The Western Group of Motoring Writers chose Julia's House, serving Dorset and Wiltshire, as one of the recipients of its charitable donations this year... Report by Kim Henson. As a result of its fund-raising efforts during 2015, the Western Group of Motoring Writers (of which I have been proud to be a member over the last 10 years) chose Julia’s House, a Poole-based organisation, as the … [Read more...]
News & Views
Our take on what’s been happening in the world of motoring
We appreciate that these days there are vast quantities of motoring news items freely available to all, from huge numbers of global sources. It would be impossible to bring them all to you through these pages – so we are not even going to try!
Instead, we will include selected motoring-related stories which we feel will be of interest. Depending on the item, we hope that they will also inform, encourage, entertain and provoke further thought!
Each item will be dated, and as new stories arrive, older posts will be archived chronologically.
New Ford Mustang – First Impressions
Must-Have a Mustang – Ford’s New Muscle Car Muscles-In to the UK... A new classic in its own time – driven by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Ford’s latest marketing strategy is ‘Un Learn’ as they try to remove our preconceptions of the brand and past products. It is therefore strange and inconsistent that they have been wheeling out nostalgia as a hook to catch owners wanting Ford’s … [Read more...]
New TVR will be built in Wales – and in further good news, the firm will be offering engineering apprenticeships…
Report by Robin Roberts (for Miles Better News Agency). Announced yesterday, Tuesday 22 March, TVR will build its new 155mph sports car in Wales. This means around 150 quality assembly and engineering jobs will be created in the £30 Million investment in the Ebbw Vale Industrial Zone over the next five years. Advance orders for the unnamed new car exceed 350 which will take it to the end of … [Read more...]
Suzuki Really Motoring Again in 2016 – Plus Swift 1.2 Dualjet 4×4 First Impressions
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his assessment… (Note from Kim: In addition to David’s typically comprehensive and insightful coverage within this feature, you may also be interested to read my own thoughts on Suzuki’s current position, also my impressions of more Suzuki models; please click HERE). After consecutive years of record UK sales Suzuki suffered a blip in registrations in … [Read more...]
Suzuki’s ‘Way of Life’ and what this innovative, successful company is doing today, plus First Impressions of some of the firm’s latest models…
Kim Henson finds out about Suzuki’s progress, and drives some of its current vehicles… (Note from Kim: You may also be interested in finding out what Wheels-Alive contributor David Miles has written about Suzuki in general and the new Swift 4x4 in particular. David is well known and respected for his insightful analysis of the motoring industry and the models produced by it; please click … [Read more...]
More automotive good news for Wales? Watch this space…
Another radical new British sports car could be built in South Wales after last week’s announcement of the Aston Martin DBX Robin Roberts ( Editor, Wheels Within Wales Automotive news & features http://www.wheelswithinwales.uk) reports... Legendary TVR confirmed it was looking at future production sites in South Wales for its new range of ground-breaking sports cars which use F1 type … [Read more...]
Aston Martin’s new model to be built in Wales
Wales has won the bid to build the futuristic Aston Martin DBX crossover. Robin Roberts (Wheels Within Wales) reports… Executives from the company and Welsh Government leaders will hold a press conference in Cardiff this morning to formally announce the project and give more details as well as unveil the car. About 750 jobs will be created when the revolutionary car is put into production in … [Read more...]
Fresh-faced, magnificent British Motor Museum opens its doors
"It's terrific", says Kim Henson... Located at Gaydon in Warwickshire, the re-named British Motor Museum has just re-opened following a £5.1 million refurbishment, which has taken five and a half years to come to fruition. The work – which was delivered on time and on budget – has included the construction of two new facilities. The Museum is now proud to showcase the world’s leading … [Read more...]
Wheels-Alive Takes a Look… At the RAC Regional HQ at Bradley Stoke
Kim Henson reports on the RAC's fascinating regional base near Bristol... I have frequently driven along the south-west sections of M4 and M5, passing and always admiring the fascinating, futuristic-looking RAC building at Bradley Stoke, just south of the M4/M5 junction near Bristol. I’ve also often wondered what goes on inside the centre. Recently I was invited to tour the … [Read more...]
