Morris Ital saloon goes to a young driver as part of the much-respected Classic Car Loan Project... Yesterday Dan Tompkinson became the recipient of the 1980 Morris Ital at the BMC/BL Show at The British Motor Museum, Gaydon. The one owner car, which had been bequeathed to the Morris Marina & Ital Owners' Club, had been under preparation by members starting at the NEC Restoration Show in … [Read more...]
Latest Mazda CX-5 – Road Test
Mazda CX-5 165 PS 2.0 Newground 2WD mid-sized Crossover… …sampled by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). While not having a huge range, Mazda has a well-defined line up in significant sectors. Most people will blurt out MX-5 if asked to name their most identifiable model, so you may be surprised to learn that the crossover CX-5 has been their global best seller since 2014. Over … [Read more...]
The National Motor Museum celebrates half a century… plus ‘The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects’ unveiled
The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu reaches its 50th anniversary – and 'The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects' is launched... Kim says, "I have been visiting the 'Beaulieu' motor museum since I was eight years old and still enjoy the sheer 'motoring magic' of the place. In 1971/2, when the then-new National Motoring Museum was being built, I was a frequent visitor to the area and watched the … [Read more...]
Toyota Aygo X Edge – Road Test
The Toyota Aygo X Edge Crossover, small car with chunkier styling… … tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). With more people than ever now living in urban areas car makers are considering how they meet their requirements and the Toyota Aygo X is the latest from one of the world’s biggest manufacturers. It first gave us the Aygo in 2005 but time and tastes change so … [Read more...]
Splendid Standards at Cranfield
This year’s Standard Motor Club International Rally attracted a wide variety of models and was enjoyed by participants from far and wide. Kim Henson reports… The worldwide curse of Covid meant a gap of three years since the Standard Motor Club was last able to hold its International Rally, so that there was even more than usual eager anticipation for rally-goers ahead of the 2022 event. Over … [Read more...]
Synthetic fuels evaluated in historic racing car
The Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA), CKL Developments and Sustain by Coryton team up to commence synthetic fuel testing for the historic sector... The HCVA tells us: Tuesday 21st June 2022 saw the achievement of a significant milestone in the progress towards future fuels for the Historic and Classic vehicles sector. CKL Developments, Jaguar racing specialists, a … [Read more...]
Thruxton Historic Festival – classic motor sport much enjoyed
Exciting classic racing at Thruxton's Historic Festival – Report by Chris Adamson. (All photographs copyright, as individually credited and with thanks to their creators for their use here). Famous names from the glory days of post-war British motor racing heritage were in action once again at the Thruxton Historic Festival in Hampshire. Marques such as Jaguar, Aston Martin, Lotus, Lister, … [Read more...]
Kias galore – briefly test driven in one day
Kim Henson samples the latest model range from the go-ahead firm of Kia… (All words and photographs copyright Kim Henson). Kia’s progress in the U.K. in recent years has been nothing short of sensational, with an ever-broadening line-up of cars offering ‘something for everyone’, from the compact Picanto to the sophisticated Sportage (mid-size) and Sorento (large) SUVs to the gloriously sporty … [Read more...]
Honda CR-V Hybrid – Road Test
The Honda CR-V 2.0i MMD AWD hybrid large SUV... ...put through its paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Honda tends to hide its qualities very well, which probably explains why it may not be the first go-to brand for an SUV, and that would be a mistake for any motorist to make. Korean, German and British brands tend to hog the limelight and sales in this section of the … [Read more...]
Audi e-tron GT – Road Test
The Audi e-tron GT – Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) tests the all-electric newcomer… Audi is on a charge into the pure-electric luxury car sector. For almost a decade the brand has dabbled in the EV market with plug in hybrid models of existing series but the dedicated pure battery e-tron series clearly shows its future intent. The e-tron programme is part of the parent … [Read more...]
Honda Jazz Crosstar – Road Test
The Honda Jazz Crosstar EX – music to the ears of road tester Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency)... One of the enduring models in the Honda UK lineup for two decades has been the Jazz series of superminis, which morphed into the additional Crosstar crossover model a couple of years ago, effectively a taller hatchback with sudo SUV looks. Ironically the taller car comes with less … [Read more...]
A welcome return for Beaulieu’s 2022 Spring Autojumble
This year’s Spring Autojumble was held at Beaulieu over the weekend of 14th and 15th May, and to the joy of attendees and stallholders, was dry for the Saturday of the event, although cloud and rain made their presence felt on the Sunday. Kim Henson was delighted to be there again, following the springtime show’s absence since May 2019, due to Covid-19 lockdowns etc. Here’s how he saw … [Read more...]
National Motor Museum invites 1970s classics and their owners to help celebrate 50 years of the Museum
50 years on from the opening of the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, owners of 1970s cars are being invited to join in the celebrations... They tell us: Beaulieu is inviting owners of Seventies classics to join a party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Motor Museum. If your pride and joy is the glamorous Ford Cortina Mk III of its day, popular Escort or Mini, or even a … [Read more...]
Used car sales thrive while new car sales stall
There's good news and there's bad... New car sales crumble again, solid sales of used-models. by Robin Roberts New car sales are still crumbling under the weight of supply shortages, rising costs and concerned buyers facing higher costs of living. UK new car registrations fell by -15.8% to 119,167 units in April, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Despite … [Read more...]
Classic Car Loan Project – A Success!
2022 April Gathering at The British Motor Museum... (All photographs copyright – from The Classic Car Loan Project). The Classic Car Loan Project (CCLP) celebrated 5 years of success with a gathering at The British Motor Museum, Gaydon, sponsored by Peter James Insurance and The FBHVC, with BMM providing excellent facilities. Some 15 of the 20+ cars in the current phase, ranging from 1929 … [Read more...]
Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible – Road Test
Open top luxury – The Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible… …An Easter treat for Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). When you cut off the top of an Easter egg, you still have chocolate and it’s the same with the Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible. Photograph credits (all images): © Images by Mediaphotos.co.uk The basic egg is good enough but if you’re lucky there will be some … [Read more...]
Ditch your modern car for a more cost-effective classic?
Mini-mise your motoring costs with a classic car... 'The Great British Car Journey' tells us: With petrol prices continuing to soar, could swapping your modern motor for a classic car be the answer to bringing your motoring costs down? The Derbyshire-based classic car visitor attraction Great British Car Journey has done the sums and believes an original 1970s 1000cc classic Mini could … [Read more...]
Fuel’s gold – but for how much longer?…
A detailed look at alternative synthetic ‘e-fuels’, what they are and how they may (or may not) fit into the future of transport, classic and otherwise. By Dave Moss. Kim says: “Here is Dave’s very comprehensive article, in its entirety and as written by him and representing his own views following his in-depth ‘free rein’ analysis of the subject. I should mention that this was written … [Read more...]
Genesis G70 ‘Sport Line’ Shooting Brake (2.2 diesel) – Road Test
Kim Henson assesses the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake, in 2.2 litre turbodiesel form… (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson). Introduced to Britain in November 2021, The G70 ‘Shooting Brake’ from Genesis was designed and developed specifically for Europe, and was the fifth Genesis model to arrive here. As explained in my Genesis ‘range sampling’ article in December, and in … [Read more...]
Kia EV6 – Road Test
The award winning Kia EV6 GT Line S 77.4kWh AWD... ...Extended drive by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). It’s official, Kia’s new generation pure-electric EV6 is the top-performing Car of the Year 2022. Earlier this month it beat 60 other new cars, electric and with internal combustion engines, to the coveted CoTY award judged by 59 motoring journalists from 22 European … [Read more...]