Wednesday, November 30th
The Los Angeles Car Show: Fantastic voyages into tomorrow
In California, the car has always been more than just a mode of transportation. It has been a vehicle to dream - of freedom, of a more perfect version of ourselves, of the future. So it seems only appropriate that the world's leading car designers - almost all of whom are concentrated in and around Los Angeles - should be invited to realise their fantasies and come up with their idiosyncratic idea of what will turn drivers on 10, 20 or 30 years from now. The Los Angeles Auto Show is sponsoring a special design challenge featuring the innovative ideas...........[
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Monday, November 28th
Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport
Then Auto Express tested Mazda's all-new MX-5 against its competitors in issue 883, we were smitten with its lively handling, styling and well built cabin. Our only major complaint concerned the engine. The entry-level machine's 1.8-litre petrol powerplant feels breathless on demanding roads, and has to be worked hard by the driver in order to deliver its full potential. However, there is an alternative as the car finally hits British streets for the first time this week: buyers also have the option of a more potent 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. With a snappy change to the six-speed manual transmission, the 158bhp...........[
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4x4 and SUV Alloy Wheels from Topgear
In recognition of the fact that the SUV and 4x4 market is rapidly growing, and now accounts for at least 30% of the UK market, Top Gear are updating our 4x4 alloy wheels pages with new and exciting products. With a whole section now dedicated to 4x4 and SUV Alloy wheels, drivers of these kinds of vehicles can easily find wheels without having to trawl through hundreds of products that are irrelavent. If when looking you are unsure of the tyre size for your vehicle, fear not. The professional team at Top Gear can advise you on what tyres will...........[
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Friday, November 25th
Citroen C-SportLounge
Your family is growing, your priorities are changing and you are ready to swap a sporty hatchback for a more down-to-earth MPV... or are you? The people carriers of tomorrow look set to become more attractive and desirable than ever - and Citroen has already given us a glimpse of what's to come. When the C-SportLounge concept was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, it merged coupé styling with family car practicality. Pointing the way to a replacement for the Picasso, the newcomer is the French firm's most significant show car of the year, so Auto Express took...........[
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Thursday, November 24th
Toyota RAV4
Don't be fooled by the familiar look of Toyota's new RAV4 - the original 'soft' roader has actually toughened up. Rivals such as the Land Rover Freelander, Nissan X-Trail and Honda CR-V have forced a redesign of the 4x4. And after exclusively driving the newcomer, we can report that the effort has been very worthwhile. The new RAV4 is bigger than the old car, measuring 180mm longer and 70mm wider, while the outgoing model's platform, drivetrain and suspension set-up have all been ditched. Replacements for each have come from other models in the Japanese firm's family. The parts bins of...........[
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Wednesday, November 23rd
Smart cat's eyes a sunny delight
Solar-powered cat's eyes are helping drivers to leave a motorway at the right junction. The LED studs have been fitted at Junction 6 on the M40 in Oxon. They can be seen up to 900 metres away so drivers don't miss the turn-off, hidden by a bend. Meanwhile, the Highways Agency aims to make overhead lights dim automatically when there's no traffic. (this bulletin was taken from autoexpress.co.uk ...........[
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Tuesday, November 22nd
Chrysler Dodge SRT-10
It's the Viper that promises to take an even bigger bite out of its supercar rivals! The V10-engined legend has always had a fearsome reputation, and this new coupé version shows no sign of letting that slip. With its 8.3-litre engine, the latest incarnation of America's ultimate muscle car has a 190mph top speed and will blast from 0-60mph quicker than any Ferrari currently on sale. But does the fact that it has a proper roof enhance the driving experience, or ruin it? Badged Dodge SRT-10 in the UK, following a legal row which prohibits parent firm Chrysler officially naming...........[
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Monday, November 21st
Volkswagen Passat Estate 2.0 TDI SE
