While I was expecting economy, I certainly wasn’t expecting high levels of refinement or agile performance from the Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion. I’ve previously driven the Polo Bluemotion and, while impressed by its economy, low emissions and driveabllity, it would be a stretch to suggest it was a real driver’s car.

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Tags: Volkswagen,economy

With the launch of the new Volvo S60, the Swedish manufacturer clearly has two messages it wants to get across to potential buyers. Well known for safety, they want to tell the world that they now produce stylish cars. They also want to persuade us that the S60 is a real driver’s car.

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Tags: Volvo,new cars

Vauxhall has ‘set the cat among the pigeons’ with the introduction of a lifetime warranty on all its new cars.

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Tags: Vauxhall

The success of the Mini and the Fiat 500 has led car manufacturers to examine how they could grab a slice of the growing market for ultra-chic superminis. One of the latest to aim for a slice of the action is Citroen with the launch of the DS3.

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Tags: Citroen,Supermini

As I thought about turning into the multi-storey car park, my eye caught the sign: “Maximum Height 6ft 3in”. Fortunately I had checked before and the Land Rover Discovery was 6 foot 4 inches.... clearly this signified a change of plan!

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Tags: LandRover,4x4

Mini is to make a return to rallying with ambitious plans to tackle the World Rally Championship, starting with selected rounds in the 2011 series and a full season in 2012.

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Tags: Motorsport,Mini,Rallying

Audi has taken the wraps of its new Audi A7 Sportback, the German manufacturers challenger in the growing market for four-door saloons with coupé looks.

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Tags: new cars,Audi,executive saloon

I find Peugeot’s numbering system a little bit confusing when it comes to the double zero cars. I can handle 107, 207, 308, 407. But, the 1007 and now the 3008 don’t fit in immediately. That’s probably why the great-looking new Peugeot coupe will use letters RCZ instead of numbers.

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Tags: Peugeot,MPV

I seem to be guilty of having preconceptions of road test cars lately. The prospect of driving a Ford Galaxy for some days left me wondering whether I really wanted to drive a small bus, usually with just myself on board.

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Tags: Ford ,MPV

These are the first official pictures of Land Rover’s new baby Range Rover, released following an exclusive preview in London for guests attending a 40th birthday celebration of Range Rover held in partnership with Vogue magazine.

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Tags: LandRover,4x4

Mini has given its model range a refresh to face the challenge from other current and future entrants into the chic small hatch market niche.

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Tags: Mini

Gordon Murray – best known for his design of the McLaren F1 supercar and Formula 1 racing cars – has turned his attention to designing a radical new city car.

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Tags: new cars,city car

So, you want an estate car with more than a touch of luxury and plenty of space to stretch out? If that is your dream, you may have concluded that you need a mortgage, not a loan, to buy the car to match your needs. Read More...

Tags: Skoda,estate

This is Ford’s updated 2011 Mondeo, which will be launched at the 2010 Moscow International Automobile Salon on August 25, before going on sale in the UK in October.

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Tags: Ford,new cars

The new Škoda Fabia Greenline II will become the most environmentally-friendly car ever to wear the Škoda badge which goes on sale on sale in the UK next week.

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Tags: Skoda,economy,estate

I felt a few decades too old. Ideally I can imagine I should have been in my late teens, or early twenties. Even though it was warm week in summer, I would probably still have my white woolly “skully” crammed onto my head and pulled down over my ears to protect them from the non-existent biting wind.

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Tags: Renault,Sports,Hatch

Just six months ago it looked like Saab was doomed, as reported in my rather blunt, but sad, post ’Saab: The end’.

But, despite everything, here they are and I was handed the keys of the Saab 9-3X Estate. Although the 9-3 has been around for some time, the 9-3X is the four wheel drive version that was just launched at last year’s Geneva Motor Show.

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Tags: Saab,estate,4x4

Six months on from the obituaries, against all the odds Saab is back with a brand new model the new Saab 9-5. Started under the ownership of GM, the new car is launched under its new owners Spyker.

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Tags: Saab,new cars

There’s no doubting the aspirations of the Nissan 370Z. It is clearly aimed at the style conscious sports car market. But, if that makes you think that it is all style and no performance, think again.

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Tags: Nissan,Sportscar,Coupe

Suzuki has released the first images and preliminary information of the new, third generation Swift which will go on sale in the UK in the Autumn.

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Tags: Suzuki,Supermini

Renault has today provided the first glimpse of its latest global family saloon, Latitude.

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Tags: Renault,executive saloon

Oh, dear! I really shouldn’t have preconceptions when I hear what car is coming up next for test. But, being only human, I do. I was prepared for a rather dull and uninspiring time with the Citroen C3 1.6 HDi. But, in actual fact, I found the little car rather endearing.
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Tags: Citroen,economy,Supermini,Hatch

I Was really looking forward to driving the Honda Insight. I had never driven one before – indeed I have never driven a hybrid from anyone other than Toyota (including Lexus). So, when I saw it on the road test list, I was eager to see how it compared.

