The annual SMMT Test Days provide accredited motoring writers with the opportunity to drive a selection of new cars from a variety of manufacturers. Kim Henson enjoyed this year’s event, as always… Words and all photos by Kim. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) hosts an annual driving event specifically for motoring writers hailing from the south of the UK. I always find … [Read more...]
First Impressions
Our brief encounters with new models on the U.K. market
McLaren 650S Spider Road Test
‘If you want a convertible McLaren road car then there is only one option – the £220,000 650S Spider and Chris Adamson has had the privilege of driving one’. Words and all photos by Chris. The McLaren name will always be associated with motor racing, historically that has been through Formula One although, at the moment, the Woking team is struggling at the back of the grid. But the brand has … [Read more...]
On a pinnacle of success – Jeep’s 75th Anniversary Range Review
Jeep Range Roundup, on the firm’s 75th Anniversary. By Keith Ward, reporting from the top of the North York Moors... IT is 75 years since the birth of Jeep as an iconic World War II US military vehicle. And the celebrations are in full swing over here, this side of the pond. Last year the Yank brand, now owned by the FIAT group, recorded its best-ever sales in the UK. So far in 2016 they have … [Read more...]
BMW’s 2017 Models Introduced – Plus First Impressions of the New 240i Coupé
BMW Wheels out their 2017 Model Year vehicles. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports, and test-drives the 240i Coupé… News 2017 model year changes At their annual end of year UK automotive media briefing, BMW released images of their new 5 Series Saloon and Touring estate ranges which will be in the UK from February next year. Although not their largest-selling model ranges the 5 … [Read more...]
Updated Mazda3 First Impressions
First Drive of the Latest Mazda3. By Keith Ward. Having passed earlier this year a global production figure of five million, Mazda’s best-selling 3 model, renewed in 2014, gets a mid-term makeover. Nothing radical - Mazda buffs will spot a revised grille and foglight surround - but such subtle exterior styling changes, plus catch-up new technology and a freshened interior with a modest £200 … [Read more...]
New MINI Seven First impressions
MINI Brand now with Maxi UK Sales and More New Models for 2017. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). News MINI has just enjoyed their best ever UK September sales with an 18% increase over September last year. This has resulted in a near 10% increase for the year-to-date as the brand heads towards another record year with an expected 70,000 registrations. The UK remains the number one … [Read more...]
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross – Revised Models for 2017 – First Impressions
Updated Suzuki SX4 S Cross Models – Tom Scanlan tries 'em out! The British car buyer seems to be in a confident mood – car sales are booming. Among the smaller manufacturers, as far as we are concerned, is Suzuki. They are spending lots of money on advertising and results show that it works. Now, on sale next month (October) is what Suzuki describes as a 'major facelift' of their SUV, … [Read more...]
Infiniti QX30 First Impressions, plus Motor Industry Update
Keeping Calm and Carrying On… The UK Car Manufacturing Industry. British built Infiniti QX30 first drive. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Good news from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is that despite the uncertainty of the Brexit vote to leave the EU, the UK’s car production for global markets achieved a 14 year high in August and a 12% increase year to … [Read more...]
Toyota Mirai (Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car) Test-driven
Chris Adamson tests the 2016 World Green Car – the new hydrogen powered Toyota Mirai… (Words and photos by Chris). Dwindling and increasingly expensive reserves of petroleum products and increasing pollution of our planet from burning fossil fuels means that a cheaper, cleaner and more efficient way of using the earth’s resources is needed if we are to retain our access to personal transport… ie … [Read more...]
Latest Volvo S90 and V90 First Impressions
New Volvo S90 and V90 Premium Brand Executive Models Arrive. By Robin Roberts and Miles Better News Agency. Swedish swish and sophistication come as standard in the latest Volvo S90 and V90 series… The new large premium saloon and estate models in Momentum or Inscription trims embody features from the large XC90 SUV with an emphasis on “relaxed confidence” through design, driving technology, … [Read more...]
