Ford face triple dilemma at Bridgend... ...By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Global demand for the Ford triple-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine is lower than expected and has driven the decision to close its production line in Bridgend next February. Stuart Rowley (pictured left), president, Ford of Europe, in a conference call said the employees and management at Bridgend … [Read more...]
Contributors
Kia e-Niro – First Impressions
KIA’S ROAD TO GREENER MOTORING WITH THE e-NIRO… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) takes a test drive. Alternatively fuelled vehicles, pure electric, petrol-electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids saw a 21% increase in UK new car sales last year to 141,270 units, but only 15,474 of those vehicles were pure electric models. So far this year only around 2,000 battery electric cars were sold in … [Read more...]
Ford’s Bridgend engine factory to close
End of the Road for Ford engine production in Bridgend... Today, 6th June 2019, it has been confirmed that Ford is to close the company's engine factory at Bridgend, after nearly 40 years of building motors there. In a statement, the firm said, "After detailed consideration, Ford today confirmed the start of a consultation with its unions concerning the potential closure of the Ford Bridgend … [Read more...]
Latest Ford Focus – Road Test
FORD’S NEW FOCUS FAMILY GAINS ACTIVE MEMBERS… …by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Ford has added a new member to its Active family - the Ford Focus Active available as a five door hatchback or estate. It joins their Fiesta Active and Ka+ Active line-up. Ford Active models are termed crossovers models combining mild SUV styling whilst retaining the brand’s strong driving dynamics. … [Read more...]
Volkswagen T-Roc – Road Test
The VW T-Roc Design 1.6 TDI medium-sized SUV… …assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Volkswagen was quick to enter the MPV market yet took their time when it came to the modern SUV sector, but it was worth the wait for the medium-sized T-Roc. There’s a very wide range of T-Roc models from which to choose with petrol or diesel engines, manual and automatic transmissions and … [Read more...]
Citroën C5 Aircross – Road Test
Fit for purpose – the new Citroën C5 Aircross SUV cum MPV… …assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new Citroën C5 Aircross was launched in the UK in early February this year and it gave the French brand its entry into the medium-sized SUV market. But this vehicle’s design comes with a twist thanks to Citroën’s expertise with producing a long-line of MPV people … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport – Road Test
Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport Elite Nav 200 hp... Test-driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). When size matters, the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport hatchback has big appeal. The market for large hatchbacks and saloons is supposed to be shrinking as ubiquitous SUVs take over, but why be like everyone else when you can be different and look the part? This large hatchback offers … [Read more...]
Ford Kuga – Road Test
FORD KUGA MID-SIZED SUV STILL HOLDING ITS OWN FOR POPULARITY. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Ford Kuga five door mid-sized SUV was introduced in 2008, the second edition in 2016 and the third generation is due from 2020 with Mild Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid and Full-Hybrid powertrains plus petrol and diesel engine options. But before the all-new Kuga appears with its new global C2 … [Read more...]
Beaulieu’s Spring Autojumble celebrates 25 years…
Beaulieu’s 2019 Spring Autojumble is just the job to start the summer… Kim Henson and Chris Adamson were both there. (Photos by Kim, Chris, and the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu – all as individually credited). This year Beaulieu’s Spring Autojumble, which took place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May, celebrated 25 years of this event, which is very comprehensive but a little less huge … [Read more...]
Peugeot 308SW estate – Road Test
Peugeot 308 SW Tech Edition 130 auto estate car… Tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Anyone who doubts the future of estate cars should take a long look at the Peugeot 308 SW series and see what it offers for the family who want space without the bulk of an SUV. The 308 series of hatchbacks and estates has been a backbone of the range for decades with different … [Read more...]
New Land Rover Discovery Sport Landmark Edition – Road Test
The Land Rover Discovery Sport Landmark is the family 4x4. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Created to mark 30 years of the Discovery, Sport Landmark editions come with a host of features as standard which are options on others in the extremely extensive range of pure 4x4s. It’s not a cheaper alternative to the rest of the Discovery Sport range, but it’s a very good package … [Read more...]
Latest Kia Proceed – Road Test
KIA’S NEW PROCEED – A SPORTS STYLED ALTERNATIVE TO AN ESTATE CAR. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives this fascinating newcomer. The ProCeed is what Kia calls a shooting brake and people of an older generation might remember shooting brakes as saloon cars, Hillmans, Humbers, Standards and such like, with a boxy load area, sometimes made of wood, with two side hinged rear … [Read more...]
Alfa on the up
Turning the corner with Alfa Romeo… …Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) reports. Car sales are a series of twists and turns but there are strong signs that Alfa Romeo has turned the corner this year. A recent independent survey of owners who have used their models for some time concluded that the sporting Italian brand was second only to Lexus in terms of overall satisfaction with … [Read more...]
Volkswagen T-Cross – First Impressions
NEW VW T-CROSS URBAN SUV – ‘I AM MORE’ CLAIM THE MARKETERS’. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) takes a first close look at this newcomer. With SUV styled vehicles now taking close to, or in some countries, over 40% of the new car market, manufacturers from budget to luxury brands have wasted no time in covering all angles in terms of size, performance and price. Another new SUV … [Read more...]
Very Brief Impressions – Cars driven at the Guild of Motoring Writers’ ‘Big Day Out’, 2019
Kim Henson samples a few of the latest models... On the occasion of the Guild of Motoring Writers’ ‘Big Day Out’ event, held recently at Castle Combe in Wiltshire, I was able to briefly test drive some of the latest offerings from different manufacturers… (All words and photos by Kim). Suzuki Vitara 1.4 (latest, 2019 version) The previous generation Vitaras (which arrived in 2015) were well … [Read more...]
Audi A1 Sportback – Road Test
Audi A1 Sportback 30 TFSI S line supermini hatchback. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Audi’s experience in the premium sector also extends to its supermini sized A1. The A1 was first shown in 2010 as a 3-door, the 5-door Sportback came 12 months later and arrived in Britain in 2012, and it’s a successor to the Audi A2. Today, Audi’s entry level model comes in a … [Read more...]
Volvo V60 Cross Country estate – Road Test
VOLVO ADDS A CROSS COUNTRY MODEL TO THEIR V60 ESTATE CAR RANGE… …tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Although it’s Volvo’s range of SUVs, the XC90, XC60 and the new XC40 that hog the limelight of the Scandinavian brand’s significant popularity and sales growth in the premium car market, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Volvo has excelled for over 60 years in producing … [Read more...]
Electric Classic Cars – really!
Electric classic cars... a reality now! By Robin Roberts. Classic cars are being given a new life for the 21st century with a “heart” transplant and an electric powertrain by a Welsh enthusiast and engineer. Richard Morgan set up Electric Classic Cars in Newtown to give much-loved classics and popular cars a new lease of life with a modern twist. “I use to compete in the British Historic … [Read more...]
Kia Optima saloon – Road Test
KIA Optima 1.6 CRDi 2 ISG Saloon… …put through its paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). From being an also-ran when launched in the UK in 1991, Kia has become a serious challenger to the best from Japan and mainland Europe and the latest Optima D-segment saloon is a good example of why their rivals should worry. Built for a target audience, and not necessarily down to a … [Read more...]
‘me’ micro electric – First Ever UK Road Test
In a Wheels-Alive ‘exclusive’, we bring you the very first UK road test drive report on the new ‘me’ ('micro electric') all-electric city vehicle. Ant Henson has taken to the streets of London to put this charming diminutive newcomer through its paces… With emissions-based road charging becoming the norm in the capital (and potentially soon other cities around the country), is it time to … [Read more...]
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