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THE Mazda CX-3 looks like the baby brother to the CX-5 we tested last year and liked very much. This latest addition to the Mazda garage sits in the Mini SUV class, which is an increasingly packed corner of the market and includes the popular Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.
This new model takes a big leap forward but is it good enough to depose…
THE Infiniti brand is a relative newcomer to the UK, having launched with one SUV model, the FX with a big thirsty petrol engine, from its only showroom in Reading in October 2009, but since then, things have moved on apace. There are now 10 Infiniti Centres dotted around the UK, with Hull’s Priory Park dealership serving the Humber region.
THIS new Honda Civic Type R looks absolutely stunning and is prodigiously fast, in fact it is one of the most complete cars I’ve ever driven. You don’t need much imagination to realise just how quick this new Honda Civic Type R is when you glance at its performance figures. It “only” has a 2.0-litre engine, but that utilises Honda’s VTEC technology and now comes with a turbocharger just to spice things up a bit.
“WHAT’S that?” my friend asked he strode up my drive. “It’s a Fiat 500,” I replied with a slight grin on my face. “No it’s not, he said, they’re small cars, that’s a crossover!” He has a point – It’s a Fiat 500 Jim, but not as we know it . . . Like the now BMW-owned Mini, what started off as a modern remake of a much-loved classic has now developed into a brand in its own right.
The ubiquitous Fiat 500 returned to our showrooms in 2008 and has since spawned various spin-offs, much like a Hollywood blockbuster.
THE ubiquitous Ford Focus needs little introduction, but this latest model with its 1.5-litre TDCi engine takes Ford and fuel economy to a whole new level. I’ve never found Ford diesel engines among the most economical on the market, but with this new unit, the secrets seem to have been unlocked.
IN this stylish n-tec specification which adds lots of extra trim, styling flourishes and safety equipment this version of the Note will strike a chord with many buyers.
Its attractive Ink Blue paintwork may well seal the deal, but the 1.2-litre three-pot with just 59PS won’t be everybody’s cup of tea. It’s not bad around town, which is probably where most buyers of this model will stay, and once up to speed it cruises quietly, but if you need to overtake anything quicker than a tractor, you will struggle.
WINCHCOMBE Camping and Caravanning Club site at Brooklands Farm, near Tewkesbury is One of the nicest sites I have ever stayed on. As well as plenty of room for motorhomes caravans and tents, there is a large mobile home park for lodges which are quite plush and are equipped with everything you need for a luxurious week away from it all and some of the lodges overlook the lake.
THE thoroughly modern Millie is another of those cars which came into being as a fairly honest remake of a much-loved classic, but has gone on to morph into an entirely new brand. Under BMW ownership, The new Mini has been an unprecedented success, selling millions of examples all over the world.
