SOMETIMES you’re left scratching your head wondering how car manufacturers come up with their model names.
But the answer is fairly simple. They just make them up. Hence the new Skoda Elroq is a mix of ‘electric’ and ‘Karoq’ – a portmanteau in some circles. Continue reading
IN the market for a big seven seat electric car? Well, they don’t come much bigger than this.
Bigger than your average parking space (though having said that, what car isn’t these days?) Kia’s gargantuan EV9 evokes memories of the box-on-wheels Land Rover Discovery, and makes a compelling case for itself with its impressive list of standard kit and its high end electric vehicle technology. Continue reading
SWIFT by name and swift enough by nature, Suzuki’s compact supermini has a loyal following – and it’s evident that’s not likely to change much in the near future.
Despite the fact there’s still a perceived demand for small petrol cars, the best selling Ford Fiesta is no more, and other rivals to the Swift are heading down the electric only road. Continue reading
HOW quickly things change in the electric car world. This is the second generation LEAF which hit the roads in 2018 and offered owners the ability to travel a fair bit further on a charge of its battery pack than some of its opposition could do at the time.
But the hard fact is 168 miles just doesn’t pass muster six years on, and Nissan have decided to stop production to concentrate on new BEVs (battery electric vehicles) it has up its sleeve, like the new Ariya sampled a couple of weeks ago. Continue reading
ONE of the first things you notice about electric cars is the distinct lack of a good old fashioned front grille.
In its place will be a large slab of solid bodywork, because with no engine upfront needing cooling air flowing over it, the slats of old are about as much use as mudflaps on a tortoise.
But it’s still all about airflow and low drag co-efficient, hence the slippery shapes you see on the roads. Continue reading
THERE’S not a lot better on a freezing cold morning than pressing a little button that warms up the steering wheel in your car.
A small, welcome touch found on Ford’s current Kuga, and one which makes those early morning runs a bit more bearable. Continue reading
LOVE them or not quite made up your mind, electric cars are here to stay and not surprisingly the focus is on what the battery can achieve.
With current mutterings of some being capable of over 600 miles on a charge and new research hinting of the possibility of them being made without highly expensive lithium (cobalt has already been ditched by BYD), let’s get back to the real world and sample Mazda’s first toe in what are becoming very muddy waters. Continue reading
THE irony was noted when BYD chose to reveal their latest model on a day that was wetter than a haddock’s swimsuit.
The aptly named Seal completes the Chinese manufacturer’s current European line-up. But rest assured there will be more to come.
The Seal is their all electric sports saloon, sleek of line and offering impressive performance and handling.
In the bar room bragging stakes the keyfob for a Polestar probably won’t win you many brownie points – but the car parked outside will.
It oozes Swedish style from every angle, minimalist as it is and makes it a highly desirable form of transport – a clean shape that catches the eye. Continue reading
THEY say you never get a second chance to make a first impression – and what an impression Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz makes.
Whether in wacky, over-the-top garish colours or a more subtle metallic hue, it’s a car that has no rivals – because at present there’s not really anything else like it on the market. Continue reading