Audi’s blockbuster RS6 is back, in grand Avant style
IAIN ROBERTSON No single motorcar of the past quarter of a century has impressed Iain Robertson as much as the Audi RS6 Avant and the all-new, imperious, ‘master of...
Why Gareth Butterfield thinks the current Range Rover is the best car in the world
AS a motoring journalist I’m frequently asked what I think the best car in the world is. It’s not an easy question to answer. For instance, if I wanted...
New Skoda Kamiq demonstrates that bland may have hidden talents
IAIN ROBERTSON We were the first to preview Skoda’s new urban runabout earlier this year, writes Iain Robertson, and now we bring you more details of this underwhelming newcomer...
It is about time Vauxhall got Corsa right, after five generations…
IAIN ROBERTSON When the first 1993 Vauxhall Corsa was landed in the UK, reports Iain Robertson, it was based on the Opel Corsa and marked a pan-European model change...
Have you ever wondered just how fast, or furious, is the most successful movie series of all time?
IAIN ROBERTSON We all love movies that feature fast cars and chases, states Iain Robertson, which has made movies like Bullitt, Gone in 60 Seconds and The French Connection...
A Mini Celebration
Photos courtesy of Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography It was back to the 1960s for the 60th birthday of the iconic Mini. Ann Evans reports. ...
Five books worth reading
IAIN ROBERTSON Not sure whether the bookbinding is indicative of something, only one of this batch of titles reviewed by Iain Robertson features a hardback cover but do not...
Audi makes e-tron 50 even more affordable
IAIN ROBERTSON One of the biggest barriers to the uptake rate of EVs is astronomically steep price tags, reports Iain Robertson, but Audi, which normally does not shirk from...
Mercedes-Benz reveals value-for-money GLB
IAIN ROBERTSON Every now and then, writes Iain Robertson, a new model arrives (or will do, this December) that makes you step back in amazement but demands a closer...
Gareth Butterfield thinks Renault has finally hit the sweet spot with its Koleos SUV
WHEN Renault last brought the “Koleos” name to the market it was a bit ahead of its time. SUV buyers in those days were either being called “Chelsea Tractor”...
Is space the final frontier? It might be for Skoda and its Superb Scout
IAIN ROBERTSON It takes a lot to get Iain Robertson to make intense pronouncements about some new cars but, having watched the development of Skoda’s largest model, he is...
Taxi Noir: The Knowledge
Last time I promised to say more about the training that prospective London taxi drivers have to go through: the Knowledge of London. Right, fasten yourself in, it’s going...
Let’s dispense with the ‘FREE Electricity’ myth…
IAIN ROBERTSON Tesla has not exactly been helpful to the EV industry, writes Iain Robertson, by announcing that its Models S and X will be provided with FREE electricity,...
Vauxhall is expanding its (PSA) product portfolio like never before
IAIN ROBERTSON Addlicted by both ‘difficult’ news and news of entirely new models, writes Iain Robertson, the brand formerly known as Vauxhall (of Luton; a division of General Motors...
Renault dares to thrill with new Megane RS Trophy-R
IAIN ROBERTSON There was a time, recalls Iain Robertson, when Ford Motor Company was deeply entrenched in motorsports and reflected its involvement in celebratory versions of its road cars,...
Gareth Butterfield says taking the Suzuki Jimny for a spin was well worth the wait
I’VE had to wait a long time to review this car. And that’s not because they’re rare, it’s because journalists have been queuing up to try it. Suzuki’s Jimny...
Latest Q7 adopts tech-upgrades made by Audi on the coupe-like Q8
IAIN ROBERTSON Life has been hectic at Audi of late, with new models seemingly being introduced every other week, writes Iain Robertson, but what might appear slightly chaotic is...
Corolla comeback hastens demise of conventional cars
IAIN ROBERTSON As one of the elder statesmen of the oriental fold, reports Iain Robertson, the decades old Corolla is a mass-market badge that has seldom excited but has...
Kia still produces a shining light in Sportage, despite a profusion of SUVs
IAIN ROBERTSON Recently upgraded, although you need to look closely to see the details, highlights Iain Robertson, the latest Kia Sportage serves to reinforce an image that is presently...
Seat Mii in FR trim is ideal for the ‘I, me, mine’ generation!
IAIN ROBERTSON Kick-starting 2011 with a trio of magnificent city cars, known loosely as the ‘up-Mii-Citigo’ generation, reports Iain Robertson, was a tremendous product platform for VW Group and...
