Mercedes CLC targets a younger, sportier market
21/08/08 13:35 Filed in: Road
Test
Mercedes-Benz has clearly tried hard
to appeal to a younger, sportier with the launch of the new CLC. I
say new, because the CLC only arrived in UK showrooms on June 12.
It bears sharp new looks to align with the new C Series, although
the underpinnings are substantially those of the previous SC.
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Honda's low profile executive saloon
14/08/08 14:09 Filed in: Road
Test
From a UK perspective, it is easy to
forget that Honda produces a sports executive saloon. It may be quite
high-profile in markets like the United States, but there it bears the Acura
badge of Honda's US prestige brand. In this country it is badged as
a Honda and is somewhat eclipsed by the more
high-profile small and medium sized hatchbacks and SUVs.
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Report admits obstructing traffic was policy, says ABD
13/08/08 17:22 Filed in: Politics
The latest report from Transport for
London states that despite 70,000 fewer cars a day entering the
central zone and 30,000 fewer in the Western Extension, congestion
in both of these areas is every bit as bad as it was before the
charge was introduced, according to the Association of British
Drivers. Read
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First pictures of the new Aston Martin One-77
08/08/08 13:37 Filed in: Motoring
Aston Martin has released the first
photo of the new One-77, which they describe as "the ultimate
creative interpretation of the renowned British marque".
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Ford finally launches into small SUV market
07/08/08 19:04 Filed in: Road
Test
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
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First view of new Volkswagen Golf
07/08/08 13:45 Filed in: Motoring
Five generations, 34 years and over 26
million vehicles after the original first went on sale, the sixth
generation of the Golf has been unveiled. Read
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New Ford Ka out this Autumn
01/08/08 19:33 Filed in: Motoring
Ford has released the first official
pictures of the Ford Ka, which is to be launched at the 2008 Paris
Motor Show this October. Read
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Cuteness is more than skin deep
28/07/08 13:06 Filed in: Road
Test
Back in my college days, I remember
how one of my fellow students fell for the charms of a second hand
Fiat 500 which, even in those days was well past its prime. Knowing
my interest in cars she would always come to me to ask for advice
about its latest ailments. On this particular occasion, the little
Fiat displayed no intentions of starting. Frustrated by lack of
success with my pokings and proddings, I asked her why, precisely,
she had chosen to buy this particular car.
"It looked like it needed a mummy," came the disarming reply. Well the cuteness that worked on my fellow student all these years ago is now back with the new Fiat 500. Read More...
"It looked like it needed a mummy," came the disarming reply. Well the cuteness that worked on my fellow student all these years ago is now back with the new Fiat 500. Read More...
MiTo aims for style conscious young buyers
27/07/08 11:28 Filed in: Motoring
Alfa Romeo's new small, sporty
hatchback, the Alfa MiTo, makes its UK public debut at the current
British Motor Show. It is the first small Alfa hatch since the days
of the much-loved Alfasud. Read
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How to save £2 on your fuel bills
25/07/08 13:29 Filed in: Motoring
Did you know you can save up to £2 of
fuel per week by simply reversing your car into a parking space, so
you drive away forwards? That's the amazing claim from the IAM Motoring
Trust. Read
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British Motor Show has new model buzz
24/07/08 19:00 Filed in: Motoring
The British Motor Show used to be one
of the leading shows in the world. In recent years, with its move
to Birmingham and now back to London, the show has lost its shine.
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Have an Agila
16/07/08 18:42 Filed in: Road
Test
Whereas the previous Vauxhall Agila
was instantly forgettable, the new one at least has some presence.
It has a cheeky style and, inside, some fairly loud seat graphics.
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Coulthard - "driving is a huge responsibility"
15/07/08 12:35 Filed in: Motoring
Formula One Racing star David
Coulthard may be leaving the Formula 1 circuit at the end of the
year, but he is still maintaining a close interest in driving and
using it to encourage young drivers to share their ideas to produce
better, safer drivers. Read
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BMW's new 7 Series goes hi tech
13/07/08 11:00 Filed in: Motoring
BMW has taken the wraps off its new 7
Series, which will go on sale later this year. While the looks are
less controversial than the Chris Bangle design of the fourth 7
Series, under the skin BMW has worked hard to create a car that
will win back buyer. The new model, which goes on sale in November,
is bristling with technology.
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Citroen – France v Germany
11/07/08 13:31 Filed in: Road
Test
We have been here before. From time to
time manufacturers cast an envious eye at the reputation of
Germany's finest prestige car manufacturers – Audi, BMW and
Mercedes-Benz – and think to themselves 'we would like a slice of
that'.
