How to be the envy of the golf club April 7, 2014 The new Mercedes C-Class has finally emerged from the shadow of its big brother, the S-Class THE battle for golf club car park supremacy remains alive and well. And this year, to trump your fellow members, you’re going to have to get one of these: the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It’s that simple. Emerging from the [...]
10-Week fitness challenge the get-fit diary of an out of shape office worker April 7, 2014 Steve is undertaking a 10 week “total body transformation” programme with No.1 Fitness, which involves four sessions at the gym a week, a strictly controlled diet and absolutely no alcohol under any circumstances whatsoever (not even a little bit, just to take the edge off…). Here’s how it’s going: BEFORE I started I thought giving [...]
Rocking and rolling in Vienna March 31, 2014 The new Wraith has all the elegance you would expect from a Rolls-Royce but it packs quite a punch as well THERE’S a delightful moment in the recent C4 TV documentary, Inside Rolls-Royce, where a chap coming to collect his new car from the factory in Goodwood explains the extent of his purchase. “The base [...]
Not convinced? March 31, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT V8 S PRICE: £139,000 0-62MPH: 4.5 secs TOP SPEED: 192mph CO2 G/KM: 246g/km MPG COMBINED: 26.8mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Three Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Two Stars FERRARI FF PRICE: £227,142 0-62MPH: 3.7 secs TOP SPEED: 208mph CO2 G/KM: 380g/km MPG COMBINED: 17.0mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Two [...]
A fast, fun and fiery Italian stallion March 24, 2014 The brand new Maserati Ghibli brings something strikingly different to the executive saloon market REVIEWING cars can be a glamorous business, what with all the exotic launch locations, fast motors and gorgeous engineering personnel (OK, maybe not that last one). Sometimes, though, you find yourself freezing cold while being rained on in Surrey. But at [...]
Not convinced? March 24, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW 550i M SPORT SALOON 8-SPEED AUTO PRICE: £57,895 0-62MPH: 4.6 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph (limited) CO2 G/KM: 199g/km MPG COMBINED: 32.8mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Two Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Three Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars AUDI S6 SALOON 7-SPEED AUTO PRICE: £54,505 0-62MPH: 4.8 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph (limited) CO2 G/KM: [...]
The convertible for all weathers March 17, 2014 The new BMW 435i Convertible is a versatile offering that’s perfect for the temperamental British climate Looking for somewhere that’s warm at this time of year? Well, you can strike Nevada off the list – BMW just launched the new 4 Series Convertible there, and it was freezing. I know, I know – poor old [...]
Not convinced? March 17, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… AUDI S5 CABRIOLET PRICE: £46,500 0-62MPH: 5.4 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 199g/km MPG COMBINED: 33.2mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Two Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Three Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars MERCEDES-BENZ E400 CABRIOLET PRICE: £49,635 0-62MPH: 5.3 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 185g/km MPG COMBINED: 35.8mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three Stars [...]
The Macan is poised for big things March 10, 2014 Porsche’s new luxury SUV could be the motor to finally take the crown from the Range Rover Evoque HAVE you ever visited a car factory? I thought not. I have, many times. Manufacturers are universally keen to show off to the media the millions – billions even – they invest in new car plants. I’m [...]
Not convinced? March 10, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… AUDI RS Q3 PRICE: £43,000 0-62MPH: 5.5 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 206g/km MPG COMBINED: 32.1mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN One Star PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Two Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Two Stars BMW X3 XDRIVE 35D PRICE: £42,900 0-62MPH: 5.8 secs TOP SPEED: 149mph CO2 G/KM: 162g/km MPG COMBINED: 46.3mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Two [...]