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. ...
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...
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...
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...
Thoroughly revamped Lexus RX heralds swoopier direction for its SUVs
IAIN ROBERTSON It is hard to believe that the RX model from Toyota’s luxury car arm has actually been with us since 1998, reports Iain Robertson, which may signify...
Civic success is Honda driven via the BTCC and Matt Neal
IAIN ROBERTSON While Honda can no longer subscribe to the ‘race on Sunday, sell on Monday’ ethos and its F1 investment consists only of fond Senna memories, highlights Iain...
Do small SUVs have 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...
BMW’s launch frenzy continues with enticing front-driven 1-Series
IAIN ROBERTSON Quite how BMW is able to square its long-standing, rear-driven, ‘ultimate driving machine’ ethos with front-wheel drive technology is something mildly miraculous to Iain Robertson, whose own...
We are all allowed to dream sometimes…especially in Ferrari Red
IAIN ROBERTSON Ferrari has turned a new page in its chronicles, with the introduction of its first series production PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), the SF90 Stradale, reports Iain...
BMW’s ‘big mouth’ now applies to best-selling X1 SUV
IAIN ROBERTSON Whether you like it, or loathe it, BMW’s current craze for enlarging its ‘Double Kidney’ radiator grille signature has found purchase in the latest versions of the...
BMW’s 8-Series whips off its top for high-end titivation
IAIN ROBERTSON Available in just two models, 840d (320bhp diesel), or 850i (530bhp petrol), reports Iain Robertson, the latest BMW 8-Series convertible marries elegance with sporting prowess in a...
Honda Integra Type R.
DAY ONE THE car I’ve been testing this week is something of a personal indulgence. The nice man at Honda asked me if I’d like to try one of...