Archive Area for the Motor Car Review Section

New BMW 640i Convertible

Heads seemed to swivel and kids tugged at their dad’s sleeve and pointed when I drove down the high street...
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Peugeot 508 SW Active HDi 163

This new offering has a solidity that reflects the aspirations of elegance, robustness and high quality...
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Fiat Punto Evo 1.4

Small, environmentally friendly, easy to park, affordable to run, but stylish, safe and fun to drive too...
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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

The C-Class Coupé sees Mercedes-Benz entering a new market segment and offering a compact, classic coupé...
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Jaguar XJ 3.0 Diesel Portfolio

Jaguars are renowned for their elegant, sporting lines, and the all-new XJ, with its fluid, contemporary style doesn’t disappoint...
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New Peugeot 308

The new Peugeot 308, has a fresh look, pioneering technology and CO2 emissions from just 98 g/km...
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Renault Laguna Sport Tourer

This mile-muncher displays assertive new front-end styling that immediately distinguishes it from its predecessor...
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New Citroen C4 Exclusive HDi 150

Drivers who have no alternative but to use their car might consider investing in the thrifty new Citroën C4...
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New Citroen C4 Exclusive HDi 150

For drivers who have no alternative but to use their car, one of the latest motors to consider investing in is the thrifty new Citroën C4...

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New Kia Picanto

Unsurprisingly, the least expensive cars to buy and run are the small ones, and because demand in this sector is growing, Kia has pulled out all the stops to re-invent the Picanto...

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Audi A1

THE AUDI A1 looks set to continue its dominance of the awards circuit as it celebrates its fifth title of the year – Best Small Car at the 2011 Fleet World Honours, which were held recently...

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Isuzu Rodeo Denver Max Plus

THE RODEO is Isuzu’s answer to the all-American pick-up truck. I say that because I can just picture it doing battle with the rutted farm tracks of the Deep South while banjos play in the distance...

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Subaru WRX STI saloon

THE SUBARU WRX STI is like nothing else on the road. It combines power with precision and rally-bred performance with everyday practicality, putting it in a class of its own...

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VW Passat S 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion Technology 105PS

The VW Passat is a good example of what constitutes a frugal yet upmarket managerial motor, with not only its appearance both inside and out, but the latest technologies to make it one of the most advanced and economical of cars in its class...

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Astra Sports Tourer 1.7CDTi SRi

The Astra possesses a keener drive and greener engines, but it also has a more comfortable cabin with more space. Step inside and the changes are obvious...

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Honda Jazz Hybrid

THE HYBRID version of Honda’s biggest seller – the Jazz – is on sale in the UK now. And, as it is the world’s first B-segment car with this technology, Honda has got a lot to shout about...

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Hyundai ix20 1.4 CRDi Style

Made at Hyundai's newest European plant in Nosovice, Czech Republic, the ix20 is essentially a compact MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) with a healthy dose of fashion and functionality...

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Peugeot 308 CC GT HDi 140

Top speed for the Peugeot 308 CC GT HDi 140 is 129mph and the official 0-62mph time is 11.1 seconds. That’s surprising because the 308 CC feels quicker off the mark...

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Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB MultiAir Lusso

The 1.4 TB MultiAir 170bhp, is a striking car, with a refreshingly innovative shape. Behind the wheel, Alfa's all-new Compact chassis provides the foundations for class-leading ride and handling...

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Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 DI-D Juro

At £16,399 the Lancer 2.0 DI-D special edition Juro should appeal to anyone on a budget who wants a car with a strong, economical diesel engine, a five star safety rating and stacks of kit...

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Maserati GranTurismo S

IT IS not every day that you get people stopping and staring at you when you go for a quick drive into town. But that is exactly what happens if you happen to be sitting behind the wheel of Maserati's GranTurismo S...

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Skoda Octavia vRS Estate

MANY PEOPLE still turn their noses up at Skoda. But it is madness to do that considering the brand is part of the respected VW family...

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Lotus Evora S

THE RENOWNED Norwich sports car manufacturer, Lotus, has gone one step further with its award winning Evora by adding a supercharger to the car’s already very potent 3.5-litre V6 engine...

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Mercedes-Benz SLK 300 (Auto)

The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Roadsters have captured the hearts of sports car enthusiasts since their first appearance in 1997...

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Suzuki Swift SZ4

THE LATEST incarnation of the Swift is short and wide and yet its body appears to be rippling with energy. Inside, things get even better...

