Nissan Juke, as British as a duke?
11/02/10 19:37 Filed in: News
Nissan has unveiled the new Juke, some
weeks before its official launch at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.
Following the lead its sibling, Qashqai, the Juke is
styled to have the appeal of an SUV, but most models will be only
front-wheel-drive.
Read More...
Read More...
Touareg loses weight and becomes more green
11/02/10 18:13 Filed in: News
Volkswagen’s second generation Touareg
has been unveiled and the new car has been on a diet, loosing no
less than 200 kg. To help improve its green credentials the new
Touareg is up to 20% more fuel efficient than its prececessor and
there is also a hybrid version.
Read More...
Read More...
Mini Countryman the new 4x4 Mini
20/01/10 17:56 Filed in: News
The long-expected Mini 4x4 crossover
has been announced today. The new Mini Countryman is not only the
first MIni to offer four wheel drive, it is also the first with
four passenger doors (the Clubman has three passenger doors, the
third controversially being on the “wrong” side for the the
UK).
Read More...
Read More...
Volvo takes on the small SUV market
23/10/09 17:28 Filed in: Road
tests
Motor manufacturers constantly have to
scan the far horizon looking for signs as to what type of car the
buyers of the future will want. It takes time to develop a new
model, so you have to have a pretty good idea of what will be the
expanding markets in the future.
Read More...
Read More...
Vitara loses individuality
14/07/09 19:37 Filed in: Road
tests
When the Suzuki Vitara first hit the
UK market it quickly gathered an almost a cult following. Here was
a small affordable off-roader with style and presence.
Read More...
Read More...
Qashquai grows up
25/05/09 20:04 Filed in: Road
tests
In my first road test of the
Nissan Qashqai
I pointed out that –
despite its off-roader-meets-MPV looks, it really was just a normal
four or five-door hatchback with interesting packaging. Well, now
the Qashqai has grown up. Meet the Qashqai +2.
Read More...
Read More...
Audi's Q5 widens its off-road appeal
05/02/09 09:01 Filed in: Road
tests
Anyone familiar with the Audi Q7 will
be in no doubt about the manufacturer of the new Audi Q5. It looks
pretty much like a more compact, more manageable version of the Q7.
And it is.
Read More...
Read More...
Audi's big off-roader
29/12/06 08:33 Filed in: Road
tests
Almost everyone remarks about the Audi
Q7’s size. So, if Audi’s intention was to make an impression with
their first ever off-roader, they certainly succeeded with the new
Audi Q7. Read More...
Renault finally joins 4x4 brigade
25/01/09 11:30 Filed in: Road
tests
It has taken the French motor giants
some time to take the plunge into the 4x4 market. Peugeot Citroen
made the move with the help of Mitsubishi, using the Outlander as
the basis for the Citroen
C-Crosser and the Peugeot 4007. Now, finally Renault has taken
the plunge.
Read More...
Read More...
Effortless off-roader
10/12/08 09:25 Filed in: Road
tests
Ford finally launches into small SUV market
07/08/08 19:04 Filed in: Road
tests
Imagine a Ford Focus on stilts and you
get the basic idea of the Ford Kuga, the blue oval's belated entry
in to the small sports utility vehicle (SUV) market. Ford say it
combines element os an estate car, an SUV (so far so good) and a
coupé (umm, let me think about that last one. Read More...
Seat heads off road
03/06/08 11:37 Filed in: Road
tests
When Seat launched its Altea Freetrack
4 it was the Spanish marque's first foray into the off-road market.
Based on the long-wheelbase Altea it aims to combine the
practicality of an MPV with the ability to take to the the
rough(er) stuff. Read More...
Ford says Tata to Jaguar and Land Rover
26/03/08 13:07 Filed in: News
One of the most open secrets in the
motor industry was confirmed at today when the Ford Motor Company
made the official announcement of the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover
to Tata Motors of India. Read More...
New Tiguan is a great all-rounder
29/02/08 20:20 Filed in: Road
tests
When Volkswagen set out to build their
new off-roader, the Tiguan, their stated intention was to produce a
smaller version of the Touareg. The newcomer certainly looks the
part. Like its bigger sibling the lines are classy, perhaps even
understated. Indeed, despite its newness, the Tiguan caused little
stir. Read More...
Freelander grows up
24/01/08 19:26 Filed in: Road
tests
The Land Rover Freelander, Britain's
favourite small 4x4, has grown up. Not that it has grown much
bigger, but Freelander 2 is a more sophisticated, more refined and
more up-market vehicle to keep the Freelander at the forefront of
this market. Read More...
Volkswagen Touareg - the discrete off-roader
11/01/08 12:21 Filed in: Road
tests
Drive a big off-roader these days and
you may invite some questioning about your need for such a large
vehicle. That's a more likely line of questioning if your choice of
off-roader carries a badge that presents an image of luxury.
Read More...
Read More...
C-Crosser comes late to the party
14/11/07 13:23 Filed in: Road
tests
Considering that Citroen has had a
long involvement in events like the Dakar Rally, in the tough
off-road conditions of the Sahara, it's perhaps surprising that it
has taken until now for the famous chevrons to appear on the nose
of an off-road vehicle. The new Citroen C-Crosser is the product of
international collaboration between Citroen, its sister company
Peugeot and Mitsubishi. Read More...
Tribeca opens new market for Subaru
When Subaru first appeared in the UK
they were seen as workhorse vehicles for rural types. Pick ups and
estate cars with some go-anywhere ability thanks to their four
wheel drive system. Then, along came Colin McRae spearheading their
high-profile world rally championship successes, Subaru suddenly
became the sporty.
Read More...
Read More...
Hybrids can produce headline grabbing economy
18/09/06 15:45 Filed in: Road
tests
I find out how to do 57.6 mpg in a
4.7-metre long off-roader (with a little practice and some help
from downhill gradients!). Read More...