Few estate cars fall into two distinct categories these days: stylish, trendy tourers, and boxy, practical load-luggers. But VW is aiming to blend the two together with its Passat Estate. The model has just hit UK showrooms, and there's no doubt it makes a good first impression. Our test car - an economical 138bhp 2.0 TDI diesel - manages to combine the handsome lines of the acclaimed saloon version with a vast carrying capacity. Unlike some rivals, the Passat's ex-tended roofline tapers to meet an angled, rather than vertical, tailgate, which gives the car a sleeker look. While this limits...........[
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Thursday, November 17th
Open Day at Topgear Swansea
Topgear in Swansea are all set for their open day on Sunday 27th November. Opening hours are from 10am - 4pm and during this time there will be plenty to look at and talk about. A FREE Hog Roast will be available along with a raffle to win a stainless steel exhaust system worth £500 custom built for your car. There will also be a fantastic promotion on Alloy Wheels so it's well worth getting down to Swansea to check out all the offers and have a chat to the friendly and helpful staff. If you need directions to the...........[
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MPH ‘05 - A Roaring Success In Birmingham
Sell out shows, crowd pleasing car crashes, world first stunts, the sale of some of the of the most expensive metal in Britain, and Jeremy Clarkson admitting he actually rather likes Birmingham - just some of the reasons why MPH ‘05 at the NEC has been hailed as a huge success. It has been estimated that more than 28,000 visitors were welcomed to the three-day motoring spectacle and amongst the enthusiastic public were some serious car buyers. Tom Hartley, the specialist luxury and performance car dealer, celebrated the sale of three of his six show cars, a Bentley, Mercedes and...........[
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Wednesday, November 16th
Clio crowned car of the year
Renault's third generation Clio supermini has been unveiled as Car of the Year at the 2005 Autocar Awards ceremony in London recently. In a contest that went right to the wire, the French supermini was awarded 256 points by a Europe-wide panel of 58 journalists in 22 countries, edging-out VW’s new-shape Passat by just five points. Jurors were swayed by Renault’s philosophy change, which has brought much-improved refinement and trim quality to the car. A few dissenters criticised the Clio’s class-busting size (it is now almost four metres long) and considerable weight, but most jurors reckoned size improves its road...........[
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Tuesday, November 15th
Seven seat Audi Q7 now open for order
Seven-seat versatility, air cushioned ride comfort and the more familiar hallmarks that set every Audi apart will be available from £37,285 OTR in the new Q7 SUV, which opens for UK ordering this week and will reach its first UK customers next summer. The tough, quattro four-wheel-driven all-terrain vehicle with luxury saloon refinement launches with a choice of two engines - the new 4.2-litre V8 with FSI petrol direct injection, developing 350PS and 440Nm of torque, and the supremely refined 3.0 TDI V6 with advanced piezo injection, delivering 233PS and 500Nm. Both engines will transmit their power via six-speed tiptronic...........[
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Monday, November 14th
BMW M6
Meet BMW's fastest-ever road car. Capable of hitting 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds and with a top speed of more than 200mph, the new M6 is even quicker than the M5 supersaloon. Lighter, lower and leaner than its sibling, the V10-engined four-seat coupé is a showcase for BMW's M division and its engineering expertise. Visually, there are some obvious differences between this and the standard 6-Series. BMW has given it a unique set of alloys and individual detailing, plus a carbon fibre roof. This weighs 45kg less than a steel panel, and helps lower the car's centre of gravity by 60mm...........[
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Friday, November 11th
Volkswagen Golf R32 DSG
Car makers have thrown away the hot hatch rule book. Volkswagen, Ford and Vauxhall have all produced high-performance family models offering greater pace than any of their predecessors, but the power struggle isn't over yet. VW has raised the stakes once again with its V6-powered flagship Golf R32. Back in issue 877, we were first to drive the all-new superhatch in left-hand-drive form, and now we're at the front of the queue to take the wheel of the UK version on British soil. Building on the success of the latest GTI, the 3.2-litre V6 model has a lot to live...........[
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Thursday, November 10th
Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 V6
These days, it's getting hard to find a nice, traditional performance coupé. In a world where engineers are building MPVs which drive like sports cars, and roadsters with off-tarmac potential, it's no wonder some experts are claiming the days of the plain and simple sporting GT are over. Fortunately, such nonsense has yet to filter through to Alfa Romeo's design studios! Here, the only brief for a new car is to make it sexy, fast and desirable. The all-new Brera, which replaces the much-loved but ageing GTV, is an Alfa from the old school. Due to hit the UK next...........[
