Kim Henson reports on living with Suzuki’s Swace estate car during 750 miles of mixed everyday motoring… (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson). These days SUVs rule, it seems, or at least they do for some buyers. However there are many motorists who prefer the ‘traditional’ estate car approach to styling and construction. While Suzuki offers competence galore with the … [Read more...]
Audi TT – history to date, and test driving the final variant
Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales and Miles Better News Agency) reflects on the modern classic Audi TT's history, and puts the latest – and last – variant through its paces. Birth of the Audi TT The Audi TT – one of the most evocative and transformative models ever to have borne the four rings – celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2023, the year in which production of the Coupé and … [Read more...]
Ineos Grenadier FD – First Impressions
Robin Roberts samples the Ineos Grenadier FD, on and off road. He writes, "Inch by inch, metre by metre and after just a few miles the Ineos Grenadier impresses..." Conceived to replace the outgoing Land Rover Defender at the time, the Grenadier is the product of a multi- million pound investment by chemical firm Ineos and its owner, one of the richest men and motoring enthusiasts in … [Read more...]
BYD Dolphin hatchback – Background and First Impressions
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) tells all about this new kid on the block electric hatchback… If you have used a Nokia 3310 mobile phone, Apple i-pad or ridden on a new Transport for London electric bus, then you have already experienced BYD technology. The Chinese battery technology business which has powered these landmark products has a global footprint powering many familiar items, … [Read more...]
Flooded roads? Proceed with great care – or preferably avoid them altogether!
Kim Henson advises on staying safe and at the same time preventing wrecking your car in floodwater… I first published this feature on Wheels-Alive in 2016, but in view of the huge amounts of rainfall we’ve seen lately (as I write, it’s late-November 2023), I feel that it is worth revisiting/updating now. It seems that many drivers don’t appreciate the potential dangers of driving through floods … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – “The Automotive Alchemist”
'The Automotive Alchemist'... Reviewed by Kim Henson Author: Andy Saunders Published by: Dalton Watson Fine Books; www.daltonwatson.com 463 pages (hardback; 290 x 219 mm) UK Price: £90 including UK delivery, details via: andysaunderskustoms@hotmail.com Availability from Andy as above, or from Hortons Books, Marlborough: https://www.hortonsbooks.co.uk/ ISBN: … [Read more...]
Audi Q8 e-tron S Line 55 quattro – Road Test
Audi’s flagship all-electric model is on course to make waves in the luxury sector, writes Robin Roberts; © WheelsWithinWales The Q8 e-tron is available in both SUV and Sportback coupé bodystyles with different battery sizes, charging and range potential but all get 4WD. There are four trim levels beginning with Sport, moving onto S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung. All versions can be … [Read more...]
Mazda MX-30 E-EV Crossover – News and First Impressions
News and brief Views about the new Mazda MX-30 R-EV Crossover. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). News Mazda is never afraid to be different and it shows in their latest MX-30 R-EV Crossover launched to the UK’s motoring media recently. Keeping its quirky ‘suicide’ rear passenger doors for easy access to the back seats the real change is up front under the bonnet in the … [Read more...]
Does your mobile phone have a ‘car crash detection’ facility – and if so, is it turned on?
Motoring experts at Scrap Car Comparison are warning drivers that having a key phone feature disabled this winter could be highly detrimental to themselves and anyone in the car with them... They tell us: With the clocks jumping back by an hour, lower visibility teamed with severe winter weather makes for difficult driving conditions, increasing the likelihood for a collision or road traffic … [Read more...]
Latest Vauxhall Astra GSe hybrid – First Impressions
The new Vauxhall Astra GSe brief first drive by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). As it slips into middle-age, the latest generation Vauxhall Astra has been given a modern make-over. Originally launched in 1980, the Astra has been the bedrock of the company’s offering in the small family car sector as it moved through eight generations. This year it was given a mechanical … [Read more...]
