The Abarth 695 Biposto is a hardcore hot hatch in a pint-sized package December 3, 2018 Born in the back streets of Bologna in 1949, Abarth celebrates its 70th anniversary next year. Its story began when racing team owner Carlo Abarth bought five unsold Cistalia sports cars. These were modified, then rebadged as the Abarth 204 A – thus initiating a tradition of tuning that endures to this day. Abarth’s first [...]
The David Brown Speedback Silverstone Edition is the bespoke alternative to a Bentley. As Tim Pitt discovers, it comes at a price… November 19, 2018 One might assume the David Brown Speedback GT was inspired by the Aston Martin DB5. The styling similarities between these two hand-built, V8-engined British coupes are impossible to ignore. However, the genesis of the Speedback – so we’re told – lies elsewhere, in something far less salubrious. A Peugeot 107, in fact. Our story starts [...]
Melrose waits for GKN takeover to bear fruit as automotive revenues stay flat November 13, 2018 Turnaround investor Melrose said today that it is trading in line with board expectations after buying engineering firm GKN in an £8.1bn hostile takeover earlier this year. The FTSE 100 firm, which specialises in buying and improving underperforming businesses, told investors that GKN offers "an outstanding opportunity for value creation over the medium term". Melrose reported "strong" revenue growth in its [...]
The Volkswagen Polo GTI is a mature hot hatch that hasn’t lost its sense of fun November 5, 2018 Reifnitz is nestled deep in the Austrian Alps, its quiet streets dotted with quaint, hand-painted chalets. Nothing much happens here, apart from one weekend each summer, when the village is invaded by 100,000 Volkswagen fanatics. They come from all over Europe and beyond – filling the mountain air with the aroma of beer, bratwurst and [...]
DEBATE: Given the ethical issues exposed in a recent MIT study, will we ever fully trust autonomous vehicles? November 1, 2018 Given the ethical issues exposed in a recent MIT study, will we ever fully trust autonomous vehicles? Daniel Pitchford, co-founder of AI Business, said YES. There are approximately 1.3m global road deaths each year, and 95 per cent of these are caused by human error. The deaths due to driverless cars currently stand at four. [...]
How much of Route 66 can you see in one weekend? We head to Chicago to find out… October 29, 2018 Route 66, America’s most legendary highway, is a month-long mission for many who attempt to drive the whole thing. It starts in downtown Chicago and ends 2,448 miles later in front of the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. But what if you only have a weekend to Get Your Kicks on Route 66? With [...]
The latest Bentley Continental GT is a comfortable cruiser with the unmistakable soul of a sports car October 15, 2018 Say the word ‘veneer’ and most people think of cheap MDF furniture. Bentley, however, takes veneer very seriously. Its team of expert veneer hunters scours the globe for the finest wood finishes, rejecting up to 70 percent of each chosen tree. Then, the process of testing and treating the veneer takes at least 18 months [...]
The Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder is a V10-powered double espresso, with a Red Bull chaser October 8, 2018 How fast? How much? Is it a Ferrari? Will you swap for my Fiesta? These are all questions you’ll be asked – repeatedly – if you drive a Lamborghini Huracan. Especially if it’s the Performante Spyder in Giallo Inti yellow, with molten gold wheels, a fixed rear wing and Italian Tricolore stripes. Every fuel fill-up, [...]
Golden Ferrari goes on sale in first gold-themed auction at Sotheby’s October 1, 2018 A golden Ferrari is expected to sell for up to £450,000 as it goes on sale later this month at auction house Sotheby’s. The 1977 Ferrari 512 BB, which has three previous owners, will be sold at the world’s first auction dedicated entirely to gold. When bought by its most recent owner in 1997 the [...]
Motoring review: Is the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure the time of your life or as disappointing as a damp hike? September 17, 2018 Motorcycles are amazing. For less than the price of a Ford Fiesta, you can buy a machine that accelerates faster away from the lights than a Ferrari. Or cruises with the roll-along comfort of a Bentley. Or, with the BMW R 1200 GS, has more go-anywhere ability than a Land Rover. Ewan McGregor and Charley [...]