Test Drives

As you maybe know, the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) market has been booming for the last few years with most manufacturers offering a couple of models, covering most demographics and, Mazda is no different.

With cars getting bigger, so too are the needs of expanding families, with many opting for van derived people carriers such as this, the Ford Tourneo.

So as if by chance, the time during which my wife was looking at heading on holidays, I was due to have the all-new SEAT Tarraco on loan for review.

In the late 2000s, then Proton-owned Lotus was in a bit of a funk. Despite the critical and commercial success it had with the Elise and Exige, debt was mounting, not helped by the failed new GT car, the Europa, that was launched in 2006.

There are three certainties in life – death, taxes and singing competitions on the TV. No matter what guise the show takes, the format is the same. Fame hungry wannabes belting out murdering original hits with karaoke cover versions week after week. “You’ve really made that your own” is the standard refrain. But it’s not that easy to take someone else’s classic and leave your own stamp on it. It’s easier to get it wrong that take a classic and improve it, in every possible way.

Aston Martin DBX – the British luxury marque’s first SUV – has continued its intensive development programme this week at Pirelli’s official test facility, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden.

In a segment that is absolutely booming, SUV’s or crossover’s or whatever you wish to call them, have never been as popular on our roads and Mazda have updated their baby.

In the past twelve-months I can think of two cars that have produced media frenzy – both from Korea and both geared around driving experience – this is the latest award winner, named ‘Stinger’ and from Kia Motors.

Since the launch of the C4 Cactus, French car manufacturer Citroen, have been feeling brave with styling of many vehicles within the range, and this C3 Aircross is no different.

Italian’s are renowned for charm and fashion, alongside great food and wine, the latter of which I will admit to falling in love with anytime I have visited the country.