The Austin (Pedal Cars) story continues…
New J40 Continuation model launched by Austin Pedal Cars... They tell us: (All words and images from Austin Pedal Cars). New J40 Continuation is the first Austin pedal car to launch since original production ended in 1971 Austin J40 Continuation developed entirely in-house by Austin Pedal Cars Hand-formed aluminium body accurately replicates lines of the original J40 All-new, … [Read more...]
“Plan for Drivers” – This is it!
New Government plan for drivers is officially launched - by Dave Moss. Early in October, Transport Secretary Mark Harper announced a "Plan for Drivers" - a bold and in places already controversial 30-point agenda, which Mr Harper headlined as a "plan to support people’s freedom to use their cars, and curb over-zealous enforcement measures." He went on to say: "We’re backing drivers, and our new … [Read more...]
New Vauxhall Astra GSe – First Impressions
Chris Adamson test drives this newcomer in the Astra line-up from Vauxhall… (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Chris Adamson). One of the longest established names to be found in British showrooms is the Vauxhall Astra, a venerable and big-selling model that has been at the heart of the Vauxhall product line for eight generations since 1980 with many of them being built at Ellesmere … [Read more...]
A quarter of a century of Audi TTs…
25 years young – Audi UK celebrates TT milestone in the Isle of Man They tell us: (All words and inages from Audi UK). Acclaimed Audi sports car celebrates 25 years in production Over 157,000 UK specification examples delivered since original launch in 1998 Audi UK travels to the Isle of Man race location that inspired the TT name to mark the occasion First generation TT from … [Read more...]
Subaru Outback 2.5ES – Road Test
Robin Roberts joins the country set test driving the Subaru Outback 2.5ES Touring. Here Robin (and Miles Better News Agency) reports from autumnal leafy, mud-covered lanes… Subaru is a bit of a lone-wolf in the car world. It’s part of Fuji Heavy Industries and founded 70 years ago. The brand celebrates its golden anniversary in Britain next year after it launched with a compact and capable … [Read more...]
MG100 at Beaulieu – Celebrating a century of MG motoring
MG100 at Beaulieu – Celebrating a century of MG motoring Report by Chris Adamson – Area Secretary Bournemouth & Poole MG Owners’ Club (MGOC) Photos by Chris Adamson (CA) and Steve Favell (SF). Steve is Area Secretary at Winchester MGOC On 30th September 2023 MG enthusiasts from across the South of England gathered in the parkland surroundings of the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu to … [Read more...]
The UK government aims to help hard-(op)pressed drivers…
Government announces new long-term plans to support drivers – and put the brakes on anti-car measures – by Dave Moss In a joint statement Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Transport Secretary Mark Harper have recently set out plans intended to help protect drivers from over-zealous traffic enforcement, which is said to be part of long-term government plans to "back drivers". With 50 million … [Read more...]
Test-driving recent new models at the SMMT Test Day South 2023
Kim Henson reports from this annual event that he rates as 'invaluable'… For many years the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders or SMMT (the U.K.’s industry body representing the automotive sector) has provided annual opportunities for motoring writers to attend regional events, in the north and south of England respectively, primarily to assess a wide variety of models showcased by the … [Read more...]
Honda Jazz e-Hybrid – Road Test
The latest Honda Jazz e-Hybrid Advance Sport test driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). A lot of airtime and column centimetres/inches have been taken up with the new Wales’ default 20 mph urban limit, but I’ll let you into a little secret, you can do 100 in a Honda Jazz Advance Sport, and it’s perfectly legal. The fact is I am not talking about the sporty Jazz’s speed, … [Read more...]
Lords seek clarity out of confusion regarding EVs plus petrol and diesel models…
Robin Roberts (Wheels Within Wales) reports on attempts to find clarity amidst apparent chaos... In response to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s net zero statement on Wednesday, Baroness Parminter, Chair of the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee, has written to Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Transport. In the letter, Baroness Parminter, on behalf … [Read more...]
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