You’ve probably noticed that at the pumps there are a variety of fuel options. As well as regular petrol and diesel choices, there are also ‘premium’ fuels. They command a higher price per litre, but why is this?

Though that increased price might be off-putting, drivers of high-performance or sports cars will find that their cars benefit from using premium fuel regularly. However, it’s not just those motorists’ cars that could run more efficiently. We look at the benefits of using a premium fuel.

A cleaner engine

That’s right. When you use a premium fuel, it helps remove deposits that may have built up on the intake valves and fuel injector nozzles. This should, in theory, give a better engine response as well as better economy figures.

Diesel engines become far sootier than their petrol-powered counterparts and additional chemicals in premium diesel can help rid the engine of any deposits that have built up during daily driving. There’s no need to run a car with this fuel all the time, but using it once every 1,000 miles could really help prolong your engine’s life.

Better performance

Drivers of sports cars or supercars will likely see their vehicles run perfectly when using premium fuels. Though they’ll run on lower-quality petrol, the difference that a premium fuel will make should be instantly noticeable. Throttle response should be sharper, while the engine should feel smoother in general.

Less chance of damage

In highly strung, high-performance engines that have been designed to run on premium fuel, there’s a chance that you could cause damage by running them on a lower-grade alternative.

Higher octane levels mean improved response

The octane number given to a fuel designates how well it works – the higher the number, the more effective the fuel is at working. As standard, all petrol sold in the UK is rated at 95 octane – but lower grades are available abroad. Some companies offer 97 or 98 octane fuel – and as high as 100 is available from certain garages. These high-octane fuels are ideal for high-performance cars, although drivers of hot hatches and sports cars will probably notice a difference too.

Traffic cops believe changes to the law that hand drivers six points and a £200 fine for using their phone are starting to have an effect.

We joined officers on Operation Tramline which uses an unmarked HGV to catch drivers on their phones.

Officers revealed they’d caught nearly half as many drivers this year than when the same operation was run 12 months ago.

Offences dropping

PC Dave Blake, a Hampshire Constabulary policeman who specialises in commercial vehicles and has a licence to drive an HGV, said: “The new fine and increased points is definitely working.

“Previously when we have run this operation we would catch around 40 to 60 drivers a day – around 250 in a week.

“This time we are catching around 15-20 a day. That’s a big drop and I think it’s definitely to do with the change in law and larger penalties.”

Figures released by Hampshire Police back this up. During the 2018 week-long Operation Tramline, 141 mobile phone users were caught – down from 220 in 2017, and 285 in 2015.

Unmarked HGV

Officers in Hampshire used a special HGV – loaned to police forces around the UK by Highways England – in a week when forces across the country launched a crackdown on mobile phone use behind the wheel.

We joined the Operation Tramline team of three unmarked police cars, a marked police bike and the special truck as it patrolled the M27, M3, A34 and M4.

Trucker’s eye view

Sitting high above the traffic, PC Blake and special inspector Dan Bell have a useful vantage point that allows them to look down into the surrounding cars.

“In slow moving traffic like this we like to drive in the middle lane so we can look down on either side of the truck,” explained PC Blake.

And it works. Within a matter of minutes the team are calling for back-up from the following officers that are swarming around the HGV like worker bees.

Knock knock

PC Phil Robertson, riding a marked police bike, shoots past us and closes in on the driver spotted holding their phone in their left hand.

He pulls right up alongside the offender and has time to tap on the window while the driver is still busy texting, oblivious to the policeman peering in. He’s quickly pulled over and handed a fixed penalty notice.

Sneaky users

“People are more sneaky when they use their phone behind the wheel these days – often holding it out of sight, but we can still tell they’re using it,” says PC Robertson.

“I used to catch one driver a day using their phones, but now it’s dropped to one a week – the six points are working in my opinion.”

Unmarked cars

Behind the truck, in an unmarked BMW 3 Series, is PC Rob Lewis who is using the cover of his generic German saloon to peer into cars as he passes.

Creeping along slowly in lane one, he looks across the lanes of slow moving traffic and it’s easy to see those distracted by a mobile.

Tell tale signs

“When you’re concentrating on driving, typically your view is around the windscreen and your hands are on the wheel,” explains PC Lewis.

“When a driver is using their phone their head dips, they look down frequently and they often struggle to keep their car in the lane.”

He’s at it

He soon spots an offender displaying those tell tale signs in a Volkswagen in lane three.

He’s clearly doing something, but until PC Lewis sees him touching his phone, he can’t pull him over. A moment later the driver raises an iPhone onto the steering wheel – and PC Lewis pounces.
Lights, camera, action

The shock of the unmarked car illuminating its hidden lights and deafening siren shock the VW Fox driver and he soon pulls over.

“He said he was just changing the music on his phone,” says PC Lewis, as he clambers back into the BMW after issuing the ticket. “But that’s no excuse – it’s against the law.”

Truck to truck

Back in the £70,000 truck, PC Blake is keeping a sharp eye out for other drivers breaking the law. Not only does the truck give the team a great view down into cars, it also allows them to look directly into the cabs of other HGVs they pass.

“Generally, truck drivers are well behaved as most firms now instantly dismiss for mobile phone offences and often have dash cams pointing at their drivers to keep an eye on them,” he explained.

Foreign fines

But as he’s saying that we pass a Romanian-registered car transporter and the driver has his mobile phone clamped to his left ear.

PC Robertson is called in again on his bike to deal with the issue – and this time the foreign driver will have to cough up the fine on a credit card before he’s allowed on his way.

