Renault 5 E-Tech 2026 long-term review – third report September 28, 2026 It happened again yesterday. Twice now, while navigating the Surrey suburbs, I’ve had a cheery wave from a fellow Renault 5 driver heading in the opposite direction. This kind of car-based camaraderie was the norm when I drove an original Mini, and I know folk with classic Land Rovers do the same. I’ve never experienced [...]
Lexus ES 2026 review: Easygoing electric saloon goes its own way August 27, 2026 Lexus has built some superb saloon cars during its 37-year lifetime, from the original LS 400, which bested the benchmark Mercedes-Benz S-Class, to the stylish and dynamic IS 300: a worthy rival for the contemporary BMW 3 Series. Today, however, Lexus is almost exclusively an SUV company. Its UK range stretches from the compact LBX [...]
Lotus Emira 420 Sport: the best Emira yet is a downsized supercar August 18, 2026 The one percent keep getting richer, while the remaining 8.2 billion on the planet feel the squeeze. And this widening disparity in wealth even plays out in the enthusiast car market. Just look at our coverage of Monterey Car Week. New hypercars revealed in California this month have included the Aston Martin Valen, McLaren McL [...]
Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II review: Driving a Rolls on a racetrack – yes, really… August 6, 2026 Hang on, you are cordially inviting me to do what? I re-read the email to make sure, but it’s there in crisp Sans Serif font. It isn’t every day you get asked to drive a Rolls-Royce on a racetrack. Indeed, in 20 years as a motoring journalist, this is the first – and likely the [...]
Vauxhall Mokka GSE review: on-track in the most surprising car of 2026 August 4, 2026 The Vauxhall Mokka GSE marks the return of a classic performance nameplate – now applied to an electric crossover SUV. John Redfern finds out how this retro reboot fares on the road and track. Vauxhall has a lengthy back-catalogue of performance cars, ranging from hot hatchbacks and the formidable Lotus Carlton, through to Australian-built V8 [...]
Renault 5 E-Tech 2025 long-term review – second report July 28, 2026 Lined up on the starting grid at Goodwood, the two cars resemble the ‘before and after’ photos from a bodybuilding magazine. Each one is ostensibly a Renault 5, but the similarities almost end there. On the left is my long-term test Renault 5 E-Tech. Compact and straight-sided, its classic hatchback proportions draw directly from the [...]
Volkswagen California 2026 review: plenty of room at the Hotel California July 24, 2026 Britain’s best-selling vehicle so far in 2026 is the Ford Puma. Visit the south coast in holiday season, though, and you’d swear the Volkswagen California occupies that top spot. Whether trapped in tourist traffic, parked beside the beach or looking cool on a campsite, these things are everywhere. Volkswagen campers have enjoyed cult status since [...]
Renault 5 E-Tech 2025 three month review – first impressions July 18, 2026 My first rendez-vous with the Renault 5 was at a rain-lashed EV charging hub, just off the A1(M) in Stevenage. Not the most auspicious start, you might think, but somehow this little car seemed to prise the sunshine out from between leaden clouds. I was smitten. The occasion was a driving day for UK Car [...]
Renault Scenic E-Tech 2026 review: An electric SUV for our times July 17, 2026 The Renault Scenic pioneered the practical but unfashionable compact MPV in the 1990s. Now it has returned as a more conventional electric SUV. John Redfern sees how well this reimagined Renault suits our different times. Three decades ago, Renault launched the original Megane Scenic to the world, kickstarting the small MPV category. It was a [...]
Lamborghini Urus SE Performante is an even more super SUV July 14, 2026 Lamborghini has ramped up the power and aggression for its Urus SE SUV, with the launch of a new Performante version. Released 40 years after the original ‘Rambo Lambo’ LM002, the new Urus SE Performante is claimed to be the fastest SUV in the world. Like other Lamborghinis that have received the Performante treatment, the [...]