 Series and X3 SUV was introduced to fill a niche of the market where Audi, Porsche, even Land Rover, have been plugging away with their sports SUVs. Without losing the 3 Series agility, … [Read more...]
New Vauxhall Crossland X sub-compact SUV First Impressions
Vauxhall’s latest… the Crossland X SUV… Assessed by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). Size really matters in the burgeoning SUV sector and the new era of sub-compact models is being joined by the Vauxhall Crossland X. It’s shorter and lower than the sibling Mokka X AWD and close to the Astra Hatch but it features an elevated seating position and a user-friendly interior to the … [Read more...]
On-line Car Buying News
Robin Roberts reports on current trends in researching and buying cars on-line. Ford is streets ahead of rivals on-line, that’s the conclusion of a marketing study by Mediaworks… The analysis by Mediaworks looks at the success of selling brands on the web and it contains a few surprises. Coming after two other reports had showed that younger buyers are most influenced by advertising, and … [Read more...]
Arranging loans against classic cars gains in popularity…
Robin Roberts reports on the growing trend for loans to be taken out against classic car values. As widely reported, the values of classic cars have been increasing in dramatic fashion over the last few years and such vehicles are currently seen by lenders as good bets as assets against which to loan money. HNW Lending is one example; here are the headlines: HNW Lending has now … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Amarok Aventura 3.0 V6 Double Cab Pick-up Road Test
VW’s Amarok Aventura 3.0 V6 Double Cab Pick-up… …assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) Big, bold and you can bet it’ll turn heads, the VW Amarok double cab pick-up is the alternative luxury SUV whether it’s for family, leisure or work use. Built with America squarely in its sight over one of the biggest bonnets you’ll ever see looming in your rear view mirror, the Amarok is … [Read more...]
Diesel dilemma for car buyers
Diesel car sales decline… with knock-on effects for secondhand models. Robin Roberts reports. The decline in diesel new car sales is forcing down used prices as well. There is a knock-on effect on financing plans increasingly being used by car makers to bolster income, report analysts to Reuters. Pollution concerns and the likelihood of city centre charging is also affecting the business … [Read more...]
Repair costs compared between different makes within the Volkswagen Group
Thinking of investing in a Volkswagen, an Audi, a Skoda or a SEAT? The comparative cost of repairs within the Volkswagen Group makes interesting reading... By Robin Roberts and Kim Henson Volkswagen has been in the news a lot lately, and not always for the right reasons. However, the German manufacturer still reigns supreme when it comes to car sales, with the company shifting 10.3 … [Read more...]
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