Dramatic drop

After a day on the road the Operation Tramline team have caught 16 drivers – a dramatic drop on the numbers they caught a year ago.

A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said it believed it was too early to tell conclusively whether the higher penalties were working, but added it was working closely with partners to evaluate if it was.

However, in Hampshire at least, the evidence from this year’s Operation Tramline is certainly pointing towards the fact it is.

PC Lewis added: “Using your phone behind the wheel is dangerous and against the law – thankfully it seems the message is finally starting to get through.”

Winter is the season of snow, woolly clothes and — at least on poorly-kept UK roads — potholes.

All motorists will know the struggles of trying to avoid potholes, but sometimes they’re either impossible to get around or go unnoticed. This can result in a bit of discomfort at best, and plenty of damage to your car at the worst.

We take a look at how you can report a pothole, and should you pick up damage, how you can claim money to cover the repair costs.

Why do potholes form?

Potholes: How are they formed, how can I report them and how can I claim for damage?

Potholes are most commonly created when water creeps into the cracks in the roads and freezes. The expansion and contraction of water moves the asphalt around, resulting in the asphalt weakening. The stress of vehicles moving over the road eventually causes the asphalt to give way, thus forming a hole.

Although potholes can form at any time, colder temperatures make them much more likely during the winter.

What can a pothole do to my car?

The uneven, sudden drop of a pothole puts a lot of stress on a vehicle’s tyres and suspension. As tough as modern cars are, there’s a chance a pothole could damage a tyre to the point of puncture, add excess wear to suspension components or break them entirely. Extreme holes could even damage alloy wheels and components underneath a vehicle.

How can I report a pothole?

 If you’re looking to report a pothole on a local road, you should contact the relevant council and inform them of the location of the hole.

As for A-roads and motorways, the Highways Agency must be notified by calling 0300 123 5000.

How can I claim for damage costs? 

At the risk of sounding like an insurance advert — should your car be damaged due to going over a pothole, you could be entitled to compensation.

If the pothole has been previously reported, you’re more likely to receive some compensation that if it has not. Councils have a statutory defence that they cannot be held liable for defects they’re unaware of.

To increase your chances of a payout, there’s a number of steps you can take before making a claim:

• Make notes — write down key details, such as location, time of the incident, and the size and depth of the pothole if possible. You should also take a photograph as evidence.
• Witnesses — if anyone else has seen the incident, get details from them. It could help your claim.
• Get repair quotes — having accurate quotes for repair bills could help to ensure you get as much of the damage repairs covered as possible in a claim.
• Research — before making a claim, you should check to see what your council is and isn’t liable for.

To make a claim for pothole damage, contact the local council for local roads and the Highways Agency for A-roads and motorways. Providing quotes for repairs and a valid MOT certificate for your vehicle when contacting, as well as images, can help your claim.

Can I claim pothole damage on my insurance?

Your insurer may provide cover for pothole damage, especially more likely if you have a comprehensive policy. It’s worth checking your policy documents and contacting your insurer before making a claim.

When you’re buying a car, you have lots of choices to make – colour, trim level, optional equipment, engine… But on many models, you’re also given a choice of gearbox.

For motorists in the UK, manuals have long been the default option, but automatics are ten a penny in other markets such as America. Though early autos were colloquially known as ‘slushboxes’ and tended to dent performance, fuel economy and driving pleasure, times have moved on, and the modern automatic can, in some cases, be a better choice than the manual gearbox.

That’s right, gone are the days when automatics were the preserve of lazy luxury saloon drivers and blue-rinsers in Nissan Micras. Automatics abound across all market segments these days, and opting for one says no more about your driving style than choosing blue paint over red.

Fans of performance automatics will brag all day about how their car can actually beat the manuals off the line, while the cash-conscious may enjoy lower CO2 emissions and higher fuel economy. There’s no denying that a good automatic transmission makes for a relaxing drive, either – giving your left leg a rest and letting the car do the work takes the sting out of a busy city commute.

It’s not all rosy, though. There are still some truly awful automatic gearboxes out there – so always take a car for an extensive test drive, rather than simply trusting that the transmission is good. Automatics tend to be more expensive to buy, and much more expensive to repair if they go wrong.

But not every automatic is created equal. Here’s our guide to the different types of automatic gearbox available on today’s market…

Torque converter/traditional auto

The torque converter is where it all began. Popularised by General Motors on 1940s Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs, these automatics use a fluid-filled coupling in place of a traditional clutch, and have remained broadly the same since then – albeit endlessly refined and improved.

Early automatics tended to lose a lot of energy through the fluid coupling, and often only offered three or four speeds. That led to a lack of performance and a severe drop in fuel economy.

Torque converter automatics tend to offer very smooth shifts, making for a comfortable ride well suited to premium cars. They can be slow to pick up when you want to get a move on, though.

However, the reputation of the torque converter automatic is changing, and modern units – such as the ZF ‘box fitted to dozens of high performance cars – offer no discernible penalty to performance or economy.

Dual-clutch gearbox

The dual-clutch gearbox ditches the fluid coupling of the torque converter for – you guessed it – a pair of robotised clutches. Usually, one handles odd-numbered gears while the other handles even. The two clutches work together to provide lightning-fast shifts, making them ideal for sports cars.

There’s no real penalty in performance or economy when opting for a dual-clutch – some can even better their manual counterparts on that front. But when travelling at low speeds in stop-start traffic around town, dual-clutch boxes can be jerky and unpleasant to use – and early units have a poor reputation for reliability, and can cost a lot to repair.

The dual-clutch ