“Sometimes it’s not the first which leaves a lasting impression but the last which comes first in your mind”, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). That’s certainly the case with the Lexus LM350, a rival to the established luxury MPVs from the premium German brands. In the rarefied ranks of executive people movers chauffeuring between airports and hotels or whisking their occupants to … [Read more...]
Polestar 3 Long Range – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithWales) writes: “When you discover your car’s glovebox can only be opened by an electric switch you realise you’re driving something a bit different, a bit special and out of the ordinary.” The discovery was made as we sat transfixed by the sheer complexity of the Polestar 3’s infotainment and driving display contained in a 14.5-inch laptop-like portrait screen in the … [Read more...]
Beaulieu International Autojumble 2025 – Wheels-Alive was there
Kim Henson reports on this year’s classic extravaganza for components and complete vehicles. (Words © Kim Henson; Photographs © Kim Henson and Chris Adamson, as individually credited). Each year, as we say goodbye to summer and autumnal hints arrive in the form of mellow-coloured leaves and morning dew-drenched grass, Beaulieu International Autojumble arrives. For me this has always been a … [Read more...]
Leapmotor T03 – First Impressions
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) writes… The UK new car market is buzzing with electric models at high prices, so it’s worth taking a look at one of the cheapest - the Leapmotor T03. A Stellantis joint venture with the Chinese company, the car is made in Poland on lines previously producing the Fiat 500, another Stellantis brand, and the Leapmotor models are sold through the more familiar … [Read more...]
Toyota Yaris Design – Road Test
The hot-hatch has been reborn for Gen-Z, and there’s a thumbs up from their parents too if they want to enjoy driving a Toyota Yaris hybrid. It’s super-economical on fuel too... Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports. The one-time must-have cars for the young drivers of the 1970s seemed to die out in the first decade of this century, but someone forgot to tell Toyota. It … [Read more...]
Toyota Proace Max Van – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithWales) writes, "Britain runs on vans of all sizes and capacities, so the entry of the world’s biggest motor manufacturer into this booming sector must be significant." After offering small and medium sized vans through its Professional line, Toyota has added the Proace Max, its first heavy duty range in Europe and it has immediately ramped up the competition against … [Read more...]
More information to come after 26th August regarding DVLA policy changes for classic and modified vehicles
More to come after 26th August regarding DVLA updating classic and modified car registration policies - by Dave Moss. (Photograph © Kim Henson). The DVLA has announced it will introduce updated notification policies for registration of newly repaired, restored or modified vehicles - with effect from Tuesday August 26th. From that date, what it describes as "like-for-like" repairs and … [Read more...]
Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance welcomes DVLA policy changes that support the UK historic vehicles industry for the future
Vehicle registration policies are amended, helping the classic car industry. The Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA) tells us: (All words and photographs from the HCVA). Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance welcomes latest DVLA announcement confirming major changes to vehicle registration policies Previous polices, unchanged since 1980s, hindered some classic car … [Read more...]
Toyota bZ4X all-electric SUV – Road Test
Toyota fans now have a completely electric model added to the range as the industry slowly but relentlessly rolls towards the end of hybrid and internal combustion engines. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... After dabbling with an electric version of their RAV4 off-roader in the late 90s and pushing ahead with hybrids and stablemate Lexus electric models, it’s now the time for … [Read more...]
Jeremy Walton takes his Audi TT quattro sport to the top side of 100,000 miles… and still loves the car
'Surviving 100,000 miles and delivering plenty of smiles'... In this tenth instalment of his ever-popular series on Wheels-Alive, Jeremy Walton updates us on how his 19 year old Audi TT quattro sport endures pockmarked Britain and still provides fun a-plenty with each drive... (All words and images © Jeremy Walton). Jeremy writes… Maintenance-modest, individually stylish and at least … [Read more...]
Toyota Land Cruiser MY25 – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts the latest version of Toyota’s legendary 4x4 through its paces… When you hit 70 years, most things that haven’t fallen off or out may be about to, but that is really the turning point in the case of the Toyota Land Cruiser. From prototypes developed before and after World War Two, the model that became the Land Cruiser was commissioned by the Japanese … [Read more...]
Hyundai i10 Advance – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) puts Hyundai’s city car through its paces… The motor industry’s headlong plunge into SUVs, MPVs and Crossovers has left the market short of compact city cars which are perfectly matched to the real-world needs of many drivers. While some manufacturers stopped making traditional small hatchbacks and are now living to regret their decisions as market share … [Read more...]
Kia Stonic GT-Line – First Impressions (model ‘revisited’)
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) assesses Kia’s Stonic compact SUV… When a prolific manufacturer keeps rolling out new models it's all too easy to overlook their older vehicles, as is the case with the Kia Stonic GT-Line S. Kia is on a roll with its brand in Britain, bringing new EVs to market in a constant stream and more are on the horizon this year as it enriches its range and wins … [Read more...]
Suzuki’s 55 Years of ALLGRIP 4×4 Technology celebrated
(Four wheel drive) ‘Love on a mountain top’… Kim Henson reports on a landmark event staged by Suzuki to highlight 55 years of their clever and effective ‘ALLGRIP’ four wheel drive systems. (All words © Kim Henson; all photographs © Kim Henson, except eVitara image, from Suzuki). At a recent test drive session held in south Wales and centred on the ‘Monster Mountain’ off-road facility near … [Read more...]
XPeng G6 long range – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) test drives this newcomer mid-size SUV… Among the newest of the Chinese car-makers coming to the UK, XPeng has partnered with the people who brought us Subaru and Isuzu in Britain, so let that be a warning to rivals. The Chinese company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong, with offices in Mountain View, California, and Munich. … [Read more...]
Legacy of Austin pedal cars honoured with Blue Plaque at original factory site in Bargoed
Austin Pedal Cars tells us... Historic Blue Plaque unveiled to celebrate Austin pedal cars factory in Bargoed, Wales Austin factory produced the J40 and Pathfinder pedal cars from 1949 until 1971 and continued to make parts up to its closure in 1999 Blue Plaque unveiling attended by councillors, dignitaries, former employees and children from the Tir-y-Berth Primary School … [Read more...]
Kia EV3 GT Line S – Road Test
Some cars immediately impress, others take a bit longer and they stand out against models which made no measurable impression after a much longer period behind the wheel, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The Kia EV3 GT-Line S is an example of the series which seems to get better each time it’s driven. We first drove the new Kia EV3 last December and were impressed, but a lot’s … [Read more...]
National Motor Museum to take Sunbeam 350hp Blue Bird to Wales for the World Land Speed Record centenary
The National Motor Museum is taking the iconic Sunbeam 350hp vehicle to Pendine in Carmarthenshire, Wales to celebrate the centenary anniversary of its World Land Speed Record in 1925. The Museum tells us: (Photograph and all words from The National Motor Museum). The car christened ‘Blue Bird’ by its driver Sir Malcolm Campbell MBE, was the first to exceed 150 mph (240 km/h). The World … [Read more...]
Daihatsu – Gone, but far from forgotten…
Dave Moss tells the story of Daihatsu in the UK... (All words © Dave Moss). Some car brands seem like unshakeable fixtures on the British market... while others, in blink-and-you-missed-it existences - like UMM, Sao, and Lonsdale - have briefly been, and quickly gone, and seem unlikely ever to return. Then there's Daihatsu, which began building trucks in 1919, placing it amongst Japan's oldest … [Read more...]
Toyota HiLux Invincible X – Road Test
‘Reality shows are all the rage and if there was one about vehicles I think the survivor would be the Toyota HiLux’, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). It has faced and overcome challenges such as being blown up in a building, being demolished and drowned in a rising tide, only to start up with what I would term “tinkering”, apart from needing to replace a broken windscreen when it was … [Read more...]
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