Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe review: The 1960s classic car has been reborn, and is more thrilling than any comparable Porsche September 12, 2016 Ah, the weekend toy. The car you own as much for the kudos as the fun of driving it. The weekday family SUV demands a certain conformity if it’s not to embarrass the family it’s bought to transport. But such restrictions don’t apply to that special something you keep in the garage. And what could [...]
The Maserati GranTurismo isn’t without its problems, but learn how to treat it and this Italian beast is one hell of a drive September 6, 2016 I got a few weird looks unloading my soiled wellies from the back of a Maserati as I checked into Monaco’s Hermitage Hotel. Where on earth had I been, the valet must have thought. Some 48 hours earlier I was ankle deep in what Uncle Monty would have described as “beastly mud and oomska” at [...]
Fancy driving a Tesla? You can rent one from Heathrow Airport August 17, 2016 Horses were a cool way of getting around. You couldn’t ride one into a tree or over the edge of a cliff, even if you tried. You could fall asleep on them and safely wake up in the stable next to your house. They eat nothing but hay and poop out pure, nutrient-rich horse puddings. [...]
Abarth 124 Spider review: We took the high-performance Fiat to Silverstone to find out August 16, 2016 Just 12 years ago, Fiat launched the Stilo Abarth. It’s not a car that the brand’s marketeers would like us to bring up in the first paragraph of this review. It was stodgy, slow, and nowhere near a Golf GTI challenger. But the Stilo wasn’t a true Abarth. Abarth is Fiat’s performance offshoot. Initially an [...]
Audi RS7 Performance review: Is the new super-powered coupé gilding the lily? August 8, 2016 There are very few new cars more desirable than the latest Audi R8. With a 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed nudging 200mph, the £120,000 supercar will out-accelerate almost anything on London’s streets. Even better, it’s packed with enough technology to make even the worst traffic jams that little more bearable. But [...]
Maserati Levante review: The Italian carmaker goes off-road with its first ever SUV August 1, 2016 M aserati. Such a cool name to say out loud, isn’t it? Tell your friends you drive one and your cool factor instantly swells. Soak up the kudos from becoming a suave, stylish Italianate and observe how they suddenly start to slightly resent the fact they chose a Porsche. Maserati’s traditional approach has been making [...]
Volvo V90 review: Swede dreams really are made of this July 25, 2016 Sweden’s two great carmakers, Saab and Volvo, have met very different fates. The former was declared bankrupt and production ended in 2014. The latter, on the other hand, is experiencing a glorious renaissance, funded by Chinese money and spearheaded by the brilliant XC90 SUV. Swede dreams, indeed. While the XC90 is Volvo’s halo model, its [...]
Volvo V90 D5 AWD review: The Swedes finally go into battle with the all-conquering Germans with their new estate car July 25, 2016 Sweden’s two great carmakers, Saab and Volvo, have met very different fates. The former was declared bankrupt and production ended in 2014. The latter, on the other hand, is experiencing a glorious renaissance, funded by Chinese money and spearheaded by the brilliant XC90 SUV. Swede dreams, indeed. While the XC90 is Volvo’s halo model, its [...]
Ford Edge review: This beef-monster SUV might lack the status of an Audi, but its sharp styling will win you over July 18, 2016 You probably have friends who drive an Audi Q7, so you’ll know the rationale for choosing one. It has seven seats, so you can drive the kids and their friends to football or ballet. It has lots of space for the annual holiday. You can drive other cars off the road because it’s the size [...]
Who throws the best parties, Formula One or Formula E? The answer might surprise you… July 11, 2016 When it comes to Formula One, I feel like I lived through a golden era. I’m not just talking about the racing, I’m talking about the after-parties. When Red Bull launched their own F1 team in 2005 it was my job to cover not only what occurred on track and in the paddock, but what [...]