Tribute act: Why Ferrari’s F8 Tributo is an extraordinary piece of engineering September 3, 2019 Talk about hallowed tarmac. Fiorano is Ferrari’s private test track next to its world-famous HQ in Maranello. It was built in 1972 to run both road and racing cars. Driving it is a rite of passage for any serious Ferrari owner, and for many a motoring journalist. As I passed through the famous gates, I [...]
The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante is the best looking car in town – and boy is it a rush August 12, 2019 Forgive me, officer, for I have sinned. If absolute power corrupts absolutely, then 725 metric horsepower tests even the sternest sense of resolve. It will blast you to 62mph in less time than it takes to say ‘Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante’ and leave black lines on the Tarmac longer than the Costa Brava. Thankfully, [...]
The David Brown Mini Remastered is a small car with a big price tag August 6, 2019 My first car was a Mini. If you’re fast-approaching middle age, yours probably was too. I bought my (t)rusty 1983 Mini City for £325, sprayed go-faster stripes on the bonnet and shoehorned a subwoofer into the boot. After passing my test, I enjoyed one day of glorious freedom, then crashed it in Croydon. Result: a [...]
American idol: Why time is running out for the old-school Chevrolet Corvette July 22, 2019 Chevrolet has spent more than 65 years refining the front-engined Corvette, and this is the star-spangled result. But ever-tightening emissions regulations, plus the imminent arrival of a new, mid-engined model – much to the consternation of the Corvette’s loyal fanbase – mean time is almost up for this iconic sports car. The UK has just [...]
The new A35 isn’t Mercedes-AMG’s hottest hatchback, but it certainly isn’t tepid July 16, 2019 The hot hatch has reached boiling point. Very soon, Mercedes will reveal a new AMG A45, with the most powerful four-cylinder engine ever. Its scorching 416hp bests a 288 GTO – Ferrari’s mid-1980s poster car – in a game of Top Trumps, and may well get from 0-62mph in less than four seconds. A supercar-slaying [...]
Drive a Lambo around the UK thanks to Dream Collection and the City A.M. Club June 28, 2019 My stable of cars is filled with the latest models, allowing me to choose the perfect ride to suit my lifestyle. “For a weekend away with the kids – their bags, bikes and trikes – I chose the Range Rover Autograph or Audi Q7; both are perfect companions for a family adventure. “For a stress [...]
Should you follow directors into this bombed-out stock? June 12, 2019 | City Talk By Edmond Jackson from interactive investor. Down almost 90% from its peak, our shares analyst examines recovery potential at this household name. Should you trust company directors or hedge funds with their dealings, or make your own judgment? The current situation at former mid-cap AA (LSE:AA.) is a stark example as directors buy into an 88% drop since 2015 as [...]
Morgan 3-Wheeler car review: The ultimate quirky city commuter car June 10, 2019 When faced with the pandemonium of driving in London, there’s something to be said for doing so in a car with a sense of humour, something that puts a smile on your face. File under: arguments in favour of trundling around in a silly supercar – or indeed a Morgan 3-Wheeler. From our experience, the [...]
Auto Trader bullish on growth prospects June 10, 2019 | City Talk Amid fears of a slowdown in UK car sales, our head of markets talks us through the big numbers. This sparkling set of annual results from Auto Trader (LSE:AUTO) is tainted only by a more guarded outlook from the company, implying that a repetition of the numbers is unlikely. The majority of the metrics reflect Auto Trader’s [...]
Ferrari Dino ‘Evo’ review: This modified Italian stallion is a £300,000 delight June 3, 2019 Ferraris are works of automotive art, says conventional wisdom; modifying one is like daubing Dulux on the Sistine Chapel. Not that Kevin O’Rourke seems concerned. His Ferrari Dino ‘Evo’ will be among the star cars at London Concours tomorrow and Thursday, while another Dino built by his company, Mototechnique – the 400hp, F40-engined ‘Monza’ – [...]