Make and Model Blog

Slow Down Move Over

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Traffic jams, they usually happened at inopportune moments. You’re either on your way to an event or running late for a meeting. What’s certain is they are an irritation to everyone. At moments like these has the thought “I’d love to just nip down the hard shoulder” ever crossed your mind?

“Rubber necking” an unusual, uncontrollable human phenomenon which, no matter how hard you try to resist, still automatically happens whenever you pass an accident. Have you ever had that feeling, an almost gravitational pull where you head swivels over your left shoulder as you pass an unfortunate incident, then you realise the car in front has stopped and no matter how hard you pump the (likely ABS) brakes it feels like you’re never going to stop?

Did you answer yes to either of these? I’m pretty sure most people did.

What most of weren’t thinking about at the time was the emergency services or roadside patrols potentially working in the road or on the hard shoulder at the time. Guys and girls putting their own lives in danger to help others.

The Slow Down Move Over campaign has just gone live and is looking to address this. Their message is as follows:

We are asking for a change to the laws that apply to drivers to make it mandatory for road users to slow down and move over to the next lane on a dual carriageway or motorway when they see an emergency services or recovery vehicle on the hard shoulder with its emergency warning lights illuminated.

This law has already been implemented in certain states in the USA and Slow Down Move Over are asking for a similar statutory change to the Highway Code / Road Traffic Act combined with an awareness campaign to make the hard shoulder safer for roadside workers.

If you wish to sign the e-petition please click here.

Ferrari F12Berlinetta - The Fastest Ferrari Ever Built

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Today Maranello unveiled the F12Berlinetta ahead of it's official debut at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show. It is being touted as the first in a new generation of Ferrari V12s and wow, what a way to start!! The powerplant will be an all new V12, delivering unprecedented performance, it has been designed with extreme aerodynamics and classic themes.

Ferrari continue to innovate and they have revolutionised their traditional transaxle layout. The wheelbase is shorter and the seats, dash and engine sit lower in the chassis assisting the extreme performance of the F12Berlinetta. The layout of the rear suspension and gearbox have enabled Ferrari engineers to reduce the rear volume of the car, resulting in a more compact car with a lower centre of gravity.

It looks absolutely stunning (as you'd expect from a new Ferrari) and appears to be a worthy replaced for the 599. Key specifications are:

Engine

Type: 65-degree V12
Total displacement: 6262 cc
Maximum power output: 740 CV at 8500 rpm
Maximum torque: 690 Nm at 6000 rpm

Dimensions

Length: 4618 mm
Width: 1942 mm
Height: 1273 mm

Performance

Maximum speed: over 340 km/h
0-100 km/h: 3.1 seconds

James's Weekly Chatter - 24th February 2012

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

A 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO has become the UK’s most valuable car and very nearly the most expensive car in the world. Selling for a cool £20,200,000 it made its previous owner a princely profit as it was bought in 2008 for £15.7 million. Only 39 250 GTO’s were ever produced and all were hand made. As a result there are no two the same. Official BHP figures were “around 300” and with an 174mph top speed, it was the car of its generation. Unfortunately there are no press pictures so I thought I'd share a video instead, enjoy!

BMW have unveiled their new M6 which will be available as a coupe and convertible. The new model will be the most powerful super coupe in BMW's history and will use the same powerplant as the F10 M5 which goes on sale this summer, producing 560 horsepower and 501 lb-ft of torque (680 Nm) at 1500 rpm. The 0 to 62 mph acceleration takes 4.4 seconds and its top speed has been limited to 155 mph, but with the M Driver’s Package, the vehicle can reach 190 mph. BMW also claim the new M6 is a third less thirsty than before, quoting a 28.5mpg combined economy figure. They will both make their maiden appearance at next month's Geneva Motor Show. Check out the pictures below:

BMW M6 Convertible

BMW M6 Coupe

Staying with the Geneva Motor Show and another car set to make its debut is the the Nissan Invitation Concept. The production model will launched with a sub-100g/km CO2 engine and will go on sale with the Micra and Juke from 2013, no word yet on price.

Finally this week is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's the new Bentley Continental V8! Last week it made its eagerly awaited public debut in Munich, flown by a helicopter to the city's SkyLounge. Lets be honest here there's no better way to announce the V8's arrival than to fly it over the nation of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi and drop it onto one of the country's most stunning landmarks!

Have a good weekend!

Porsche 911 (991)

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

So I read before Christmas that the new Porsche 911 (991) was soon to be hitting our shelves and without exception all of the reviews seemed to be pretty positive. With looks faithful to the bloodline, staggering performance and improved economy, the boys at Stuttgart seemed to have delivered the goods yet again.

Over the years, Porsche have set the benchmark and managed to reboot pretty much the same formula generation after generation. Nothing has quite quickened the pulse of petrolheads like a new edition of this rear-engined German icon. This time however, the new Porsche is coming up against the threat of a double-dip recession in large parts of the developed world and increases in fuel and motoring taxes. The success of the 991's predecessor (the 997) was partly due to it being a fabulous car, that shook off some of the doubters that had accumulated during the 996's tenure. But more importantly, its arrival coincided with the early stages of one of the biggest bull markets in economic history.

Living and working in London over the last 8 years, I can testify for this explosion in 911 ownership. Particularly in the City and Canary Wharf, one could be find oneself surrounded by the little coupes when stuck in stationary traffic. Drivers would look around in rush hour and cringe to see three carbon copies of their car everywhere they turned. I know exactly how embarrassing it was too, because I was once one of those drivers! Having saved and worked hard I was lucky enough to be in a position where I could “relieve” Porsche Solihull of a 997 Carrera 2S in 2007. As a new Porsche owner I felt full of pride and self-importance as I drove home. A few days later, back in London, I was just another Porsche twit averaging 20mph up Embankment.

The huge supply that hit the market meant that depreciation was sharp and now these superb cars can be picked up, used, in the high £20ks which is frankly mind-blowing when you consider their original retail price tags were around the £80k mark. So this brings me back to the new 991. Will it be as commercially successful as its predecessor? In this current economic climate, who has the stomach for writing off £1k+/month in depreciation? Not only that, as banks slash bonuses many bankers, historically a large market for new 911 sales, no longer have the disposable income for such a self-indulgence.

I am sure Porsche AG's marketing team would shrug off such cynicism, as their sales are buoyed by strong demand from overseas, emerging markets and in particular they continue to sell their Cayenne SUV in vast numbers - more than any other car they have ever manufactured. So here's hoping for some retracement, perhaps not to the ten-a-penny days of 2006/7, but perhaps enough for us to enjoy catching a glimpse of this stunning new incarnation on some of our roads in the UK. I am still yet to see one!

James's Weekly Chatter - 17th January 2012

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

It was the North American International Auto Show last week and Volkswagen quickly unveiled the E-Bugster, an all-electric concept car that is based on the 2012 Beetle. The concept is powered by the same electric drivetrain that will be used in the Golf Blue-e-Motion hatchback from 2014. An electric motor connected to the front wheels provides 114 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque, drawing power from a 695-pound lithium-ion battery mounted beneath the trunk floor. Their design chief Walter De Silva stated, "It's a crazy car, it's funny, it's bold, and it's an American Car." Volkswagen says driving range is about 100 miles per charge.

The Electric version of the Golf will go into production in 2014 but it is unlikely that this speedy 2 seater will be nothing more than a show car.

Staying with VW and the Volkswagen Up was named Car of the year at the 'What Car?' awards last week. Editor Chris Hallet said "The Volkswagen Up is the best car we’ve seen this year because it combines refinement, quality, space and economy. It sets new standards for the £10,000 price bracket. It feels at home in town and copes admirably on the motorway."

Volkswagen also went home with the small family car award for the Golf.

Ford have released pictures of their brand new Mondeo, it is due to go on sale in North America later this year before hitting UK shores in 2013. The new version will also be available as a hatchback as well as an estate, prices in the UK are likely to match the current model starting at £17,800. It will come with new technology and a higher quality interior and next public outing will be the Geneva Motor Show.

Going back to America and Honda are looking to go back into the Supercar business after revealing the Honda NSX in Detroit, despite being unveiled as a concept the Japanese company have said it is likely to go on sale within the next 3 years. It will be the world's first green supercar and will stick to its V6 mid-engined two-seater origins and all-wheel drive technology. Their President Takanobu Itoh said, "In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities."

Finally, the Lexus LF-CH Concept was named best concept car at the event. There is no doubt that it is a stunning look car although Lexus have yet to reveal any performance details, however Toyota president Akio Toyoda is understood to have requested personally that the LF-CH concept has the wow factor!

Have a good week!

James's Weekly Chatter - 15th December 2011

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Daimler have revealed that the Maybach will cease production in 2013. This hasn't come as a surprise too many after recent poor sales of the current 57 & 62 limousines. Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche confirmed the news by saying "It would not be sensible to develop a successor model for the current Maybach. We have had full discussions within the company about which path in the luxury segment was the most promising. And we came to the clear conclusions that the sales chances for the Mercedes brand were better than Maybach’s." A recent plan to involve Aston Martin in the development of future Maybach models was abandoned earlier this year.

Is this the world’s most expensive car accident? Eight Ferraris, three Mercedes-Benz, a Lamborghini and two other vehicles were involved in the pile-up in the southern prefecture of Yamaguchi, Japan. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt, but the road was closed for six hours after the accident. Reports are suggesting the damaged cars are worth at least 300m Yen ($3.85m; £2.46m) in total.

Top Gear Magazine have named the Range Rover Evoque as 2011 Car of the Year. It beat off competition from the BMW 1 Series M, Mclaren MP4 12c, Ferrari FF, VW Up! and the Kia Picanto. It was chosen by Jeremy Clarkson and he revealed, "There have been many great cars launched over the last 12 months, but these are just one-trick ponies. The Evoque is more than that. It’s a pony that is also a racehorse, a shire horse, a dray horse, a show jumper and an easy rosette-winner in the dressage competition. Its brilliant and it’s the Top Gear Car of the Year."

Finally this week and carrying on with the Evoque - could it soon have a new rival? Volkswagen recently unveiled the new Cross Coupe Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. It’s powered by a petrol-electric hybrid system which can drive either the front wheels or all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, it is a cool looking car and you can’t help but feel if it does go into production they have to build a 3 door version as well!

Have a good week!

The Great Depreciation Cloud that can Offer a Silver Lining

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

With the global economy teetering on the verge of another collapse, anyone with a vague interest in anything automotive cannot help but notice the free-fall in used car prices, especially in the high-end bracket. Zero growth environments across many western economies, consumers and manufacturers tackling rising fuel costs and the increased political pressure to channel R&D towards greener engine technologies, are all creating the perfect storm for free-falling prices in forecourts everywhere.

There are many models in the luxury sector that, due to the cost of fuel, are becoming increasingly illogical for their original purpose. Cars that were lauded five years ago carry technology and engineering that is becoming obsolete when oil is nudging $120/barrel, and there is the spectre of relentless demand from Emerging markets for the black stuff. On top of this, governments are seeking to heap more duty onto the price we pay at the pumps to help relieve the already hemorrhaging public coffers.

Take the BMW M3 for example. In the mid 2000s we saw, what was effectively, an arms race spring up between Mercedes, Audi and BMW in the small luxury Saloon/Coupe sector. The E90 M3 was launched in late 2007 with a high-revving naturally aspirated V8 engine that produced 420 bhp. The car’s powerplant was largely dictated by its competitor, Audi, who had launched their popular new RS4 with a V8 engine. Both cars were lauded by the critics: the chaps who drive them for a few days and then hand the keys back. To live with though, these cars are quite a different proposition. I remember buying one in a fit of pique early in 2008. Switching from a Porsche 911 I remember thinking that the BMW seemed to be guiding me to the pumps more often than I would have liked. I put it down to the fact that the car, being brand new (what was I thinking?!), was taking a while to bed down and that eventually it would start delivering a more economical return. I was wrong, owning the car for three years I only once managed to ring out 300+ miles in one tank and that was driving at 70mph in 6th gear from London to Newcastle. I remember how proud I was of covering such a “long” range. Yesterday I read in the Sunday Times that the new BMW 3.20d has a touring range of 800 miles and can sprint briskly from 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds! By the time I traded out of the M3 I had become obsessed with watching the fuel gauge needle, trying my hardest to be keep the car at low revs and in high gears at all times - what a miserable way to drive such a fabulous car. I averaged 18mpg for 30,000 miles over 3 years.

I have found myself going full circle and back to a car I originally owned 6 years ago. A fortnight ago I collected a 2006 E46 M3 CS from an approved dealer in Glasgow and was shocked at the fuel economy compared with newer V8 powered car. Without trying, I squeezed out 400 miles of motorway touring down towards London. The fuel-tank needle on the straight-6 car had hardly moved a millimetre by the time I drove past Edinburgh. As I left Glasgow and re-familiarised myself with the old M3, I began to wonder why I ever sold my first one all those years ago. It is a good size, has a reasonable boot, the rear seats are no smaller than in the newer model, and has all the performance one needs in the real world. The six cylinder may not have the grunt of the V8 but the “6” is keener and sharper for a mixture of urban and extra-urban driving. I found you had to really work the V8 in its lower gears to get it really hot and bothered, and of course the results were mind blowing, but, guess what? The fuel was getting combusted faster than you could fill the thing up (at £1.35/litre!!).

So, for those fortunate enough to have a few extra pennies to deploy, these unprecedented times are throwing up some interesting buying opportunities. I reached for an “expensive” E46 M3 and shelled out £17.5k for the rarer CS version (£45k when new), but good, standard stock examples are available for around the £13-16k mark – astonishing bang for your buck. And if you just want a sportscar car for weekend driving, I would not discount the newer V8, just be aware its shorter range, heavy penchant for premium unleaded and Michelin Pilot Sports sneakers. Expect to pay no more than £25k for a 35k miler (£55k when new). The deals continue among other thirsty, heavily depreciated V8s or performance cars that were manufactured in large numbers, particularly the Porsche 911 (997s). Audi S5s, Mercedes C63 AMGs, Maserati Gran Turismos and Nissan GTRs are all taking a bath and still have further to go with so much uncertainty paralysing the broader economy. If you decide to buy, there are bundles of fun to be had!

Top Cars from Around the World

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Top Cars From Around The World

The world has seen so many classic, iconic performance cars over the years that it is difficult to pick out the best of the bunch. We take a stab at it here, offering a list of some of the best cars from the best car manufacturing countries in the world. They cost a fortune in every sense, from petrol to maintenance, upgrades to performance car insurance, but they are beauties nonetheless.

Image courtesy of MJ/TR via flickr creative commons

Nissan Skyline GT-R (Japan)

The Skyline is probably the most famous car ever to have come out of Japan, at least in the way of performance vehicles. It has made many appearances in popular culture over the years, with famous showings in The Fast and the Furious film series and the Gran Turismo video game series.

Image courtesy of David Villarreal Fernández via flickr creative commons

Porsche 911 GT3 (Germany)

The GT3 is one of those cars that turn heads wherever they go. Its sleek, elegant yet impactful design wowed car fanatics when it was released in 1999 and is still wowing us to this day. Porsche manages to hit the nail on the head with every car it produces.

Image courtesy of rhtwjr via flickr creative commons

Ford Mustang GT (USA)

What can we say about the Mustang? It is truly one of the sexiest and downright coolest cars on the planet. It is still going strong today – currently in its fifth generation – as the ultimate all American muscle car. The Mustang, in its many forms, has also made many appearances in popular culture, with starring roles in the Bond classic Goldfinger in 1964 and Steve McQueen’s Bullitt in 1968.

Image courtesy of Autoviva.com via flickr creative commons

Bentley Continental GT (UK)

Bentley just seems to nail it with every car it produces and the Continental GT is no exception. It was released in 2003 to replace the Continental R and T and held the World Speed Record on Ice until March this year, topping an astonishing 331 km/h. The Continental GT is a quintessentially British powerhouse of a car.

Image courtesy of Exotic Car Life via flickr creative commons

Ferrari 458 Italia (Italy)

The Italians are famous for a lot of things, but perhaps none more so than the fleet of Ferraris it produces every year. The 458 is up there with the best of them and it’s no wonder when you consider that it was developed with the Formula One technology that the firm has so masterfully engineered over the years.

James's Weekly Chatter - 18th November 2011

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Land Rover have unveiled the DC100 AND DC100 Sport Concepts at the Los Angeles Auto Show, John Edwards, the company's global brand director revealed.

"The Defender has always been at the heart of the Land Rover Brand and single-handedly defines our go-anywhere, can-do sprit. Our ambition is to create an all new Defender for a global market that remains absolutely faithfully to its original DNA: tough, versatile, durable and capable. At the same time, it will be developed for the 21st century and adaptable for the needs of future generations, our intention is to introduce the all new Defender in the middle of the decade – there’s a lot of work to do to meet these dates and our concepts are just the start of the journey."

A couple of weeks ago, Rowan Atkinson was invited to be McLaren's guest during the Indian Grand Prix, check out this brilliant video of him going into Mr Bean mode during Lewis Hamilton's unfortunate crash.

With the Japanese Motor Show in full flow, Honda have unveiled their competitor to the Porsche Boxster, the Small Sports EV Concept. Unfortunately very few details are known about the car about but we do know that it will be a full EV and that the company has said that the car is “fun to drive while achieving excellent environmental performance.”

Chevloret - lets be honest you don't see many of them in the UK but then again you don't see many flying cars either or do you? Have a look at this!

Have a good weekend!

James's Weekly Chatter - 27th October 2011

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

I was hoping to show you pictures of next year's new Range Rover but unfortunately the official press photos are still to be released, so instead I thought I'd show you the new BMW 3 Series which will go on sale in the UK from 11th February 2012. It's larger and has more space than the previous the model, BMW claim that is lighter and faster as well. The new model will available with 4 different engines at the launch. These include a new four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol, a 3.0-litre six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo unit in the 335i, an improved 184bhp 2.0-litre diesel in the 320d and the 163bhp version of the same unit in the 320d EfficientDynamics. I'm sure it will be good car but my immediate reaction when I first saw it was it's not very pretty! I wish BMW would take a leaf out of Jaguar's book and make you go wow that's nice.....prices will start at £24,100.

Are SAAB about to got bankrupt? SAAB boss Victor Muller is to signal out his plan to keep the company afloat to a Swedish courtroom on the 31st October. Two Chinese companies Pang Dang and Youngman are both willing to invest subject to authorization from the China's National Development and Reform Commision (NRDC). The final decision if they together can invest £215 million will be made in mid November. It would be a huge dissapoinment if the Swedish car manufacturer were to go under especially as they unveiled the gorgeous looking PhoeniX Concept earlier this year.

Finally this week, in my last blog I showed you a picture of what the Nissan Juke-R might look like, well now Nissan have released a behind the scenes video of one being built, check it out!

Have a good weekend!

James's Weekly Chatter - 6th October 2011

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Things have been busy over on our sister site Who Can Fix My Car, if you haven't already please check it out - if you provide servicing or car repairs it should be right up your street!

First up this week with the London Olympics drawing ever closer I thought I had to share this brilliant picture of Olympic hopeful JJ Jegede jumping over the 3 new Mini London 2012 special editions.

This is the Bugatti Galiber which was supposed to go into full production by the end of this year, however it has now been delayed until 2013 at the earliest! The French company's reasons for this are simple - they want to make it more stylish and comfortable. I guess if you can afford to spend £1.5 million on a car you want the very best...

The Nissan Juke - a good solid family car. The Nissan GT-R - probably the most under rated car available. Now imagine if you put the GT-R engine in the Juke?! Well it could be about to happen. The Japanese car maker has hinted a supercharged Juke-R could be released if interest in the 480bhp GT-R based concept is high. The Juke-R would have a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 engine from the GT-R. Wow. Fingers crossed this will become a reality.

Land Rover have begun plans to replace the iconic 63 year old Defender. They believe that there is still a strong global market for utility SUVs and will now begin customer research for the final format of the new model. The new version was recently unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show and is expected to go on sale in 2015.

Next week we will have pictures of the new Range Rover!!! Have a good weekend.

Jaguar C-X16 Concept

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

This is the Jaguar C-X16 Concept which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

The C-X16 has described as a "production concept" and is likely to show the future design of Jaguar vehicles. It has been designed by the same team that produced the Jaguar XJ, XF and XK, which is run by the brand's design chief Ian Callum and is expected to be smaller than previous models in an attempt to compete with rivals such as Aston Martin. If it does go into production it is likely to have a V6 petrol engine as well a six-speed gearbox and could launch in 2013. Jaguar have stated the car will have ""the ability to surprise, to excite and invigorate".

Check out this sneak pic video of what it will be like.....

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 15th July 2011

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

With Goodwood Festival done for another year we thought we'd share with you our best pictures from the weekend's event.

The new Lotus Elise which was unveiled at last years Geneva Motor Show but unfortunately won't be available to buy until 2015! However it won't break the bank, prices will start at around £34,000

One of the most iconic cars of all the time, the original BMW M5 - the new model goes on sale from next year. It's amazing how it has changed in terms of size!

Audi going back to the future with the Quattro Concept, a decision will be made by September as to whether or not it will go into full production.

My favourite car at the moment, the Ferrari FF, I just wish I could afford the £220k price tag!

Peugeot's EX1 Ev concept...340bhp...0 to 62mph in 3.49 seconds.

Have a good weekend!

James's Weekly Chatter - 30th June 2011

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

With Audi winning its 10th Le Mans trophy, the German car manufacturer has decided to release a new limited edition R8 V8. The new model has several equipment upgrades, including satellite navigation, integrated seatbelt microphones with Bluetooth interface for making mobile phone calls and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. It stands out from the previous model by having GT-inspired 19-inch alloy wheels, featuring red brake callipers similar to the Le Mans-winning model. Prices start at £93,985 and only 100 will be built.

Rolls Royce have unveiled the Phantom Drophead Coupe a hand-built one-off which is designed to offer “the perfect weekend get-away” and “the ultimate in luxury and relaxation”. Its interior features an Asprey jewellery box, discretely placed in the glove compartment. The Drophead comes in a very special colour - Mazarine Blue, a shade that brings together 44,000 already available to Phantom customers. It will be on display at the Royal Hospital Chelsea until July 5th.

As I'm sure you're probably aware it's the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. One thing that it set to dominate the show is the brilliant sculpture of the Jaguar E-Type in celebration of its 50th birthday, check out this brilliant video of how it was put together.

Have a good weekend!

Supercar Insurance

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

If you drive one of the hottest performance vehicles around, you might think that sky high car insurance is just par for the course. However, if you’re savvy in your approach to supercar insurance you can actually secure an affordable deal.

Why does it cost more to insure a supercar?

Supercars certainly look good, their drivers often take good care of them and they are usually kept in fantastic condition – so why do they cost more to insure?

The answer is straightforward – they have higher values. If you were to write off the latest Ferrari model it would obviously cost a lot more for an insurer to replace than a Ford Fiesta or a Volkswagen Polo. Similarly, even partial damage to supercars is more expensive to repair because their parts are more expensive.

In addition, supercars have more powerful engines and in the minds of insurers, this means they are more likely to be driven at fast speeds. This carries obvious dangers as it increases the likelihood of an accident occurring.

Finally, supercars are also more desirable to thieves and they are often the target of envious vandals. All of this adds up to make them more expensive to insure.

So what can be done about these added costs?

Just because you won’t get the same quote for a supercar as you would for a general run-around it doesn’t mean you should give up on finding a decent price. Your first step should be to use a comparison website to compare quotes from as many insurers as you can as quickly as possible – that will give you a more complete overview of the market.

Make sure you consider the specialist car insurers too. Several companies actually specialise in offering supercar insurance believing that their drivers are more likely to take care of their vehicles and so they deserve more competitive premiums. They may also offer specialist policy features such as:

Annual mileage discounts: Very often supercars are secondary vehicles in the household with most owners having a less powerful car for general run-arounds. As such, agreeing to a mileage cap may be beneficial.
Agreed valuations: Imagine if your supercar were written off or stolen and then massively undervalued by an insurer leaving you out of pocket? With many specialist insurers, this concern can be a thing of the past as they offer guaranteed agreed valuations so you know from the outset what your vehicle is worth in case the worst happens.
Track cover: Specialist cover for your supercar in case you plan to race it on a track or in a rally.
Advanced driver discounts: You may earn a reduced premium if you undertake an advanced driving course to prove you can handle such a powerful vehicle.
Owners’ club or manufacturer’s club discounts: Joining a car club could earn you a discount as it shows the insurer you are interested in learning more about your supercar and taking good care of it.

So are specialists always the cheapest?

High performance car insurance specialists may offer policies tailored towards super car drivers but that doesn’t mean they are necessarily the cheapest.

On the contrary, you should still compare quotes with a comparison website to get an overview of the deals available. You may find that a regular insurer offers cover features not available with the specialists or that its prices are cheaper. Most comparison websites will include some specialists in their listings.

Further ways to save

Remember that whether you drive a Porsche or a Panda, car insurance quotes are determined by the level of risk you are deemed to pose to an insurer. Lowering this risk will lower your premiums – here are some tips:

Drive safely: You can build up a no-claims bonus by avoiding accidents and convictions.
Invest in security: Look for insurer approved alarms, immobilisers and tracking devices to reduce the risk of theft.
Park safely: Keep your supercar in a locked garage overnight away from prying thieves.
Increase your excess: Consider raising your voluntary excess to lower premiums.
Pay annually: You can avoid interest charges by paying premiums upfront.

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 14th June 2011

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Wow what a Grand Prix it was this weekend! Who would of thought that Jenson Button could have come from last place and end up finishing first? I guess it shows that Sebastian Vettel is human after all! I don't think that he will feel too down about it though, he still leads by 60 points.

Mercedes have officially unveiled their next generation M-Class ahead of its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The confirmed UK models are the ML350 Bluetec which has a 254bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel and the ML63 AMG that will be powered by a 536bhp twin-turbo 5.5 litre V8. A diesel-electric version called the ML300 Hybrid will be released in late 2012. The new M-class has kept the same design as before but with a more updated feel, no word on price yet.

I can't say I ever been a big fan of Vauxhall cars, however the new Astra GTC looks very sharp! Its main rivals will be the Volkwagen Sciorcoco and the Renault Megane Coupe. The world premiere will be at next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 1-3), showing the importance of the UK market to this model. The Astra GTC will launch with a choice of a single diesel or three petrol engines and is available now with prices starting at £18,495.

I was planning to write about the new Renaultsport 265 Trophy but unfortunately as I was writing someone got there before me! So...instead I thought I'd talk about the car of the moment, the BMW 1 Series M Coupe. Press the start button and you've got a 335bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine. It's quite a lightweight car too, weighing only 1,495kg and as a result it gets from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, however top speed will of course be limited to 155mph. The only problem is arguably the price - £40,000 but it is the best M badged car in a long time so you are paying for something special and who knows, it could end up being a future classic....