Audi A4 Allroad quattro First Impressions
Audi’s Answer for Smooth and Rough Motoring – The New Audi A4 Allroad quattro. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Audi’s ‘model explosion’ of new vehicle introductions continues with the arrival of the A4 Allroad quattro, a more rugged model than the A4 Avant quattro estate on which it is based. Having just added two new variants to the large SUV market, the SQ7 and Q7 e tron, Audi is … [Read more...]
Audi News and First Impressions of Audi’s Latest Q7 Quattro Models
Two Electrifying New Audi Q7 Quattro Models – ‘Fast’ and ‘Frugal’… Reviewed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). News Electrifying new models but in two ways. First, electrifying performance from the SQ7 4.0 V8 TDI 435 hp 900 Nm (664 lb.ft) quattro, the UK’s fastest and most powerful diesel SUV, priced from £70,970 on-the-road. Second, the most frugal Q7, the e tron 3.0 TDI quattro … [Read more...]
New Toyota Hilux – News and First Drive Impressions
The Latest Version of the Legendary Vehicle that is the Toyota Hilux... Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) – who also explains the UK taxation situation relating to 'Light Commercial Vehicles'. The Toyota Hilux has been the mainstay of the global Pick-Up market for almost 50years. Launched in 1968, more than 18 million have been sold worldwide. To date and closer to home in 2015 … [Read more...]
Latest Audi A3 Models Arrive – News and First Impressions
Audi Gives Their A3 Family a Mid-life Refresh – News and Views. Summed up by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Audi A3 family of three door Hatchbacks, five door Sportback, four door Saloon and the two door Cabriolet soft-top have received a mid-life refresh. These refreshed and ready to go third generation A3s adopt the brand’s latest styling changes, have new or improved engines, … [Read more...]
Kia’s latest model line-up sampled – First Impressions.
Kim Henson tries four current 2016 Kia models… Optima, Venga, Carens and Soul EV. (Words and Photos by Kim Henson). Kia has been going from strength to strength in terms of UK buyer appeal across its model range, and sales figures are on a steeply upward trajectory, reflecting the high regard in which the company’s products are held. For more information on the firm’s impressive performance … [Read more...]
SsangYong Tivoli XLV First Impressions
More space is provided by the latest version of the Tivoil from SsangYong… Words and all photos except the main heading shot (from SsangYong), by Chris Adamson. After successive offerings from SsangYong were roundly ridiculed for their styling and construction, the Korean car maker finally started to get things right last year when it unveiled the Tivoli, a good looking compact sports utility … [Read more...]
New MG GS First Impressions
An SUV from MG? Oh yes... and here it is. Words and photographs by Chris Adamson, who shares his thoughts after his first drive of the newcomer. Which car manufacturer would you associate with making a family-sized sports utility for under £15,000? – certainly not MG, yet that is exactly what we have with the new MG GS. On top of the bargain basement price you can add in a five year … [Read more...]
New MINI Clubman ALL4 Estate First Impressions
The New MINI Clubman ALL4 Estate – Now Built in Oxford. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The MINI Clubman estate with ALL4 is the first all-wheel-drive MINI to come off the Plant Oxford production lines. The SUV styled MINI Countryman ALL4 versions to date have been built by Magna Steyr in Austria. The Clubman ALL4 line-up comprises the Cooper S and Cooper SD, and prices start from … [Read more...]
New MINI models and MINI Convertible – First Impressions
A Brace of New MINI Models Joins the Range. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) takes a close look and test-drives the Cooper Convertible… News Overview A brace of new MINI models is coming off the UK production lines at Plant Oxford, which this year celebrates its 15th anniversary of MINI production under the ownership of BMW Group. Last year MINI globally built 340,000 cars, 201,207 of … [Read more...]
New Peugeot 2008 Compact SUV First Impressions
New Peugeot 2008 Compact SUV Breaks Cover this Month. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Some people like their compact SUVs to look tough and macho – think Nissan Juke, other owners prefer a more elegant and refined approach such as the previous Peugeot 2008. The 2008 was launched in 2013 and has pulled in 585,000 sales worldwide since then, including 40,000 in the UK, of which … [Read more...]
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