Car
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Mercedes-Benz A-Class Review (2023) | Autocar
Along with those engines and manual gearboxes, Mercedes has also junked the A-Class’s old SE trim level. This has brought greater consistency to the look and feel of a cabin that continues to strike a fairly high standard for material richness, technological sophistication and perceived quality. There is now no A-Class you can buy in the UK without Merc’s twin-10.3in-display MBUX infotainment console. Because there is no longer a manual gearbox and the revised infotainment has no physical input controller on the transmission tunnel, Mercedes has redesigned the centre console for a neater look, adding a shallow tray. Between that…
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Porsche 911 Sport Classic 2023 UK first drive
Of course, there’s no GT-division firecracker in the boot, but the 3.8-litre Turbo unit does fizz with induction roar at the top end in a way the Carrera’s 3.0-litre motor doesn’t. The modest but noticeable turbo lag can in this age also be chalked up as a character-enhancing asset. Pushing against 1570kg, a peak of 443lb ft (a neutered figure to protect the gearbox) also feels just right on the road: not so much that you’re afraid to pin the accelerator in second but enough to rotate the Sport Classic through bends with a little weight transfer on the way…
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New Volkswagen ID Buzz LWB gets 7 seats, 355bhp GTX variant
Volkswagen has revealed the long-wheelbase ID Buzz, describing the new electric seven-seat MPV as a modern-day incarnation of its iconic Samba bus. Planned for UK sale by the end of 2023, the large, rear-wheel-drive van will be the first Volkswagen to feature a newly upgraded 282bhp rear electric motor, as well as a larger 85kWh battery and the largest panoramic glass sunroof yet produced by the German firm. The Volkswagen ID Buzz LWB mirrors the retro-inspired appearance of the standard ID Buzz, albeit with stretched proportions and, for markets where the regulatory framework permits (which now include the EU but not yet the UK), an illuminated VW logo at the front. At 4962mm…
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Top 10 best city cars 2023
Just like its Hyundai i10 cousin, the Kia Picanto has grown up significantly since it first graced our roads. The latest car is certainly better looking than its predecessors but is also finished better inside and gains a decent level of standard equipment. It even scores fairly well on the ride and handling front, with the Picanto dealing with the scarred British roads better than some. Admittedly, its 66bhp 1.0-litre engine does feel a bit weedy at times, but at the top of the engine range is the punchy 1.0-litre turbocharged three-pot engine – a trump card that not even…
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Skoda Enyaq Coupe vRS 2023 long-term test
Mileage: 7483 Back to the top It’s high time we had smarter info to help us find an empty, working charger – 12 April Such is the way with the UK’s charging infrastructure that I’ve had two vastly different experiences recently, one at Hopwood Park services just south of Birmingham and the other at Rugby services on the M6. The former is old infrastructure, the latter is new. At Hopwood, there’s a vast bank of Tesla Superchargers, naturally, but only two 50kW Gridserve units: one with two CCS charge cables, the other with one CCS and one Chademo. The thing…
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Top 10 best lightweights and track day specials 2023
Low weight means big fun – but which of minimal mass track day entertainers makes our top 10? When you really want to have fun behind the wheel, then you need to minimise the mass. Whether you’re seeking straightline pace or after apex-acing dexterity, then the lighter the car the better. It’s simple physics really – the less you have to move when accelerating, braking and turning, the faster and more faithful the car will be to your inputs. Of course, shedding quite a few pounds means you (usually) have to sacrifice some creature comforts and forget about family-friendly practicality,…
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JLR: Land Rover Discovery has “huge potential” as its own brand
JLR bosses are confident that the Land Rover Discovery makes sense a standalone brand, as the company separates its line-up into four distinct pillars: Defender, Discovery, Jaguar and Range Rover. Questions hang over the viability of carving out Discovery as a brand in its own right, given that it’s currently the slowest-selling Land Rover model, but bosses say it can survive – and thrive – because of the unique role it plays in the JLR portfolio. Describing it as “the ‘we’ brand” and calling it “an enabler to make every day exceptional”, marketing boss Anthony Bradbury told Autocar work is under way to determine how…
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Volkswagen Golf due restyle and infotainment overhaul in 2023
The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf is due for an important mid-life facelift that will bring refreshed styling and heavily overhauled infotainment. The ‘Mk8.5’ Golf was spotted testing on public roads around Germany almost completely without camouflage in the final stages of its development. The current Mk8 Golf is only available to order from stock. Spotted in what looks to be mid-rung Style trim, the prototype has a restyled, deeper front bumper, new headlights and a slightly reshaped rear end with wider exhaust graphics and restyled brake lights. More significantly, photos of the cabin reveal that the Golf will follow its newer,…
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Vauxhall Corsa due another generation as firm backs superminis
Vauxhall is committed to producing superminis in the B-segment and has no plans to exit this area of the market as its great rival the Ford Fiesta has, design boss Mark Adams has confirmed. The revised Vauxhall Corsa has just been revealed and a successor will be forthcoming later in the decade. Speaking at a showcase for the new model, Adams said Vauxhall being part of Stellantis was key for it being able to commit to a future in the supermini segment. “It’s scale and smart sharing,” said Adams, when asked how Vauxhall was able to make a success still…
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Used car buying guide: Mercedes 190E Cosworth
If you ever get the chance to drive or own one, don’t hesitate. You won’t be disappointed. What we said then 4 January 1989: “The 2.5’s substantially shorter in-gear times reflect the power gain over the 2.3, setting it hot on the heels of rivals like the BMW M3 and Audi Quattro. Low-end torque is improved, but the smooth, free-revving engine still works best over 4000rpm. Brakes are powerful. It’s highly responsive but not nervous. The car has extraordinary chassis balance inherited from the 2.3. The limits of grip are high and progressive oversteer is easily countered. Body control is…
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