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Wednesday, November 9th
H-bombshell at 4x4 dealers
Controversial showrooms for American off-road brand Hummer could be thundering their way to the UK, it has been revealed. The dealerships have already sparked local planning battles in many US towns, where residents objected to the massive convex roofline and dramatic 'H' above the entrance. Several earmarked sites were even refused the go-ahead by council bosses. Now, Ray Schmit, director for Hummer Europe, has told Auto Express there are plans for one or two British sales centres. They will sell the company's smallest model, the H3, in right-hand drive from 2007. "We would certainly consider that new style of dealership,...........[
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Tuesday, November 8th
Vauxhall Zafira VXR
Meet the second of the VXR newcomers. If you need to move your family fast, and the hot Vectra hasn't got enough seats for you, Vauxhall has the answer: the Zafira VXR. Combining a 237bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine with uprated suspension, bold styling and the firm's clever Flex7 cabin layout, it's a formidable package. But how does the MPV's chassis deal with the power? And do the changes turn the Zafira into a stiff, uncomfortable car, unsuitable for family transport? With the same storming turbo as the Astra VXR, this Zafira has 37bhp more than the previous GSi, and a...........[
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Monday, November 7th
White stripes top the bill at Lotus
You can have any colour as long as it's red. Or blue. That's what buyers of the latest Lotus are being told. The Elise Sports Racer (pictured) can be ordered in Ardent Red or Nightfall Blue with retro-style white stripes. White door mirrors complete the exterior, while matching red or blue stitching is added to the black leather trim. Only 199 examples of the 189bhp car will be built. Each will come with lightweight alloys, uprated suspension, twin oil coolers and switchable traction control, while air-con and a limited slip differential are on the options list. Prices start from £31,995...........[
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Friday, November 4th
TVR Tuscan Convertible
Is TVR growing up? Vivid red and black paintwork aside, the Tuscan Convertible is hard to dismiss as yet another crazy creation from the famous Blackpool firm. The company has got serious - these days, it's not only about presence and performance, it's also about making cars people can enjoy day in, day out. New owner Nikolai Smolenski's arrival has improved build quality and reliability, but the Convertible is more than a traditional TVR with better panel gaps. There's the cabin, for a start. With its new, symmetrical dashboard layout, it's the best interior from the firm yet. Even so...........[
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Thursday, November 3rd
Vauxhall Vectra VXR
It's the fastest Vectra ever! With a 161mph top speed, the only other four-door Vauxhall to have gone quicker than the new Vectra VXR is the legendary Lotus Carlton. But back in 1990, you would have paid a cool £48,000 for the Lotus-tuned car. Happily, the newcomer costs rather less. The £23,995 price puts the Vectra VXR into direct competition with the Ford Mondeo ST, Mazda 6 MPS and even Audi's A4 2.0T FSI quattro. Is outright performance going to be enough to lift it to the top of the class? Joining high-powered VXR versions of the Monaro and Astra...........[
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Wednesday, November 2nd
Fast Focus STorms in
It's the moment of truth for Ford's fast car division - has the new Focus ST got what it takes to continue the tradition of the blue oval's greatest performance models? Read on to find out. Britain's love of fast Fords is no secret, but the relationship is far from blind. As a nation, we've bought more of them than any other country, but we have also been the first to point out when the cars have not been good enough. So how will the ST measure up? On the basis of specification alone, the newcomer looks to be one...........[
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Tuesday, November 1st
Lexus IS250 SE
Individuality counts for a lot in the executive car market - which is why the popularity of BMW's 3-Series is a double-edged sword. It may well be a brilliant machine, but the sheer number on British roads puts some buyers off. Since its launch back in 1999, the Lexus IS has been a solid alternative, with a fine mix of refinement, driver involvement and comparative rarity. The trouble is, rivals have moved the game on in the past few years - so can the new IS do the same? Bigger all-round and with a fresh 2.5-litre V6 engine, the car...........[
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