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Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi '3 Sat Nav' 2WD

THE NEW Kia Sportage crossover is a far more attractive car than its predecessor. It now looks expensive, but is actually very affordable, and comes with an unbelievably long warranty...

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Citroën DS3 DSport 1.6i 16V 150

It's great to feel 17 years old again. That's how I felt driving the Citroën DS3 – and it's no bad thing because it shows that the French offering is a fun, funky and lively motor...

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Porsche Boxster

The latest generation Boxster roadster is a perfect example of what the German motor manufacturer is all about. It features the flat-six ‘boxer’ engine, developed with new technical features from the ground up, providing more power...

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New Volvo S60 D5 SE LUX Premium

THE ALL-NEW S60 is a four-door coupé; sportier and more distinct than any previous Volvo. But it is not just about looks...

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Honda CR-Z

THE HONDA CR-Z is a low-slung coupé with a healthy respect for the environment. Its Japanese manufacturer has designed and engineered the car for modern, urban living and as the world’s first sporty hybrid...

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BMW 5 Series Touring (520d SE)

THE BMW 5 SERIES TOURING has always existed to be the perfect estate car for a premium car buyer who wants it all. And clearly it is a package that has global appeal...

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Chevrolet Cruze VCDi 2.0 (150) Auto

THE CRUZE, which is underpinned by GM's latest platform, represents a major leap forward for the iconic Chevrolet brand...

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VW Golf Match 2.0-litre TDI 140

I’M NOT going to be very objective about this car review. Why? Because I was a VW Golf addict in my youth and the memory of my 1989 black Golf GTI still lingers....

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Mitsubishi ASX 3 1.8 Diesel 2WD

STANDING FOR Active Sports Crossover, the Mitsubishi ASX is a model that unashamedly pays homage to the massively popular Nissan Qashqai. The car basically blends the merits of a compact hatchback and a condensed SUV into one...

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Saab 9-5 2.8T XWD Aero

THIS IS a car I could easily live with. It’s smooth, fast and very comfortable. The new Saab 9-5 is also fantastically solid and, with all-wheel-drive, it holds the road like a fly sticks to fly-paper...

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Renault Wind Roadster 1.6 133 Dynamique S

PRICED FROM £15,500, the Wind Coupe-Roadster is certainly one of the most affordable open-top cars if you're planning to buy new. With its quick folding roof, Renault's new model is capable of tackling the British climate all-year round...

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SEAT Leon Cupra R

THE LATEST Leon is nothing less than a beast. And it should be - it's the most potent SEAT ever made. The Leon Cupra R sits above the Cupra, and offers a fine-tuned version of its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine...

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Aston Martin Rapide

ATTRACTIVE? More like entrancing. That's the affect the Aston Martin Rapide has on people. Hand on heart, I have never had so many people stop and stare at one of my test cars before...

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Fiat 500C

THE FIAT 500C with its retro roll-back fabric roof and 1.3 start-stop technology diesel engine is a funny little thing...

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New Mazda5

IT'S NOT every day you get a chance to fly to Cornwall, but that's what happened after Mazda insisted on inviting me to test their new Mazda5 at the official UK launch in Newquay on 20 October...

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Peugeot RCZ GT THP 200

LIFE IS a funny old game. You see something you want, but when you get it, you crave something more. Ever felt that way? I get that feeling about the cars I get to test drive quite a lot...

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Mitsubishi Shogun Elegance

THE MUCH improved Mitsubishi Shogun continues to offer buyers an exceptional blend of on and off-road capability, generous equipment levels, comfort, space and luxury and highly competitive pricing...

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Mercedes E220 CDI BlueEfficiency Sports Coupe

I LIKED the exterior of this car better than its interior. The outside is sleek and athletic whilst the inside reminded me of the colour of an NHS walking frame...

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Aston Martin N420

THERE ARE worse things in life than getting lost during a test drive in an Aston Martin. And there are many things worse than being lost driving an N420...

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Alfa Romeo Brera 1750 TBi

THIS IS a slightly schizophrenic car. From the front its shark-like face gives out a menacing vibe, but look at its backside and all the aggression has gone to reveal a fairly tame looking beast...

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Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI CR 140 Elegance

THE SUPERB ESTATE confirms Skoda as one of the world's most innovative and exciting car manufacturers. It is not only the most luxurious car the company has ever built, it is one that sets new standards for quality, practicality, design and value...

