The Power of Four
The name is confusing. You are not the only person to think so. Despite the “CC” badge, this model is neither convertible nor coupé. VW calls it a “Comfort Coupé” – a car that boasts four doors, four seats and a spacious boot. Sounds to be ticking all the practical considerations of a normal saloon, yet it also has the elegance and sporty appeal of a coupé - a win-win formula, right?
SNAP
Unless you were raised like a Walton’s child or had a can too many Red Bulls at lunchtime, you don’t often find yourself smiling and waving at strangers just because they’re driving the same car but the Fiat 500 is proudly Italian and therefore emotion is good!
Drug Money
Over at Stuttgart we suspect they can cure all the afflictions of our modern world…stress, greed, loneliness…even ‘not another special edition syndrome…’ but releasing one soul plugging Porsche-shaped Super pill all at once would never have made them the most profitable manufacturer in the galaxy.
Photos by: Andy Morgan
SIBLING RIVALRY
SEAT has always been the Jamie Murray when compared to VW but recent evidence suggests it is going to be hard to beat down. Its new Ibiza for example, now in its fourth generation really has its eye on the ball when it comes to growth and consistency.
Love Triangle
The old rotary engines were complicated, high maintenance and the short installments of pleasure they gave (after each fuel station visit) were followed by long lulls without any cash flow. The RX-8 sorted the upkeep issues and now the new R3 version has promised to cut ownership costs so how can your other half possible complain about this third party?
Spice Up Your Life
It’s the legal export from Mexico which will leave you wired and ready for more
No more excuses
Jaguar has been in the last chance saloon more times than it’s actually launched one. Finally, in the XF it’s got one that can deliver.
LIGHT ENTERTAINER
Universally praised for reversing the tide of ever weightier superminis, the Mazda2 loses a couple of doors and a few more kilograms to gain even more dynamism.
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MONOPOLY
Fiat’s new Eco Bravo has the Monopoly on London driving; from October every time it passes ‘Go’ it will be saving £8 a day on congestion and to tax it only costs £35 a year.
From the sublime to the sensible
After topping the range with the latest M3 convertible, BMW kicks it off with a new entry-level 3-series diesel convertible.
ON THE UP
It’s upped its power, its price and its fuel economy figures but has the wacky little Twingo become too serious and is it too late?
LIFE CHANGING
Most of us won’t be winning X-Factor anytime soon, neither will we strike an oil well in our back garden or produce the next Einstein off-spring but we might cross paths with a Radical SR4
BECAUSE WE CAN
The Tourareg R50 is very much the rebel in the VW camp, in fact there is nothing Bluemotion about it. Presence and power are its two primary assets and it shows that it can be just as starry as any of its premium brand peers.
Plain Sailing
Vauxhall is ready for a new boom in sales now that it has cut loose its plain-Jane Vectra; check out the new Insignia replacement which will be launched at the British Motor Show this July
FOOL ME
What better machine to convince the ladies you’re a bad-boy than the 300C SRT? Now with a more expensive trim, flash standard equipment and a diesel engine with improved economy, this Rolls-Royce look-a-like is a bit of a steal…
Waste Not, Want Not
Slowly the Americanism of bigger is better is starting to fade out and in its place are more realistic, useable machines that are suitable for our roads and our driving demands…
WHISKED AWAY
Exotic; well perhaps not but the driving quarters of the Peugeot 407 coupe are very Four star and the general refinement is a stress buster in itself…
Peace Keeper
Audi has come up with the perfect solution to evade taxes and still revel in opulence; under the gun it developed a 2.8-litre FSi petrol engine for the A8 model which emits only 199g/km. But does it still have an iron fist under its pretty green glove?
GET YOUR OWN BACK
Chuck it away as many times as you like but your still going to get it back – and you’ll pay for the privilege. Not only is it the UK’s first ever fully electric car, it’s also 95% recyclable. So get your tie-dyes on and join the movement!
SAFE BET
With F1 now back on our screens, I’m betting you’ve caught a glimpse of the new Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG safety car and fancied a few laps in it yourself.