The C5 Aircross, Citroen’s new foray into the world of the family crossover (yes, another niche we probably didn’t see coming)
SOME cars have comfortable seats. Others have comfortable suspension. The C5 Aircross, Citroen’s new foray into the world of the family crossover (yes, another niche we probably didn’t...
Ford celebrates its Motorway Patrol role in classic fashion
IAIN ROBERTSON While Ford Motor Company is under fire again for closing its engine manufacturing plant in Swansea, writes Iain Robertson, its UK-based PR team wheeled out a couple...
The Car. The Future. Me.
Ann Evans reports on the latest events at The British Motor Museum, Gaydon. There’s always so much going on at The British Motor Museum at...
Taxi Noir: An Introduction
I offer a warm welcome to anyone about to read my first introductory piece – and of course a big Hello to my fellow contributors. My name is Chris...
Bentley feels proud to be ‘British’ in setting new US hillclimb record
IAIN ROBERTSON Unlike its former stablemate, Rolls-Royce, at least Bentley can claim that it still designs, develops and produces complete cars in the UK, highlights Iain Robertson, as the...
Introducing its 3rd-gen solus Soul sold in the UK, Kia builds EV status
IAIN ROBERTSON Amazingly, this is the third generation of the ground-breaking Kia Soul, which was in the vanguard of all-electric motorcars in 2014, writes Iain Robertson, and which has...
VOLVO’S new design direction
VOLVO’S new design direction really isn’t that “new” any more. It was the XC90 SUV that first introduced us to what would become an entirely new look for the...
BMW beguiles the Mini buying market with promising EV
IAIN ROBERTSON Owned and engineered by BMW and possessing more motoring clichés than might be healthy, highlights Iain Robertson, it is easy to be cynical about the latest Mini...
THE XV is Subaru’s smallest SUV.
THE XV is Subaru’s smallest SUV. They’re good at this sort of thing – building capable, solid and dependable off-roaders, and the XV is probably one of the lesser-known...
Ford Focus vastly improved with Sporting Technologies
IAIN ROBERTSON While having been left ‘unmoved’ by the basic Ford Focus, reports Iain Robertson, the significantly more focused ST variant continues a positive stance, from where the previous...
He’s only gone and acquired one! The latest Suzuki Vitara 1.0SZ-T
IAIN ROBERTSON Having raved about the Vitara model since its inception, it was only a matter of time before Iain Robertson would commit his own funds to acquiring an...
New Compass points at progressive future for Jeep brand
IAIN ROBERTSON Pitched into a hectic mid-size SUV sector, writes Iain Robertson, may be a good reason for the notionally right-sized Compass model to be up against it but...
Small SUVs on the market usually have all the personality of a toast rack.
ONE of the problems I have with the endless range of small SUVs on the market is that they usually have all the personality of a toast rack. There...
Seat is a car company with a classic past that has an equally vital future
IAIN ROBERTSON For the first time in its history, Seat transported three of its immaculate classic models to the UK and allowed Iain Robertson the opportunity to be whisked...
Seat infusion reveals intriguing future shift for Spanish brand
IAIN ROBERTSON Indulging in Seat’s current Tour of Europe, Iain Robertson spent time with its products, its managers and its history, which not simply proved the investment in the...
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Smart ForTwo!
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Smart ForTwo. It’s a cute and cool two-seater with famously diminutive proportions, unique road manners and plenty of trademark “quirks”. This,...
Bring on the Seat Leon Cupra R ST, tuned by ABT for a mere £500!
IAIN ROBERTSON No, you are not misreading the headline…Seat has extended its Cupra might to the final run of ‘normal’ Seats to carry the name, reports Iain Robertson, as...
A touch of ‘Old Skool’ makes Kia Ceed GT a best-in-breed by far!
IAIN ROBERTSON Reflecting on the current crop of GTi-class hatchbacks, states Iain Robertson, can lead to bamboozlement in its rivals’ race for increasing potency but, if you desire a...
VOLVO’S new design direction really isn’t that “new” any more.
It was the XC90 SUV that first introduced us to what would become an entirely new look for the Swedish brand and that, believe it or not, was back...
Zest, class and comfort in abundance with Audi SQ2
IAIN ROBERTSON Consumer choice has never been broader in the still growing compact SUV/crossover market segment, highlights Iain Robertson, although Audi really knows how to turn on the style...