Infiniti Q30 First Impressions
New British-built Infiniti Q30 five door premium hatchback is now on sale... By David Miles (Miles Batter News Agency) Infiniti, the premium brand from Nissan, has launched their all-new UK built Infiniti Q30 C-segment five door hatchback and it’s thoroughly British. Not only is it the first Infiniti ever to be built in Europe, it was created at the Nissan-Infiniti Paddington design facility, … [Read more...]
The solid, dependable, amazing Land Rover Defender finally bows out…
End of the Production Road for the Land Rover Defender – a unique and much-loved British icon. Kim Henson reports… It hardly seems possible, but as of 10 o’clock this morning, and after 68 years of production of Land Rover ‘Series’ and ‘Defender’ models, no more will be built. Reasons for the discontinuation of the model include 21st Century emissions and safety regulations. However, perhaps … [Read more...]
Top Ten Cars of Everything
We know that our 'Wheels-Alive' readers/viewers enjoy varied aspects of cars and motoring, so we thought that you would like the following light-hearted look at some interesting/unusual cars in a special 'Top Ten'... Countless hours have been won and lost chatting - or arguing - about the top ten fastest cars, the classics, the not-so-classics, and the “if only we won the lottery” cars. Well, we … [Read more...]
Give Your Battery a Helping Hand – Kim’s Tips
Kim Henson advises on getting the best from your battery, at the same time helping it to 'survive and prosper'! Whether your car is a classic or a more recent model, its battery has to take a great deal of punishment in winter, with constant demands on its output, through a wealth of electrical systems that it has to supply (particularly on modern vehicles). Low temperatures sap at battery … [Read more...]
SEAT Leon X-PERIENCE with snow appeal – Road Test
by Keith Ward (Kim says 'Welcome aboard' to Keith – a highly experienced and very well respected motoring writer – as a new contributor to 'Wheels-Alive'). The name may be a trifle nudge-nudge over-clever, but you can see the thinking behind it. This SEAT Leon X-PERIENCE is actually based on the Spanish maker’s popular ST estate car but distinguished by electronically-controlled permanent … [Read more...]
Getting Colder… Stand by for below freezing temperatures, possibly with ice and snow. Are you and your car ready? Here are Kim’s Top 10 Tips…
Winter motoring advice which may help you cope, from Kim Henson. So far this winter in the UK, the weather has been predominantly mild and exceedingly wet, to the extent that we have all been lulled into a false sense of security as far as cold conditions are concerned. However, all that is forecast to change over the coming few days, and it is very likely that below freezing temperatures will … [Read more...]
Wot, No Driver? Is this really a good idea? Here’s some food for thought.
Driverless (Autonomous) Cars A personal view by Dave Randle, who is unconvinced this is the best way forward... Whatever it says on the packaging, smart televisions and smart phones are anything but. Any smartness going around remains with the people who made them. All any machine can do is to choose between various pre-programmed options through binaries and Boolean algebra. This is not … [Read more...]
Driving on Flooded Roads – Kim’s Tips
Advice to help you stay safe and keep motoring, from Kim Henson. The recent very heavy and persistent rain has resulted in widespread flooding in many parts of the country. This can make driving very hazardous and certainly has the potential for wrecking your vehicle, if not risking life and limb. However, if you keep your head and don’t panic, you should be okay; just think carefully… The … [Read more...]
First ‘enhanced’ audio video eBook on Porsche 911
Glen Smale delivers an innovative eBook treat for Porsche 911 enthusiasts... Performance Car Publishing, an all-Welsh team in South West Wales, has published the first in a series of new enhanced eBooks. Believed to be a first in the field of automotive publishing, this eBook will cover the design and development of the iconic Porsche Carrera RS 2.7, originally unveiled in 1972. The … [Read more...]
Getting More Enjoyment and Information from ‘Wheels-Alive’
Kim Henson advises... If you have just discovered ‘Wheels-Alive’, you may be interested to know that there is a wealth of information within the site, in addition to the most recent features, which are listed on the ‘Home’ page. While of course this website does cover in-depth analysis and driving of new cars, that's only one aspect of it, since the site also incorporates so much more – … [Read more...]
Emissions Mission?
Emissions Mission? Robin Roberts reports. British politicians are discussing a possible major shake up of our vehicle emissions testing. After the Volkswagen emissions scandal, MPs are looking into current testing and its relationship to other parts of Europe. It could result in a much tougher test, possibly based around the strict United States system which one leading international … [Read more...]