BMW X3 M50 review: hot family SUV hits the spot Life&Style The X3 has been part of BMW’s range since 2003. That means brand purists have been grumbling about this compact SUV (or ‘SAV’ in BMW-speak) for more than two decades. Clearly, as it launches a new fourth-generation model, BMW feels differently. The X3 consistently ranks as one of the best-selling models in its range. Perhaps [...]
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross review: The tough truck with a soft side Life&Style Isuzu had its best year to date for new vehicle sales in 2024, with more than 6,500 examples of the D-Max pickup finding homes in the UK. However, the Japanese marque could face a tougher challenge in future, thanks to changes to how double cab pickup trucks are treated by HMRC. The changes make double [...]
James May and Richard Hammond race an aeroplane in a Porsche Life&Style Richard Hammond and James May have reinvented one of Top Gear‘s most famous on-screen challenges with a unique cross-country race. In a new 20-minute video, filmed for Hammond’s DriveTribe channel, the duo pitch a high-performance Porsche against a small aircraft. A clever twist is that both the plane and car – a Porsche Taycan Turbo [...]
Rolls-Royce celebrates 100 years of its flagship Phantom May 2, 2025 The Rolls-Royce Phantom celebrates an important birthday this month, 100 years after the luxury saloon was first introduced. Now into its eighth generation, the Phantom has long been the flagship of the British marque’s range. It has also earned an important place in automotive history. Although the Rolls-Royce Phantom saw breaks in production during the [...]
Mini Cooper SE 2025 review: Minimum emissions, maximum fun February 24, 2025 Cast your mind back to 2001. As a new millennium got underway, the Mini brand was dramatically relaunched under BMW ownership, starting with the first-generation Mini hatchback. Time has moved quickly, with the Mini now into its fourth generation. Electrification is now core to the range, with the latest Mini available in both petrol and [...]
New Spectre Black Badge is the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever February 18, 2025 Rolls-Royce has unveiled a new, performance-focused Black Badge version of its electric Spectre coupe. The Black Badge arrives in response to unprecedented customer demand, as the British company prepares to invest £300 million in its Goodwood headquarters. Chris Brownridge, chief executive at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “Black Badge Spectre is one of the clearest statements [...]
New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster will be ready for the summer January 16, 2025 Aston Martin seems to be on a roll at present, with a raft of new and updated sports cars launched during the past 12 months. Following in the tyre tracks of the mid-engined Valhalla hypercar, limited-edition Valiant and new V12 Vanquish, the latest arrival from this British marque is the 2025 Vantage Roadster. Based on [...]
Skoda Superb iV Estate review: A family car with no compromises January 14, 2025 Finding a family estate used to be an easy process, with almost every car manufacturer offering a ‘longroof’ version of its hatchback or saloon models. Fast-forward to the present day, however, and finding a new wagon can feel trickier than having a balanced argument on social media. We can thank the exponential rise of the [...]
Polestar 2 review: Popular premium EV now tops 400 miles January 13, 2025 First launched in 2022, the Polestar 2 was the first fully electric model from the Chinese-owned Swedish brand. However, things move fast in the EV market, so Polestar has given its stylish crossover a substantial overhaul. The Polestar 2 faces a lot more competition than when it initially went on sale. The market for electric [...]
Rolls-Royce to invest £300m in Goodwood as buyers go bespoke January 8, 2025 Luxury car maker Rolls-Royce has announced a £300 million boost for its Goodwood headquarters. The investment represents the largest injection of capital since the West Sussex factory opened in 2003. Originally home to 300 staff, the Goodwood facility started out by building one car per day. Now more than 2,500 people work at the ‘Home [...]