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Tags: Honda,Hybrids,economy

It is quite a number of years since I last drove the Toyota Prius – the world’s first mass-produced hybrid.

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Tags: Toyota,Hybrids,economy

Suzuki is known in the UK for three things – motorcycles, small cars and small off-roaders.

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Tags: Suzuki,Hatch

Ever since I first saw a Porsche Panamera lurking in San Francisco street, before the launch, I’ve been intrigued as to how practical the rear seats actually are.

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Tags: porsche

Volkswagen has chosen the Leipzig Motor Show to unveil its refreshed Touran compact MPV.

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Tags: new cars,Volkswagen,MPV

These are the first photos and information on the new Ferrari 599 GTO, the company’s fastest-ever road car.



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Tags: Ferrari,Supercar

For the umpteenth time, it was not me! I did not crash the Pagani Zonda. Yes, I know it crashed very near to where I live. Yes, I have been known to write road tests for magazines.

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Kia has recognised the growing customer demand and marketing potential for high economy, low emission ‘eco’-tagged versions of its mainstream models.

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Tags: Kia,economy

At a convivial lunch last week, with fellow motoring writer friends, I was reminded of the occasion when we found that the downside of keyless entry systems. Read More...

Alfa Romeo has revived the Giulietta name for its new five door hatchback. Previously this name was used on the attractive to door coupe produced in the 1950s and then again for a series of saloons produced in the 1970s.

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Tags: Alfa

At the Geneva Motor Show, Bentley announced details of its new Mulsanne, stating that it “reaffirms the marque’s intent to create a new flagship Bentley with refined performance, unparalleled levels of interior luxury and coach building skills to the fore”.

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Tags: Bentley

Audi predicts new A1 e-tron concept on its stand at the Geneva motor show. It has an electric drive system, with backup power produced by a small Wankel engine.

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Tags: Audi,Hybrids,Wankel

Seat took the wraps off its IBE concept car at the Geneva motor show. Described as a compact sports coupe, it is intended to be a zero emission car of the future combining “a sporty and dynamic concept for urban mobility”.

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Tags: Seat,Concept,Hybrids

Vauxhall has revealed its Flexstream GT/E concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. The Flexstream is described as an extended range electric vehicle designed to achieve power without using fossil fuels.
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Tags: Concept,Vauxhall

Our Arctic winter has led to many things being curtailed. Events have been cancelled. Both these, trains and even our own cards have stopped unexpectedly. In my case several times.

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Tags: Seat,Hothatch

The first prototype of Vauxhall’s production Ampera has successfully completed its long-distance drive debut from Rüsselsheim to the Geneva Motor Show. At the wheel for the final leg of the 500-kilometre journey, was Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly.

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Tags: Hybrids,Vauxhall,Opel

The first impressions in the car park were actually quite good. The Chevrolet Cruze looked sharp. It looks distinctive and, in a land of hatchbacks, it stands out by being a saloon.

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Tags: Chevrolet,Saloon

Audi say they have ‘shrink-wrapped everything they stands for to create the new A1’. This is their first small hatchback since the Audi A2 and it will be launched at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

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Tags: Audi,new cars,Supermini

Nissan has unveiled the new Juke, some weeks before its official launch at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Following the lead its sibling, Qashqai, the Juke is styled to have the appeal of an SUV, but most models will be only front-wheel-drive.

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Tags: Nissan,new cars,4x4

Volkswagen’s second generation Touareg has been unveiled and the new car has been on a diet, loosing no less than 200 kg. To help improve its green credentials the new Touareg is up to 20% more fuel efficient than its prececessor and there is also a hybrid version.

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Tags: new cars,Volkswagen,4x4

The intention is that Spyker Cars NV will change its name to Saab Spyker Automobiles NV, with two separate operating companies – Spyker and Saab – focussed on their own particular markets and their own vehicle lines. Read More...

Tags: Saab,Spyker

General Motors Company and Spyker Cars N.V, late yesterday confirmed the details of a binding agreement over the transfer of ownership of Saab Automobile AB of Trollhättan, Sweden.

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Tags: Saab,Spyker

The long-expected Mini 4x4 crossover has been announced today. The new Mini Countryman is not only the first MIni to offer four wheel drive, it is also the first with four passenger doors (the Clubman has three passenger doors, the third controversially being on the “wrong” side for the the UK).

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Tags: Mini,4x4,SUV,new cars

The next-generation Ford Focus has been unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

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Tags: Ford,new cars,Hatch

It was in 1810 that Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frédéric Peugeot turned their father’s cereal mill into a steel foundry and took the Peugeot family into the industrial era.

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Tags: Peugeot,Concept

Spyker Cars, of The Netherlands, today confirmed it has made a revised offer to General Motors for the acquisition of Saab Automobile AB.

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Tags: Saab,Spyker,GM