Fiat Borrows Mini Strategy To Sell High Margin Small Cars. Initial Public Reaction Suggests 500 May Succeed. Will 500 Make It To The U.S.? That’s Maybe A Bridge Too Far. BMW inaugurated the formula with the Mini. If you make a car loveable enough, and fashionable enough, the public will buy it, even if it […]
In The U.S. At Least, Not Such A Big Price Contrast. Make The Choice Before Environmental. Gauleiters Take It Away. From the sublime to the ridiculous. Beauty and the Beast. Little and Large. Hobson’s choice. One week I was driving the tiny little Smart city car around the highways and byways of Sussex, and the […]
Prettiest Small Car Ever? If The Looks Don’t Get You, The Monster Guarantee Will. Pro Ceed Looks Good, Drives Well, With Quality Build. ISTANBUL, Turkey The Nissan Qashqai has proved that a car can be successful, despite having a silly name. So any annoyance generated by the Kia Pro Ceed’s ditzy title should be put […]
BlueMotion Offers Amazing Economy, At A Price. Little Diesel Does What It Says On The Tin; Well, Almost. The most impressive thing about the VW Polo BlueMotion happened when I calculated the fuel economy. After about 200 miles of a journey towards Oxford and back, which included some 90 mph cruising, the little car not […]
Fast, Spartan Ride, Expensive. Intriguing Diesel Range Combines Frugality With Performance. Faster than a Porsche Cayman S; too pricey for boy-racers. *** out of 5 I’ve always disliked small, souped up machines, not least because of the way they seem to force you into driving like an idiot. I can remember taking my rather sedate Citroen […]
Handsome Smoothie Threatens BMW Hegemony. Powerful, Sophisticated Diesel Makes V8 Redundant. Design Changes Improve Handling; Exterior Makes BMW Look Dumpy. **** out of 5 The new Audi A5 is simply beautiful, with graceful, sweeping athletic lines which forsake ostentation. At least most of it is. Someone at Audi headquarters forgot to tell the design team responsible […]
A Race-Bred Stunner, Audi R8 Set To Storm Supercar Sector. Low-slung, mid-engine, 4-wheel drive coupe limpet-like on the road. Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar Will Be Under Pressure. ***** out of 5 “Most powerful engine, highest revving engine, highest maximum speed, best acceleration, and best power to weight ratio” LE CASTELLET, France Audi’s new R8 mid-engined, four-wheel drive, […]
Automatic Steel Roof Replaces Ragtop. Usual Compromises: Restricted Boot, Passenger Space. Leather Seats Which Reflect The Sun Will Keep You Cool. Great Engines, Handling Will Keep The Customers Satisfied. **** out of 5 VALENCIA, Spain The new BMW 3-Series Convertible is two faced. With the steel roof automatically stowed away (press the button on the centre […]
Massive, Comfortable, Capable; Soon To Be A Dodo? Diesel Engine Provides Reasonable Economy, Excellent Performance. Q7 And Its Ilk In The Crosshairs Of Environment Bullyboys. Don’t Worry Though-Hybrid SUVs To The Rescue. **** out of five “Even big diesel SUVs like the Range Rover, Mercedes ML and Audi Q7 are branded as evil, even though […]