Have a good week!

New Renaultsport Megane 265 Trophy - did i shoot too early?!

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It was just over a month ago when I shared my thoughts on middle-aged spread, sports cars, beards and flat caps in Pre-Mid-Life Crisis?! Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup. Having lived with the car now for a few weeks I still absolutely love it and grin every time I slide into the love-handle-hugging bucket seats. I mentioned in that blog that my research on the car had been limited and as usual the purchase very impulsive.

This lack of proper research may have been a major error on my part. Not because I’ve bought the wrong car, no, I am now a fully paid-up member of the “French Bred” clan, but because I got to work today and saw this headline from Renault:

RENAULT LAUNCHES ITS FASTEST ROAD CAR YET WITH NEW LIMITED EDITION MEGANE RENAULTSPORT 265 TROPHY

Does my impulsiveness mean I am now living with "little brother" – if I’d waited a little longer I could have bought the 265 Trophy! So what am I missing out on?

The obvious bits first. The maths are easy 265 – 250 = 15 extra bhp, it has upsized 19” gloss black alloy wheels (with red rims) and an M3-esque (optional) gloss diamond black roof. I have to say, the guys at Renaultsport have done a great job making an already aggressive looking car look more aggressive. Less obvious are the 0-62mph time of 6.0 seconds, 0.1 seconds quicker than the 250 Cup and a 158mph top speed (up from 156mph in the 250 Cup). In addition customers get free access to all Renaultsport trackdays in UK in 2012. Most importantly though, is that this car will be rare. Only 500 will be produced and of those only 50 examples will be coming to the UK which means owners of the 250 and 265 will see increasingly divergent second hand valuations over time.

Did I shoot too early? After much consideration I think probably not. The 265 Trophy is a beautiful car however, so is the 250 Cup. The performance of the two is close but the price differential between by 1-year old car and a brand new 265 is significant and for me, confirms I am definitely driving the right variant.

Motoring Law: Driving without a License

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

After watching a recent episode of Road Wars I sparked an office discussion on the subject of driving without a license and its implications. On the face of it, driving without a license sounds like a serious offence but you may be surprised to hear that it does not necessarily mean you will face a prison sentence.

First of all we should distinguish between driving without a license and driving whilst disqualified. The latter is a far more serious offence as it constitutes you ignoring a court order – which always carries heavy punishment. If you are caught you will be immediately arrested and dealt with sternly. A conviction of driving while disqualified can land you with a fine of up to £5,000 and is far more likely to result in a prison sentence than just not holding a license, which result in penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000.

There are various sets of circumstances which constitute driving without a license. These include or driving while in possession of a provisional license without being accompanied by someone over 21-years-old or with three years driving experience (you must also display ‘L’ plates in this situation). A common cause of prosecution is driving a vehicle which you are not entitled to. For instance driving a manual car when you have only passed a test to drive an automatic vehicle, or operating an LGV or a motorbike on a normal license can often result in a prosecution.

A conviction will usually result in a ban from driving or obtaining a license for a specified period of time, so it would make sense to get a legal professional specialising in motoring law to argue your case if you happen to go to court. If you genuinely did not know you were breaking the law it will be considered but it is hardly a guarantee against punishment. Not holding a proper license will also invalidate any insurance policy, so be prepared to be charged with driving without insurance too.

The implications are not always so serious depending on circumstances. For instance you may have been pulled over driving while disqualified without knowing you had been in the first place. If your license was revoked or suspended for a minor endorsable offence then things may not be so bad. If DVLA correspondence asking you to surrender your license for endorsement failed to reach you and it was consequently suspended without you even knowing, you may be able to solve the problem by simply surrendering your license there and then.

However, obviously driving without a license is a serious matter. As well as the legal dangers it is also a threat to your personal safety as well as that of other road users. The best advice is always to ensure you have taken the correct test for the vehicle you want to drive. If in doubt about whether you are entitled to drive a vehicle you should contact the DVLA.

Supercar Musings...

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

More of an observation than a blog: when commuting home last week, I was stuck in the usual bumper-to-bumper frenzy that one is accustomed to living in London. A bit of car spotting can help ease the pain of this monotony, and as I was crossing the Thames I caught sight of a supercar coming towards me that, for once, I didn’t recognise straight away. Was it an Aston? A Vanquish may be? All I could see was one very large, muscular, flared rear-wheel-arch. As I rolled past it, I recognised it as an SL65 AMG Black Edition. Not often you see one of these on the streets and I was particularly impressed with its chunky road presence and the sun-tan being showcased by its driver. It would make standard-spec SL63 drivers blush with withering embarrassment.

I naturally went straight online to have a peek at where these are trading in the second-hand market and was disappointed to find only one listing (£189k, 58 plate!) across a multitude of classified websites. What confronted me instead was an overwhelming supply of a similarly priced, exotic Mercedes: the much feted SLS. I counted over 30 examples for sale! Described by Mercedes themselves as a “New Breed of Supercar”, I was a little surprised to see almost as many of these cars being advertised as there are Ferrari 430 Coupés. The reviews had read well too, with 5 stars being dished out in most motoring rags and Clarkson drooled heavily over it on Topgear earlier this year.

So where has it all gone wrong? I dug a little deeper and having spoken to a few contacts in the trade, it seems the higher end of the market is experiencing a bit of a lull at the moment. Whether it is the economic malaise, eye-wateringly high fuel prices or raft of hypercar-purchasing-speculators is open to debate. I tend to think that large, heavy, fuel-consuming cars like the SLS are becoming less and less attractive. V12 Ferraris, for instance, that consistently return single digit MPG, in particular, have been crippled in second hand markets recently. I have spoken to dealers who are relinquishing some stock below their initial purchase price. There is also an increasing gulf between where one can pick up an old generation car versus picking up the brand new model. Over £100k separates a well spec’d F430 compared to a brand new 458 Italia. I have also been shown new 458 build-slots for end of year delivery, and know of cars that are being delivered ready to be flipped for a measly £5k premium!

The intermediate, or junior-supercar market seems to be relatively buoyant, with well optioned Porsche 911s and R8 (V8s) still well sort after. But, it’s unsurprising given the fantastic performance than can be at one’s figure tips for a £50-£65k outlay – roughly a quarter of that required to purchase the new 458. On top of this, the fuel consumption of these cars can be (relatively) well managed and does not become too crippling with everyday use. In particular with Porsche, whose 911 C4S can produce a combined 27 mpg. So it will be interesting to see where the high performance car market is in 6 months time. Will fuel prices have abated? Will second-hand prices had plateau’d? The longer it continues, the better it is for those looking for good value when buying a used car. But on the flipside we will see fewer and fewer of the newest exotica gracing our streets – I manage about one 458 every two weeks in London – not enough!

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 6th June 2011

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

BMW have revealed their new 1 series, customers can choose between various petrol (116i and 118i) and diesel (116d, 118d and 120d) four-cylinder engines. It's more sporty and fuel-efficient as well as being considerably more comfortable and spacious than its predecessor. The 5-door version will be available to buy from September with the 3 door being released next year. Prices will start from £19,735 for the entry-level 116i.

Looking for something to see at the Cinema at the moment? Well take a look at the trailer for this brilliant documentary about the amazing racing driver that was Ayrton Senna. Senna is on general release now.

As with most weeks at the moment, Audi have been in the news yet again! The German car manufacturer will be releasing a new soft-top Spyder variant of its high-end R8 GT supercar. It will have the same power as its hard-top sibling, perfect for people out there looking for a new convertible. The R8 GT Spyder comes with a meaty 5.2-litre V10 engine and has a 0-62mph time of just 3.8 seconds. No word on pricing yet but only 333 being made with a tiny 66 of them coming to UK so it won't be cheap!

Last week was the Worthersee GTI show in Austria where Volkswagen unveiled the Golf R Concept. The R has the same 266bhp 2.0-litre engine as the hatchback version which gives it a limited top speed of 155mph. There is no confirmation that it has the same 0-62mph time, 5.5 seconds, as the hardtop but VW have suggested that it gets there in less than 6 seconds. There are no plans to put it into production as of yet.

Have a good week!

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 31st May 2011

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Another Grand Prix, another victory for Sebastian Vettel, a couple of weeks ago I asked can anyone stop him? Well I can tell you that the Bookmakers Paddy Power have already started paying out people who betted on him winning the F1 Drivers Championship again at the beginning of the season. Vettel now has a huge 58 point lead over his nearest rival Lewis Hamilton.

The Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro is here! This little concept car will makes it debut at the Wortherseetour event in Germany this week, it has a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine as well as huge 503bhp. The Quattro is pretty fast with 0-62mph in just 3.7 seconds and it accelerates from 50-75mph in fourth gear in just 2.4 seconds. Top speed will be limited to 155mph.

BMW's 328 is celebrating its 75th birthday this year so the German manufacturer have released the BMW 328 Hommage Concept. The car features a 3-litre turbocharged straight six engine, unfortunately no performance details have been released yet. It's stunning body is made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic and BMW have tried to keep the look of the original but with a 21st Century feel.

I'm delighted to tell you that our sister site Who Can Fix My Car is now live so if you're a mechanic looking for extra customers or just someone looking to get your car fixed please feel to check it out.

Ferrari have revealed the Superamerica 45, commisioned by New York collector Peter Kalikow it was designed and named to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his first Ferrari purchase. Few technical details have been released, it's finished in a colour called Blu Antille, has a chrome coloured front grille and interior comes with a mixture of Cuoio leather trim and Blu Scuro carbon fibre. The Italian car maker have said that the car is "a unique one-off" stopping any rumours that it might go into production.

Have a good week.

Iconic Jaguar

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

There are few things more iconic in the motoring world than the Jaguar and if you are thinking about getting your own then there are some things you need to think about. When going to buy your new Jaguar make sure that you get the right one for you as there are all sorts to choose from, with features to suit any buyer, from sporty convertibles to roomy saloons, there is a Jaguar out there to fit any criteria.

Not only that but the new Jaguar XKR has been designed by the same person who designed the Aston Martin DB9 so you know you are in good hands when it comes to the new Jaguars design quality. You can see the Aston influence in the XKRs appearance as soon as you set eyes on its beautifully sleek lines, wide tires and distinctive radiator grill, making this car truly a thing of automotive beauty. Whats more you can get this classic look for a fraction of the price of a DB9 but without having to compromise on looks.

But it’s not all sports cars that the new Jaguar range has to offer, there are some great family cars made by them as well. Take the Jaguar XJ for example. This reliable family car has been in production for over forty years and we can see why it has not lost its popularity, with its sturdy but elegant chassis, contemporary design and uncompromising luxury it is a dream for any family to own.

If you are wanting something in a convertible then look no further than the new Jaguar XKR portfolio. Again designed by the same team who brought you the DB9, this Jaguar is an open top version of the stunning XJR. You really will feel in the lap of luxury in this suave sporty Jag with everything from heated leather seats to touchscreen satellite navigation and even keyless entry. This new Jaguar is great for those hot summers days when all you want to do is get out on the open road with the wind blowing through your hair in a truly stunning piece of engineering brilliance.

Probably the best thing about owning a new Jaguar however is the peace of mind you get from knowing you are in one of the safest cars on the market. All new Jaguars come with air bags as standard (and not just driver and passenger air bags but thorax and curtain air bags too) which also include a seat occupant system that ensure that the air bags only go off when they are needed. There are also anti lock breaks, understeer control and traction control plus a whole host of other safety features to make sure you and your loved ones can be completely at ease when driving in your new Jaguar. So why look any further, if you’re thinking of getting a car then make sure its a Jaguar, you can’t go wrong.

A Day in the Life of an Audi Driver

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We came across this video and thought you may like to know what a day in the life of an Audi Driver is like...

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 23rd May 2011

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Nissan are to release a special Nissan 370Z GT Edition, to celebrate global success in GT racing and 40 years of Z in the UK. It features racing stripes down both sides, darker 19-inch RAYS alloys and 3 special paint finishes - Pearl White, Kuro Black and Black Rose. Other extras added to the car include a reversing camera that appears in the sat-nav screen and a new tyre pressure monitoring system, pricing starts at £35k and it is expected to appear in dealerships from June 1st.

Citroen is to recall over 20,000 C3 Picasso's after it was revealed on the BBC Watchdog programme that there is a 'remote possibility' of the passenger accidently applying the car's brakes. The problem can happen because of conversion from left-hand drive to right-hand drive. A cable in the passenger footwell can be pressed by the passenger, operating the braking system. Customers wanting further advice or information are asked to call the Citroen Contact Centre on 01753 475862, or email cuk_contactcentre@citroen.com.

Audi revealed their new Audi A6 Avant at an event in Berlin last week. The German car manufacturer have guaranteed more interior space and greater fuel efficiency than the in old A6, it weighs 70kg less and they also claim improvements in economy of up to 18 per cent. The Avant has 565 litres of boot space with the seats in place, but this can be maximised to 1680 litres when the rear seats are folded down. Top speed is 155mph and it is due to go on sale in the UK in late summer with prices starting at around £30k.

Have a good week!

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Last week Aston Martin announced their latest collaboration with Zagato. It is the 50th anniversary year of the famous DB4GT Zagato and what a project to unveil in celebration! The new V12 concept premiered at the Villa D’Este Concours on Friday and will initially appear in race trim to compete at the Nurburgring 24 hour race on 25th/26th June.

The revival of the collaboration which has produced some of the most beautiful and sought-after cars in the world is the first project since the DB7 Zagato and will be based on the V12 Vantage. Not too many further details are known, but here is the basic specification of the Endurance Race car:

Body:

Two door, two seat coupe body
Bonded aluminium structure
Bespoke steel roll cage
Hand crafted Aluminium body

Engine:

All alloy quad overhead cam 48 valve 5935cc V12
Compression ratio 10.9:1
Front mid-mounted engine, rear wheel drive

Transmission:

Rear mid-mounted, six-speed automated manual gearbox with auto shift manual/select shift manual (ASM/SSM) electric hydraulic control system
Magnesium alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
Twin Plate competition clutch
Limited slip differential

Suspension:

All round independent double wishbone with fully adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers

Brakes:

Front: Ventilated floating grooved discs with 6 piston callipers
Rear: Ventilated floating grooved discs with 4 piston callipers

Fuel System:

120 litre endurance racing fuel tank

Shooting Brake

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I was onto something 10 years ago, I knew I was. When living in the South of France as a student working in villas, mowing lawns for the rich and famous I would constantly marvel at the automotive delights screaming around the costal roads. Apart from the usual Porsches, Ferraris and occasional Lamborghinis that were on offer, there were a few more eye-catching models available and others being released onto the market. As mentioned in an earlier blog, the Audi RS2 was one of my all-time favourites; it was well entrenched in that part of the world and was the rich-man's transporter, the alternative to the traditional family-carrying saloon.

Around the same time, in the UK, the idea of a Porsche/Audi four-wheel-drive, estate car capable of sprinting 0-60 in less than 5 seconds seemed fairly alien - especially in its daring bright blue paintwork. Audi was trying to establish itself as a credible rival to BMW and Mercedes and this type of model had a niche following - only 180 right-hand-drive examples were shared between the UK, South Africa and New Zealand markets. There was nothing quite like it. Then, in 1999, BMW released the Z3 M Coupe: compact, mini-estate-coupe with a flat-backed rear, or "bread-van" styling. A bold design, again that was not to everyone's tastes. These were out-of-the-box cars with no real competitors; they stood out from the crowd and you knew their owners had wanted something special when placing their original orders.

Fast forward 12 years and the Shooting Brake is very much in fashion, in the UK as well as on the continent. Even Ferrari has acknowledged this trend by moulding its new 2+2 into a relatively compact, 4x4 estate. So, how has the interest come about? Well, here’s how I view it: 15 years ago, estate cars were usually driven by either tradesmen who wanted to van/family car cross-over – think step-ladders on a Montego Estate’s roof rack. Or, they were a common site in rural areas where you would usually see a couple of panting Labradors steaming up the back windows of a dark-green BMW estate. Practicality was higher up the agenda than style and performance for such cars. The Scimitar GTE built in the late 60s gave us a clue to what was coming, but it is only today that we are seeing real, sports-car performance married to this load-carrying format.

Audi have lead the way with fast estates, and the life-style angle has been a major driver: transporting la famille from your villa overlooking the Med, to your chalet in the Alps in a multi-faceted sports-wagon is just, plain cool. I would always imagine these drivers had left their Porsches or Ferraris behind for the weekend trip to the slopes. Today, these cars can be owned outright and in less glamorous surroundings whilst covering all needs effortlessly: sports-car, commuter, load-carrier, all-terrain conquering (just about) vehicles.

Furthermore, the significant advances achieved in producing high quality diesel engines, have helped separate out the petrol performance niche for the modern RS4s and C63 AMG Estates. For me, the executive saloon is all about commuting and long commutes invariably require oil-burners. Stroll around a German automaker’s showroom nowadays in the UK, and you will struggle to find any large petrol-engined saloons - they have fallen out of favour and the manufacturers have done a great job in disguising, what used to be, the unfashionable diesel versions. M Sport and S-Line packages provide pumped up body-kits, flared arches and bigger alloys, whilst in some cases concealing the tell-tale downward pointing diesel exhaust pipes. It speaks volumes that the new Audi RS4 being released next year will only be available in Avant (Estate) version – it’s as though the concept has gone full circle back to the RS2 which was also strictly Avant-only. Other manufacturers have taken note and are concentrating on crafting attractive designs for their estate versions. I spotted a new, black, 5 series M Sport estate in London last week – it really is a thing of beauty. In fact I would opt for the estate over the saloon every time. In previous incarnations, the 5 series estate was an after-thought, a bolt-on just to tick a box. Nowadays, you can see the Estate’s design has been executed with equal care as was employed to the saloon, underlined by the fact that they were launched into dealerships simultaneously.

So, it will be interesting to see if this trend continues away from the old-school super-saloon and towards the Sporting Brake. I hope Jaguar is reading this; I hear current sales of XJs are a little flat – what better way to make a statement in this space than introduce a modern-day Scimitar with a Jag V8, British styling, a low-slung stance and a big fat boot: modern-day E-type? Or perhaps Aston Martin could get there first!

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 16th May 2011

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Another week, another potential rival for the Bugatti Veyron, step forward the Jaguar C-X7, originally a concept car, Jaguar have decided to put it into production - starting 2013. The C-X7 has a top speed of 200mph, 0-60mph acceleration in under three seconds and 0-100mph in under six seconds! Only 250 will be made, costing a cool £700k.

Mercedes have revealed new pictures of their new SLS AMG Roaster. It is due to be released to the world at September's Frankfurt Motor Show. Like the hard top it's fastest speed is limited to 197mph, unfortunately no other stats have been released but it should be able to reach 60mph in about 4.0 seconds. The Roaster will be available to buy from late Autumn with prices starting at £180K.

It's now 35 years since Volkswagen first brought out the legendary GTI, with that in mind the German company have made a special limited edition model appropriately named the Golf GTI Edition 35, no further details have been announced apart from it has 35 badges hidden around the car but it is expected to go on sale in the UK later this year.

We are only 4 races into the 2011 F1 Season but Sebastian Vettel is already 34 points clear of his nearest rival Lewis Hamilton, can the German be stopped or should bookies around the country already start paying out now? Let us know your thoughts.

Have a good week!

James's Used Car Weekly - 6th May 2011

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

As you are probably aware Wednesday was Star Wars Day and it seemed that people couldn't get enough of saying 'May the fourth be with you!' so I thought start this week by sharing this brilliant new Volkswagen advert!

New York City has unveiled plans for their next generation of Yellow Cabs, the Taxi Van. Nissan surprisingly beat US car maker Ford and Turkish manufacturer Karsan Otomotiv to a 10-year contact to build new taxis for the city, which, is estimated to be worth more than a $1 billion. The 'Taxi of Tomorrow' is expected to appear in 2013.

Ford have revealed that they have already received over 20,000 orders for their new Focus Estate. It's estimated the new car will contribute 15% of overall Ford sales in the UK. The Focus Estate is expected to appear in dealerships around the country from the end of this month.

Finally this week, do you fear that you're heading for a mid-life crisis and feel like treating yourself to a new car? If so than check out our article on the Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup. Have a good weekend.

Pre-Mid-Life Crisis?! Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup

Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It’s a well known fact, middle-aged men are programmed to “need” a sports car as soon as they turn 45. The recent sunny weather has highlighted this fact. A swathe of MX-5s and Audi TT convertibles piloted by white-bearded creatures with reaction lens sunglasses and washed-out khaki flat caps cruising the country roads is the only proof required.

Now, despite the onset of middle-age spread (it seemed to start when I was about 13) and feeling that I’m too old to go clubbing, I’m not really in the middle-aged bracket just yet, I’m only 32. This said however I’ve had an itch for the last 6 months, an urge I’m sure not too dissimilar to the “turning 45 and need an MX-5” urge, but it’s not a little 2-seater convertible I want, no it’s something altogether different…

I’ve been lucky over the last few years and have been privileged enough to have owned or driven some of the very best cars on the planet. A highlight on the ownership list, an E46 M3 in Laguna Seca blue, a car that I wish that I’d never sold and on the driven list, the Ferrari California at Maranello and the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 at Silverstone. However, it’s not any of these supercars I want either…

No, what I’ve been craving is a hot hatch. Why? I have no idea, but I’ve found myself drawn to my local Vauxhall and Ford dealerships browsing VXRs and Focus RSs on a regular basis. The arrival of a new baby in March though hampered my research and as I result I thought that the solution to the price/performance/practicality equation was an Arden Blue Astra VXR. Great looks, good performance and familiar, my dad always owned Astras when I was a child, so without knowing the market I was searching for the right VXR, not an easy task in Northumberland where even SRi spec cars are rare.

The search didn’t prove fruitful but I was determined to get the car – the hot hatch itch needed scratching very quickly – that was until on Wednesday last week when I passed Benfield Renault in Newcastle and on the ramp out front was a hot hatch that I don’t think I’d ever seen before and…it was yellow! A quick u-turn later and having pushed the bus stop seen from The Inbetweeners to the back of my mind I was on the forecourt peering through the windows.

It turns out it was the new Renaultsport Megane, a car I’d never read anything about due to my new arrival. A quick explanation of what the car actually was and the difference in the various Renaultsport Megane models and I was up to speed. This was a Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup – the most “stripped out” version of the car. The guys at Benfield were extremely forthcoming and I was out for a test drive within minutes. Being the Cup, I was expecting an uncomfortable ride, however as we prowled through town it was surprisingly comfortable over the bumps and the interior way better than I’d expected. We then reached the dual carriageway, my first opportunity to squeeze the “go” pedal and I was shocked by how quickly the Megane took off and how planted on the road it was. My research into hot hatches was clearly flawed – this car should have been my number 1 choice from the beginning. I needed something to compare it with though, so Benfield put me into the Renaultsport Clio 200, not as quick but what an amazing engine note. The Clio was definitely a “boy-racer” car and not a car for someone with a young family (in my opinion), but the Megane felt much more of a “man-racer”. Something I could use every day and when I needed to fight off the onset of middle-aged-ness I could slip back into “boy-racer” mode with. I had decided. The Megane it was. 250 Cup in sport yellow, 18-inch black 5-spoke alloys with red Brembo callipers, perfect.

This was my first experience with Renault and first with Benfield and I have to say it has been a good one so far thanks to Anthony and Rikki who made the deal happen and accommodated my every request.

I will endeavour to regularly produce updates on my adventures with the Megane as I intend to put plenty of miles on the clock over the coming months!

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 15th April 2011

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

I've been up in our new sister company's offices in Newcastle this week helping build the directory of garages. If you're a garage or service centre and would like to list on Who Can Fix My Car, please call us on 0191 269 6875.

Mini have released plans for their most opulent car ever, "The Goodwood", a name with true motoring heritage! It will be officially unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month. Only 1,000 will be made with prices starting at around £40,000. It comes with a luxiourious interior including a walnut burr wood finish on the dashboard and doors, as well as corn silk leather covering the majority of the surfaces. On the outside there are subtle aluminium badges with "MINI inspired by Goodwood" logos. Most importantly its engine has stayed the same, the 181bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol from the Cooper S, available with a six-speed manual as standard or an optional six-ratio automatic gearbox. The Goodwood is expected to go on sale at the start of 2012.

Another car set to be unveiled is the Audi Q3 compact 4x4 which will go up against the BMW X3 and the forthcoming Range Rover Evoque. It will be available to buy in three turbocharged 2-litre engine options, 168 and 208bhp in petrol guise and the diesel being 138bhp. Prices will start at £25,000 and it will be released in the UK from November.

Could the BMW X6 have a new rival? Peugeot have brought out pictures of their SxC concept vehicle which will also be making its debut in China next week. Designed in Shanghai, it measures 4.87m long, 1.61m high and 2.04m wide - that's just a few mm shorter, but wider and lower than it's potential rival. Even if the car does go into production its unknown whether it will reach European Shores.

Have a good weekend

RS4 is New Top Dog

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The time had finally come: my daily sports car enjoyment was coming to an end...well more-or-less. The arrival of Reginald, the bull-dog puppy in late January had meant that the M3 would no longer provide enough practicality for transporting myself, girlfriend and new four-legged companion. Coupled with that, I was beginning to become increasingly frustrated with the minute fuel tank on the BMW and its insatiable appetite for 95 RON. Having owned an E46 M3 and 997 C2S in the past, I was no stranger to grimacing at the pump, but the frequency that was involved during E90 M3 ownership was fairly alarming – especially for a relatively modern piece of engineering. You accept the cost of running these cars when you dive in at purchase, but the relentless £75 fill-ups just act as a constant reminder of your cash pouring from the nozzle, into said car, and then straight out of those meaty quad exhausts.

So what was it to be: the front-runners were the Audi Q5 (3.0TDi) with all extras ticked, a diesel Range Rover Sport, or a 335d BMW Estate. Having used a Range Rover during the ravages of 2010’s winter months (see December blog: Chelsea Tractor to Alpine Monster), I was convinced that its 4x4 credentials were unrivalled – and it was a strong contender, despite the questionable WAG image. The Audi offered a sportier alternative but, for me, the styling lacked the authoritative purpose that the Range Rover oozes. Whilst the BMW Estate was a good all-rounder, I knew deep down I wanted something different, and I had become a little tired of the dreary 3-series cockpit. Additionally, I wanted to something that instilled some degree of confidence in harsh winter conditions; the M3 was truly woeful during the snow, and I just do not have the time or patience to think about winter-tyre options.

Reginald - The M3 had to go

Without singling out exactly where it happened, I had a disastrous sales experience at my local Land Rover dealership: two visits, zero follow-up from disinterested staff and I seemed to know more about the cars than the salesman – not a ringing endorsement – they never even managed to engineer a test-drive. In any case, I began to realise the Mark 2 RR Sports commanded prices in the mid £40ks which was going to be a bit of a reach, but the updated interiors were considerably smarter than the original cars which still harked back to Land Rover’s agricultural roots.