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Audi's A5 delights
10/07/08 19:28 Filed in: Road
Test
I remember the launch of the Audi A5 last summer. Bravely, Audi unveiled it alongside the stunning Audi R8 sports car - a move that could have
eclipsed the new four-seat coupe, but it did not. The A5 held its
own with its classic Audi look, given the slightly more edgy style
that we have since seen on the new A4. Read
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Skoda's compact load carrier
10/07/08 18:59 Filed in: Road
Test
You can see how Skoda is thriving as
part of the Volkswagen Group by the way it range of models keeps
growing. If you count the Skoda Roomster as a Skoda Fabia (which
effectively it is) there are now three distinct model choices at
the start of the Czech manufacturer's range. Read
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Are hybrids really good for the environment?
04/07/08 19:48 Filed in: Motoring
The BBC's 'Top Gear' programme isn't always the most
thought-provoking programme on television. Normally it is pure
entertainment. However, the recent item about the Toyota Prius did
suggest that we think more deeply than many of the Hollywood elite
about our evironmentally-friendly motoring solutions. Read
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Sat-navs need common sense
23/06/08 19:32 Filed in: Motoring
We've all heard the story about
satellite navigation systems that have
encouraged artics into impenetrable situations in vilalges and
drivers, who really should have more sense, to try to take their
Ford Fiestas through four-foot deep rivers. They are great but you
should not just blindly believe them! You still should exercise the
common sense you were born with! Read
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BMW future - cars tailored to suit
13/06/08 10:20 Filed in: Motoring
BMW have released details of their
extraordinary GINA project which features a cloth skin body
stretched over a frame. It's the new idea from the team headed by
Chris Bangle, who caused so much controversy with the introduction
of the flame-surface styling. Read
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Sporting style with economy
10/06/08 07:55 Filed in: Road
Test
It's amazing how the BMW 1 Series
hatchback with its slightly gawky styling has been transformed into
an attractive coupé. But it is such a logical car for BMW. It is
very much in tune with the ethos of the German marque. This is,
after all, a vehicle with a sporting flavour using the latest
engine technology to achieve its expected performance with
outstanding economy. Read
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Seat heads off road
03/06/08 11:37 Filed in: Road
Test
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
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Adding style to practicality
02/06/08 16:43 Filed in: Road
Test
The first time I saw the new Mini
Clubman in the my local Mini showroom as I headed across to the
car, one of the staff made me an offer. "Free dog with every
Clubman," he quipped with a grin. Read
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So fuel price increase is nothing to do with tax?
When the Prime Minister and the
Chancellor flew to Aberdeen to meet with the bosses of the UK oil
industry, Gordon Brown tried to deflect attention from high fuel
taxes as the cause for the current fuel price crisis. Instead, he
tried to focus attention on fuel supply as the real cause.
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Living in a Materia world
15/05/08 19:24 Filed in: Road
Test
I can see where Daihatsu was coming
from when they designed the Materia. Nissan and Honda have tried to
woo young trendy buyers with cuboid cars. Nissan even call theirs
the Cube in the Japanese Market. Daihatsu, too, wants to appeal to
younger customers and that is where the Materia comes in.
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Biofuels - vision or mirage?
Everywhere you go these days –
particularly in the United States – the talk is of biofuels. People
seem to have latched onto the idea that we can grow our own fuel as
being the panacea for all our fossil fuel ills.
But, have the supporters of biofuels stopped to think things through? Read More...
But, have the supporters of biofuels stopped to think things through? Read More...
BMW’s Canine Repellent Alloy Protection
01/04/08 09:18 Filed in: Motoring
On April 1, BMW announced the first
details of the new Canine Repellent Alloy Protection system.
Designed to stop dogs fouling against the sparkling alloys of new
BMW cars, the innovative Canine Repellent Alloy Protection system
(C.R.A.P.) is the latest offering in the BMW EfficientDynamics
programme. Read
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Average speed cameras could be a threat to safety
28/03/08 09:58 Filed in: Politics
News of a potential increase in the
use of average speed cameras, sends shudder down my spine. It's not
that I have any desire to flout the speed limits. I just think that
the best place for our eyes to focus, as drivers, is on the
road.... not on our speedometers! Read
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Ford says Tata to Jaguar and Land Rover
26/03/08 13:07 Filed in: Motoring
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
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New Tiguan is a great all-rounder
29/02/08 20:20 Filed in: Road
Test
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
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Claim that potholes endanger lives
31/01/08 16:53 Filed in: Motoring
Britain used to be known for the
quality of its road surfaces. No, don't laugh, it really did.
Manufacturers from this country went to France to give their
suspension a serious test, now the continental manufacturers are
coming here for testing because our road surfaces are notorious.
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Freelander grows up
24/01/08 19:26 Filed in: Road
Test
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
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Volkswagen Touareg - the discrete off-roader
11/01/08 12:21 Filed in: Road
Test
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...
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