Author Archives: Rob Auchterlonie

VAUXHALL ASTRA ELITE: new engines for popular hatch

ANYONE considering adding a new Astra to their driveway, based on previous experience, is likely to be pleasantly surprised.

A car that has always been a firm favourite with we British motorists comes to you in 2020 in a form, shall we say, that is suitably enhanced.

The looks remain unmistakably Vauxhall‘s popular family hatch, but it’s the bits you can’t see where the most significant changes have taken place.

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BENTLEY BENTAYGA V8: motoring magnificence in SUV form

NOT so very long ago it was unheard of for purveyors of high class and high end machinery to contemplate adding an SUV to their rather exclusive ranks.

But slowly and surely they have. Rolls Royce have the Cullinan, there’s the Lamborghini Urus and even Aston Martin have got in on the act with their new DBX.

Heady stuff. And in this heady company Bentley’s V8 Bentayga is something of a snip, if you can couch something costing just south of £140,000 in those terms.

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MG HS: much improved SUV from masters of duplication

TASTY food; sundry electrical goods; a rather large wall that can allegedly be seen from outer space – we’ve all heard of the Chinese.

Now they seem intent on copying some goods rather larger than your average smart phone. Cars for the European market are next on the agenda for the peoples republic and rest assured they will be, shall we say, competitively priced.

An initial foray from the eastern outpost of communism has seen the rather well known MG brand back in business here.

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SKODA KAMIQ: Czech newcomer has quality that ticks the right boxes

SKODA might carry the label of VW Group’s budget brand, but there’s nothing down market about the fit and finish of their latest offering.

It’s a car that proves you really can have your cake and eat it, and while it might not be a Ritz afternoon tea Victoria sponge, it’s certainly no Tesco Value jaffa cake either.

Kamiq, the Czech manufacturer’s all new compact SUV, has a solid, well built interior to it that is as far removed from Skodas of old as chalk is to cheese.

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MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 300d 4MATIC AMG LINE: bigger, better, still going strong

THE world that the M-Class Mercedes-Benz entered 22 years ago was vastly different from today.

With but a handful of premium class SUV to pick from two decades ago, the choice now means you need more than your shoes and socks off to count up the alternatives.

The badge has changed from M-Class to GLE over the years, and with north of two million sales worldwide, there’s no question that it has been a success.

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HONDA CIVIC EX SPORT LINE: insurance friendly newcomer

FANCY a Civic Type R but think the insurance premiums might be a bit on the unaffordable side? Here’s an alternative.

If you can forego the brutal power in favour of something more wallet friendly in terms of performance and economy, the latest Civic might just tempt you.

With the latest and menacing look of something hinting at more brutal underpinnings, the Civic EX Sport Line is what you might dub an insurance friendly package.

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NISSAN JUKE: improving in a roundabout sort of way

NISSAN’S Juke is a car that stands out from the crowd in any scenario – even before you throw a few litres of bright paint at it.

They even made sure the windows were open, because some of the latest ones have got a tango coloured coating inside too.

It’s quirky looks in its compact chunky body have made it a popular choice for those motorists who stray from the conventional. And there must be a lot of them about, because there are a lot of Jukes about too.

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