Trading out of the M3 into a low mileage 335d Estate, and having to pay a few thousand quid was just too unpalatable to contemplate. So, this left me with a trip to Audi. The Q5 was certainly adequate and given all the eventualities it covers, I could see why the dealer network had a groaning waiting list for new build slots. However my interest was piqued by another car residing in their showroom, one I had not considered due to rarity and potential running costs: the RS4 Avant. The long-time nemesis of the car I was parting company with was something of an enigma to me. I had perpetually rubbished it over the years, such was my loyalty to the M3 and had never even set foot in one. But here it was: all the practicality I needed, the famed Quattro platform, the stealth looks, V8 performance and an exquisite exhaust note to boot. I had lived in the South of France over a decade ago as a student and among the usual Italian exotica that howled around the mountain roads, the bright blue RS2 was not an uncommon site. A Porsche/Audi collaboration – at the time, every petrol-head yearned for one. The RS4 represented its spiritual successor and is gradually carving out a cult following – at least, that was my argument!

RS4: A complete change of tack, the end of the M3

A quick calculation and I could switch from the M3 into the RS by paying a nominal amount, at the same time reducing the mileage between the M3 and the Audi by 10k. A quick test-drive and I was ready to trade. The Audi emitted an electric, throaty warble from its trademark oval exhausts and as soon as the starter button was pressed, thoughts of diesel 4x4s were quickly jettisoned. The switch gear was much smoother than the M3’s, which was a big factor given I do a lot of urban driving and I immediately had more confidence when executing quick, green-to-amber shifts than in the BMW. The huge, winged bucket-seats are more than a novelty and encourage a more upright, straighter driving position with better all-round back support. The car’s build quality is excellent and the only thing it lacks is a few bits of technology here and there: after-market Bluetooth, iPod connectivity were thrown in with the purchase, but can be found on some models. The most pleasantly surprising aspect of RS4 ownership versus the M3 has been the relative frugality with regards to fuel consumption. On a long motorway run I could just about squeeze out a 300 mile tank, whereas the Audi seems to be delivering this and more under mixed conditions. It might not have the same street-cred as the BMW but it is more of a connoisseur’s choice, and the respectful nods of those “in the know” is equally as rewarding for those badge followers among us.

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 8th April 2011

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

BMW's luxury M5 Saloon Car is back! This is the 5th version generation of the car which will be unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month. The super-saloon comes with a 552bhp twin-turbo V8 engine, seven-speed dual-clutch box, goes 0-60mph in 4.5 sec (top speed 155mph - limited) and has a 25% better fuel economy than the current model. Prices will start at £75k and it will be available to buy in November.

Another car set to be unveiled is the new Mercedes A Class, I think it's visually stunning and looks like something Alfa Romeo would be proud of! It will be interesting to see how it competes against the Mini, the car will be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, no word yet on price.

Finally with Jeremy Clarkson being in the news a lot this week I thought it was only right to post this, I warn you the following video is a bit like Marmite, you'll either love it or hate it!

Have a good weekend.

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 1st April 2011

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Monday saw the launch of our fantastic sister site WhoCanFixMyCar.com, the basic premise is if you need a service or if you've got a broken down car and you are worried that you might be getting charged over the odds by your nearest garage you can post your problem and garages in your local area can pitch you a price. If you are a garage or a mechanic and are interested in signing up please call 0191 269 6875, the full site will launch in a couple of a weeks.

Porsche have unveiled the Panamera Turbo S, costing a hefty £122,630, 20k more than the standard Panamera. What's the difference between the two of them? Well you get an extra 49bhp, Porsche's Dynamic Chassis Control system which stops the car from rolling and the car goes 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, 0.4 seconds quicker. Top speed is 191 mph, only 3 faster and the fuel economy remains the same at 24.6mpg.

With the Royal Wedding rapidly approaching BMW have decided to get in on the act, the German car maker have brought out a BMW M3 Royal Edition, no word yet on price.

Finally this week RIP to Edward Stobart who built up his father's Eddie Stobart lorry empire and ran it for more than 30 years, becoming the best know haulage company in the country in the process. Edward was only 56 and died after suffering "heart problems."

Have a good weekend!

UK drivers paying the price for the uninsured

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Uninsured drivers are costing every motorist in the UK an average of £30 per year, according to research by moneysupermarket car insurance experts. Worryingly, the number of drivers in the UK who have driven without insurance is as high as one in six and, perhaps more worryingly, one in three uninsured drivers claims not to have been aware they were breaking the law. How can the UK solve its insurance aversion problem?

The law in the UK is very clear when it comes to car insurance. A vehicle must be named on a person’s policy in order to for that person to drive said vehicle. But this law is being broken at an alarming rate – at the expense of road users who obey the laws on car insurance.

Car insurance experts surveyed 2,019 British adults in February 2011 to garner information on the problem of uninsured driving. The results showed that 16 per cent of drivers have driven a car they were not insured to drive. Of this 16 per cent, seven per cent claimed to have driven their own car without cover, seven per cent said they had driven someone else’s car without insurance and a further two per cent admitted to having driven their car in between their insurance policy expiring and obtaining a new policy.

Lack of knowledge about car insurance law seems to be at the heart of the problem for many people in the UK. No less than 27 per cent of respondents who admitted to driving uninsured in the survey said they did not realise they needed insurance at the times when they drove without it.

A further 38 per cent of uninsured drivers claimed to have been between insurance policies when they drove uninsured, which nine per cent said they “couldn’t be bothered” to take out insurance.

Two smaller but nevertheless very telling statistics of the most telling statistics are the 6 per cent of uninsured drivers who said they did not believe insurance was necessary because they are unlikely to crash, and the 13 per cent who said they could not afford to get insured.

Commenting on the research, car insurance expert Peter Harrison said: “Uninsured drivers cost the industry £500 million each year, which as a result adds an average of £30 to every motorist’s premium. Our research shows insurance premiums rose on average by 44p per day, or by 31 per cent, last year.”

“Coupled with rising fuel prices, you can see why people are looking to cut costs, but car insurance is a necessity for all motorists and not something you should avoid paying for.”

The government is looking to clamp down on the scourge of uninsured drivers with the introduction of Continuous Insurance Enforcement, which, from April 2011, will make it illegal to own an uninsured vehicle unless that vehicle is registered with a Statutory Off Road Notification.

In the meantime, Peter Harrison urges insured road users to shop around to money on their insurance renewals.

He said: "The rising cost of motoring makes shopping around for the best deal crucial to ensure you aren't paying over the odds for your car insurance. The average saving using moneysupermarket.com is £270, so I urge everyone to do their research and not automatically accept their renewal without checking there isn't a better alternative."

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 25th March 2011

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

3 new dealers added to the site this week, welcome to:

Caralot

Car Consultants

Cambridge Smart Cars

Many people at the moment consider the Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren MP4-12C the best 2 cars of the last 12 months, well that might be about to change! Porsche's amazing 918 Spyder Hybrid Supercar goes on sale this week costing a cool £672,000. The Porsche will be able to reach 62mph in 3.2 seconds, as well as having a return of 94 miles per gallon.

Another thing - like many people around the world I can't wait for is the return of the F1 this weekend, my money's on Ferrari to win everything after their fantastic pre-season, still it would be nice if Lewis Hamilton or Jensen Button won a second world championship!

With the Geneva Motor Show well and truly over for another year, here are a few of my favourite pictures from the event...

Ferrari's first ever four-wheel drive, the FF

Maserati's luxury convertible, the GranCabrio Sport

Another elegant piece of design from Alfa Romeo with the 4C Concept

Prices starting at only £201,900, the Lamborghini Aventador

There's nothing like a comeback, the Aston Martin Virage

BMW's stylish concept car, the Vision ConnectedDrive

Designed by students, the Abarth Scorp-Ion

The Bertone Jaguar B99 Concept (B is Bertone and 99 years indicates 99 years since the founding of the firm)

Have a good weekend!

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 25th February 2011

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

As you've probably seen it's the Oscars this weekend so there's a lot worth seeing the Cinema at the moment, why not save yourself some money and enter our competition to win a pair of Cineworld tickets, click here to enter.

Next week is the eagerly awaited Geneva Motor Show, BMW will be unveiling their new concept car, the Mini Rocketman. The Rocketman is just 3.2m long and 1.9m wide. Inside there is very little space but there is however reasonable storage accessed behind the rear seats. Despite being a concept car there is little doubt that it won't go into full production as part of the new 2013 line-up.

Mini Rocketman

Another car set to appear the Geneva Motor Show is the new Aston Martin Virage, the British company has said the new car combines performance with luxury, comfort and refinement and sits between the DB9 and the DBS in the line-up.

The Virage originally made its debut at the Birmingham Motorshow in 1988, it will be interesting to see how it does this time around.

Aston Martin Virage

Have a good weekend

Win Drive Angry Cinema Tickets

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ever, been a victim of road rage? Count yourself lucky you didn't run into Nicolas Cage in Drive Angry!

We've teamed up with Confused.com to highlight some of the real statistics around road rage and to launch a competition to win a pair of tickets to see Drive Angry at a Cineworld near you! Infact, even if a car themed shoot-em-up isn't your thing, the tickets are valid for a show of your choice.

So if you fancy a bit of:

Or if this is more your style:

Simply answer this one simple question:

What is the "name" of this car from Nicolas Cage's Gone in 60 Seconds?

A. Betty
B. Eleanor
C. James

In the meantime check out this Road Rage infographic:

Infographic by Confused.com - Compare cheap car insurance in minutes.

Terms and Conditions apply.

New Lamborghini V12 Rolling Chassis

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It's true, you're either a "Lamborghini-man" or a "Ferrari-man" (or woman), but never both. When the new Ferrari FF was launched a couple of weeks ago, it was exciting new and interesting...and yes I wanted one, but as Lamborghini continue to release the new Aventador almost part by part I can't wait to see the actual car when it's revealed at next months Geneva Motor Show!! I am most definitely in the Lamborghini camp.

Lamborghini today released pictures of the Murcielago's replacement V12, well almost, the teaser pictures are of the rolling chassis. While to most it might look like scaffolding on wheels, to the discerning Sant Agata faithful it is definitely a peak at the next generation Lambo. Only a few days to go...

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 17th February 2011

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Could we about to see a real challenger to the Ferrari 458 Italia already? The new McLaren MP4-12C comes in close, both cars are very similar and priced remarkably close. There's no doubt about it, both cars a visually stunning! The sooner they do a race on Top Gear the better!

Here's something you probably knew already, a survey out today by the insurance company Elephant.co.uk has revealed that Footballers commit the most driving offences, it makes you wonder why Vauxhall now sponsor the England football team!

The five professions committing the most offences are:

Footballers
Riggers
Sound editors
Cameramen
Travelling sales managers (David Brent?)

Meanwhile the five professions committing the least are:

Au pairs
Driving examiners (No surprise there!)
Cardiographers
Typists
Housemaids

Finally this week, we were reading the Sky News article about the cost of the "cold snap" in December. Insurers reported that damage to property and cars totalled more than £1bn. More than 250,000 vehicles were damaged at a cost of £530 million as motorists struggled on icy roads. It highlights the importance of being prepared as a motorist and so get set for next year by checking out breakdown cover from ASDA.

Enjoy your weekend!

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - Range Rover Ultimate

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

We've had lots of new dealers joining the site, as usual hello and welcome to:

Car and Vans Deals Direct

Driverite

EU Contract Hire and Leasing

Hillendale Vehicle Contracts

Hippo Prestige

Hippo Trade Sales

The classic British car that is the Jaguar E-Type celebrates it's 50 anniversary this week, launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961 the car has a permanent exhibit in New York's Museum of Modern Art due to it's sleek lines and beautiful body.

Jaguar E-Type 50 years old

Range Rover - probably the most comfortable car in the world, well it just got ever better, Land Rover are set to unveil their new Ranger Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition which will include Apple Ipads installed in the rear entertainment system as well as an aluminium laptop table as well! The car has been described 'the most luxurious Ranger Rover ever'.

Got some time off work coming up but don't know what to do with it? Why not enter Continental's amazing competition to join them on the ultimate off roading experience driving Hummers 1,000 miles through the rocky Atlas Mountains and across the soft sands of the Sahara, in quest for the Contini 4x4 Trophy?!?

Enjoy your weekend

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 4th February 2011

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

When was the last time you bought a brand new car? A survey by the the Society of Motors Manfacturers and Traders (SMMT) out today has shown that sales of new cars have fallen by 11.5% compared to this time last year, this represents the seventh consecutive month fall.

Do you have a favourite car commercial? There have certainly been some good and some not so good ones over the years, here are a few of the best, let me know your favourites....

Honda's classic 'The Cog' advert

Nissan 4x4

VW GTI

Finally this week we end on the Ferrari 458 Italia, as I mentioned before it was most people's car of 2010, spare a thought for this guy who'd only had his for 2 weeks until something happened, I won't ruin it for you, have a great weekend!

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

If you rememeber a while ago, one of writers, Ben sang the praises of the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta in his "Having the cask full and the wife drunk" post.

Here's a promo video from Alfa which shows exactly how good this car looks!

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 31st January 2011

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Speed Cameras – there’s no doubt about it they serve a purpose by helping to stop accidents as well as reckless driving.

However what is the point of having them if only half across the country actually work? I guess we now know that they aren’t just a Police money spinner as some people like to point out. I read a report today that only 44.7% are working at any time, this is clearly not good enough and something needs to be done.

Valentine’s Day, the day that every bloke who is in a relationship doesn't want to forget because otherwise you’ll end up in the dog house, is less than 3 weeks away, stuck for ideas? Fear not, hopefully Makeandmodel came to the rescue. We teamed with group buying site Crowdity.com to offer a FREE £15 Red Letter Days voucher, this can be used on ANY of their offers and valid is for 10 months - we hope to run more of these deals in the very near future.

In the past couple of years Electric cars have come a long way in terms of development, well now Audi have jumped on the band wagon and created the Auto Union Type C e-tron. I admit it does like something one of David Beckham’s children would drive around his LA Mansion; however it is suitable for adults as well. The car is 2.32 metres long and just under 40 inches wide.

The E-tron has a top speed of 18mph, has a range of 15 miles and recharges in around 2 hours, no word on price.

Have a great week and don't forgot to spend the voucher!

Get a £15 Red Letter Days gift voucher FREE!

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

After much negotiation, we’d proud to announce that we’ve launched our first group buying deal today! Get a £15 Red Letter Days gift voucher FREE!

While all the noise and chatter in the tech world about group buying has reached fever pitch over the few weeks, peaking with Google’s $6 billion bid for Groupon, we’ve been beavering away to make sure that Make and Model users don’t miss out on the biggest online trend right now. All the work has paid off and we’re pleased to announce that we’ve teamed up with one of the UK’s leading group buying sites, Crowdity to bring you some car related group buys.

We’re one of the first websites in the UK to use the group buying technology on a non-group buying website, so you might be wondering what it’s all about and how it works? Well it’s fairly simple. We’ll do our best to find you and amazing deal, it’ll usually be something at a huge discount, or like today’s deal, a freebie! All you need to do is click buy now and download your voucher. There’s just one condition, we need to reach a set minimum number of buys before the deal goes live and we all get our vouchers, so make sure you spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.

So please take advantage of our first deal by click here to find out more!

Ferrari FF the new Four-Seater, Four-Wheel Drive Prancing Horse

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

As you’re probably aware, the Make and Model team are huge Ferrari fans, so today has been a treat as the guys from Maranello have unveiled their new model this morning, which is the most powerful and versatile four-seater ever to roll off the production line…and it’s Ferrari’s first ever four-wheel drive offering!

Our first thoughts were, Ferrari, 4WD, roof box, skis, Alps…perfect road trip?

The Ferrari Four or FF (four seats and four-wheel drive) is an entirely new V12 GT concept representing a new chapter in Ferrari’s history. Pininfarina has once again designed a car whose lines and proportions are perfection.

The FF features the company’s first ever four-wheel drive system. Ferrari’s exclusive, patented 4RM (four-wheel drive) weighs 50 per cent less than a conventional four-wheel drive system, maintaining perfect weight distribution (53 per cent over the rear axle).

Our first thoughts were, Ferrari, 4WD, roof box, skis, Alps…perfect road trip? It also, obviously, is a little reminiscent of the BMW Z3M Coupe and some people even think side and rear views are similar to a Subaru Impreza?! We can’t wait to find out more when it makes it’s official debut at the Geneva Motor Show…until then, here are some of it’s vital statistics and most importantly (perhaps) pictures:

Engine

Type: 65-degree V12
Overall displacement: 6,262 cc
Maximum power: 660 CV @ 8,000 rpm
Maximum torque: 683 Nm @ 6,000 rpm

Dimensions and weight

Length: 4907 mm
Width: 1953 mm
Height: 1379 mm
Dry weight: 1790 kg
Weight distribution: 47% front, 53% rear
Weight/power ratio: 2.7 kg/CV

Performance

Maximum speed: 335 km/h
0-100 km/h: 3.7 sec

James's Weekly Used Car Chatter - 21st January 2011

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Only one week to go of January, 2011 seems to be flying by already! 5 more dealers added to the site this week:

Last week I mentioned that David Beckham's Porsche was for sale, well, it's now been sold for a cool £136,000, £14,000 less than what he paid it for two years ago.

Aston Martin have announced the pricing for their new city car, the Cygnet. It will available for a staggering £39,995 which will buy you a launch edition, production starts in April. The company are describing it as the 'Luxury Commuter Car'.

Aston Martin Cygnet - who will buy this car?

Finally this week, does anyone know when the new series of Top Gear starts? It's just I'm rather looking forward to all of this.....

Enjoy the weekend!

"Suzuki" Swift Decisions

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Check out this Suzuki Swift video:

The Five Most Popular Cars of All Time

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Car manufacturers have been vilified in recently years by environmental enthusiasts who blame cars for the damage caused to the ozone layer and other potentially disastrous environmental happenings.

This has resulted in a recent surge in the number of environmental cars being produced by car manufacturers. These are becoming increasingly popular with the public on the back of receiving a number of industry awards. The Nissan Leaf for instance has recently become the first all electric car to win the car of the year accolade in this year’s awards. The Leaf is capable of a top speed of 92 mph and has a range of 100 miles between charges. The fact that it uses only electric would shave £1,500 per year off the fuel bill of the average motorist and cut at least £50 off their insurance costs according to Moneysupermarket.com.

This is therefore potentially the beginning of the end for the conventional fossil fuelled car, with the cars we drive set to change dramatically in the coming decade. This was recently confirmed by Nissan president Carlos Ghosn who believes that Nissan’s commitment to the production of electric cars will see them increase their market share of the global car market to 10% by 2020. The following is therefore a list of the cars which proved most popular in the ‘fossil fuel’ era of car production.

5. Ford Escort

First produced in 1968, the Escort was the successor of the highly successful Ford Anglia. However, the Escort soon proved itself as being even more popular with Ford creating seven iterations of the Escort over the next 32 years and selling over 20,000,000 Escorts around the world. The mark 3 proved the most successful Escort in the UK, with 1,500,000 versions of them operational in 1989 making it the most popular car on British roads at the time.

The Escort also proved itself to be very successful in the racing world, winning the 1970 World Cup Rally with Hannu Mikkola as well as winning two official World Rally Championships in 1979 and 1981. The Escort was also highly successful in the touring car world, winning multiple championships with the legendary Andy Rouse in the 1980s.

The Ford hatchback batton was eventually passed onto the Ford Focus in 2000, which is proving to be equally successful.

4. Volkswagen Beetle

The Beetle is unique in having a rather broad appeal. It was initially produced in 1938 by Adolf Hitler’s Auto Union car production company which aimed to make a car which was affordable for the vast majority of Germany’s people. This resulted in the creation of Volkswagen, which translated in German as “People’s car”.

The first car produced by Volkswagen was the Beetle and inevitably this became associated with the third reich which one would image has the potential to become a killer blow for any brand. However, the allied forces encouraged Volkswagen to re-open after the war in an attempt to get the German economy moving again. Although it took some time for the company to lose its stigma it eventually became very popular in the 1960s in both America and Britain and began to become an emblem of the hippy movement of that decade.

After this the Beetle went into a slow decline and production stopped in 2003. During its 65 year existence, more than 22,000,000 Beetles were bought by consumers around the world and it became perhaps the only brand that was capable of appealing to both Nazi’s and Hippies.

3. Volkswagen Golf

The Golf became Volkswagen’s most popular model in the post war era and it still exists to this day with over 25,000,000 versions having been sold so far. It quickly became famous for its impressive performance and strong reliability at a relatively low cost which helped add to Germany’s growing reputation of building the best road cars in the 1970s.

Plans are afoot to maintain the Golf brand into the new era of environmental motoring with Volkswagen introducing the hybrid Golf Bluemotion in 2009. The German manufacturer is also currently in the process of developing the all electric Golf Blue-e-motion which is expected to be released in 2013 and will be capable of a 93 mile range between charges.

2. Ford F-series

The majority of UK motorists won’t even of heard of the F-series, but it happens to have been very popular in the United States since its introduction way back 1948. The model is Ford’s attempt at a pick-up truck which unlike its sister cars such as the Escort has survived for over 70 years with 11 different iterations of the car introduced during the time, with Ford selling a total of 30,000,000 F-series’s during this time.

Just like Volkswagen with the Golf, Ford have realised the power of the F-series brand and are planning to take it into the new environmental era with the American company currently planning on introducing a plug in version of the F-series with recent iterations of the model all having been focused on improved fuel economy.

1. Toyota Corolla

Contrary to popular opinion the Corolla is still in production to this day in some markets despite it being replaced by the Auris in the UK. Since its introduction in 1966, there have been ten generations of Corolla with over 32,000,000 sold world wide. Although it has never been the most popular car in the UK it has had a long run of being the most popular car worldwide and is currently the most popular make of car in a wide range of countries, from America to Afghanistan.

Despite recent recalls which prompted one state in Brazil to ban the sales of Corolla’s, the cars strong reliability, decent pricing and good performance have ensured that it has been the most popular car in the world ever.

Caterham Lola SP/300.R - First Peek at Caterham’s New Model

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Well, yesterday we promised to bring you all the details of the new Caterham from the NEC at Birmingham today.

We were excited at the prospect of a return to the market by Caterham and the press release in December only fuelled our intrigue stating, “The latest addition to the renowned Caterham stable marks the beginning of a new dawn for the Company, but one that remains true to the lightweight, minimalist DNA of the legendary Seven and will complement its continuing global success.”

What we didn’t expect was what has just been unveiled and wow, what a car it is - a Caterham-Lola Trackday collaboration!!

We’ve tried to pick out the vital statistics, so here’s what’s on offer:

Caterham Lola SP/300.R
Mid-Engined
2-Seater
Open Cabin
Track Day Only
Lola-developed aerodynamics package
ATS center-lock Formula 3 wheels
Lola developed lightweight aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis
Caterham supercharged Ford Duratec 2.0LMotor
Lola Formula 3 derived gearbox mounted rear suspension
Seven-piece lightweight polyurethane body system
Max Power 305PS @7500rpm
Max Torque 290Nm @7500rpm
0-60mph (claimed) 2.8s
Top speed 290kph

As for how it looks, well judge for yourself:

Let us know what you think!

James's Weekly Chatter - 12th January 2011

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Happy New Year!

Hope you had a good Christmas, as you’ve probably seen we now have winner of our amazing Ferrari v Lamborghini Driving Day, congratulations again to Darren.

Two more dealers added to this site this week, welcome to Richard Smalley and SPR Cars.

Do you like Porsche? Who doesn’t! What about David Beckham? He’s alright, bit of a poser, I wouldn’t mind his car collection though!

Well now you can have it, his Porsche 911 Turbo is currently for sale, it’s done less than 7000 miles, the only problem is you’ll need a spare £100k……

Also well done to Ford who not only were the biggest selling car manufacturer in the UK for 2010 but also had the UK's highest selling car with the Fiesta.

Ford Fiesta

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Caterham Cars Introduce New Model...Tomorrow

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

All of us here at Make and Model all eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new Caterham tomorrow! We'll seek to have as many details as possible as close to it's launch as possible tomorrow. If you're a big fan like we all are, tune in tomorrow for details!

British sportscar maker, Caterham Cars, will introduce an entirely new model to its line-up at next month’s Autosport International Show.

The latest addition to the renowned Caterham stable marks the beginning of a new dawn for the Company, but one that remains true to the lightweight, minimalist DNA of the legendary Seven and will complement its continuing global success.

Powered by the next-generation Caterham Motorsport engine, the model will provide a logical expansion to the Company’s racing and trackday portfolio and open an exciting new chapter in its future.

The new model makes its world debut on Thursday, January 13, 2011, at the Autosport International Show, NEC, Birmingham.

13th December 2010

Hear It, See It, Win It Competition - The Results

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It's finally over, the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition has come to an end! All the questions have been answered and the prize winners drawn. We hope you've enjoyed it and we'll be running another competition very soon so stay tuned. In the meantime we hope to bring you some deeply discounted, bargain car related products in 2011 via our new group buying venture. More details very soon...

Thanks again for entering, here is a rundown of the prizes, winners and correct answers to the questions from all 10 weeks:

Week 1

Andrew A.

Answer: BMW Z4

Week 2

Andrew G.

Answer: A. Porsche

Week 3

Jeremy E.

Answer: Peugeot RCZ

Week 4

Lee D.

Answer: Audi R8 Spyder

Week 5

Mark B.

Answer: BMW M3

Week 6

Sue B.

Answer: Porsche Boxster Spyder

Week 7

Alison S.

Answer: Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Week 8

Elliot B.

Answer: Nissan 370Z Roadster

Week 9

Tim S.

Answer: Ferrari F355

Week 10

Kath C.

Answer: TVR Griffith

Grand Prize Winner

Darren H.

Finally a big thanks to Dean Smith whose prints made the competition well worth entering each week!

James's Weekly Chatter - Christmas Eve

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

This is your final chance to win an amazing Ferrari v Lamborghini Driving Day so if you haven’t already please feel free to enter here

London – home of the classic black cab, made by LTI (London Taxis International) since 1948, you can smell the history…erm not really!

Well that might be just about to change, Volkswagen have just unveiled plans for a three-seater electric taxi concept car which is powered by lithium-ion batteries. The car is based on its city car, Up.

VW Electric Taxi Concept

There are no currently plans to put the car into production but with Boris Johnson being greener than green, don’t be surprised if we see them hitting the London streets soon.

What’s your car of 2010? For many people it seems to be the Ferrari 458 Italia.

Car of the Year 2010?

Do you agree or are you leaning towards the Porsche 911 GT3 RS or even the Jaguar XJ?

