2013 Renault Clio TEASED

Ahead of its reveal at the 2012 Paris motorshow in September Renault have released a teaser image of the eagerly anticipated Clio that will go on sale in 2013. The image gives us a glimpse of the rear corner of the car with its kinked waistline, slim rear light cluster and strongly suggests hidden rear door handles like Alfa Romeo Guiletta. The Clio is a very important car for Renault as its the first all-new model to feature their new design language but unusually will only be offered as a 5 door. Based on the same platform as the Nissan Micra its likely to grow in size slightly to free up space inside and promises big gains in refinement as well as ride comfort and on-road thrills. Engines won't differ much from today's models so expect a wide range of petrol and diesel units with the scorching Renaultsport Clio expected in 2014.

2012 Peugeot 308 FULL ROAD TEST

The C-segment is one of the most crowded and competitive areas of the market, producing a decent car just isn’t good enough; it is a segment where excellence is a must. Turn back the clock to 1993 and there was one car that turned the C-segment on its head instantly making the then popular Ford Escort and Vauxhall Astra look dull, dated, poorly packaged and as much fun to drive as a shopping trolley. The car in question was the Peugeot 306; sister car to the Citroen ZX, it simply blew buyers away with its svelte looks, great cabin space and ability to make the most mundane journey an absolute hoot.  The key to the 306’s success was its unique rear suspension which consisted of a then sophisticated fully independent trailing arm/torsion bar axle compared to rivals more simple setups. Unique to the 306 was its active suspension bushes at the rear which during cornering enabled the angle of the wheels to change so in effect steering the car from the rear as well as the front. It also had its engine mounted as far back as possible for better weight distribution coupled with beautifully weighted steering with bags of feedback the 306 was a real drivers cars. The 306 soldiered on until 2002 with nothing more than a mid-cycle nip and tuck by which time its rivals had moved the game on considerably and the introduction of the superb Ford Focus in 1998 marked the end of Peugeot’s class leadership. Coming up with a successor was a headache for Peugeot as the key to the 306’s superb handling was its low kerb weight and compact dimensions which didn’t lend themselves well to the safety standard set by the Ford Focus. As a result the 306 successor the 307 was much larger and heavier than its forbearer and lost its sophisticated rear suspension, as a result it was a safe, spacious car but was completely lacking in driver appeal and also disappointingly it looked like a bloated 206. As a result it was a “me too” car that brought nothing new to the market with a long list of rivals that were better. In 2007 the 307 was replaced by the logically named 308 whose aim was to inject some added style and driver involvement to the mix to challenge the class best as well as improving interior quality and refinement. Last year the 308 received a mid-life facelift to bring its styling in line with the larger 508 and saw the introduction of Peugeot’s cutting edge e-HDi technology seen on other models; here we are testing the Oxygo model which is Peugeot’s answer to the Golf Bluemotion. We find out how the 308 measures up against fresher rivals from Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen and whether Peugeot’s e-HDi technology is worth the added expense.

2012 Skoda Yeti FULL ROAD TEST

Skoda have for many years been a brand shunned by many purely based on the negative connotations associated with their well-known badge. As anyone with an ounce of car knowledge will know todays Skodas are based heavily on mechanicals from parent company Volkswagen who enjoy a faultless image based on a reputation of reliability and first rate build quality. Therefore to the logically minded there is no reason to criticise any product bearing the Skoda name especially as they are usually so keenly priced  but sadly this is not the case. As we have experienced recently from our time with the superb Fabia vRS Skodas are as competitive as anything else on the market and should appeal to anyone looking for simple, good value transport. Here we are testing Skoda’s latest and most rugged model the interestingly named Yeti which promises to offer buyers the benefits of a large SUV in a package similar in size to a Ford Focus. We find out if it can deliver.

2012 Peugeot 508 SW FULL ROAD TEST

There was a time when choosing a new car was simple, mainstream manufacturers such as Ford offered four sizes, a supermini (Fiesta), a small family car (Escort), large family car (Mondeo) or an executive (Scorpio). Take a glance at most car ranges today and its astonishing how many models there are to choose from all aiming to offer something for different buyers tastes from crossovers to the vast array of multi-purpose vehicles that have flooded the market in recent years. 

During this insurgence of choice there has been one market that has felt the squeeze and now struggles to hit the sales charts, I’m talking about the family car sector. In their heyday a growing family’s default choice was a large family car which offered an excellent blend of passenger and luggage space, reliability as well as motorway refinement. 

Now more than ever cars such as MPVs and SUVs are becoming much more attractive to potential buyers as they can offer families more due to their clever packaging offering more space, versatility, safety, economy and comfort in a neat design that often takes up less space on the road than your average small family car. 

