Dacia, whether pronounced ‘Dacier’, or ‘Datcher’, is an automotive gift
IAIN ROBERTSON Every industry needs its ‘Poundstretcher’, its entry-level to whichever, to gain market traction and to provide a perception of good value, where none may exist, and Iain...
Drop the ‘premium’ label, Mondeo-class is now ruled by Merc C-Class
IAIN ROBERTSON It does not take miraculous juggling of figures to see that the UK’s medium sector is now dominated by the ‘Teutonic Trinity’, writes Iain Robertson, which begs...
Can a 13-year-old Ford Fiesta be a viable daily runabout?
IAIN ROBERTSON Collecting a notionally clean and well-equipped ‘oldie’ to operate for a few months filled Iain Robertson with intrepidation (and nervousness), not least because his predominant experiences of...
An Easter Egg par excellence
IAIN ROBERTSON One of the most desirable ‘objets d’art’ in the world is the much-famed Faberge Egg, created originally for Russian royalty, states Iain Robertson, which has been commissioned...
Polestar explains its Precept(s) in judicious detail – Part 2
IAIN ROBERTSON Whether you regard the Polestar Precept as a concept, or not, continues Iain Robertson, its role as a preconception-buster is much in evidence and having looked...
Polestar explains its Precept(s) in judicious detail – Part 1
IAIN ROBERTSON Having aired his concerns about Volvo offshoot (Polestar), which professed to be as much of an automotive disrupter, if not more so, than Tesla, Iain Robertson has...
Hyundai’s hydrogen car beats all expectations
IAIN ROBERTSON Hindered by a lack of refuelling infrastructure, not aided by poor public perception about the storage of hydrogen gas, let alone its sourcing as a by-product of...
Audi redefines the large SUV sector with RS version of the Q8
IAIN ROBERTSON Hot on the heels of its main rival Merc, highlights Iain Robertson, Audi has revamped its Q8 with a blisteringly rapid variant that will demand a driver...
Book Reviews
IAIN ROBERTSON There has seldom been a more apposite time to highlight the latest automotive books worth reading than now, states Iain Robertson, and you can order copies direct...
More than ‘sneak preview’, Mitsubishi reveals its all-new Mirage, at last!
IAIN ROBERTSON As a member of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, highlights Iain Robertson, it might have been fair for Mitsubishi to lean on its partners during the development of its...
AM reveals its DBX hand that promises substantial grand touring potential
IAIN ROBERTSON With first UK deliveries expected in late-spring 2020, the £158,000 Aston Martin five-seater should provide a vital rescue line for the prestigious British sporting car manufacturer and...
Recycling results in Renault’s ‘plastic’ upholstery (on the Zoe EV at least)
IAIN ROBERTSON While it may take time, largely due to the development of new machinery, reports Iain Robertson, when the motor industry invests in its eco-future, it can do...
Seat’s first all-electric Mii is ready to be ordered now (delivery: March 2020)
IAIN ROBERTSON Although potential buyers will not see their cars until the end of March 2020, reports Iain Robertson, based on the same technology as the VW up! and...
BMW takes 3-Series and reinforces its staple proposition
IAIN ROBERTSON With more emphasis on ‘M-Sport’ elements than ever, writes Iain Robertson, BMW already knows how to turn a cute profit but, with the launch version of its...
New 208 elevates Peugeot style in compact class-leading manner
IAIN ROBERTSON Nobody ever said that small cars had to be tedious to encounter, writes Iain Robertson, which is central to his fascination for the new 208 that introduces...
“Isolation…that’s the name of the game!”
IAIN ROBERTSON Donning his best gold lame jacket, stage smile and sparkling teeth, Iain Robertson reflects on a government enforced staycation, at home, along with pretty much the rest...
Lap of luxury A8 adopts plug-in electrification as Audi’s top model
IAIN ROBERTSON Having committed to a major electrification programme, the latest model to make the conversion is Audi’s senior league, super luxury contender, the A8, which Iain Robertson describes...
Kill ‘Designer Desire’ and you kill pollution, kill ailments and foster life
IAIN ROBERTSON While it may sound extreme, there is much truth attached to the impact that humans have on their environment and, when Iain Robertson is informed about one...
Alfa leans on Sauber and ‘in-house’ Ferrari for hottest Giulia of them all
IAIN ROBERTSON Trawling through 110 years of history to replicate a fascination of half that age is either Latin folly, or limited production genius, highlights Iain Robertson, as he...
All hail Skoda’s approach to mainstream modernity and its Octavia model!
IAIN ROBERTSON No less than ‘seven million’ Octavia models have rolled off the production lines at Skoda’s Mlada Boleslav factory since 1996 and Iain Robertson, both as a former...
Japanese Art of Kaizen displayed in latest Audi RS4 Avant
IAIN ROBERTSON Kaizen defines as the oriental art of ‘continuous improvement’ and, suggests Iain Robertson, we appear to have been inundated this year by continuously updated and improved versions...