Let us know your thoughts…

Finally Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Range Rover Vogue - Chelsea Tractor to Alpine Monster

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Wednesday, last week, the weather forecast appeared ominous. I had a friend’s wedding in rural Cheshire on Saturday and the thought of driving a V8, rear-wheel-drive M3 up from London in treacherous conditions was not appealing. I was having no luck hiring a 4x4 for anything less than £600 for the weekend and had little interest in taking on Britain’s already stretched rail network.

At the last minute, the petrolhead gods answered my prayers and a very generous friend agreed to lend me his Range Rover TDV8, Vogue. Having lived in London for 7 years I have always had mixed feelings regarding Chelsea Tractors and have often resented them clogging up the already congested London streets. What is the point in owning such a huge car in such a densely populated, urban area? Most of the “Rangers” (pronounced like “Bangers”) that cruise the more salubrious parts of London, sport 22” rims and boast countless, unnecessary extras that help them tackle the treacherous puddles outside Harvey Nichols.

So, when offered the chance to put one of these monsters through its paces in some challenging conditions, I jumped at the opportunity. Interestingly I was advised to stay clear of BMW X5s and similarly other German manufacturers’ imitations, as when the conditions really deteriorate, the Range was the only way forward – figuratively and physically. On collection, I took a few moments to behold the Vogue in the car park, all 2.7 tonnes of it, it really is enormous. Moments later I was immediately impressed at how quickly I had settled into the 4x4 experience; from the lofty driving position you have excellent visibility and the car’s huge size does seem to diminish as you quickly become accustomed to the flat-mounted, big steering-wheel and vast windscreen. The ride was executive-saloon-smooth and wielding the Range around tight London streets was surprisingly easy due to responsive, feather-light steering.

As I made my way north up the M40, M42 and onto the M6 the weather system tightened its wintery grip on the flow of traffic. The snow had all but banished motorists to the middle and inside lanes of the motorway and progress began to fall away. Emboldened by the sure-footedness of my oversized, four-wheel-drive friend, I decided to dip into the Range’s box of tricks and clicked it into “snow mode”. I then gently eased it into the fresh powdered terrain of the outside lane. Manoeuvring the Vogue into a straight line was easy, then slowly but surely I applied pressure with my right foot and began to leave the rest of my motorway companions spinning their way to nowhere in the other 2 lanes. It was a liberating feeling and scanning the road ahead I could only see other Land Rover vehicles advancing at the same rate: mostly Range Rover Sports, a few Vogues and occasionally a Volvo XC90 whose Scandinavian roots seemed to help it cope admirably with the Alpine conditions.

It was a liberating feeling and scanning the road ahead I could only see other Land Rover vehicles advancing at the same rate.

This section of the journey set the tone for the rest of the weekend’s driving and whatever was the thrown at the Range was shrugged off with effortless poise and when needed, V8-powered grunt. The snow varied in depth, texture and at times was frozen hard to the road, yet the car was able to constantly adapt to the ever changing terrain. To seasoned Land Rover owners this performance is nothing new, but for someone who is only used to sliding around in rear-wheel drive coupes, it was a welcome new experience. At the end of the weekend, after 400 miles of driving and much revelry, I was surprisingly in good shape – no doubt thanks to the not only imperious, but luxurious driver’s seat that cossets you on your journey.

It will be interesting to see how Land Rover’s sales figures perform post this cold snap. I dropped into my local dealership in London this week to take a look at RR Sport, and the salesman’s smugness was a little nauseating - but to be expected given the obvious advantage they have in these extreme conditions.

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 10

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It's the final week of the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition! It's your last chance to get a ticket into the draw for the grand prize, so get your your thinking hats on and try to identify the last mystery car! Lots of people entered last week and lots of people got the right answer, check below to find out how you did...

So, how are you doing? How many correct answers (and entries into the grand prize draw) have you got? How are you doing versus your friends? This is the last week which means 1 more chance to get a ticket into the draw for the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day.

The winner from Week 8 who correctly identified the mystery car as a Nissan 370Z Roadster is Elliot B. , congratulations to him, the Dean Smith Porsche 911 print will be on its way soon.

We'll be drawing the weekly prize winner for Week 9 in the next couple of days and we'll let you know who has won next week!

We're sticking with picture questions again this week, so you can ENTER NOW with our last question - good luck.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

Here are the 3 options:

A. TVR Griffith
B. Mini Countryman
C. Ulitma GTR

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you entered last week, the answer is:

Ferrari F355

From 20 October to 22 December, we’ll post either an audio clip of an engine revving or a photo of a small detail of a car each week. To enter, identify the make and model of the car, then send us your answer, name, and email address. It's as simple as that!

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

Then at the end of the 10 weeks, we will draw from all the correct entries we received, the winner of the grand prize, the Ferrari vs Lamborghini driving day. Just remember: you get entered into the grand prize draw each week you submit the correct answer, so if you get the answers right every week, you’ll be entered to win the grand prize 10 times!

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 9

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It's the penultimate week of the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition! The competition continues to get more popular every week due to the interest in Dean Smith's automotive prints. Lots of people were right this week...see below for the answer...

So, how are you doing? How many correct answers (and entries into the grand prize draw) have you got? How are you doing versus your friends? There are still 2 weeks to go which means 2 chances to get a ticket into the draw for the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day.

The winner from Week 7 who correctly identified the mystery car as a Aston Martin V8 Vantage is Alison S. , congratulations to her, the Dean Smith Audi R8 will be on its way soon.

We'll be drawing the weekly prize winner for Week 8 in the next couple of days and we'll let you know who has won next week!

We're sticking with picture questions again this week, so you can ENTER NOW with our nineth question - good luck.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

Here are the 3 options:

A. Lamborghini Diablo
B. Porsche 964
C. Ferrari F355

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you entered last week, the answer is:

Nissan 370Z Roadster

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

James's Weekly Chatter - 9th December 2010

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

Another week almost gone as we edge ever closer to Christmas, have you put your Christmas tree up yet?

Lots of new dealers added to the site, hello and welcome to:

Lincoln Motor House

Jon Heath

Elite Motors Garstang

What started as a great week for Kevin Pietersen has quickly deteriorated after he was charged for speeding in a borrowed yellow Lamborghini Gallardo which was arranged by his friend and former Hampshire teammate Shane Warne.

I think if Australia want to win the Ashes then they should have locked him up until the series is over!

Are you missing Top Gear? Of course you’re not, it’s repeated on Dave 12 hours a day!

However Jeremy Clarkson and the team will be returning on the 21st of this month and again on Boxing Day for a Christmas special where they will be doing the biblical journey of the three wise men (obviously in cars!).

Check out this preview of the Christmas Special:

Have a good weekend.

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 8

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

There are only 3 weeks to go in the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition! The competition is getting more popular every week due to the interest in Dean Smith's automotive prints. Lots of people were right this week...see below for the answer...

So, how are you doing? How many correct answers (and entries into the grand prize draw) have you got? How are you doing versus your friends? There are still 3 weeks to go which means 3 chances to get a ticket into the draw for the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day.

The winner from Week 6 who correctly identified the mystery car as a Porsche Boxster Spyder is Sue B. from Kent, congratulations to her, the Dean Smith Lamborghini print will be on its way soon.

We'll be drawing the weekly prize winner for Week 7 in the next couple of days and we'll let you know who has won next week!

We're sticking with picture questions again this week, so you can ENTER NOW with our eighth question - good luck.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

Here are the 3 options:

A. Lexus LFA
B. Porsche 911 (997)
C. Nissan 370Z Roadster

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you entered last week, the answer is:

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

James's Weekly Chatter - 3rd December 2010

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on?

Cold? Stuck at home? Well count yourself lucky you’ve got a three day weekend!

With the big announcement this week that Google have bid for the group buying site Groupon, we are very excited to be in discussions with one of London's best Group Buying sites, Crowdity, so thatl we can bring you some great deals in 2011.

New F1 Champion Sebastian Vettel returned to Berlin this week to celebrate winning the F1 title, check out this video of him doing some pretty spectacular doughnuts (in his F1 car and on a quad bike??!) in the German capital, shame Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button couldn’t do this on Buckingham Palace road when they won!

If you're feeling the Winter Blue’s, then if you haven’t already, cheer yourself up and enter our amazing free competition to win a Ferrari V Lamborghini Driving Experience.

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 7

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We're approaching the home straight in the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition! What we thought was a tricky question last week proved the easiest yet with the vast majority of entrants getting the answer correct.

So, how are you doing? How many correct answers (and entries into the grand prize draw) have you got? How are you doing versus your friends? There are still 4 weeks to go which means 4 chances to get a ticket into the draw for the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day.

The winner from Week 5 who correctly identified the mystery revving car as a BMW M3 is Mark B., congratulations to him, the Dean Smith BMW print will be on its way soon.

We'll be drawing the weekly prize winner for Week 6 in the next couple of days and we'll let you know who has won next week!

After a huge response this week we're sticking with picture questions, so you can ENTER NOW with our seventh question - good luck.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

Here are the 3 options:

A. Jaguar XKR
B. Porsche Panamera
C. Aston Martin V8 Vantage

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you entered last week, the answer is:

Porsche Boxster Spyder

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

GT40 Kit Car - Part 1

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I expect everyone reading this has been in my position, a young man (or indeed lady) who loves cars...I really do love everything about cars.

At first it was the feeling of independence, then, the novelty of driving. Then going fast, then faster, then faster still...but after I crashed my beloved Fiat Punto I decided that I probably didn't have the right car to be doing 100mph and it was that feeling has created what I can best describe as a near ten year itch in the back of my mind.

My dad kicked off my interest in cars, restoring his barn find E-Type Jaguar in the garage behind our semi-detached house in Stockport. I don't know how many nights I spent in there, listening to Neil Young and Bob Dylan, putting together one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Entering my teens I never really appreciated how special it was, and when the car was sold to make way for a new kitchen and the upgrade to a detached house, I never made a peep. I wish I had.

Like most, on leaving home I had no money, and no money meant “crap” cars. The Fiat Punto followed a diesel Nissan Primera, and a Volvo was next on the shopping list. Not quite the motoring CV of a self confessed car nut. However, after moving to London and finding my “fortune” I managed to upgrade to a Mini Cooper S (actually with the help of a loan financed by said father). The mini is fantastic. It's fast, small and hides my lower class financial situation better than my fake Ray Ban sunglasses or my “designer” t-shirts bought in Thailand. But I still can’t shake the feeling that I want a proper car, a supercar. Living in London is like a slap in the face to someone who dreams of driving fast cars but can't afford one, Lamborghini follows Ferrari, Pagani Zondas and even Bugatti Veyrons loiter around the city, driven by these young men, so much more financially fortunate than I.

So, I need to make a plan, how can I get the two hundred miles per hour head turner having no deposit and no credit? I don't really want to glue pieces of plastic to an MR2. My heritage excludes me from even considering it and I'd disowned by all who know me. A kit car? Can anyone actually drive a kit car without looking like a total idiot? Hmmm. I scower EBay and there are a couple of cars but the proportions just don't look right. They should, but do not. A little too big on the back or a little steep on the window angle...

Then I'm strolling home from work one day and I see this incredible looking car lurking in a private road, a Ford GT. The number-plate read SEX5Y. I was in love! The car was indeed sexy, albeit the number-plate not. All black, some kind of special model with 700 written down the side. This Ford GT was well out of my realm but a GT40? I remember my Dad talking about them beating Ferraris or something? That sounds good…they look good, could I afford one, is there a “kit”?!

I investigate further. What a car! Produced in such small numbers that originals change hands for well over a million pounds, but I can have a kit version, just as fast, looking just as good for much less. And I get to build it myself?! This surely sounds like a great idea! Scratching that itch over the next couple of years with concurrent purchases, specification decisions and presents to myself with every pay-cheque... The end of my itching might just be in sight…

To be continued…

James's Weekly Chatter - 26th November 2010

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on?

Firstly, congratulations to Sebastian Vettel the youngest ever Formula 1 World Champion at only 23. I think everyone thought Fernando Alonso had it in the bag, I certainly did, there should been some epic races between him and Hamilton over the next decade, roll on next season.

If you haven’t already please check out our Formula One 2010 highlights article where we look backs at all the key moments that made this year's championship go right down to the final race.

Last time I mentioned Ferrari's new theme park in Abu Dhabi, have a look at this video where Massa and Alonso ride the fastest rollercoaster in the world!

Carrying on with Ferrari, ever wondered what else a you can do with a Ferrari California besides taking it to it's top speed then have a look at this.

Four weeks tomorrow it will be Christmas Day, ho ho no! If you're driving this weekend take care as the Met Office has released a severe weather warning, if you have got snow where you are, enjoy it!

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 6

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Another stong week again in the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition! The first exhuast noise proved more tricky this week and we saw a variety of answers, some that weren't even options!

Did you get the answer right? How are you doing now we are halfway? How many correct answers (and entries into the grand prize draw) have you got? How are you doing versus your friends? There are still 5 weeks to go which means 5 chances to get a ticket into the draw for the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day.

The winner from Week 4 who correctly identified the mystery car as an Audi R8 is Lee D., congratulations to him, the Dean Smith Porsche print will be on its way soon.

We'll be drawing the weekly prize winner for Week 5 in the next couple of days and we'll let you know who has won next week!

It's back to photo questions this week and it's a little bit tricky, so you can ENTER NOW and test your skills with our sixth question - good luck.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

Here are the 3 options:

A. Nissan 370Z Roadster
B. Porsche Boxster Spyder
C. Ferrari California

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you entered last week, the answer is:

BMW M3

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 5

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you entered our Hear it, See it, Win it Competition last week you'll have noticed the questions are beginning to get a little tougher. Many people however, are proving that they know their cars coming up with the right answers week-in-week-out.

How many right answers do you have? How are you doing versus colleagues and friends? There are still 6 weeks to go which means 6 more chances to get a ticket into the draw for the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day.

The winner from Week 3 who correctly identified the mystery Car as a Peugeot RCZ is Jeremy E. from Reading, congratulations to him, the Dean Smith Lamborghini print will be on its way soon.

We'll be drawing the weekly prize winner for Week 4 in the next couple of days and we'll let you know who has won next week!

So how's your knowledge of engine notes? Are you an exhaust specialist? Check out our first "Hear It" question and ENTER NOW - good luck and turn up the sound!

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

Here are the 3 options:

A. Lamborghini Gallardo
B. Ferrari F355
C. BMW M3

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you entered last week, the answer is:

Audi R8 Spyder

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

Alternative Uses for a Ferrari California

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We've found a couple of alternative uses for a Ferrari California, so next time your in the airport look out for the "Ferrari Tug", or if you're lucky enough to be watching the Red Arrows, see if you can spot "Red 11".

Ferrari Tug

Red 11

Formula 1 2010 Season Highlights - Infographic

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

F1 World Champion 2010 - Sebastian Vettel

After a tense and brilliant F1 season, who would have thought that Michael Schumacher and Vitaly Petrov would have such an impact on the World Title race?!

Schumacher's first lap accident set in motion a sequence of events which saw strategy thrown out of the window as teams pitted and the back markers completed their mandatory stops.

The leaders marched on, with Alonso sitting pretty in 4th - all he would need to become World Champion, however after Webber (5th) pitted due to rear tyre graining, Ferrari decided to cover the stop and brought Alonso in. Unfortunately they returned into heavy traffic while Vettel, Hamilton and Button disappeared down the road as the tyres recovered.

Alonso then got stuck behind Petrov, fighting for his seat next year, and his Renault looked quick. He kept the Alonso/Webber train behind him for the remainder of the race, relegating Alonso to 7th place. With Vettel driving a brillant race from start to finish and claiming the 25pts he is crowned F1 World Champion 2010.

Infographic powered by Make and Model

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James's Weekly Chatter - 12th November 2010

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on?

At Make and Model we are always striving to get new dealers stock added to the site to give you a better choice of used cars. This week I’d like to say welcome to Spondon Cars, Beechdown Garage, Boothbys, The Crazy Car Company and C & C Trade Cars.

If you’re a dealership and you’d like your stock to be on Make and Model please contact us, it is free for the remainder of this year.

Top Gear Live is in Birmingham this weekend so if you’re going have a good time. I recently read a great blog on what should happen with regards to The Stig when the show returns.

Do you like Ferrari’s? Silly question - YES! What about Theme Parks? Yes those also? Well Ferrari opened their own last week in Abu Dhabi - it’s the largest indoor theme park in world and also has the world’s fastest roller coaster, the Formula Rossa.

Ferrari World

Speaking of Abu Dhabi, it’s the final F1 race of the season on Sunday, any one of four drivers could win, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, surely Alonso cant win?! Whatever the result, it’s sure to be a classic.

Finally if you're a budding car photographer then check our interview with professional automotive photographer Dean Smith...it’s worth a read.

Oh, and one last thing - we're hearing rumblings of a new project Who Can Fix My Car, more details to follow in the coming weeks!

Enjoy your weekend!

Rising Star of the Year (Trade): 3rd Place - John Slavin

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Just a quick note to say congratulations to one of our best contributing writers, John Slavin. He recently made the shortlist for 2 categories in the headlineauto awards and we’ve just found out that he was third in third in the Rising Star of the Year (Trade). Well done John!

Many of you will know him through is eloquent ramblings here on the Make and Model Blog, or via his (former) alter-ego @Dear_Blank on Twitter and will agree he is very fitting of the accolade.

HeadlineAuto Rising Star of the Year (Trade) Award: 3rd Place

John Slavin

Having only been in the industry since the begining of the year, John has climbed the ranks extremely quickly, clearly - he was nominated in the rising star section for both the trade and consumer categories. Combining his love of writing and passion for cars has equipped him well for a bright future in motoring journalism and we're extremely happy he chooses to write for us regularly. Keep checking in for his future reviews.

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 4

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Another stong week again in the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition! The question proved a little more tricky this time, the majority still got the answer correct but there were more who went for one of the alternative answers.

Earlier this week we interviewed Dean Smith who is provided the amazing weekly prints. He gives his thoughts on automotive photography and some advice for budding young photographers, if you like our weekly prizes it is definitely worth a read.

So, how are you doing? How many correct answers (and entries into the grand prize draw) have you got? How are you doing versus your friends? There are still 7 weeks to go which means 7 chances to get a ticket into the draw for the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day.

The winner from Week 2 who correctly identified the mystery Car as a Rolls-Royce Ghost is Andrew G., congratulations to him, the Dean Smith GT-R print will be on its way soon.

We'll be drawing the weekly prize winner for Week 3 in the next couple of days and we'll let you know who has won next week!

We've been asked to stick with photo questions for now, so you can ENTER NOW with our fourth question - good luck.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

Here are the 3 options:

A. Lamborghini Miura
B. Audi R8 Spyder
C. Ferrari F430

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you entered last week, the answer is:

Peugeot RCZ

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

Dean Smith Interview - Life of an Automotive Photographer

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Much as we might like to be, we can’t all be F1 drivers or presenters on Top Gear. So the rest of us have to be a little more inventive to satisfy our car-enthusiast itch, and if we’re lucky, someone may even pay us to do so. Dean Smith has done just that, and really well too.

Recently nominated for the 2010 Headline Auto Photographer of the Year Award, Dean has arguably one of the best jobs on the planet for car lovers. He spends his days photographing amazing cars. To top it off he’s actually a remarkably nice chap – we caught up with him last week to talk photography, cars and erm cars...

So, how did you get into photography?

I got bitten by the bug when I borrowed a friend’s digital SLR to take some photos at a BMX meet. That was nine years ago...

Why cars?

I always liked cars – my Dad worked in the industry so I was always around them growing up. So, once I got my license I quit the BMX (as you do) and got into cars instead. Photographing cars just seemed like a logical progression.

What’s your dream car?

Hmmm, the Lamborghini Gallardo’s not too shabby – I could probably live with one of those.

What’s been your greatest photoshoot to date?

Two months ago I did a shoot for Car Dealer magazine. We took a selection of Supercars up to North Wales – it was awesome - four days of driving dream cars (and of course taking a few photos).

What are the most challenging aspects of photographing cars?

Probably finding a suitable location and then of course lighting is always a challenge. Plus, coming up with an original concept for the shoot can be a tricky one.

Do you have any tips for budding automotive photographers?

I get asked that all the time – I think that the most important thing is to have fun with it, and try and be creative. Don’t worry about shooting supercars – just get out there and shoot your Mum’s Austin Metro – it’s all good practice.

Are you ambitious?

Isn’t everyone? Right now, I’d just like to be able to continue to do this for a living. I guess in the future I’d like to be recognised internationally within the industry – possibly a few awards – that would be nice.

Are there any other photographers you admire?

There are loads - Nigel Harniman & Easton Chang in particular are awesome.

See? Impossible to dislike... Thanks for taking time out to talk to us Dean!

So what about the rest of us? To soften the blow of our less dream like occupations we’re running a competition in which you can win a track day, driving both a Ferrari and Lamborghini – not a bad day out, I’m sure you’ll agree.

So here’s the deal with the competition... Every week from 20th October to 22nd December we’re giving you the chance to win an 18’’ x 12’’ supercar print by Dean Smith; Plus you’ll also get the chance to win our grand prize - an amazing Ferrari versus Lamborghini driving experience - with our Hear it, See it, Win it Competition.

To check out the competition, click here.

Adventures of a Ferrari Testarossa - Part 1

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Ferrari Testarossa: Miami Vice, Athena poster car, 1980’s bad taste…Microsoft Word clip art car. These are just a few answers you’d get if you were to ask the general public about the Testarossa. It’s one of those few cars in the world which is instantly recognizable. Is that a good thing? There some urban myths about these cars and hopefully my blogs can dispel some of them and also describe what it is really like to live with a Testarossa.

My love affair with J-Lo, my nickname for my Testarossa, began nearly 8 years ago. I had been bitten by the Testarossa bug in my late teens as my best friend, Keith, had a very early Testarossa, in the clichéd Rosso (resale) Red with crème interior. It had single knock on wheels and as a UK car had Michelin TRX metric tyres - more on tyres in a later blog. It was a single mirrored edition, which Keith had adjusted to be a little higher than normal. The car had so much presence to look at, it was incredible. Even as it was parked in his drive, it looked like it was going 200mph. I was hooked. At 19 years old, Keith threw me the keys and let me drive it. As you can imagine this was incredibly daunting; being almost 15 years ago, the car was worth more than some 2 bedroom flats in South London! A sturdy foot down on the clutch into the dog leg first, with a nice “clunk” that only Italian supercars have - I slowly pressed the throttle and away I went for a careful drive down the A3.

J-Lo

The car was just something I had never experienced before; the power was just out of this world for someone who at 19 years old had only driven a handful of “hot hatch” cars, namely my daily run which was a Lancia Y10 Turbo with a 200 bhp ex-RAC rally engine in. I thought that was fast, but the Testarossa was on a whole new level. The rev’s seemed to go on and on and the gear change was seamless. It was a very docile car low down, but once the noisy pedal was squeezed, 12 of Maranello’s opera singers, sung in perfect harmony. The half an hour drive was something I will never forget. From that moment onwards, I just HAD to have a Testarossa or at the very least a Ferrari. Like many I set myself a target of having one at 25. That would involve quite a drastic change of career as being a shelf stacker at a well known DIY chain wasn’t going to cut it. Time to set my sites on working harder and smarter!

Keith and I used to do lots of track days together, before they became a regular fixture. It was fantastic as I got to do lots of track time in the Testarossa and also in his Lamborghini Diablo. On track the Testarossa, is well, different. The power as mentioned is epic, so on the pit straight of Silverstone the car would eat up pretty much every car on track but preparing to turn into Copse Corner would require some advanced brake pedal usage. Leave it too late and you would end up in the kitty litter, which Keith and I did a couple of times. The brakes on the Testarossa were really not suited for track days. After 5 or 6 fast laps, the brakes would fade as the fluid would get very hot and rendered them useless. This was a real shame as the handling was surprisingly excellent. With its big bottom you would think it would handle worse than an early American V8, but you would be wrong. The pinpoint handling allowed you to go precisely where you wanted to go, with very minimal oversteer. You do have to keep on the throttle - if you let go mid corner at speed then mother nature would allow one of the biggest bottoms in the world to go the wrong way and you have to be very very quick to snatch it back. If you manage to you will look like a complete hero, but it doesn’t happen often. Except to me in front of a few thousand people at Dunsfold Park…

Track Handling: Surprisingly excellent

After spending more time on track I became very much “at one” with the Testarossa. I became very comfortable with the car in a “daily capacity”, even driving it in the stop-start of London traffic. Keith received a good offer on the car when I turned 24, so unfortunately my flirtation with the car ended, but I was determined to get my car at 25. It was still a tall order but I was working as much as I could, with fingers in every pie imaginable. I bored my friends to tears that I was going to have one. Maybe getting 6 numbers would be an easier option?

To be continued…

Down the Shops...in Style

Images courtesy of Gemm Ferrane

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 3

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Hear it, See it, Win it Competition is really starting to heat up! We're seeing plenty of correct answers and last week saw few wrong ones too!! However, don't despair if you didn't guess the correct car last week (answer below) as there are still 8 weeks to go which means 8 chances to get a ticket into the draw for the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day.

The winner from Week 1 who correctly identified the mystery Car as a BMW Z4 is Andrew A. from London, congratulations to him, the Dean Smith TVR print will be on its way soon.

We'll be drawing the weekly prize winner for Week 2 in the next couple of days and we'll let you know who has won next week!

Back by popular demand is another picture round (we'll have the first engine noise next week) - ENTER NOW with our third question, and good luck.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

This week the question is a little more tricky so we've narrowed it down to 3 options:

A. Porsche Boxster
B. Peugeot RCZ
C. Vauxhall Astra

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you entered last week, the answer is:

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

James's Weekly Chatter - 2nd November 2010

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on?

Last week I wrote that the Aston Martin DB5 used in the James Bond films Thunderball and Goldfinger would be going up for auction, well on Wednesday it was sold to American Harry Yeaggy for £2,912,000.

What fascinated me about the sale was not how it fell short of its expected £3 million plus figure but that there were only 2 bids. The car is arguably the most well known in the history of Cinema and I certainly thought more people would be after it! Wayne Rooney could have made a bid after his ‘promotion.'

We are now firmly into week 2 of our fantastic Ferrari vs Lamborghini driving day competition so please feel free to enter at any time.

With the F1 season coming to an exciting climax, we’ve dived into the archives to find the best F1 Driver helmut’s of recent years, the article will be posted online very soon…

Are you a Londoner? Do you drive in the capital? If so then check out Eddy Thor’s blog on how the congestion charge is becoming another stealth tax, also up on the site is part 2 of his trip to the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy.

Tour de France - Part Deux

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A blessed night’s sleep with our room containing one small double and a single bed – the driver grabbed the big one. Apprehension again prevailed, made worse by bumping into some Brits who advised against trying to use the motorway around Reims. Our destination for the day was Belleville, 20 miles north of Lyon and the distance was around 340 miles – easy peasy on the motorway. So, we looked at that redundant document called a map and found that we could head for Soissons and pick up the motorway, south of Reims, at Troyes having journeyed through the quaint and peaceful town of Chateau Thierry (remember him, Arsenal fans?). It would add time and mileage to the journey but better than being stuck in 5mph blockade on the motorway as we imagined.

The exit from Laon was easier than the entry and we set off, picking up the odd litre of fuel that became available. It seems that the world comes to a halt on Tuesdays in this part of France – maybe it was strike day, but no shops open in Soissons, only a bar with a group of grumpy Frenchmen. Time was getting on so we rang ahead to our overnight stay to warn the owner of our late arrival, indeed maybe no arrival. Very relaxed – for a moment, we weren’t sure that he was aware there was even a problem.

Lunch in the aforesaid historical town of Chateau Thierry, however, sounded a good idea, assuming such hospitality was available. We reached the outskirts around midday to be greeted by queues of traffic and groups of menacing French gendarmes in various riot gear – had Tom-Tom-Tina taken us to the outskirts of Paris? Various traffic cones were in evidence – rather like a go-kart track - as we were channelled through the town. Qu’est-ce qui se passe? Then we saw groups of middle aged, beret'd saddos carrying red flags that basically read “Retired at 60”. They should meet George Osborne! We had at last come to a hot bed of French resistance – les manifesteurs! We beat a hasty retreat before we got torched. Then decided to give up on our strategy to avoid the truckers and headed straight for the motorway. Stopped at a truckers’ pit-stop and picked up more fuel as well as a totally indigestible baguette which had me retching on the forecourt.

Hit the motorway, north of Troyes and got to Belleville around 4pm. Pas de probleme. We must have passed 15 service stations – everyone had minimal queues and apparent full availability of fuel. Was the French news a figment of imagination or just misinformation? However, by this time, fatigue and lack of food were beginning to bear down on me – My Missus was concerned that I wasn’t sticking to the fullness strategy and my left ear was getting a lot of heat. I just didn’t have the energy to lift the pump handle. Our overnight stay was at Domaine la Javerniere - a beautifully restored house in the heart of Beaujolais – where on a clear day you could see Mont Blanc, 200 kms away!

My Missus, always a great believer in the Latin phrase – Sapiens qui Prospicit – asked, as we arrived, the leading question, “did we have enough fuel to get to Canet tomorrow”? The gauge told me 320 miles, Tina told me 325 miles – suggestions on a postcard please for the correct reply to that question. Strained silence not allowed.

The Domaine offers 5 rooms full of antiques and very comfortable. Thibault, our host, welcomed us and we sat chatting by the enormous log fire, drinking his “last bottle of red” – that old chestnut. We were the only guests as all the French were no shows – wimps, after all they started it. But we needed to eat and he knew a great restaurant 600m away. For some unaccountable reason, he did not know it was closed when he tried to book, as he did not know in the next four restaurants he tried - the Tuesday curse had struck. The driver wore a sullen stare and My Missus felt that Armageddon was close. Thibault “recommended” one in the village – Hobson’s choice. We walked in to this bar, full of smoke and more toothless Frenchmen – was there not a “Non Fumeur” law in France? We were stared at, as the French do, and were shown to a scrubbed table. Only those with cast iron constitutions should eat here – no fish, no poultry – just meat based meals with snails. We settled for a salad and some cheese – the highlight being a bottle of Rose for 6 euros.

We fell into bed – problem was it was only 4ft wide, not conducive to sleep in preparation for the 320 mile the following day……”Can’t you keep still?” “Look, I am trying to sleep.” “I am going to sleep in one of the other rooms”…

Maranello - The Ferrari California Experience Part 2

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A few too many Italian beers, or was it red wine? That familiar fuzziness as I opened my eyes and the delightful, crusty mouth sensation, followed by the slow throb of a headache. The two Geordies at dinner had not stopped filling up my wine glass all night.

There was no lying around in bed feeling sorry for myself that morning though, because I was due out on Ferrari’s Fiorano’s racetrack in less than an hour! I managed to hold down a few pastries at breakfast and we were soon whisked off to the track where, waiting for us, were 6 gorgeous Californias all sporting different trim, spec, alloys and paintwork. After the customary safety briefing we took turns with Ferrari’s test drivers to be a passenger and get a feel for the track’s notorious geography which had plenty of tight turns and the odd blind rise. I could feel the sweat beginning to bead across my forehead as I approached the snarling, Azzuro-coloured car in front of me. Maurizio Ceresoli, an experienced touring-car driver welcomed me in to the car to begin a few fast laps. I was determined to try and film some of the drive, so to have some footage demonstrating how these cars could be driven properly by an expert. Effortlessly multitasking, Ceresoli calmly commentated on the laps as my breakfast strived to make an early exit after each tight, hair-pin turn. I thought that by asking him the occasional question, I could hide the fact that my face had turned green and I was now drenched in sweat! “Great laps, thanks!” I managed, as I practically rolled out of the car onto the pit lane tarmac.

Half an hour of gathering myself in the shade and I was ready, my turn to drive. In control of the car and with the nausea behind me I began to get a feel for this superb piece of machinery. The gearbox has to be one of the best around with dramatic acceleration just a paddle movement or throttle squirt away. Despite this, when in the driver’s seat and being constantly encouraged by Ferrari’s finest pilotas, I lost all sense of what gear I was in and certainly never had time to glance at the speedometer. It was easy see why the California matched the F430 in terms of sheer, straight-line acceleration. The gear changes are so fast; I tried and failed to count them as I watched other members of our group negotiate the track. All you can hear is the V8 growl and the incessant pop as car constantly switches via the double-clutch system to find the optimum gear at any given point. With driver aids on, it was virtually impossible to really unsettle the car into corners.

One of the "Team" pushing the California

After an extremely generous amount of track time, we were then given a chance to take the cars out to the surrounding hills of Maranello. The weather was fabulous and with the roof now down, I was able to hear the sonorous V8 in all its splendour. Apart from some aggressive posing, the unfamiliar tight hill-roads meant there were not too many new things I could learn about the car. Perhaps what left most of an impression, was just how cosseting the California became when calmly cruising around the Italian villages. The quantum leap in build quality that Ferrari has made in the last 10 years has to be one of the most pronounced of any sports car manufacturer. The levels of refinement that now accompany the customary “Fezza” driving thrills are, I would argue, now second to none. This combination is best presented in the California which by the end of the weekend, seemed to have even some die-hard 599 owners tempted to switch. The versatility-factor is just so impressive that it’s impossible to ignore if you are privileged enough to be in the market for this type of car. Yes, I want one, and if my numbers come up next weekend, it’ll be top of the list.

(Just a quick note of thanks to our hosts from Ferrari Northern Europe and Maranello Egham for providing an unforgettable weekend).

Testing the car in the hills surrounding Maranello

"Team" photo before we were let loose on the track

Enzo Ferrari's house

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 2

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The live launch of the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition last week, went extremely well. We had a variety of answers, however most people identified the car correctly. Everyone who got the answer right has been entered in the draw to win the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day. We'll be drawing the weekly prize winner for Week 1 in the next couple of days and announcing who has won the Dean Smith print in next week's post.

Due to the huge response on the picture round, we've decided to run another picture question again this week.

ENTER NOW with our second question, and good luck.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

This week the question is a little more tricky so we've narrowed it down to 3 options:

A. Land Rover Discovery
B. Rolls-Royce Ghost
C. Mini Cooper S

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you entered last week, the answer is:

BMW Z4

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

Peugeot RCZ

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Things haven’t been rosy for Peugeot the past few years. They’ve made some cars that have been perfectly reasonable, but dull and uninspiring – which is perhaps worse than making a piece of utter rubbish that’s brimming with character. The RCZ could be the saviour Peugeot needs, though. But is it any good?

It’s certainly very, very good to look at. The original 308 RCZ concept was unveiled in 2007, and in it’s translation from concept to production, it’s lost none of what made it brilliant. The double-bubble roof and rear screen is still there, as is its wonderful bottom. Indeed, the RCZ is so good looking that everyone I spoke to thought it was worth at least £30k.

And yet it’s not. Prices start at around £20k, which makes the RCZ a very tempting prospect based solely on its appearance. But if it’s so inexpensive, there’s got to be something wrong with it, right? Wrong. The build quality is fabulous; the test car I drove had a full leather dash, as well as leather seats. Buttons were solid and felt ‘right’ to push, and the only area which felt unpleasant to touch was the bit behind the steering wheel, which you never touch anyway, and about 6cms of plastic around the handbrake. It really is lovely.

The build quality is fabulous

Granted, it’s basically identical to the regular 308 inside, but that’s hardly an insult, the 308’s interior is one of its finest features. So then, it must be rubbish to drive? Nope. It’s not at all. I wouldn’t call it a sports car by any means, but it’s predictable and fluid at any speed through the bends, and while it might not be mind bendingly quick to accelerate, it’s certainly fast enough to put a smile on your face.

So what is wrong with it? It’s a car which costs less than a TT but that looks and feels as good as one. It drives well, is fairly quick, and is definitely good fun. So where’s the ‘but?’ In short, there isn’t one. The steering wheel is a bit big, and the back seats are useless, but that’s nitpicking. You don’t expect it to even have back seats, so complaining that they’re small is a bit like complaining that a free meal has no gravy, and the large steering wheel can be rectified by speccing an optional small one.

I really, really struggled to find a fault with the RCZ. It’s that good. The 156bhp THP Petrol I tested struck a good balance between entertaining sports car and comfortable GT car, but if you’re feeling adventurous there’s a 200hp version with shorter, more aggressive gear ratios, and if you want good looks with decent economy, there’s a 163hp diesel.

So if you’ve been considering the RCZ but reckon it’s going to be rubbish, think again. It’s as good as it looks!

The double-bubble roof and rear screen is still there, as is its wonderful bottom

Congestion Charging - Another Stealth Tax

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Banker friends of ours are pleading victims of yet another stealth tax aimed at raising the London Mayoral coffers in 2011. Sources in the City say that the wealthy elite are up in arms again as Boris Johnston is doing away with Western Extension - part of the infamous Congestion Charge. Until now, the inhabitants of the more salubrious parts of West London have “enjoyed” a discount on the already punitive Congestion Charge that was first introduced by Red Ken Livingston in early 2003. The war on motorists is perhaps at its most intense in the capital where the combination of endless speed-bumps, speed-cameras and the far reaching congestion charge makes driving a total misery.

With the new restrictions coming in 2011, the misery is set to worsen. The much-rumoured dissolution of the Western Extension had been in the public domain for some months, with motorists preparing to either take public transport or switch to lower emission vehicles or hybrids. The eco-friendly Toyota Prius is a very familiar sight in London and some had the view that with the new legislation around the corner, the numbers were set to multiply. However, Boris’ latest attack on motorists has made opting for a lower emission vehicle a non-starter. New “Alternative Fuel Vehicles” will no longer be exempt from the 24th December 2010. The commercially successful Prius and Lexus RX models (as well as many others) will no longer provide a life-line to those looking to comply with the ever-moving goal posts of the Greater London Council. Away from traditional hybrids, drivers could consider puckering up for the desirable, electric-powered Tesla Roadster with a 300km range - although it’s not a steal at £85,000! Electric cars remain exempt from the new measures, but the practical element of charging them still remains a big obstacle for the average Londoner.

So, unless motorists in the capital are willing to pay the thick end of £2,500 per year, their options will become quite limited – oh yes, by-the-way, the standard charge is set to increase from £8 to £10 a day unless drivers sign up to the incredibly appealing CC Auto-Pay system...which delivers a massive discount bringing down the daily charge to...£9! Most motorists understand the need to reduce pollution levels in the capital, so then why forbid the low emission cars from operating within the zone? The answer seems to be money. In the current climate of tax rises and spending cuts, these new measures appear to only really target the well-off, because they are the only ones who can afford such extortionate charges. Spend a week on London’s antiquated Underground network and it is easy to see where that money needs to be channelled. Most of the city’s population could accept high charges if the alternative service was remotely palatable and consistent. With these changes afoot, all eyes will be on Boris (and Ken who is the wings for the next mayoral elections) as the city heads towards it big moment in 2012, the Olympic Games. Will these changes make a difference? Will there be a backlash? And is this just another drawback for London that is losing its attractiveness as place to live and work? Only time will tell.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/cc-zone-showing-removal-4Jan2011-map.pdf

Tell us what you think.

James's Weekly Chatter - 22nd October 2010

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on?

I don’t know about you but I’ve been certainly feeling the cold the last couple of days, still at least we are nearing the weekend, a lot has been going on at Make and Model this week.

Our Ferrari v Lamborghini Driving Day competition is now live is now live.

Last week was just a test question, but remember if you enter every week between now and the 22nd December you’ll stand more of a chance of winning the grand prize as well as our weekly prize a supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

If you are tired of listening to the same old drivel on the Radio whilst driving then read our blog about Top 10 Driving Anthems You Won’t Find On Amazon. I personally would add Fatboy Slim's 'Praise You' to that list!

We’ve got 2 very exciting blogs to tell you about which will be appearing on the site in the next couple of days. Firstly, Part 2 of Eddy Thor’s trip to the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy and a commentary on what happened on drive down to the South of France earlier this week with all the French protests going on.

Finally I’ve just heard that the Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Thunderball will be auctioned off next week at Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park. The iconic car is expected to reach in the of £10 million which would break the current record which was the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold last year for just under £8 million. I better start saving now then….

Tour de France

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

To go or not to go – that was the question. The Missus and I had booked the Tunnel and the two overnights on our way to the pad in the South of France. Could we believe the French news, were there really limited supplies of fuel and were the motorways being blockaded? Were the towns being set alight by masked activists?

Being intrinsically mean, I didn’t want to write off the upfront costs and, secretly, I was rather looking forward to the challenge of outwitting “les manifesteurs”. So, we decided it was “a go”.

Couldn’t leave home before 1.30 pm with the plan to get to Laon (150 miles from Calais) for the first stop. Strategy was to keep the fuel tank as a full as possible which would allow maximum flexibility if we had to avoid the trouble spots but that strategy would only work if the fuel was readily available. We had to get to the Tunnel as full as possible – counter intuitive as we would normally arrive there as empty as possible given the huge disparity of fuel prices – normally at least 20p per litre cheaper in France, but needs must! Pulled over with 30 miles to the Chunnel and rammed the BMW 530 tank with the blessed diesel so we entered with about 600 miles capacity! The Missus remained apprehensive – you could cut the tension.

Great relief as we left Calais – none of the hairy a---ed truckers who could have blocked our way! When should we pull over for our first infusion? Can we really stop for a 5 euro fill? Went for about 30 miles and decided to deliver against the strategy of fullness. Interesting to note that we were only allowed 30 litres max – could only get half way, felt very good! One of the problems for the supply position was everyone was topping up – surely a better idea would have been to tell the punters that they the minimum charge was 30 euros? That would have made saddos like me think twice about the top up strategy as it would have cost me twice as much – if that happened in the UK, you can just see the front page headlines in the Daily Mail!

A feature of my regular travels to France is that I am great for 99% of the journey but the last 1% invariably takes 20% of the time – this trip was no exception. We arrived in Laon about 8pm, having been told we had the last room – why do the French tell porkies? Using the blessed Satnav, we found the Hotel Banniere but access was “interdit” because the garage entrance was just at the wrong end of the start of a one way system. The Missus was agitated because she felt we might lose our precious bed (supposedly had last room) so she jumped out of the car and ran to check in. This left helpless me (Satnav had done its stuff) to find the entrance following the one way system to which I was committed.

Pitch darkness, poor signage and incompetence conspired to take me away from the hotel and up and up towards the parapets of the town chateau. Tina from Satnav had given up in despair and I was on my own. I followed a cobbled road towards the town, noticing, en passant, roadworks and a narrowing of the road or was it in fact a pedestrian way in construction? Sadly, the latter! I was committed, driving astride half of the pavement (literally the width of the car) with the other half being a foot lower and the emergence of exposed drains which looked like WW2 mines. I could go no further, I could not turn around, buildings were a few inches away from my right hand side and backing out was the only option, but one false move would tip me into the chasm on my left. A young man appeared – was he a manifesteur who would help to destroy my pride and joy? With my halting French, I asked “est ce que vous m’aidez s’il vous plait”? “Bien sur” was the reply – great, but was he competent, did he know his gauche from his droite? As I was assessing my hopeless situation in blind panic, the phone rang – it was The Missus. What the hell did she want? Helpfully, she told me she was standing in the street outside the hotel garage waiting to guide me in. My incoherent reply indicated that I was facing disaster and I was a very long way from needing her help. Fortunately, an older man appeared – so I now had two guides. With great patience and appreciation of my position, they encouraged and cajoled me to keep the steering wheel ramrod straight – hard to do against the cacophony of parking sensors to the front back and side which continued to warn me of impending disaster. It took 15 minutes to reverse 75 yards and I was safe! I bounded out of the car and embraced both helpers shouting “Bravo, Vive la France” and any other set of French words that came to mind.

Tina from Satnav had also recovered her composure and decided to help, guiding me back to The Missus who was parading outside the garage. Apart from wondering why it had taken 30 minutes to find the garage, was considerably affronted. Seemingly, the only streetwalker in Laon had her night off and male motorists including a team of refuse disposers thought a replacement had been rustled up and she was using the garage as a rendezvous – I told her she should feel flattered!

To be continued…

Image courtesy of Sky.

Hear it, See it, Win it Competition - Week 1

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As we mentioned last week, we are excited to announce the launch of the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition, with the grand prize - a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day.

From today to 22 December, we’ll post either an audio clip of an engine revving or a photo of a small detail of a car each week. To enter, identify the make and model of the car, then send us your answer, name, and email address. It's as simple as that!

Each week, entrants submitting the correct answer will be put into a draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith.

ENTER NOW with our first question, and good luck.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

And the Prizes...

This Week's Prize	Grand Prize

	Image Courtesy of Virgin Experience Days

If you tested your skills last week with our "just for fun" question, the answer is:

Nissan GT-R

So good luck this week!

Terms and Conditions apply.

Top 10 Driving Anthems You Won’t Find On Amazon

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you like a little classic rock for long drives down country lanes, or just to preserve your sanity in the rush-hour home, we thought we’d give some airtime to a few unsung heroes of drive-time rock (any excuse for some distorted power chords really).

So, the deal is, none of the tunes on the list are allowed to appear on driving compilations on Amazon. Initially, I thought this would be pretty easy. Just avoid a few obvious examples like ZZ Top, Deep Purple and AC/DC, and I should be sweet, right? Not so, it would appear.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a diverse selection on the Top Gear compilations (much respect for such choices as Lamb, Aphex Twin and Kings of Leon - very nice indeed). So the challenge was suddenly seemed a little trickier.

If you’re on spotify, and you’d like to access the Alternative Driving Anthems playlist, just click here

So, enough preamble - on with the list...

She Sells Sanctuary – The Cult

Even if you don’t recognise the name, I’d be surprised if you haven’t heard this tune. Hailing from the slightly indefinable era of post-punk, big hair and make-up, it’s a kind of synth-pop/rock combo, and a sing-along one at that. Windows down... “And the world... The world turns around...”

Just Got To Be – The Black Keys

Some great bluesy guitar sounds in this song – not too dissimilar to Free (Think ‘Alright Now’ with a bit more thrash). Not quite as fast as the rest on the list, it’s a good one for pulling out the driveway and getting us on our way.

Burn the Witch – Queens of the Stone Age

From the album Lullabies to Paralyse, Burn the Witch opens with almost-subliminal satanic whispering. It’s a promising start to a slightly-psychedelic, strongly-rhythmic and riff-laden rock tune. As if it needed any more eligibility for inclusion, the song includes a cameo on guitar from a member of the ultimate driving rock band, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.

Hold MY Hand - UNKLE

Originally starting off as a trip-hop band, Unkle have since picked up guitars and a drum kit, successfully crossing the line between dance and rock. Strong electronic elements and an understated vocal performance make this one a real gem. Play it cool with your friends when you introduce them to this underground number.

The Hand That Feeds – Nine Inch Nails

One of the hardest-working and genre-defying men in music, Trent Reznor goes all out on this number. It’s fast paced and frantic. And it’s dark – like the best Nine Inch Nails tunes are – and builds up to a full-on crescendo. Be careful your foot doesn’t get too heavy!

The Dead Weather - Treat Me Like Your Mother

Don’t ask me how Jack White (also of the White Stripes and The Raconteurs) has time to be in 3 rock bands, but he certainly cranks out the tunes. Playing drums on this one, he’s joined by the lead singer of The Kills, the guitar player from Queens of the Stone Age, and the bassist from The Raconteurs. With those sorts of credentials, it was likely they’d produce a reasonable tune – and they did.

Leopard-Skin Pill-Box-Hat – Beck

Another tricky artist to pin a label on, Beck’s own brand of folk-rock-electronic-type-stuff has earned him a wide following. For the charity compilation ‘War Heroes’, fifteen musical icons were asked to select one of their favourite songs from their own back catalogue. They then had to select a modern-day artist to do a cover of the track in question. Bob Dylan chose Beck to perform ‘Leopard-Skin Pill-Box-Hat’. Good choice Bob!

(If you fancy buying the album, not only will your car stereo thank you, but you’ll be putting money to a worthy cause - http://www.warchild.org.uk/heroes )

Hair of The Dog - Nazareth

1970s rock from Scotland - this one is probably best heard on its original format – 12” vinyl. However, whether it’s CD or mp3 is (in my humble opinion), this song’s a massive oversight on behalf of the regular compilation producers. If you haven’t heard it before, you’ll wonder why. Who would hide such a thing from you? Not us.

She Builds Quick Machines - The Velvet Revolver

A super-group, akin to The Dead Weather, The Velvet Revolver contains artists from Guns’n’Roses, Wasted Youth and Stone Temple Pilots. Unlike many supergroups, these guys live up to the hype. They lay down a rocking blend of buzzing guitars, tight drumming, and edgy vocals. Put more simply, this tune rocks.

(The volume on this video is a bit low – you might want to turn it up)

Ashes To Ashes – Faith No More

For some reason, Ashes to Ashes never gained the same coverage as Faith No More’s biggest hit, Midlife Crisis. Ashes To Ashes with it’s almost-spoken vocals, and rising atmosphere, is a real builder. The verses hold plenty back for the chorus to come crashing in and hit those stadium-rock moments. Nice.

(Remember to turn the volume down if you turned it up for the last tune)

James's Weekly Chatter - 18th October 2010

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on?

It’s been another busy week at Make and Model! Our amazing competition launched, so if you haven’t already, please feel free to enter, you could win an incredible Lamborghini verses Ferrari Driving Day. We’ll be doing an interview with the eventual winner and the day will be photographed and put on the Make and Model website.

As well as the main prize, you could win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith. We are offering a different one every week! To find out more check out the Hear It, See It, Win It blog post.

Speaking of Ferrari, we were lucky enough to be invited to Ferrari HQ in Maranello for a tour and test drive, check out part one of Eddy Thor’s adventure.

With autumn now in full swing our freelance writer John Slavin has been given a set of Continental tyres for his car – will they survive the winter?

If you're dealership and you like to get your stock added to the site, (it's free for the rest of 2010!) drop us a line at trade@makeandmodel.co.uk

Finally, someone sent me this video earlier in the week and I thought I definitely needed to share it with you:

Long Term Test: Continental Tyres - Fitted

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Last winter was awful, with ungritted streets, ice, snow, and potholes growing all over the place, and that was just in towns. Where I live, way out in the dales, if you didn’t have a 4x4, you didn’t have a chance.

In fact, during the snowy period, there was a 12 mile stretch of very twisty road I had to use daily which went unsalted for over 2 weeks. It brings home the fact that driving in winter can be very, very dangerous, no matter what car you drive.

So what can the average road user do to stay safe? Well tyre manufacturers make rubber specifically for the colder months, and in temperatures under 7c they are said to provide better traction and braking than ‘normal’ tyres, as well as offering a tread pattern more suited to dispersing water, slush and snow. As a matter of fact, some EU countries have made winter tyres a legal requirement, such is the benefit they provide.

So today, courtesy of Continental UK, I had a set of 4 WinterContact TS800 tyres wrapped around the wheels of my humble Citroen Saxo VTR (185/55 R14). The staff at North Road Kwik-Fit, Darlington, were courteous enough to fit me in without an appointment to have the tyres fitted.

So far I have covered very little distance with the tyres, but traction is good out of junctions, despite a damp road surface. It’s not really cold enough to provide a clear indication of their winter performance just yet, but once the weather starts to worsen you can expect regular updates on how the tyres are performing, so stay tuned!

Maranello - The Ferrari California Experience Part 1

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Day 1 – The Tour

The noise was very distinctive yet recognisable. I craned my neck, and pressed up against the window to view the inevitable. There was a brief flash of yellow and then the trademark Enzo-esque rear. The Ferrari 458 Italia hummed loudly past at about 3000 rpm. You could sense the excitement on our bus from the other passengers. And no, I wasn’t on the usual 170 from Battersea to Victoria Station that Tuesday morning. We were on our way to more hallowed territory that day – Ferrari’s corporate headquarters and primary production facility in Maranello, Italy. My musings some months ago on this forum, with regards to Ferrari’s fabulous California, had given me the opportunity (courtesy of Maranello Egham) to visit the place where it had all started for this iconic company 80 years ago.

The group was eclectic, made up of owners and dealers covering all corners of the UK – united in their shared passion for this coveted marque. Our hotel, the Maranello Palace, was perfectly located and it was certainly the first time I had been excited by having a room and balcony overlooking a factory on an industrial park. Once settled in at the hotel, we were whisked off for a quick tour of automaker’s museum, Galleria Ferrari – where we were reminded of Ferrari’s heritage in not only production cars, but its success and dominance in motor racing throughout the years. The countless racing cars on display were complemented by numerous road-going one-offs including the Enzo, the F40 and 288 GTO. These masterpieces provided great eye-candy but I could sense that the group were growing restless; there were owners and enthusiasts here and the opportunity to view the production line in action was palpable.

Ferrari's Wind Tunnel

As we were shuttled deeper into Ferrari’s nerve centre the double-takes in our group were reaching fever pitch. Brand new 458s here, 599 GTOs there, everywhere you looked there was well in excess of £200,000 worth of motoring scattered around the side streets that intersected each factory building. As we pulled up outside our first stop, the entrance to the building opened and 4 men in suits strode out towards our group. A welcoming party of executives we presumed – nice touch. Among them none other than revered Ferrari Chairman - Luca de Montezemelo! Just as everyone mentally prepared themselves to bow down before one of the most influential men in global automobile production and motorsport, he walked straight past our bus and into a waiting car. We then realised that our chances of meeting the big man were as likely as Michael Schumacher serving me a cappuccino at breakfast the next day in our hotel. One member of our group had us all gawping when describing the Chairman’s commute to his villa in the surrounding hills – he allegedly drives a matte-black 612 Scagletti, with no number plates, and is accompanied by two police motorcycle outriders. Apparently speed limits don’t apply!

The factories were breathtaking with futuristic levels of modern technology and robotics assembling the minutest components within the engine blocks. Dotted among the various production lines were internal patches of green where vegetation sprung up from the floor – the internal gardens helped to create a softer, eco-friendly image set against the backdrop of heavy machinery and automobile manufacture. Ferrari was keen to stress its ecological credentials and informed us that their entire factory operation was self-powered. The final stage of the production process our group witnessed was within V8 plant- Californias and 458 Italias on one vast conveyor system, all at various stages of assembly. One really got to appreciate just how stunning the 458 Italia is; seeing it from every angle imaginable it was not hard to understand that despite the price knocking firmly on the door of £200k, there is two year waiting list for this beast. Red and black paintwork generally dominated the 458s that were rolling off with a splattering of yellow, Tour de France and grey. Prospective California buyers seemed to be more adventurous when it came to choosing from that Ferrari palette, but in truth these cars look pretty sensational in every classic colour. The drawback: no amateur photography allowed within the factory!

Ferrari California on the V8 Production Line

The group rounded off the tour with a visit to the famous Fiorano track which housed the Formula 1 preparation bays and development areas. This stunningly manicured facility provides Ferrari with a private, easily accessible location to stretch the legs of new cars and even test Formula 1 models. As the sun was setting we watched in silence as one of the Ferrari test pilotas screamed around the tight hair-pins in a new, black 458. The booming soundtrack on the straights was complemented perfectly by the illuminated glow of the red-hot brakes that shone through the car’s stunning five-spoke alloys. With California driving on this very track the next day, I knew I would need more than a few glasses of Montepulciano to temper my excitement and ability to sleep that night.

Day 2 – The Track...Coming Soon...

Parking Wins and Fails

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Here at Make and Model we spend more time than is probably healthy browsing YouTube. Having been caught out by the boss one time too many we figured we needed a good excuse should we get caught again...

Thus we bring you our parking wins and fails – as we endeavour to prove that YouTube isn’t just for funnies – it’s for work too?

So we’ll start out with a win.

Sadly there’s not enough space for this guy to park... Rather than driving around for ages desperately seeking a space; he instead elects to nudge one of the cars along just a little. Job’s a good ‘un.

And now to an epic fail.

So it starts out pretty badly when the driver smashes into a car whilst attempting some sort of nonchalant swing into the parking space manoeuvre.

Sadly there’s no sound on the video, but we imagine there were cries of ‘abort, abort, ABORT!’ (or possibly something NSFW) being screamed from inside the car. Here’s where it all goes to hell in a handcart. In their haste to make a getaway the driver then manages to reverse over a metal bollard which then gets stuck under the car. They finally manage to escape ‘sans’ bumper. Sucks to be them, huh?

Clearly an ad but nonetheless awesome.

White car "just" beats the maroon car to this space.

Holy compilation Batman!

We just had to include this – not only are there clips and photos of some truly amazing parking fails the soundtrack is Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins – which has got to be one of our favourite songs to drive (completely within the speed limit) to.

Proving that not all learner drivers suck at parking.

This five year old demonstrates some astounding parking skills...

Hell, even we’re not sure how to categorise this baby.

Worthy of inclusion thanks to the elevator music and somewhat sarcastic commentary alone; here follows a duel of epic proportions between a red car and a white car in Andover. Yep, Andover. Seriously, you need sound for this one... Two cars engaged in a head to head battle over a parking space; plus a slightly sheepish teenager who figured pushing his Mother’s car might give it the extra welly it needed to beat the evil red car... We’re guessing MENSA probably won’t be pestering him to join any time soon.

And finally...

Worthy of an honourable mention, despite the lack of footage - Maureen Rees from driving school. Her classic cries on the dual carriageway ‘What’s the matter with you, I could’ve been off!’ and of course the time she accidentally drove over her long suffering husband Dave’s foot mean she surely deserves a post devoted entirely to her... or at least she would if we could get our hands on some footage *shakes fist at the BBC*.

So – what did we miss? Let us know by posting links to your favourite parking wins and fails via the comments.

Make and Model Hear it, See it, Win it Competition

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Here at Make and Model we are proud to unveil the Hear it, See it, Win it Competition, where a grand prize of a Ferrari vs Lamborghini Driving Experience Day will be awarded to the car enthusiast who can identify a motor vehicle by its sounds or obscure parts. The winner will experience first hand, Ferrari’s undisputed engineering with its dynamically designed body and suspension. Then straightaway indulge in driving the Lamborghini Gallardo's all-wheel drive, with its super power and daringly desirable fast acceleration.

This competition will take place once a week from the 20th of October to the 22nd of December. Every week we will post either an audio clip of an engine revving or a small detail of a car, such as a wheel nut or tail light. Entrants need only to identify the make and model of the car, then send their name, email address and answer to info@makeandmodel.co.uk. Then at the end of the 10 weeks, we will draw from all correct entries the winner of the grand prize, a Ferrari vs Lamborghini driving day.

But before that, each week’s correct answers will be put into a smaller draw to win an 18” x 12” supercar print from Feature Automotive photographer Dean Smith. And just to sweeten the deal even more: if you get the answers right every week, you’ll increase your chances of winning the grand prize 10 times!

Start warming up with our test question below.

So, what is the Make and Model of this Car?

(The competition is now closed).

Check out the live questions:

Full Review: Mazda2

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When you’re learning to drive, it’s difficult not to be a bit over aspirational about what your first car might be. I always fancied a hot hatch, maybe like the Saxo VTR I run about in now, but it was way out of reach for a new driver. Indeed, once I passed my test (first time, I might smugly add) I ended up with a Nissan Micra 1.0, followed shortly after by the most awful Clio 1.2, and then an Escort.

But style isn’t necessarily out of reach for first time buyers in the modern age, and the Mazda2 proves that. In fact, I wanted to see just what a modern first time buyer might get out of their machine, so I asked for something below the top spec for this test. Mazda obliged, sending me a Mazda2 TS2 1.3, which is in the middle of the range, with a few nice luxuries like air-con, which incidentally is so cold it made me shiver on a blazing sunny day.

New Mazda2s start at just under £10,000, which isn’t bad when you look at how pretty this little thing is, and used cars start at about £5,500. Sensible money for a first car, helped by the low insurance groups, high reliability and low service costs. But facts and figures are all well and good, what’s it actually like?

I wanted to see just what a modern first time buyer might get out of their machine, so I asked for something below the top spec for this test. Mazda obliged, sending me a Mazda2 TS2 1.3.

Very good, actually. The ride is compliant, but still offers an interesting drive through the bends, helped by Mazda’s weight saving regime, which makes the Mazda2 lighter and nimbler than many of it’s rivals. The gear change is exquisite, echoing the precise, positive feel of the brilliant MX-5, which is one of my all-time favourite cars. Steering is well weighted and accurate. The engine note is almost silent at low revs and is interesting and entertaining when you push hard, if not exactly sonorous.

The interior is well styled

The interior is well styled, with sporty, clear to read dials, a nicely sized steering wheel, and an attractive centre console. It’s well put together, too, though not of the highest quality - a moot point considering almost every rival is a little lacking in the materials department. Also of interest, if only to a girl, is the lack of a passenger vanity mirror, though it’s not a major fault. The glovebox features a neat design, which allows you to drop small items in without opening it up, handy when on the go.

Audio quality is good, and AUX connectivity is standard throughout the range, so you can listen to your iPod or other audio player in the car. Boot space is ample, but not exceptional. It’s ideal for a small shopping trip, though, and folding rear seats increase the capacity substantially.

In summary, the Mazda2 is a wonderfully packaged car that does everything well enough, and nothing wrong. Providing an entertaining drive, enjoyable performance, decent practicality and a good price means that the 2 is an ideal first car or city runabout. Going by Mazda’s track record, the Mazda2 should be fairly reliable, too, and the arrival of a face-lifted model means that second hand cars will drop in price. So it’ll make for an even better buy both new and used.

In summary, the Mazda2 is a wonderfully packaged car that does everything well enough

James's Weekly Chatter - The Paris Motor Show 2010

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

As you're probably aware the 2010 Paris Motorshow (mondialautomobile.com) is now in full swing, so we thought we'd share all of our favourites so far.

The Elegant Audi E-Tron Spider Concept Car

Porsche's eagerly anticipated 911 Carrera GTS and Speedster

Smoking - Lamborghini's Sesto Elemento Concept

Jaguar's Diesel Electric Concept Supercar, the C-X75

The Ferrari SA Aperta which is being released to celebrate 80 years of Pininfarina, only 80 are being built

Ready to rival the Aston Martin DB9, the Lotus Elite which will be released in 2014

Renault's stunning DeZir sports concept car

Vauxhall showing innovative design with the GTC Concept

The sleek BMW 6 Series Coupe Concept

James's Weekly Chatter - 1st October 2010

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What’s been going on this week?

As you’ve probably seen for the fourth time in 5 years Aston Martin has been named the UK’s coolest brand, for me this comes as a surprise, I figured if coolbrands.uk.com were going to go for another car manufacturer I thought it might be Jaguar.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen the Jaguar XF commercial telling us how many awards it’s won but does winning awards make you cool? I guess it makes people more aware of you whereas brands like Aston Martin, because they’re ‘so cool’, don’t feel the need to advertise.

Also in the news this week is the Paris Motor Show (October 2nd – 17th) where BMW will be unveiling their Concept 6 Series Coupe and Porsche with their eagerly anticipated 911 Carrera GTS (Coupe and Cabriolet) and 911 Speedster. All eyes will be on the new 6 series, given the divisive opinions that were formed around the outgoing model.

Could we soon be seeing our first Lacoste designer car? Citroen is another manufacturer who will be unveiling a new concept car next week in Paris – The Citroen Lacoste Concept. Its colour scheme, cloth covering the seats and wheel design are all Lacoste. Citroen is marketing the car as being an ‘emblem for a state-of-mind and a lifestyle.’ The Citroen Lacoste will be the sister model for the Peugeot BB1. We’ll take a look to see if there’s substance and not just style behind this collaboration.

The first designer car?

We are always looking for new ideas, different angles on cars and car related stuff – if you tell us what you would like to see we’ll see what we can do!

Top 10 Series: Desktop Backgrounds

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Check out our list of Top 10 Desktop Backgrounds below...

Aston Martin DBS

The car of choice for James Bond, the DBS has it all. Speed, comfort and great looks, combine with the amazing scenery to make this our number 1 wallpaper.

http://www.motordesktop.com/pictures/aston-martin/2008-aston-martin-dbs/2008-Aston-Martin-DBS-04-1280x960.jpg

Ferrari Enzo

A beast of a car and named after the founder of Ferrari, production of the Enzo was limited to 399 customer cars. If you’re fortunate enough to spot one, make sure you take a picture – although you may struggle to top the one below.

http://cars.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/145310/

Lamborghini Murcielago

Released originally in 2001, the Murcielago is capable of 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds. The noise produced by this car is a joy to behold and the wallpaper below shows the angles of the body work beautifully.

http://cars.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/145310/

Audi R8

Despite amazingly good looks and Audi’s classic great handling, the R8 is relatively cheap in comparison with other cars pitched at the same market. Its not slow either coming in at 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds.

http://cars.88000.org/15__Audi_R8_2007%2C_Supercar.htm

Porsche 911

This list wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of the Porsche 911. With lines that have barely changed since its inception in the 1960s, the 911 still has a massive following of devoted fans and you can see why with looks like this.

http://www.supercars.dk/cars/porsche-cars/porsche-911-turbo.jpg

Alfa Romeo 8C

If it's rarity you're after then the Alfa Romeo 8C is the car for you. Great looks, huge performance and Alfa Romeo heritage...what more could you want in a supercar?

http://cars.88000.org/12__Alfa_Romeo_8C_Competizione.htm

Shelby GT500

A variant of the Ford Mustang, the GT500 is pure muscle and power. With a sound that can be heard above most other cars and looks to die for it had to be on our list. We love it in blue.

http://www.desktopcar.net/shelby/gt500/Shelby_GT500_Mustang_03.jpg.html

Dodge Challenger SRT8

Similar to the GT500, the Challenger is known for its muscle and power, as well as a fantastic engine noise. Another fine example of a great US muscle car and used in countless American movies.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14868271@N05/2255711371/in/photostream/

Range Rover

It does have its critics, but the Range Rover can’t be faulted for its looks judging by this wallpaper that we found. More popular nowadays as a cruiser rather than an off-road vehicle, it still a leader off-road.

http://www.carondesktop.com/v/Land_Rover/Range_Rover/Land_Rover_Range_Rover_1.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Bugatti Veyron

Billed as one of the fastest road cars in the world, the Veyron can reach speeds of around 250mph – although you’ll struggle to find a road long enough to reach that speed and have time to brake again!

http://www.coolbuddy.com/wallpapers/wupload/subwall_1024.asp?purl=bugatti-1024-17.jpg&cat=Cars

Top 5 Top Gear Moments

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We love Top Gear here at Make and Model. As petrol heads we love seeing the latest sports cars thrashed around the track or taken off on some beautiful country road somewhere. Of course we love the banter and the challenges too! We’ve picked out our top 5 moments from Top Gear over the years, it was very difficult to narrow the list down though.

Let us know if you agree or if there are other classic Top Gear moments that just have to be in the top 5. Drop us a comment below and tell us what you think.

Robin Reliant Rocket

By far, one of the most ambitious stunts the Top Gear team took on was to make a rocket out of a Robin Reliant. So much so that Jeremy didn’t even take part, it was left to May and Hammond to work with a team of rocket scientists to put the plan into action.

Robin Reliant Rocket

Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go to plan for Hammond and May. The booster rockets failed to detach from the Robin Reliant which meant that it was near impossible to safely land it back on the ground. Instead of a calm, controlled landing, the Robin Reliant Rocket crashed into the earth with a rather large bang.

BBC Video:

Hamster's Return after the Crash

Hamster's Return

Most of us will remember the horrific crash that Hammond had in the 300mph dragster car whilst trying to break the British land speed record. Remarkably, he survived and after many months of rehab and recovery from serious head injuries, the Hamster made his return to Top Gear.

In his return, Clarkson and May gave the usual stick about Hammond being a crap driver, however you sensed the genuine friendship and bond between them when the video of the accident was being shown. The boys and the crowd remained silent as the enormity of the crash sunk in.

American Road Trip – The Painted Cars

This moment was part of an episode which followed the Top Gear team across America where they’d been set the challenge to prove that you could get across America in a second hand car you’ve bought, as opposed to hiring a car. The guys were set challenges along the way, one of which was to paint each others cars in such a way as to draw the most attention possible in the state of Alabama.

They’d be awarded points for getting each other shot or killed. As always the boys were creative, but it was agreed that out of the three of them, Hammond got the worst deal.

American Road Trip

The slogans on Clarkson’s car read “Country and Western sucks”, whilst May’s car had been decorated with “Hillary for President.” Suffice to say, they drew a lot of attention to themselves as they drove across the state of Alabama. However the big moment came when the team pulled into a gas station, the owner didn’t take kindly to the slogans. So much so that they team got chased off along with the camera crew who were pelted with stones!

Video - http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/road-trip-usa

Crossing the Channel in a Toyota

The Top Gear team have had a previous challenge involving turning a car into boat, on that occasion they had to sail their cars across a 2 mile lake. This time however, they were challenged to cross the channel!

May and Hammond’s attempts failed miserably and it was left to Clarkson and his Toyota pick up truck to sail the team across to France.

Crossing the Channel in a Toyota

Trying to Destroy the Toyota Hilux

This became a bit of a running joke as opposed to a moment, but trying to kill the Toyota Hilux by putting it onto the roof of a block of flats as you are demolishing it is certainly a highlight!

Up until this point, the Hilux had been battered by a demolishing ball, put into the sea and set fire to.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZDtC9kjVk

Amazingly, the Toyota survived!

So what do you guys think? Do you agree with our top 5 or are there other classic Top Gear moments that you think should be on this list? Let us know in the comments what you think.

Image credits
http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/05/12/top-10-top-gear-moments-of-all-time/
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/FEATURES/33595.html
http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/top_gear_toyota_hilux.jpg

Canary Wharf Backdrop...Ferrari Testarossa...Perfection...

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Last week we were lucky enough to be invited along to one of Dean Smith’s photo shoots in London’s high rise Canary Wharf. We arrived at dusk, eagerly anticipating which automotive masterpiece Dean had managed to source for the night shoot and we didn’t have to wait long…well, until we could hear it at least! After a few minutes, the deafening but unmistakeable Ferrari engine note rumbled into the car park and after what seemed an age of sonic booms as it navigated through the twisty, low ceilinged ramps it emerged onto the top deck. An immaculate yellow Ferrari Testarossa, a truly inspired choice for the venue, Dean had got it bang-on again! We watched on in awe as the car rolled to a stop, the impressive Canary Wharf skyline looking almost insignificant in the presence of such a beautiful piece of engineering. On inspection the car really was in mint condition, a LHD example with a single wing mirror – classic.

As darkness rolled in, the contrast between the backdrop of skyscrapers and the 1980s icon became more and more apparent and it was obvious why Dean had chosen this as the perfect location for a night shoot. We watched on as the minutes and then hours ticked by. The process was a slow and careful one, to get the perfect shot takes way more time and effort than I had realised. After re-positioning the Testarossa numerous times, which, incidentally seemed way more manoeuvrable than modern day supercars, three hours after we started, we were done and the results, well they speak for themselves:

We are going to be following Dean over the coming months to give you an insight into automotive photography, so if you like these pictures and are keen to find out more about how to get the perfect shot then please keep checking in to the blog. For more of Dean’s work, please visit www.deanphoto.co.uk.

Danger Zone - Buttertubs Pass, Yorkshire

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you read John's Boys and their Toys blog post back in July, you'll remember how he described the amazing Buttertubs Pass in Yorkshire, one of the UK's greatest driving roads...

Asphalt draped precariously over sharp, steep, shaky passes and long, rolling curves, switchbacks, and s-bends, all strewn through mile upon mile of green hills...it is utterly breathtaking.

John Slavin

Well, if that wasn't enough and he left you salivating, wanting to know more, then you've come to the right place! We have a video of that very road filmed from onboard a BMW M3. We hope this completes the picture and shows exactly how good this twisty section of British tarmac really is and how breathtaking the landscape in this area of the country is.

If you have any videos of great driving roads in the UK please email us and we'll post them to the blog.

Full Review: Kia Soul

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I realise that a first impressions blog for this car is conspicuously absent, but that’s because first impressions say it all with the Soul. It’s staggeringly bold in its design, and when you see one in the metal, you’ll know there and then whether you love it or hate it.

I’m in the former camp; I adore it. Ever since I first clapped eyes on one back in 2009, I wanted to drive it, so when Kia told me that I could, I was tremendously excited. But as the days wound on and it came closer to the car arriving, I became rather nervous. There’s a phrase; ‘never meet your heroes,’ and I was concerned it might apply in the case of the Soul. Thankfully, though, it didn’t.

As it rolled up outside, with a dragon tattoo, black wheels, and red details, I remembered why I liked it so much, and when I climbed inside to see a bright red dash, transparent gear knob and strobing neon speaker surrounds, I liked it even more.

Strobing neon speaker surrounds

The Soul’s tall, angular, aggressively styled body makes interior space frankly rather excellent. Head and legroom are great both front and rear, and the boot is capacious, especially with it’s clever under-floor storage. The audio system is absolutely brilliant. Seven speakers and a subwoofer make for crisp music with tremendous bass. I couldn’t tell if people were looking at me because of the noise or the crazy styling, but I didn’t mind. Sometimes it’s nice to be noticed.

Dragon tattoo, black wheels, and red details - sometimes it’s nice to be noticed

On the road, the Soul is competent but unexciting. Steering and gear changes are extremely easy at the expense of being involving. The suspension was set up specifically for UK roads, and it shows. Lumps, bumps and potholes are absorbed with aplomb, but without creating a wallowing blancmange style mess through the bends. The Soul feels safe and pleasant on all sorts of roads.

The 1.6 diesel is fairly refined at lower revs, but slightly coarse higher up. Torque is ample low down though, so on the go, the Soul is generally refined and pleasant.

As I waved the car off at the end of the loan, I had to turn and have a second look as it left. I really, really liked it. So much so, that I’d consider buying one if I had the money.

The Soul is inexpensive, competent, distinctive, and with a 7-year warranty, probably very reliable. I can’t recommend it enough.

The Soul’s tall, angular, aggressively styled body makes interior space frankly rather excellent

Aston Martin HQ – Gaydon Warks: Pay Attention 007!

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I recently had the opportunity to visit Aston Martin’s head office and principal factory at Gaydon in Warwickshire. The iconic British marque had long tugged at the heart-strings through my teenage years, helped by the re-emergence of the brand via the DB7 in the ‘90s and latterly through the testosterone fuelled, martini-drinking Daniel Craig - who wrestles his way around car chases, as 007, in the pumped-up body of the recent DBS.

After a shaky marriage with America’s Ford Motor Corp, Aston Martin has successfully returned to form under the stewardship of Prodrive’s David Richards and more importantly, committed funds from Kuwaiti investment companies.

The Gaydon HQ is an impressive site; with its security guards, modern architecture, water features and contemporary art, you would be forgiven for thinking you were arriving at a Bond Villain’s lair. V12 Vantages and DBS are strewn throughout the car park and our group is greeted by Mark Gauntlett a senior executive of Aston Martin who harks back to the old school of the company’s glory days. We discover his father was once the chairman and as he begins his tour we realise he has lived and breathed the firm’s heritage all his life. There is so much to see and take in and Gauntlett has every detail memorised; as my mind wanders I stare longingly at a DBS rolling off the production line, I am half expecting to hear “pay attention 007!”

Cygnet - by no means an ugly-duckling

The factory is unusually quiet with no heavy-duty welding on site; the cars’ components are assembled and thoroughly stress-tested by countless engineers on the floor. I am amazed to see how manual the process is, but despite some critics’ reservations around Astons’ build quality of old, it is reassuring that the company is able to retain a traditional artisan element in the manufacture of these beautiful cars. A new Porsche, in contrast, is very much order-form driven whereas an Aston is a unique project from start to finish, with details such as body-work colours added from bespoke samples chosen by the buyer.

Test-driving follows the factory tour and I am given the chance to stretch the legs of a fully spec’ed DB9 Volante, followed by the gorgeously muscular DBS coupe. Having driven up from London to Gaydon in a F355 GTS I have low expectations as to how much driver-feedback I will receive through the cockpit of the modern DB versus the analogue ‘90s Ferrari. How wrong I am. The big Aston has plenty to give and with the roof down and with the sun pouring into the stunning hand-built fuselage, I begin to get the joke (I also remember how good the car looked when Vincent Chase and his pals were cruising through the Hollywood Hills in Entourage!). The DB9 doesn’t try and be something other than itself, it exudes pure class – it doesn’t drive you, it wafts you, and in some style. Having witnessed the individual seamstresses just moments ago threading each leather panel to each seat component, I begin to really appreciate what the Aston signature wings are all about: exclusivity and desirability.

Gorgeously muscular DBS coupe

These two qualities are delivered in spades in the DBS. Collecting a brand new DBS from Gaydon must be up there, I would imagine, with one of the most memorable supercar-owner experiences. It’s hard to take your eyes off this car because from every angle it makes you want to re-mortgage your house, hit the gym, buy the car (and a tuxedo), drive to Monaco and put whatever is left “on black”. For starters, you sit lower than in the DB9 and the ride is tighter, the exhaust note thunderous and the interior detailing is more “secret agent” than “desperate house-wife”. The car pulls from very low revs, thanks to its V12 power plant which produces a mighty 510 bhp and 570 Nm of torque – this makes overtaking on Warwickshire’s single-lane A-roads an absolute doddle, especially when matched to the smooth-as-silk automatic, paddle-operated transmission on my test-car. When cruising, the DBS is as refined as its older sibling – the DB9 – yet a quick dab on the left paddle, sink your right foot into the well and the signature Aston howl fills your eardrums and deafens whichever poor soul is trying to keep up.

One-77 - staggeringly impressive!

We wrap up the day with a design brief from the visual architects behind the staggeringly impressive One-77, and more controversially, the new Aston Martin Cygnet. The Cygnet represents Aston’s first stab at a mainstream, city car. The car is the result of impending EU legislation around emission averages across a manufacturer’s total product range. By introducing a Smart-esque car, and selling it in large numbers, it is likely to make a decent dent in their emissions output. The prototype in front of us at Gaydon proves to be quite a divisive talking point. Two members of our group, who are proud owners of the V12 Vantage and the DBS, are a little suspicious of the brand dilution that could be the product of too many Cygnets flooding the market. However this Cygnet, which is by no means an ugly-duckling, has a fairly prohibitive price tag of £28k. I still feel that the car will sell, as it looks like a piece of jewellery on wheels and will be too much for the WAGs and teenage oil heiresses to resist.

DBS internal cross-section

An Aston is a unique project from start to finish

Insurance for Busy Professionals

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Competitive insurances for busy professionals

execcover is the specialist personal insurance arm of Moffatt Saunders. It aims to provide a unique service to its clients offering onsite client service at their place of business and high levels of personal service. The company provides a wide range of specialist insurance products tailored to the needs of each client. We place insurances with a panel of leading insurers and specialist insurance providers using our negotiating strength as a founder member of the CCV Group to achieve competitive terms and prices for our clients

execcover provides:

advice and expertise in the assessment of insurance needs.
identification and evaluation of appropriate insurance policies.
recommendation of optimum insurer and policy.
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claims assistance and reporting.

So, if you are looking for competitive motoring insurance for any of the following, then execover would be delighted to discuss your needs and tailor a solution for you:

Cars
Classic Cars
Family Fleet
Prestige Vehicles
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In addition to insurances for motoring, execcover will be happy to discuss all of your insurance needs for everything from holiday homes to equine and marine to aircraft, so please email us to discuss your requirements.

Full Review: Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart - Mixed Bag

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

After a week with Mitsubishi’s baby hot hatch, I’m slightly less confused than I was in my first impressions blog. It took a little while to get used to the Colt, it’s quite tall, with a high driving position that’s somewhat contrary to its taut, firm ride and turbocharged engine.

But inside, the tall body gives a feeling of spaciousness, and there’s loads of cubby holes and cup-holders, so practicality is good. The materials aren’t exactly luxurious, in fact, they’re the exact opposite, but they’re put together well enough. The price for such a spacious, practical cabin is a small boot, but it’s OK for a small shopping trip and the seats are easily folded.

These are all factors that come as a priority to the type of person who’d buy a regular Colt, but they’re a bit moot to the Ralliart buyer. Indeed, ‘Ralliart’ means a lot to Mitsubishi connoisseurs, some of the very best rally machines of all time wore the badge, and the heritage attached to it means that slapping it on a Colt without first making sure it’s worthy could be a risky move…

The Colt Ralliart, though, manages to get away with it. Just. It certainly has flaws; the high driving position doesn’t inspire confidence, the steering is too heavy, and while corners can be taken at astonishing speeds it somehow doesn’t feel as exciting or involving as you might expect.

But there’s a trump card that I can’t overlook, and that’s the engine. The 1.5-litre MIVEC is absolutely brilliant. The turbocharger crams intercooled air into the engine in the most addictive way, and it sound fabulous too. It’s not ridiculous or over the top, just meaningful. I often found myself rolling down the windows at lights just to listen to the engine burble away and the turbocharger whoosh, much to the confusion of passing pedestrians. Cram your foot down and 0-60mph takes a very small amount of time; 7.4 seconds, and that’s hardly surprising because peak power is 147bhp. Lots for a car this small.

Peak Power is 147bhp. Lots for a car this small.

As a matter of fact, I don’t think at this price, there’s much that comes close. The 3dr tested comes in at £12,849, which is similar to a Twingo Renaultsport, but the Renault is less powerful and has less space. There’s also the absolutely brilliant Fiat Panda 100HP to consider, which is comes in at just over £11,000, but has a mere 99bhp, and no forced induction.

So there you have it, Mitsubishi’s Colt Ralliart is flawed but capable. But if you can cope with the quirks, you’ll definitely enjoy the engine, which is by far and away my favourite in a car at this sort of price…

Renault Clio 182 Trophy Long Term Test: August 2010

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It’s December 2007 and my pristine, 12,000-mile Clio 182 Trophy bursts into life and edges slowly out of the garage for the last time before being driven away into the winter darkness by its new owner. Looking back, almost three years down the line, this was a mistake.

Trophy number 452 and I hadn’t been paired for long – just a handful of months, in fact – but in that time we’d covered nearly 10,000 miles together. From getting lost in the streets of a French town whilst looking for the remains of the illusive Reims-Gueux circuit or chasing down two Audi RS4s through the Fuchsröhre, many of these miles I will never forget.

Fast-forward to July 2010 and I will confess now to being a bit of a serial car changer. Yet another one of my cars, this time an Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6, succumbs to the same destiny as those that went before it. It had started to feel as if I were single-handedly paying for BP’s clean-up operation in the Gulf of Mexico, such was this engine’s thirst. This meant I needed a new car.

I’ve always told myself there are literally hundreds of different and exciting cars out there and so I’d never have the same one twice, but I’m sorry (or should that be pleased?) to say I’ve completely ignored that and broken my own rule. I’ve bought another Clio Trophy.

From one Clio...

...to another exactly the same!

So, it was with a smile and chuckle that I collected a small red vehicle from a part of the country in which everyone speaks with an accent remarkably similar to that of Postman Pat and began the long journey back home to Essex.

When I got there, it struck me as being rather odd too, to be honest, because it’s as if it’s never been away. Naturally, all 500 UK-bound Trophys left the Dieppe factory with exactly the same specification, but number 207 really is a carbon copy of that car I sold back in 2007, save for a couple of minor bits to sort. The mileages are within a couple of hundred clicks of each other and I’m pleased to say the new car is just as immaculate as the last. They even smell the same, although I imagine the ball pool-esque cheap plastic odor is something that afflicts almost all small French cars!

I’m sorry (or should that be pleased?) to say I’ve completely broken my own rule. I’ve bought another Clio Trophy.

My aim with this car is to break the habit of a lifetime and actually not sell it, for I truly believe that, in the vein of the revered Peugeot 205 GTI, this car will comfortably sit in the pile marked ‘all-time greats’. For that reason, I am determined to make every little detail on the car just as it would have been when it left the factory in 2005…

Capsicum Red paint looks great

Usual Clio interior spiced up with Recaro seats

Newsletter August 2010

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to our Newsletter

Approaching 30k Cars

It's been just over 6 months since launch and we thought it's about time for an update and to say thanks for your support! The site continues to grow quickly, we've got almost 30,000 cars advertised at any one time. The feedback on the functionality and design has been overwhelming and we continue to focus on making makeandmodel.co.uk easy to use and search. Check out the new Used Car section, get to your next car in as few as 2 clicks!

Blogging

We had many requests to include news, reviews and general car chat, so we decided to add a blog to the site and we have a couple of the best young automotive journalists in the industry, Ben and John writing regularly. We'll try to keep the blog content fresh, relevant and most of all interesting.

Coming Soon...

We are working on some interesting projects which we hope to launch in the next few weeks. If you're interested in some big discounts or if competitions and quizzes are your thing, please keep checking in to the blog!

Trade

If you are a trade seller, you'll be pleased to know that we continuing the free trial for the remainder of 2010.

Recent Posts:

The blog has been a huge sucess since we launched it in July. Some of the best articles are:

Alfa Romeo Giulietta: Having the cask full and the wife drunk

More than just a pretty face...

First Impressions: Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It’s strange. Normally, first impressions can be made quite quickly, which is why they’re called first impressions. But the Colt Ralliart is a bit weird. It looks good, with its Evo style ‘face’ and shapely bottom, but it is a little taller than you’d expect from a small, fast hatchback.

Inside, the confusion continues. The comfortable, supportive seats are very high up, which isn’t the most ‘sporty’ seating position. The interior is fairly bland, and while it’s extremely well put together, it’s not made of the very best materials. It’s extraordinarily spacious, though, fitting four adults in comfortably. Indeed, all of this high up-ness and spaciousness makes the car feel very much like a mini-MPV.

Mini-MPVs are never usually renowned for their splendid handling characteristics and outright power, though. So when you start the Colt Ralliart up and its exhaust note is a low, thrumming rumble, the confusion carries on further. And then you plant your foot into the carpet, and it becomes mind-bendingly baffling, because in a whooshing, turbocharged display of savagery, 147bhp and 155lbs-ft of torque is unleashed through front wheels. If you hold the wheel tightly enough to overcome the torque-steer, you’ll hit 60 in 7.4 seconds. In car that’s about the size of a bed-side table, that’s quite fast.

A whooshing, turbocharged display of savagery

So here we have a tall car with a tardis-like cabin that’s very, very quick to accelerate. Oddly enough, though, despite its tallness, it corners rather well. There’s tons of grip, and the suspension does a good job of keeping body-roll at bay. It’s quite a feat really, that this usually humble little machine manages to do what it can do. A very confusing feat, too...

Its exhaust note is a low, thrumming rumble

New: Used Car Section

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Have you seen our new Used Car Pages?

We wanted to continue with our quest to provide you with the easiest way of searching for your next used car. Get to where you want to be in 2 clicks, simply select your Make and Model and you’re already at the listings page where we hope to provide a large selection of quality used cars for you to choose from.

We’re very interested in hearing your thoughts and feedback. If there’s anything you want to tell us about the site, any areas you feel we need to improve or work on, please drop us an email.

Top 10 Series: Niche Dwellers

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It's the year 2000 and you're a road tester at a car mag. Peugeot has recently unveiled its new 307 and, oh look, they're giving you one to try for a week. What's more, you also happen to have a Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Citroen Xsara and Vauxhall Astra at your disposal. So you line them up together to see which is best. Wonderful.

Fast forward ten years, and BMW has launched its new 5-Series GT. And would you look at that, they've lent you one to review. You want to do a comparison test, but here comes the snag. What on earth do you compare it with? It's a hatchback for starters, and a tall one at that, so testing it feature-for-feature alongside regular executive saloonery would be like testing a weasel against a domestic cat. An MPV, then? Well, the GT is big and practical, granted, but it also has a sloping roofline and only five seats. So it’s going to be whipped on the practicality front by your average people-mover. Here, then, is a car that doesn’t really fit into any specific category.

Nowadays, of course, this kind of thing is as common as a Ferrari-branded baseball cap. Every other car launch is greeted by questions such as “What the hell is it?”, “How many bootlids did you say it has?”, and “What’s wrong with my 5-Series Touring?”.

But while it’s easy to be cynical, some of these awkwardly-marketed products have a point, and are definitely worth a look over more conventional rivals. Here, then, is a run-down of ten of the best niche cars you can buy:

1. Daihatsu Materia

Like a supermini but taller and wider, and clearly designed using a box as inspiration. This means it's got plenty of space inside and has more character than Kermit the Frog after a tube of blue Smarties. It won't set your hair on fire with its performance, nor will it have you lapping roundabouts with a manic grin on your face, but that's not really the point is it?

2. Ford S-Max

A masterpiece. When Ford axed its old Galaxy, they replaced it with two cars: a new, bigger and plusher Galaxy, and this, which finds itself somewhere between its bigger brother and the C-Max in terms of size. It comfortably seats seven plus their luggage, yet manages to be sporty and (whisper it) desirable too. Recently facelifted and still the best MPV you can buy by a country mile.

3. Toyota iQ

While the ubiquitous Smart can sometimes seem a little too compromised to really work, the little iQ has the tiny footprint thing nailed to a T. The thing is, even though it's only 2mm long, it's actually as wide as a Focus so you don't feel like you're going down the M1 in a tumble-dryer. The boys at Toyota have put some real thought into the interior too, so despite its meagre length, it can fit three adults quite easily. The only downsides are a slightly rubbish dashboard and a high list price.

Shorter than your little finger but still seats three

4. Infiniti EX

The luxury branch of Nissan is still a relative novelty in Britain; that alone is no reason to avoid it - especially when it makes cars like the EX. Billed as a crossover to rival the likes of BMW's X1 and the Lexus RX, it's more interesting than either and a hell of a looker while it's at it. Sadly it's only available in petrol guise at the moment (though that's the same 3.7-litre V6 as you'll find in the 370Z). Have no fear, however - there's a diesel on the way...

EX: More desirable than an X1?

5. Mercedes A-Class

Is it a supermini? Is it a family hatch? Is it an MPV? Well, it's all of those things actually. Or maybe it's none. Whatever, the A-Class was a very different animal to anything we'd seen before when the first generation hit dealerships back in 1997, and it remains pretty unique to this day. Its innovative 'sandwich floor' means that it's roughly a million times more spacious than a 1-Series, despite being the size of your shoe, and the quality's much better on the latest one. We have to applaud the three-pointed star for not giving us an A3 clone; rumours have it, however, that the next A-Class will ditch the special floor and become just that. Shame.

6. Nissan Qashqai

Not so long ago, Nissan was turning out the dreary Primera and Almera. Those models have been consigned to the history books, though, as the Japanese marque sets its sights on becoming the king of the crossover. The funky Juke has just replaced the Micra, but it all started a few years back with the Qashqai. Offering 4x4 looks in a footprint no larger than a Focus, it became a hit overnight and Nissan hasn’t looked back since. The Qashqai +2 gains two more seats but loses a bit of style in the process.

7. Peugeot 3008

S-Max: Ford's Masterpiece

In much the same vain as the Qashqai, the 3008 gives you rugged looks and a raised ride height, but without the traditional off-roader thirstiness or the danger of having eggs thrown at you in Salisbury town centre. The styling is divisive – I think it’s a pleasing shape but you might equally consider it worthy of the Room 101 treatment. Whatever you think, the 3008’s trump card is its interior, which is an unexpected concoction of plush materials and – get this – Audi R8 styling.

8. Kia Soul

It showed a lot of guts on Kia’s part to put the Soul into production, as it’s the kind of car that can break a company’s reputation if mucked up. Happily, the jacked-up supermini resulting from the Koreans’ endeavours is really rather good. Part of its appeal lies in the opportunity for personalisation – you can have the roof tattooed for goodness’ sake – but it also packs a punch when it comes to practicality and user-friendliness. Quite why anyone would buy a Rio with this next to it on the showroom floor is beyond me.

9. Skoda Yeti

What is it with Skoda’s naming strategy? They call their executive car ‘Superb’, which is pretty much the definition of making a rod for your own back, and then they go and name their crossover after something supposedly abominable. No matter though, the Yeti is a clever little thing, combining cheeky-yet-tough styling with practicality and economy. Get the 1.2-litre petrol with two-wheel-drive and you’ll have yourself a gem.

10. Ariel Atom

Ok, so the Atom probably doesn’t really count as a ‘niche’ product in the usual sense of the word, but who cares? It does 0-60 faster than you can say ‘Aaaaaah’, goes onto a top speed of 140mph, and yet has no bodywork to speak of. And is road legal. Mental.

Audi A7 Sportback details: Ingolstadt’s £44k hatch (sorry, coupé)

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It's a phenomenon of recent times, it's as baffling as anything you'll find in a rocket science laboratory, and it's spreading more quickly than you can butter your toast in the morning.

No, I'm not talking about the supposed global warming crisis. Or Jedward Bieber for that matter. I am of course referring to the current trend amongst car manufacturers for selling us squashed versions of hatchbacks and saloons which we have to refer to as ‘coupés’.

Mercedes started the whole shennanigans off in 2005 with the CLS bananamobile, with BMW joining the fray shortly afterwards with the brilliant-but-utterly-pointless X6. The blue propeller also has the Gran Coupé in the offing, while Audi recently gave us the A5 Sportback.

And it's fallen upon the Ingolstadt company to launch the newest competitor in the exploding coupé-but-not-actually-a-coupé sector: the A7 Sportback.

As the name suggests, it's the bigger brother to the aforementioned five-door A5 (think A6 with a lower roofline and you're about there), and is geared towards executive buyers who want a little more pizzazz from their wheels than a conventional saloon.

I can't imagine many people will be keeling over in shock in the face of the A5-goes-large styling; yes, it's undoubtedly swoopier than its A6 counterpart and that sloping roofline creates an interesting perspective at the rear, but otherwise it's Audi as we've known it for the last few years: chiselled and nicely-proportioned but unlikely to get pulses racing to dangerous levels. It looks like it will also be heavily reliant on colour and wheel choice, for which blame that fussy surface treatment.

The interior appears to be a more cocooned version of that found in the recently-launched A8, and will be available with such niceties as Google Earth, a touchpad for the MMI system which enables the driver to enter details by writing on it (and which, as on the A8, could be problematic for right-handed UK users), and – for the first time on an Audi – a head-up display.

A7: the interior

For the moment, horsepower will be provided by a choice of three engines: two FSI petrols and and a diesel (available in two different states of tune). As is the Audi way, both front- and four-wheel-drive versions will be offered, the latter in conjunction with a 7-speed flappy-paddle S-tronic 'box. Greenies will laud the inclusion of energy recuperation systems and stop-start across the range.

And the price? Well, the official starting point for the A7 is a not-inconsiderable £43,745; expect this to rise considerably once you've ticked a few boxes on the options list too – this is an Audi, remember.

You might question why anyone in their right mind would take one of these over an A6, given that you're essentially paying about £10k more to give your kids cramp. That's not the point of this car, however. Mercedes has proved with the CLS that there is a big market out there for the low-slung saloon/coupé/thing, and they ought to be looking over their collective shoulders at this latest effort from Audi.

I have two hopes for the A7. Firstly, that they can succeed where they failed with the A5 and give the driver a good time on the twisties. And secondly, that they see sense and give us an RS7. Lambo-engined CLS63 rival? Yes please.

It's a hatchback, Jim, but not as you know it

"Green" Light for the Porsche 918 Spyder

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Since being unveiled in March, the Porsche 918 Spyder concept has generated enormous public and more importantly customer interest, and yesterday the Porsche Supervisory Board gave the green light for series development.

The 918 Spyder will be a limited series based on the concept which debuted earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show and the brief, an ultra-high performance mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology.

Studies of the concept show CO2 emissions of just 70g/km which corresponds to fuel consumption 94.1mpg, yet in complete contrast the top speed is reportedly in excess of 198mph.

Undoubtedly, this car is going to redefine the “supercar space” over the next decade and whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing we think the 918 will be iconic. Expect full technical details to be released over the next few months…

More than just a pretty face...

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Ferrari California, launched in 2008, had not really done much to arouse my interest. That was until today. A 20 minute blast in Maranello's 2+2, hard-top convertible has blown away any foolish misconceptions. Surely I can be forgiven for initial concerns? First of all, to behold, Ferrari's V8 Grand Tourer is almost cartoony with its styling, like something out of a Pixar film. With its curvy flanks and baby face it seems too soft on the eye compared to the muscular 599 or the new 458 Italia. When it was first showcased, journalists accused it of being manufactured solely for the US market, a glorified shopping trolley to cruise via the boutiques of Rodeo Drive. With a name like California it was only a matter time until Paris was photographed stumbling drunk out of one, commando, at a movie premiere.

But, let's take a look at the figures, a 4.3l V8 (yes, a V8 in a Ferrari 2+2 with a heavy folding roof mechanism), which packs a modest 450bhp.

BMW's current M3 produces just 30bhp less than the California yet staggers from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. Whereas the heavier Ferrari storms to 60mph in under 4.0 seconds -- faster than the outgoing F430. And before you start suggesting that the handling will be substandard, think again.

The suspension is right out of the 599 which we know provides the Ferrari DNA for the current GTO, the fastest car ever to wear the prancing horse. At higher speeds the steering becomes firmer giving the driver more confidence and feedback, yet when manoeuvring in and around the car park it's like cutting butter with a hot knife -- pretty neat.

The car really responds when pushed and the double clutch 'box is as seamless as a Porsche's PDK, but has the satisfying V8 soundtrack that accompanies so many great Ferraris -- it really does howl. The power delivery is effortless and the car can be transformed from a boulevard cruiser to a snarling muscle car with a quick stamp of your right foot.

Amazingly the California is now Ferrari's entry-level model; at £140k it's the "cheapest" on offer, with the new 458 Italia setting you back £170k before you even begin to start adding options. Although £140k represents a substantial sum in anyone's book, it is satisfying to know you're not getting just a bare-bones, 360-type analogue experience. You're getting 4 seats, a retractable hard top, a big boot, devastating performance (top speed 195mph), every mod-con you can imagine and a car that you can drive across Europe in genuine comfort. If you are lucky enough to have the budget, or can hang on for some decent depreciation, the California is certainly worth a closer look.

Faster than the outgoing F430

You're not getting just bare-bones

The car really responds when pushed

Full Review: Peugeot 308CC

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In the summer time, a car roof can be a hindrance... Occasionally. Most of the time, though, it’s of vital importance because it serves to keep you sheltered from the chronic, torrential downpours that blight the UK. When Peugeot sent a 308CC for me to test I was hoping for blazing sunshine, so I could celebrate the very purpose of cabriolets. Alas, it rained a lot; there were only two or three days when the roof could be open at all.

With the roof in place, the 308CC is very much ‘a car.’ The 140hp diesel engine in the model tested allows for a 0-60 time of just over 11 seconds, which is pretty slow. 140hp sounds a lot, but the mechanism for folding the roof and the extra reinforcement to keep the chassis stiff make the 308cc a very heavy car.

If the sun is out, the 308CC is a whole lot better than average

Cornering is neutral and stable, but unexciting, as is the feedback from the steering. The gearbox allows you to select the gear you’d like in a tactile, but simple way... indeed, it works very much like you’d expect a car to, had you learnt to drive by reading a book. It’s so simple to operate that it’s foolproof. It’s pleasant, though, rather than annoying; you can waft along without anything but your choice of radio station to concern you.

However, with the roof up, it looks odd. The proportions are a bit funny, the rear looks too long with such a flat, stubby rear screen, and the front looks a little too short. The Peugeot ‘face,’ love it or hate it, is present and correct. Inside, though, everything is absolutely beautiful. The dash is covered in a firm but squishy material that you find yourself poking at all the time. Chrome detailing sets the black leather off, too. Seats are well bolstered, endlessly adjustable and comfortable, all the controls are placed just right, and materials are generally of high quality.

Chrome detailing sets the black leather off

So with the roof up, the 308CC will get you where you need to be with ease and in comfort. If the sun is out, though, it’s a whole lot better than average. Folding the roof into the boot is as simple as pressing a button and when it’s nicely hidden, everything looks a bit prettier, especially from the rear.

When underway, that slow 0-60 time is unoffensive, because there’s enough torque to overtake anyone annoying you, and you probably won’t need to change down a gear either. The comfortable interior, lazy handling and absorbent suspension make this car an ideal machine for cruising down A-roads to the beach. If the wind is getting annoying, then put the windows up and everything calms down.

You can even take the children, too, because the rear seats are actually useable, though adults will find themselves a little squished if the people up front are tall. Also, don’t bet on having the roof down if you’ve got a lot of luggage, it takes most of the space.

In conclusion, the 308CC is a competent but unexciting cruiser. It’s ideal for big lazy road trips, with blue skies and sunglasses. So hope for sunshine, and it will all make sense...

Full Review: Honda Insight

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you’ve read my two blogs on the Insight so far you’ll know that it’s quite clever; it coaches you towards being an economical, environmentally friendly driver with a Tamagochi style mini-game in which you grow a garden by driving ‘well.’ To help you drive well, there’s an econ button which reduces power output, makes the CVT gear change pattern smoother, and reduces the amount of energy consumption on things like the air-con. There’s also an unintrusive stop-start system, and a halo of coloured light around the speedo which glows green when you’re being gentle with the throttle.

It’s all very clever, and works well. Driving like the lead-foot I am gave fuel consumption of 53mpg, but when I followed all the coaching green lights and stuck to eco-mode, I managed 61mpg, which is just 0.4mpg short of what Honda quote for the top spec ES-T model tested. Honda’s IMA system is slightly different from that on other hybrids like the Toyota Prius, in that it can never be disconnected from the crank. This reduces production costs and has the upshot of making the car never run totally silently, handy for inattentive pedestrians! It can run in electric only mode, too, but the pistons will still move.

Honda Insight: it coaches you towards being an economical, environmentally friendly driver with a Tamagochi style mini-game in which you grow a garden by driving ‘well.’

The Insight ES-T emits 105g/km of CO₂ per km, which is good but not fantastic. Many of you will ask why you would choose a petrol-electric hybrid over an eco-diesel, and it’s a good question. Diesel engines do tend to emit less CO₂, which is good for your wallet when it comes to buying the tax disc, but petrol engines emit less NOx and particulates than diesels. Petrol is also cheaper at the pumps. It’s all something to consider when buying a new car, and the biggest consideration for a hybrid buyer is likely to be ‘which is better for the environment?’ not ‘which emits the least CO₂?’

Practicality: the Insight is pretty good

In terms of practicality, the Insight is pretty good. The boot is a good size, and there is plenty of space in the cabin, with ample rear legroom, though the aerodynamic roofline means rear headroom isn’t brilliant. There’s plenty of tech, at least on the ES-T model, including sat-nav, voice recognition that actually works, electric windows, air conditioning, auto-wipers, auto-headlights and iPod connectivity. It’s just a shame that the plastics aren’t of the best quality. The doors also feel light, and they close with a clank rather than a reassuring thud. It makes sense in context, given the car needs to be lightweight, but it’s not particularly appealing, especially when contrasted against the space-age styling.

On the road, the Insight performs quite well. The chassis is tauter and stiffer than I expected, so road holding is good. Undulations in the road surface are dealt with well, but the car crashes over potholes. The CVT gearbox is slower to react than other transmission systems, which is fine in town driving and on the motorway, but slightly annoying on roads with elevation and lots of bends. Luckily there is an ‘S’ setting on the gearbox, which allows you full control over 7 pre-set gear ratios on the paddle shifters. This makes country lanes not only easier to drive on, but actually quite fun. There’s not much power, but this is a hybrid, not a supercar.

Overall I was impressed with the Insight, particularly in the way it coached a driver into the ways of greenness. There is, however, a hybrid I would prefer. But Honda needn’t worry, it’s their very own CR-Z...

First Impressions: Peugeot 308CC

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

With red-orange reflecting off the clouds as the sun ducks behind the horizon, an open road and good music, it all suddenly makes sense... I’ve been driving a cabriolet.

Peugeot have been making hard-top convertibles for a while now, and they sell well, particularly the 207CC, much like its predecessor the 206CC. The jewel in Peugeot’s Coupe Cabriolet crown though, is the 308CC.

The quality of fit and finish is absolutely impeccable

Get in, sit down in the well trimmed, well proportioned seats, and everything feels upmarket. The quality of fit and finish is absolutely impeccable; everything is placed well, and looks high quality. The dash is trimmed in a soft, tactile material that begs to be stroked, and chrome surrounds the vents, doors and dials. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable place to be.

The model I have on test for the week is an HDi FAP diesel with 140hp. It’s quiet, refined, and has plenty of torque. It needs it; the 308CC weighs a lot thanks to its roof mechanism. Looks are always something of a sore point with folding hard tops, and the 308cc is no exception, from some angles it does look a little bit strange, particularly the front three quarters. It’s rear, though, is a thing of beauty. The light clusters look great, whether glowing or otherwise, and the black diffuser contrasts well against the white paint.

Road manners are good. Lumps, bumps and potholes are soaked up with aplomb, and the 140hp engine has enough power for overtakes. There’s not a huge amount of feel from the steering, and it’s not the most nimble of machines, but for lazy cruising it works well. Particularly with the roof down, the music loud, and the sky emblazoned red with setting sunlight.

Full review next week...

Alfa Romeo Giulietta: Having the cask full and the wife drunk

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Let’s be honest here. Who doesn’t like a bit of car transporter spotting?

You know the situation. Pulling out to overtake one of those giant car-bearing lorries on the motorway, you have a sneaky scan to see if there’s anything on there worthy of special attention. Often, it’ll just be a load of smashed-up old Saxos ready for the scrapheap; on other occasions, though, you may be lucky enough to spot some newly-released metal that hasn’t yet been birthed onto the roads.

I was lucky enough to come across an absolute gem the other day without much effort at all as it happens. While loafing around Modena station waiting for a train, I was taken aback when the general hubbub of the place was broken for a brief spell by a railway transporter, loaded with what must have been getting on for two hundred brand-new Alfa Romeo Giuliettas, speeding up from the Alfa factory in Lazio to Milan, from where they will by now have been scattered off into different parts of Europe.

The Giulietta is a massive, massive car for Alfa

In the event, I was pretty darn excited myself, standing as I did for nigh-on two full minutes with eyes wide and jaw agape as many, many tonnes of Giulietta tore by at high speed. My wonderment, though, was a mere morsel compared with the banquet of excitement that was being enjoyed by the Italians around me. Seriously, with the amount of pointing and shouting going on, you'd have thought it was Signor Berlusconi on his way to give the AC Milan players a masterclass in footballing tactics.

This reaction demonstrated pretty clearly the excitement surrounding the Giulietta, but also its importance for both the country and the brand.

There's definitely no use in skirting around the fact: the Giulietta is a massive, massive car for Alfa. As the central point of a range of cars that epitomises all the passion, all the flair of Italian motoring that has captured the imagination of most of this earth for decades, its success or otherwise could be crucial to the future shape of our motoring world. Plus of course, it marks the debut of Fiat's new C-Evoplatform (nothing to do with hot Mitsubishis or rubbishy Punto facelifts apparently), which in time will provide the basis for the next Bravo, as well as a future Lancia/Chrysler Delta hatchback mashup, err, thing.

Ok, so we all know the familiar Alfa template which has been the wine of petrolheads for decades: heart-meltingly good looks, stunning engines, gorgeous interiors, and a penchant for unreliability and widespread flaws that would make British Rail proud. These less desirable qualities are known to Alfisti as 'character', while the more objective among us generally refer to them as 'crap'.

Over the years, these reliability problems have tended to be balanced out by the sheer heartstring-pulling beauty of the cars, which has acted as a makeshift 'get out of jail free' card for the company. Honestly, if the likes of Volvo had been producing cars with the flimsiness of the typical Alfa, they would have been history long ago.

In more recent times, however, the excuses have begun to wear thin. Take, for example, the breathtaking Brera coupé and its convertible sister, the Spider. These two are the embodiment of all that beautiful-but-flawed Alfa-ness, and in times gone by would have sold in droves on looks alone. But this is 2010. Buyers are demanding more and more from their cars.

The fact is that you can now get the Volkswagen Scirocco – a car that almost matches the Brera for cool factor, but absolutely trounces it on ride, handling, interior quality, you name it – on your driveway for a lot less than the Alfa. The VW frankly embarrasses its Italian rival, there's no other way to put it. And this hasn't been lost on Alfa's home market, either. I've been living over here for ten months now, and I'm not kidding when I say that the 'Roccos I've spotted in that time outnumber Breras by about three to one.

Which is why the Giulietta needs to be good. And I mean really good. Not just on the surface, but in a way that shows that Alfa has at least thought about how the thing might go round corners and deal with potholes. In a way that reflects actual money being spent on interior materials, and with a bit of practicality thrown in there too.

And early reports from proper journalists who've driven the Giulietta suggest that Alfa might – just might – have pulled it off.

Yes, you still get the lovely exterior – the nose is perhaps a tad iffy, but details such as the LED lighting and hidden rear door handles make it instantly more desirable than your neighbours’ Golf – but encased inside this seems to be a thing of real quality, right down to the action of the toggle switches on the centre console. Apparently they've nailed the chassis, too, combining an involving drive with a ride and refinement that won't have Granny reaching for the door handle within half a minute of setting off.

Now, there are bound to be some wearers of rose-tinted specs out there (come on, you know who you are), who will argue that this heralds the end of the brand as we know it; that making an Alfa that works and actually does things well is like a Beatles record with no imperfections or blemishes to the sound quality – in other words, bereft of character. And, to an extent, I'd agree. Heavens, the 156 is still one of the cars I most aspire to owning at some point, whether it falls apart after a day or not. But we have to move with the times. In the age of the iPod, you see, people crave perfection – in music, in cars, in whatever.

Which means that Alfa can no longer afford to hide a shoddy package beneath a pretty body. The reality is that the brand is still turning over losses, so if it is to progress – or even just survive – then cars like the Giulietta are the only way forward. If they can repeat the trick with the forthcoming Giulia, while still retaining that do-anything-to-own-one desirability as its trump card, then we'll really be talking.

There’s an Italian saying – avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca – which translates as ‘to have the cask full and the wife drunk’. Having your cake and eating it, in other words.

The Giulietta is the start of this for Alfa-lovers. Hopefully there’s much more to come.

Having your cake and eating it

Up a creek. With paddles. Honda Insight

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been driving Honda’s Insight for four days now, and I’ve discovered that it teaches you the way of the eco-warrior. But I’ve also discovered that the gearbox has ‘S’ mode, and when you couple that with paddles, you get what is a bit like a 7 speed semi-auto gearbox to play with. I found this to be very pleasing on a road trip over the slightly rainy Pennines; it made me feel like an F1 driver... despite this being a hybrid.

Alas, it wasn’t to last. As fun though it may be to hoon a hybrid, it’s improper, a bit like putting custard on a roast. No, no, it was soon back to ‘D,’ for lazy motorway cruising. In fact, the Insight ran around for about a mile on battery alone on a slight downward slope. Perhaps there was a tailwind, but no matter, it cranked up my average MPG to around 61, which is pretty much bang on the quoted figure of 61.4mpg for the ES-T model tested.

Other highlights have been the voice recognition, because it can recognise my mumbling, incoherent attempts at speech, and the automatic wipers, which seem to select exactly the right setting for the level of rain that’s dripping, or indeed cascading, from the sky. There are some slight irritations though; the sat-nav is pretty difficult to shut up once you’ve told it to take you somewhere, which would be OK if you actually wanted to go to said place, and weren’t just playing around. Secondly, while the quality of the audio is rather good, the radio can’t find stations very often, and seems to endlessly seek before coming back to Radio 4. Which is rubbish.

Minor niggles though, in what has been, so far, a splendid car that has achieved exactly what it set out to do; be eco and green. And if it can make me care about my MPG, then it’s doing something right. Full review next week!

Moving On: First details of BMW’s new X3

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

BMW don't do bad cars. Not normally anyway.

Everyone has off-days, though, and the day on which the last X3 was conceived was evidently one of them. As BMW's first crack at a compact 4x4, the X3 has been constantly blighted since launch by such issues as shoddy interior quality and even shoddier ride quality.

But now there's a new one - an X3 'Take 2', if you like - which gives the Munich company a chance to iron out those niggles.

So what's new? Well, it's bigger for a start. That's to enable the X3 to slot more comfortably into a gap that's been made smaller in recent times with the introduction of the X1.

The styling is pretty standard Beemer fare, if we're honest - bar a couple of surprising details such as the etch-a-sketch headlamps (Audi A3, anyone?) and a rather strange interpretation of the famous Hoffmeister kink. It's generally a lot better resolved than the outgoing model, though.

BMW claims that the X3 will be "the lowest-emission four-wheel drive model in the sector", whatever that 'sector' is. Helping its cause here will be an optional eight-speed automatic gearbox, with Stop-Start tech being rolled out across the range.

X3: bigger and greener

Also making its debut on the X3 is Variable Damper Control, which, through the medium of wizardry (probably), allows you to adjust the driving experience at the touch of a button. Hopefully this will make traversing our potholed roads less spine-shattering than in the outgoing model.

Noises from Munich suggest that the 2.0-litre diesel-powered xDrive20d will take most of the sales - roughly 80% of them in fact. This variant will start at £30,490, which represents a £115 drop in price over the old car.

And as for that thorny issue of interior quality, Munich is boasting of a "significantly upgraded cabin". We can but hope.

Jeep Patriot: It could just be your Perfect Used Car

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When shopping for a used car, there are always the obvious choices, no? Focus, Golf, Yaris, Vectra: we've seen them all before.

It's easy to plump for one of these models on the basis that because every Tom, Dick and Harry has one, it must be a sound purchase. With a bit of thought, however, it's often possible to find something less ubiquitous - less 'rainy Tuesday afternoon in Slough', if you will - that suits your needs better what you'd have ended up with had you followed the herd. You see, car buying - new or used - is all about priorities, and some of us have different requirements than others.

The Jeep Patriot is a fine example of this.

Before I go any further, two things need to be cleared up: Firstly, and despite what it may seem from looking at the pictures, the Patriot is not a Range-Rover competitor. Nope, it's actually only slightly bigger than a Nissan Qashqard, and so occupies that exploding sector of crossover-ness between a regular family hatch and a full-blown 4x4. Secondly, I'm most definitely not endorsing the Jeep Compass here. You know the one - that abomination to the eyeballs that Jeep created to sit alongside the Patriot, but that appears to have been inflicted from above by a grand piano at some point during the design process.

No, the Patriot is the one to be seen in - its chunky, Bob-the-Builder design bringing back memories of old Jeep Cherokees before they began using bubble-bath as styling inspiration.

But why, I hear you ask, would you choose a Patriot over a Volkswagen Tiguan or the aforementioned Qash'n'qarry, or even a Focus? Surely it's an inferior car to these more common rivals?

Well, you'd be right. Objectively speaking, certainly.

Interior quality, for example, really is a good step or two behind its rivals. Climb into the Patriot, and what you're presented with is a poor combination of differently-coloured, hard, scratchy plastics that make the Tiguan feel like Windsor Castle in comparison.

The on-road behaviour is, by all accounts, not bad compared to other Jeeps (the Patriot comes with a tricksy system that switches from two- to four-wheel-drive depending on the conditions), but that's a bit like saying that carpet burn is 'not bad' compared to breaking your arm. It's still likely to be a pretty wooly experience.

But why, I hear you ask, would you choose a Patriot over a Volkswagen Tiguan or the aforementioned Qash'n'qarry, or even a Focus? Well, it's brilliant value, allies classic Jeep styling to low running costs, and has more personality than Bruce Forsyth on Strictly night.

Engines? You have two options. The 2.0-litre diesel - by far and away the most popular variant - is not going to beat a 911 Turbo around the Nurburgring, but it has enough pace to get you to Asda and back without causing too many cardiac problems. To be honest, you'll be lucky to come across a petrol-powered Patriot, but it's best to steer clear of that one anyway as it's slow, noisy, and about as financially sensible as paying £2,000 for a Twix.

Practicality isn't really a deal-clincher, either. Yes, the boxy shape will allow for the easy transportation of many Rubix Cubes at once, but you can bet your bottom dollar that you can fit more stuff into a RAV4.

The Patriot, then, has a veritable smorgasbord of flaws. But don't write it off just yet, because I want to bring your attention back to the ‘P’ word. Priorities.

If you want a car that's going to have you grinning from ear-to-ear at every corner, by all means get a Focus. If you want squishy interior plastics, Volkswagen will satisfy your needs, and then some. If you make regular trips to Ikea, then look no further than the Skoda Octavia Estate (which also has enough cubbies to stow all those free pencils you've stolen from Sweden's most famous furniture store).

But perhaps none of these things matters to you. Perhaps you're just after a smallish, cheap-to-run car with a healthy dose of character. Something that will stand out in a crowd of Focuses, Golfs, Yarises and Vectras, but not in an unwelcome, "hey, look at me, I just paid real money for a Chrysler Sebring" kind of way. If this is the case, look no further than the Patriot. Its brilliant value, allies classic Jeep styling to low running costs, and has more personality than Bruce Forsyth on Strictly night.

It could just be your perfect car.

Something that will stand out in a crowd of Focuses, Golfs, Yarises and Vectras

First Impressions: Honda Insight

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Green cars. Not the colour, no... I mean the environmentally friendly, tree hugging sort of green cars. I’ve had an epiphany today, and never again will I curse, yell, or shake my fist when I get stuck behind one on a country road, because I’ll understand what the hell they’re doing, at least if they’re in an Insight. They’re growing their trees.

So far I’ve spent a day with Honda’s green machine, and it’s strange what it’s done to me. You see, it makes me drive in a completely different way, because it comes fitted with what I can only call an ‘eco-coach.’ I imagine it with a whistle, yelling at me to ‘back off that throttle!’ while rocky montage music plays in the background.

Green Fingers

I found myself yelling “GREEN! GREEN!” all the time, and driving at 40 instead of 60.

Honda Insight

Surrounding the high tech digital speedo is a coloured halo which glows blue if you’re driving normally, and green if you’re being gentle with the juice pedal. You wouldn’t think that’d make any difference, but it does. I found myself yelling “GREEN! GREEN!” all the time, and driving at 40 instead of 60. I also started to hate going up hills because it ruined all of my hard work.

Another smarty pants feature is the little digital garden that grows (or dies) in the centre of the dash. After a successful ‘green’ journey, a leaf will be added to one of your plants. Drive badly though, and a leaf will be removed... I find myself wishing, fingers crossed, that I’ll get a leaf when I take out the key, and perhaps one day that I’ll have a flower too! It’s really, really stupid, and I feel like a total idiot, but I can’t help it, and it’s having the effect I’m sure it was designed to have; average fuel consumption over the day was 55mpg, which is very respectable.

Stay tuned for more ‘impressions’ blogs, and a full review in a week’s time!

Death of the Shark

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

These are the first official pictures of Peugeot’s 407 replacement, the 508, which brings with it a new design direction for the French firm. Yep, Peugeot has finally ditched the unpopular ‘underwater creatures’ look, which made recent models appear to be trying to have the car in front for lunch, in favour of a new, more cohesive style.

Stand-out features include a more chiselled front end, with a smaller grille - not hard if we’re honest - and a more sporting emphasis at the rear. It's arguably more derivative than the 407, but at the same time much less likely to scare small children into submission, which can only be a good thing.

The other big news is that the 508 will be the first Peugeot to be offered with hybrid technology, which, according to the company, will provide "200bhp performance with all-wheel drive and emissions of 99g/km of CO2 or zero in electric mode". Time will tell if that is the case in the real world, but those are seriously impressive figures for a large family saloon.

Interior: A Big Step Forward

The one picture we have of the interior seems to show a big step forward over the 407 in terms of both design and quality, with some clear Audi influence working its way in there to boot.

The 508 will be officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October, to go on sale early next year.

What do you think of the new 508? A step in the right direction or a loss of identity for Peugeot? Drop us a comment and let us know.

The World Cup Remembered

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Come Monday morning, the World Cup will be over for another four years.

Sad? Relieved? Can't wait for the racket of the now-infamous vuvuzela to be no more?

Whatever your feelings approaching the close of proceedings in South Africa, I hope this rather amateurish homage will provide you with something to remind you of the past few weeks of footballing fun.

Don't worry, I've not gone crazy and I do realise that this is supposed to be a blog about cars, which is why I've given the thing a little motoring twist.

So, without further ado, I'd like to hand proceedings over to myself for the catchily-titled (drum-roll please...)

makeandmodel.co.uk 2010 FIFA World Cup Alternative Awards Ceremony for Car Fans

TEAM AWARDS

Perodua Kelisa Award

First up is the award for not being as bad as you'd think but still turning out to be pretty rubbish anyway, which goes to North Korea. They also win the prize because pretty much nothing is known about them. Just like the Perodua Kelisa.

French team makes its way to training

MG XPower SV Award

This goes to a team that showed so much promise on the surface of it, but ultimately crumbled when it came to the big-time, due to a multitude of problems created by in-house incompetence. Italy and England pushed them pretty close, but really the award can only go to the utter shambles that was, of course, France.

Suzuki Swift Award

The prize for the most pleasantly surprising team in the tournament, and also for showing remarkable agility, not to mention winning hands-down against some supposedly superior opposition, goes to Germany.

Fiat Multipla Award

This goes to the Netherlands, for winning without being pleasing to the eye, and also for using the full width of the pitch. They would have made an even stronger case if they’d played with three up front, but hey, you can’t have everything.

Sinclair C5 Award

The final team award. This is presented to a team that was massively overhyped by its own followers before the event, but that was always doomed to failure for reasons such as its rubbish battery life – which may or may not have been caused by a long Premier League season. Ladies and gents, I give you England.

SPECIAL AWARDS

The Best Beard Award, in association with the Audi S3:

Beards have rather gone out of fashion lately. This is unfortunate for Argentina coach Diego Maradona who couldn't shave after a dog bit him in the face, and so was forced to grow his own brand of face fungus. Audi have no such excuse, though.

The French Revolution Award, in association with the Citroen REVOLTe Concept:

This award is shared between Nicolas Anelka, who began Les Bleus’ internal fisticuffs when he insulted manager Raymond Domenech in the dressing room, and skipper Patrice Evra for initiating the team's ridiculous strike action that followed.

Lennon: As quick as a Tesla?

The Electric Pace Award, in association with the Tesla Roadster:

The battery-powered Roadster goes from 0-60mph in 4 seconds flat. Handily, so does Aaron Lennon (probably). The England winger, at about 2ft 7in, also shares a very low centre of gravity with the Tesla – handy for taking hairpin bends around opposition defenders.

The Most Interesting Name Award, in association with the Mazda Bongo Friendee and Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard:

There are several contenders for this award, including Honduran striker Georgie Welcome and South Africa's Surprise Moriri. There can only be one winner, though, and that is the quite wonderfully-named Chilean defender Waldo Ponce.

The Pronunciation Bother Award, in association with the Ford Ka, Toyota Prius, Peugeot 1007, Fiat Ulysse and KTM X-Bow:

Prime candidates of course include the Jabulani and vuvuzela; however, I feel I have to give the prize to the entire Greece squad. You have to feel sorry for the poor commentators who had to get through to full-time with names such as Christos Patsatzoglou and Socrates Papastathopoulos on the team sheet.

The Utterly Useless Award, in association with the G-Wiz:

Contenders include now former (thankfully) France coach Raymond Domenech for his sterling work during the group stages, and FIFA for inconsiderately refusing to implement goal-line technology in time for Frank Lampard's ‘goal that never was’. But the winner has to be none other than BBC 5 Live's David Pleat - who, after Italy's defeat at the hands of Slovakia, declared – with great gravity it must be said – that "it's au-revoir to the Italians now". Top work, David.

The 'Hands-On' Award, in association with the Citroen C3 Pluriel:

Also winning this award for his evident versatility in being both a striker and goalkeeper at the same time, I give you Uruguay's Luis Suarez - him of the infamous extra-time handball against Ghana. Like the Pluriel, Suarez won’t be regarded with much fondness outside his home nation.

And finally...
The 'Can you direct me to the nearest toilet please sir?' Award, in association with the Suzuki Wagon R+ and TomTom Sat-Nav Systems:

This award goes to the England fan who, while 'looking for the loo', took a wrong turn and instead found himself face-to-face with the team in the dressing room. An embarrassing U-Turn ensued, but not before said fan gave some helpful pointers on the squad’s performance in the direction of David Beckham. You couldn’t make it up.

Et voila. Proof, if it were needed, that cars and football go together like Brussels sprouts and cake. Normal service will thus be resumed shortly, with apologies to those of you who don’t give a stuff about footy.

Meanwhile, enjoy Sunday’s final. Just don’t miss the Grand Prix in the anticipation of it all – I’m sure you won’t.

*Images courtesy of Phil Cole/Getty Images

Evoquing the Future

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The altering face of today's motoring landscape is a truly intriguing and amazing thing, and never has this been more the case than now.

Don't believe me?

Then all I need to do is point you in the direction of Land Rover. More specifically, it’s new Range Rover Evoque, launched last week in a whirl of media hype at Kensington Palace's Orangery.

Now, you don't need to have a Masters degree in perception to work out that the Evoque (still can't quite manage to type that name without feeling more than a little sick) represents a seismic shift in the values of the Range Rover brand, and one that will change the company forever.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, it's worth remembering that the original Range Rover was itself something of a novelty on its conception back in 1970. As the first 'luxury 4x4', it was aimed at those who still wanted the off-road ability of a Defender, but who also wanted their teeth intact after a trip to the shops.

Since then, the Gaydon company's flagship has moved up in the world, and now operates in an exclusive class of its own as a sort-of S-Class rival that can still cross the Sahara should the desire take you.

This is why Land Rover has taken the opportunity to expand the Range Rover brand in recent times, starting with the compact Sport model – popular among school-run mums – in 2005, and now they have given us the Evoque.

The target market for the Evoque becomes fairly obvious when you consider that it was launched in association with Vogue Magazine, and with a certain Mrs. Victoria Beckham drafted in as part of the design team...but if the Evoque doesn’t turn out to be one of the must-have cars of the decade, I’ll personally eat one.

But while the Range Rover Sport resembles a shrunk-in-the-wash version of the full-fat model, there is absolutely zilch chance of any such confusion with the Evoque. It is, as they say, an entirely different animal.

For starters, Land Rover refers to the Evoque as a '3-door coupé'. Now, if you'd told me five years ago that the maker of the Discovery and Defender would be giving us a coupé within half a decade, I'd have pointed you towards the 'Psychiatrist' section of Yellow Pages. But what came out of that smoking white box last Thursday would have been enough for me to swallow my words and write you a profuse letter of apology for the bother.

It’s not as if we can argue much with the coupé tag; yes, it is pushing it a bit, but just take a look at the window line, narrowing as it does to that impossibly shallow rear screen. Seriously, if Land Rover doesn't offer parking sensors as standard on the Evoque, it will be the worst safety decision since Mercedes decided that the first-generation A-Class would be better off without ESP.

The shape has stayed remarkably, fabulously close to the LRX concept of two years ago, and some of the detailing is so intricate it makes its recently-revised big brother look like something of a concrete slab. Draw your gaze for a moment to the enticingly-shaped LED lighting front and rear, and the way in which the line linking the headlamps and those gorgeous side-vents is interrupted by the mighty curve of the wheel arch. Tell me you’re not enthralled by this stuff, I dare you.

In the Evoque, we also have the first non-4x4 Land Rover ever, available as it will be with a front-wheel-drive only option. This thing is as likely to be taken off-road as a Lotus Elise in any case, so really it’s a no-brainer.

Then we come to the number-crunching. According to Land Rover MD Phil Popham, the Evoque will be “capable of over 50mpg”, a figure partly owing to the lack of drive to the rear wheels. Land Rover also claims a miserly CO2 output of 130g/km. Quite something for a car wearing the famous Gaydon badge on its snout.

The target market for the Evoque becomes fairly obvious when you consider that it was launched in association with Vogue Magazine, and with a certain Mrs. Victoria Beckham drafted in as part of the design team. The former Spice Girl’s actual role within the company, for whatever reason, was not specified, but “Device for Earning Tabloid Headlines” probably isn’t too far off the mark.

Here we have a car, then, that will undoubtedly appeal to the wealthy and ultra fashion-conscious; to those who want a second car to go with their XJ or similar. Think of it as Land Rover's MINI, if you will – with the according scope for endless customisation.

Popham claims that the Evoque will appeal to “a younger audience than current [Range Rover] products, and probably a more female-oriented audience”. In other words, this is unchartered territory for the now Indian-owned company.

This doesn't mean there's any chance that the Evoque will turn out to be a turkey, though. The engineering input of Jaguar-Land Rover handling guru Mike Cross is practically a guarantee of exemplary road manners, and with an interior likely to be similar to the 'proper' Range Rover - only smaller and more spangly - the only area in which it might fall short is practicality. But when was the last time boot size mattered to the nouveau-riche of this world?

The pricing, I'm sure, will be on the wrong side of reasonable (a well-specced Evoque will be knocking on the door of £40k), but despite this, it will probably – no, unquestionably – sell in massive numbers and make a more-than-tidy profit for the brand.

It’s worth mentioning, too, that the Evoque will be built on Merseyside, creating 1,000 British jobs in the process. This is something that would have made Charles Spencer King, the genius behind the original Range Rover and who sadly passed away a couple of weeks ago, a very proud man indeed.

So there you have it: a 3-door Range Rover coupé that has the same footprint as a Golf and does over 50mpg. Crazy? Not a bit of it. In fact, if the Evoque doesn’t turn out to be one of the must-have cars of the decade, I’ll personally eat one. You heard it here first.

Boys And Their Toys

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

At Make and Model, it’s very easy to find your new toy, be it a 100bhp hot hatch, or a £100,000 supercar. The thing is, if you give a boy a toy, he’s going to want to play… and what better playground than the highs, lows, twists and turns of the Yorkshire Dales?

There are very few places quite like this. Asphalt draped precariously over sharp, steep, shaky passes and long, rolling curves, switchbacks, and s-bends, all strewn through mile upon mile of green hills and bracken-brown moorland. It’d be heaven if not for the glacially slow caravans and stray sheep.

But the tourist problems become moot when you have this kind of metal; a pair of Ferraris, a trio of M3s, a Gallardo, and a chrome wrapped, 628bhp Nissan GTR. There’s a cacophony of noise, from whining metallic rasp of the M3s, to the low, burbling rumble of the Gallardo, the hills are alive with the sound of our kind of music, percussed by the pop-bang of flame firing from the straight through exhaust on the GTR.

Our road of choice for the day is the infamous Buttertubs Pass. Having seen an Ariel Atom chicken out at the bottom and turn around because ‘it’s too bumpy,’ it’s obvious that this is not a drive to be taken lightly. We discover this firsthand when the F430 bottoms out. Lots. This short stretch of tarmac connects Wensleydale to its northern neighbor Swaledale. So called because of the rock formations halfway along, into which farmers would hang their butter to keep it cool, the Buttertubs Pass also just happens to wind across the top of a precarious, steep sided valley, and it is utterly breathtaking.

Asphalt draped precariously over sharp, steep, shaky passes and long, rolling curves, switchbacks, and s-bends, all strewn through mile upon mile of green hills...it is utterly breathtaking.

After several runs up and down this mad stretch of road we head off to the Ribblehead Viaduct for a spot of lunch, and soak up another awe inspiring road. Passing through Hawes, I expect at least one or two jokes about the place’s pronunciation, but without even a giggle we join the B6255 and tear along 10 miles of sheep strewn spaghetti blacktop, eat a plate of whitebait, and go our separate ways.

It’s all well and good owning a machine like this and taking it up and down the motorway, but there is no substitute for a day like this, taking the best machines in the world over the best roads in the world, it’s impossible not to crack a smile.

So if you want to take your four-wheeled toy out for fun and games, bring it to here. You’ll have the time of your life.

Supercars in the Sun

Monkey Business, M3s and the Make and Model Blog

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the inaugural makeandmodel.co.uk blog. The positive momentum we have gained this year, since makeandmodel.co.uk went live back in January, has been overwhelming and we want to continue giving YOU, the user, the used car search engine you are crying out for. So it’s time for stage 2…the team are about to brush up their writing skills…yes people…it is time to start blogging!

Before the groans begin at the thought of more badly written buyers’ guides, don't worry, this won’t be dry and dreary news stories. We won't waffle about changes in government policy that impact manufacturers. You won't find the monotonous ramblings of “yet another used car road-tester”, writing their 17th review this week about auto-dimming headlights in mid-priced family saloons. No, we intend to do things a little differently…as we've tried to with every aspect of the site.

Obviously, reading about random, “vaguely-car-related-stuff” we saw on our way to the office, our views on the best hot-hatch £7k can buy, or a blog post about the latest team go-karting event won’t keep you tuned in, so we’ve decided…we’re going to open this blog up to YOU, the readers!

Yes people…it is time to start blogging! We already have an exciting pipeline of material and want to hear from you, so, whether it's ideas, events, news, stories or pictures of Gorillas driving M3s, we want you to share them with us here!

Mind the hairdo

Whether you're writing your own “personal long term road-test” about the car you know intimately and are selling on the site, or if you’re simply a car enthusiast who wants to blog about your passion, we want to hear from you. We want to know about YOUR experiences: anything from an epic road trip to the Stelvio Pass, or a review of charge-points for your Toyota Prius in central Manchester, if you feel it’s interesting and want to tell the story, please contact us.

You’ll be pleased to know we already have an exciting pipeline of material that our team have been working on over the last few months. Over time we’ll be running some interesting competitions for both readers of the blog and contributing writers, so, whether it's ideas, events, news, stories or pictures of Gorillas driving M3s, we want you to share them with us here! Let the posts begin...

*no Gorillas were harmed during this photoshoot