The Lexus LF-NX concept is a muscular, angular beast; a vision we hope will become a reality September 9, 2013 The Japanese carmaker is known for its stunning concept designs. Here is one from the top draw. LEXUS will today unveil its latest striking concept vehicle in the muscular LF-NX mid-sized crossover. The car, which will be displayed at the Frankfurt motor show, combines Tron-like styling with the latest hybrid technology. It adheres to Lexus’s [...]
A hot hatch with big shoes to fill September 3, 2013 It may be nippy, zippy and comfortable too, but can the Peugeot 208 GTI live up to the iconic 205? IS IT fast?” was the first thing my friend Dave said when I pulled up in the new Peugeot 208 GTI. He wasn’t the first to ask either. Peugeot’s designers have done an excellent job [...]
Not Convinced? September 3, 2013 HERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES VW Polo GTI 1.4 TSI DSG, £19,570 If you feel nostalgic about the first Golf GTIs, perhaps this Polo GTI is a better option. It’s only got a 1.4-litre engine that delivers just 177bhp, but it still gets up to 142mph and can hit 62mph in 6.9 seconds. It’s a good-looking [...]
A Range Rover that is truly sporty August 19, 2013 It’s the fastest, most agile SUV the manufacturer has ever built. We put it through its paces… in a jumbo jet They’re known for coming up with imaginative off-road courses, but the Land Rover Experience guys have outdone themselves this time. It’s fantastically silly. I’m driving the new Range Rover Sport SDV6 model up an [...]
Not convinced? August 19, 2013 HERE ARE THE ALTERNATIVES BMW X5 £60,830 The X5 xDrive M50d SUV model is BMW’s rival to the Range Rover Sport. Powered by a V6 diesel engine, it has an impressive power output of 381bhp but it’s a good deal faster with a spritely 0 to 62mph acceleration time of just 5.4 seconds. Its fuel [...]
Fast, sexy, cool: the Seat Leon SC August 12, 2013 Seat may not be the hippest car brand in the world, but the Leon SC provides a welcome injection of street cred BACK in 1990, When VW Group bought Spanish automaker Seat, it wanted to position it in its stable the same way Alfa Romeo sits within the Fiat Group. It has, however, struggled to [...]
Not convinced? August 12, 2013 HERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES Kia Proceed, £20,595 The 1.6-litre diesel Kia Proceed costs less than the Leon SC but it can’t match it for power and performance. It takes 10.5 seconds to reach 62mph and its top speed is a comparatively pedestrian 122mph. Its economy and CO2 emissions also compare unfavourably (65.7mpg (combined) and 112g/km). [...]
Fiat’s 500L gets a rugged makeover July 29, 2013 With its practical appearance and off-road promise, the 500L Trekking is a town car that likes to get dirty The Mini Countryman doesn’t look much like the Mini hatchback, but customers don’t seem to mind. Mini’s SUV crossover is selling very well in the UK, appealing to a family market that wants something practical, with [...]
Not convinced by the Fiat 500l trekking? July 29, 2013 HERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES: Mini Countryman Cooper D AII4, £20,570 The entry-level diesel Mini Countryman One D doesn’t have off-road ability so if you’re after four-wheel drive, prepare to stump up £20,570 for the Cooper D All4, a hike of at least £1,000. That aside, the car is refined and has bags of grip on-road. [...]
An SUV with style and substance July 22, 2013 People balked when Porsche released its first luxury SUV – these days its got the best on the market It was a happy coincidence that the weekend I spent with the new Porsche Cayenne S Diesel dovetailed with my cousin’s wedding hoedown on a farm, miles from anywhere, in rural Cornwall. The car was perfect [...]