The result is that many manufacturers have dropped their family car offering from their line-up namely Renault and Nissan. Despite this Peugeot is still confident that it can compete in this shrinking sector with its recently launched 508 which has been tasked with replacing not only the 407 but the larger, executive 607 in the range. Peugeot have made this possible with increased dimensions and moving the new car further upmarket in terms of quality and refinement in a bid to poach buyers from premium brands.

I find out whether the 508 meets Peugeot’s expectations and is worthy successor to the unloved 407 and 607 whilst competing with established models from Ford and Volkswagen

2012 Kia Optima FULL ROAD TEST

MITSUBISHI REVIEWS COMING SOON

Rob McSorley on CARS will soon be reviewing Mitsubishi models with the cooperation of Mitsubishi Press UK

2011 Kia Picanto FULL ROAD TEST

Words and Photos by Rob McSorley 


City cars have become increasingly popular over recent years due to their minuscule running costs and tiny dimensions that make them perfectly suited to the busy, congested roads found in most cities. Years ago these cars forced owners to live with significant compromises that now seem quite amusing especially when it came to standard equipment. Many models only had one wing mirror, no rear wiper, no central air vents and some didn’t even come with a stereo never mind power steering which seems crazy today. Now more than ever City cars have had to move with the times and offer buyers more, especially with the recent trend in downsizing. Kia is the latest manufacturer to launch a new city car, the Picanto which is now in its second generation and promises to offer economy, comfort, refinement and fuel efficiency in equal measures, I find out how it fairs and whether it is a viable alternative to established rivals from Citroen, Peugeot and Hyundai.

2011 Kia Rio FULL ROAD TEST

 Words and Photos by Rob McSorley

Saving money is a hot topic during these turbulent times with everyone trying to find ways to save money to make ends meet. A decade ago when petrol prices we are low as 70p per litre your cars fuel economy was a distant thought, as long as it didn’t seem that you were visiting the petrol pumps more than once a week drivers were happy with their costs, also worth considering back then, prices of new cars were relatively low and sales were booming.  Now however times have changed drastically, new car sales are struggling after the end of the recent scrappage scheme and fuel prices has reached an all-time high, more than ever anyone crazy enough to own and maintain a car, or even two are forced to consider the costs associated with this comfortable way to travel. How have car manufacturers responded? By finding new and interesting ways of increasing fuel consumption and reducing the costs of road tax and even developing zero emissions hybrid or full electric cars that dodge expensive congestion charges. When you talk about a car that is capable of returning 74 mpg on a combined cycle most people will insist that it must have ultra-thin, low resistance tyres devoid of any grip, ugly aerodynamic flourishes, or have to be inconveniently charged every 40 miles. But no, a car company that as little as 5 years ago was quietly producing low budget, uninspiring cars for those on a shoestring has managed the impossible. Enter the all-new Kia Rio CRDi Ecodynamics a very ordinary car capable of mind-blowing economy without anything more than a small capacity 1.1, 3 cylinder diesel engine and a simple stop-start system. I find out if the Kia Rio is as good as the figures suggest and whether it can now be considered a viable alternative to the current class leaders the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.

2013 Kia Pro Cee'd TEASER

Above is allegedly a leaked sketch of the upcoming Kia Pro Cee'd due to be launched in early 2013. Styling is expected to differ from the recently launched 5 door Ceed in the same was as the previous model. Up front the new car has lights and a grill similar to the 5 door car but has a more sporty, rakish lower bumper section, towards the rear a lower, sleeker roof line features and at the rear styling changes are likely to be more significant. Engines are also likely to mirror those of the 5 door model but the ride and handling is said to be very different offering a sportier, more agile drive. More details should be released in the coming months.

2013 MG5 REVEALED

Today first official images of the upcoming Focus-rivalling MG5 have been released. Following on from the critically acclaimed MG6 the smaller MG5 sports a heavily chiseled looking front end dominated by the famous hexagonal MG badge and angular wrap-around xenon headlights. The side profile is less distinctive with a passing resemblance to Toyota's Auris and is finished off with attractive alloy wheels. The rear of the MG5 is much softer with a short overhang, narrow, high mounted rear light units and a discreet spoiler. No interior images have been officially revealed yet but a modern cabin is sure to feature similar in design to the larger MG6. MG have said that the 5's conventional suspension setup of McPherson struts up front and twist/torsion beam rear has been specifically developed for UK road and is significantly different from the Chinese model. Engine options have yet to be confirmed but its likely to feature MG's new 1.5 litre petrol and it's hoped that a diesel model will also arrive later on. More pictures and details are expected in the coming months