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Vauxhall Insignia VXR (Hatchback)

PACKING 325 HORSEPOWER, a sophisticated four-wheel-drive chassis and a sub-six second 0-60 time, Vauxhall’s new Insignia VXR is a true monster of a motor...

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Mazda2 1.3 TS2 3dr

LIGHT AND nippy, the Mazda2 has everything you'd expect from a small car and more. It does well for performance, driveability, fuel economy and attractive pricing, but while ideal as a car for people without children ...

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Lotus Elise (2010)

THE 2010 Lotus Elise has fun written all the way through it like a piece of rock. It’s a gorgeous little number, stripped right down - perfect as a weekend pleasure-machine or ...

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Mitsubishi L200 2.5 DI-D Barbarian DC Auto

MITSUBISHI’S L200 looks a bit of a bruiser at first sight. But once behind the wheel you soon realise that it’s a bit of a softy at heart...

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Honda Accord Type S Tourer

THIS Honda Accord Tourer is undoubtedly better looking than the ungainly older model. The previous saloon version was gorgeous, but I never did like the estate...

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Subaru Legacy Tourer 2.5i SE Lineatronic

I REALLY missed the Subaru Legacy when my loan was over. And I was surprised, because, despite Subaru's legendary rally background, the Legacy looked fairly bland at first sight...

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Jaguar XK Coupe Portfolio

I FELT a lucky guy when Jaguar loaned me their XK Portfolio 2+2 coupe. It is a car I’ve always wanted to drive because it is a beautiful, sleek, sophisticated grand tourer with the heart of a true sports car...

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New Audi A3 Cabriolet TFSI

THE SMALLEST capacity petrol engine ever to power an Audi will help A3 Cabriolet drivers feel they’re doing their bit for the environment this summer...

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New BMW 5 Series saloon

THE SIXTH generation of BMW's executive express convincingly reflects the supreme standard of the world's most successful manufacturer of premium cars throughout the entire process of development...

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Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi Elite

MENTION VAUXHALL ASTRA and eyes tend to glaze over. But that’s only because it’s such a popular car and nothing special in the minds of petrol-heads. This new Astra is different. In fact it is rather special...

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Mazda3 MPS

THIS HOT little devil is basically the XR3i of the Mazda range. Or put it another way, it's to Mazda what the Golf GTI five door hot hatch was to VW in the days when a GTI was something to say 'WOW!' at...

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VW Scirocco R

The VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO that I had on test stood out a mile. In a bright, almost neon-cum-metallic green, the colour actually suited this particular potent model...

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Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed

When the Crewe based firm first told me they would lend me a Bentley, I nearly fell over. It’s hard enough getting Skoda to lend a press car, let alone a car of this high standing...

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The new BMW Z4 sDrive23i

THE BMW Z4 has been around for a little while now and there is no mistaking it for anything but a powerful sports car. It has an aggressive long nose, a straight-six grunt to die for and an archetypal soft folding canvas roof...

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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR SST FQ-330

THE MITSUBISHI Evo is a legendary beast and attracts looks and shouts of admiration from petrolheads wherever you go. That comes as no surprise because the Evolution X is about as understated as a pig in a wig...

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BMW 535i Gran Turismo

THE NEW 5-series Gran Turismo hatchback looks like a peculiar blend of luxury saloon, 4x4 and estate all rolled into one. It has a mean stance, a coupe-like roof line, and an attractive, if rather imposing face...

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage - Lincolnshire Magazine - LincsMag.com

Aston Martin V8 Vantage (Roadster)

EVERY LITTLE lad goes through a stage of excitedly playing with cars and some men, like me, simply don’t grow out of it. The difference is we’re not talking toy cars anymore ...

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Mazda 6 facelift - Lincolnshire Magazine - LincsMag.com

Mazda 6 facelift (2010)

I normally test my cars in England – but stunning Scotland provided the scenery for the recent UK launch of the upgraded Mazda 6 ...

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Clio Renaultsport 200

CLIO RENAULTSPORT 200 – the hot hatch continues to punch well above its weight. Available in 200 Cup or 200 versions, the road car is based very closely on the highly-successful Clio Cup racer.

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Lotus Evora 2+2

Much of my car addiction could be down to growing up in Norwich, only a few miles from the Lotus HQ in Hethel where THE Bond car of the seventies – the Lotus Esprit S1 was made.

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Mercedes-Benz C 180 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY ESTATE SPORT

I HAVE a confession to make – I’m an Audi A4 Avant owner, so that might have clouded my judgement when test driving this very similar sized Mercedes-Benz.

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Lincolnshire Ways