Why bother buying, when lying is the alternative in the eco-transport arena?
IAIN ROBERTSON According to recent research commissioned by Kia Motors, no less than seven in 10 Brits feel pressured by family and friends to be more eco-friendly, reports Iain...
The brilliant city-car madness of the new Fiat 500!
IAIN ROBERTSON Fiat-Chrysler Group (FCA) may be in a parlous position at present, with Gallic PSA Group lingering like a vulture awaiting its next meal, but Iain Robertson has...
Citroen returns to naming basics with the ‘plugliest’ duckling ever
IAIN ROBERTSON There is no hope of the latest Ami transforming into a beautiful swan, yet Iain Robertson believes that, once the retch reflex relaxes, its EV access...
New Octavia vRS adopts a PHEV route to Skoda eco-contentedness
IAIN ROBERTSON While the pictures are just teaser quality, the actual shots being heavily embargoed until Press Day at Geneva, Iain Robertson assures you that the forthcoming Octavia vRS...
AT-32, for when tough is not tough enough and Nissan manages the rough
IAIN ROBERTSON With memories of ‘Let’s off-road!’ ringing in his ears and worries that our snowflake generation has developed male appendage issues, Iain Robertson contemplates a manlier transport proposition...
Hyundai nails its i20 colours to the sensuously sporty mast
IAIN ROBERTSON As the parent of the South Korean Hyundai-Kia company, writes Iain Robertson, Hyundai has a constant internal battle to strengthen its role, while introducing purposeful new models...
A1 Citycarver adds another string to Audi’s bow, not that it needs one
IAIN ROBERTSON Never mind ‘what’s in a name’, what’s with the urban SUV look, asks Iain Robertson, who feels that the renowned German brand may be taking one step...
Kia divides opinion with duplicitous new Sorento
IAIN ROBERTSON Accepting that styling can be very deceptive, as well as being subjective, Iain Robertson feels that the latest large SUV from Kia, set to be introduced at...
Leon sales success leads to all-new Cupra line-up for Seat’s pinnacle brand
IAIN ROBERTSON Admitting that he should avoid the ‘S’ word in conjunction with the Spanish firm’s upmarket, high-performance, niche aspirations, Iain Robertson is concerned that bolstering the new ‘C’...
Leon undergoes comprehensive evolution for revitalised Seat
IAIN ROBERTSON Provided with an early opportunity to review the latest Seat Leon, Iain Robertson admits that it took a ‘double-take’ to appreciate that it is a completely new...
The devil’s in the details and the all-new Toyota Yaris proves it
IAIN ROBERTSON Having already provided a glimpse of Toyota’s forthcoming rally weapon, Iain Robertson is delighted to reveal the rest of the Yaris line-up, which is the first application...
Drawn to T-Roc R? VW might have a less trendy, less costly option to consider.
IAIN ROBERTSON You cannot blame carmakers from wanting to make a buck, states Iain Robertson, but trendiness carries invariably a premium and, with T-Roc R running just shy of...
New Audi RS4 could be an admirable ‘dinosaur’ from the Bronze Age
IAIN ROBERTSON It is a strictly limited-edition model, of just 25 examples, priced from a whopping £82,395, but Iain Robertson is tickled pink that Audi is adopting a defiant...
Origami ID.3 may have insufficient identity for the VW brand
IAIN ROBERTSON As the biggest car company in the world, Volkswagen has a notional responsibility to lead the new car market, opines Iain Robertson, although he is concerned that...
Merc indulges in diesel with its latest GLE/GLC plug-in hybrids
IAIN ROBERTSON In a genuine case of ‘if Merc doesn’t know better, nobody will’, writes Iain Robertson, its latest hybrid development relies on diesel as its core resource, while...
Back-to-basics for brilliant Jazz will pay dividends to Honda
IAIN ROBERTSON Convinced that Honda has actually heard his criticisms and pleas over the past couple of decades, Iain Robertson delights in the latest Jazz model, which winds back...
With new 3-Series Touring, BMW polishes an untarnished and popular model
IAIN ROBERTSON Popularity counts for a lot in today’s new car scene and the BMW 3-Series Touring, of which over 500,000 examples of the previous iteration found contented homes,...
No surprises from Mitsubishi, with its latest bargain basement Mirage
IAIN ROBERTSON It is an inescapable fact that some new car buyers just want a cheap motorcar and, suggests Iain Robertson, with Suzuki having withdrawn its ‘not so green’...
Honda adopts a different and defiantly attractive slant to the ‘EVolution’
IAIN ROBERTSON Japanese carmaker Honda has performed a magical ‘volte face’ with its all-electric contender for mini-car honours, states Iain Robertson, and it is one that reflects everything unsurprisingly...