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MAZDA MX-5 RF Exclusive-Line, better than ever

In Car Reviews, Mazda, Sports Cars by Tom Scanlan

Thirty-five years later, the current Mazda MX-5 Mark 4 version has had a few upgrades Car Reviewed: 2024 Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 Exclusive-Line Other trim versions include Homura (Japanese for ‘flame’) at the top of the range and Prime-Line; these also go for the soft-top MX-5 Roadster. With 135,000 sold in the UK and many fans, it was easy to …

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The range-topper, Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Auto

In Car Reviews, Isuzu, Pick-Ups by Tom Scanlan

Lifestyle, Utility? Car Reviewed: Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Auto TV commercials currently aim to sell this pick-up by showing a guy driving down to the beach with his surfboard and heading towards the waves or an intrepid hiker about to get out his climbing ropes. At the other end of the scale, we loaded up with old tree branches from the …

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Peugeot 508 SW GT Hybrid 225 Reviewed

In Car Reviews, Hybrid, Peugeot by Tom Scanlan

I decided to put my foot down hard on the Peugeot 508 GT’s accelerator Car Reviewed: Peugeot 508 SW GT PLUG-IN HYBRID 225 e-EAT8 So…let’s go! And I was rewarded with the smoothest throttle response you could wish for. Maybe it was because I’d just spent a week stuck in the family hack, a 22-year-old well-worn vehicle. The contrast was, …

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The Bicester Heritage Summer FlyWheel 2023

In Blog, Car Museums, Events, Featured Articles, Short Cuts by Tom Scanlan

Tom Scanlan took his camera along to the Bicester Heritage Summer FlyWheel There are workshops restoring vintage cars, and instructing people in how to do this,   promoting classic car events and much more. It’s an active airfield, too, and FlyWheel this year featured historic aircraft from The Great War and a Spitfire and the sole remaining Bristol Blenheim from WW2. …

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Reviewed: Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Edizione Speciale

In Alfa Romeo, Car Reviews, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, SUV by Tom Scanlan

Visually, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is just another good-looking SUV – except when you look at the front and rear Car Reviewed: Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Edizione Speciale Alfa Romeo gained its loyal following as much through past sporting success, often reflected in production models, as for any other reason. So, on that premise, does the Tonale plug-in hybrid deliver? …

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Review: AUDI A1 Sportback S-line 30 TFSI 

In Audi, Car Reviews by Tom Scanlan

AUDI — Always Understand Deutsche Ideen Car Reviewed: AUDI A1 Sportback S-line 30 TFSI  It’s a smart little car with a 1-litre, 3-cylinder engine that could growl a bit if you wanted some sporty driving or that pottered along quietly at relatively low revs…provided you changed gear (via a super 6-speed manual gearbox) to prevent that typically-3-cylinder reverberation; yes, the …

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Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid, a sensible package

In Car Reviews, Hybrid, Suzuki by Tom Scanlan

‘Swift’: yes. ‘Sport’: yes. No better words than these for this most enjoyable small hatchback Car Reviewed: Suzuki Swift 1.4 Hybrid Sport Our test model was the 1.4 Boosterjet hybrid (all Suzukis have some form of hybridity). At times, for example, descending long hills, brake regeneration can be detected doing its job, as though some force is slightly slowing the …

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Toyota bZ4X another fully electric SUV

In Car Reviews, Electric, Electric cars, Toyota by Tom Scanlan

The Toyota bZ4X is an exceptionally good fully electric car with impressive performance Car Reviewed: Toyota bZ4X The bZ4X shows a radical design direction for Toyota featuring a sleek and futuristic exterior with sharp lines and an aggressive stance, the interior is spacious and minimalist with a focus on sustainability. The bZ4X’s design embodies Toyota’s commitment to creating EVs that …

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Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible, a straightforward diesel

In 4x4, Car Reviews, SUV, Toyota by Tom Scanlan

This boy’s a big ’un…definitely Sumo, not Sushi Car Reviewed: Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible 4×4 Not that the Land Cruiser, although powerful, is unsubtle. In fact, it was almost surprising to discover that it performed in a totally well-mannered way. It was easy to drive, handled well with little roll, pitch or yaw, steered quite precisely and provided a comfortable …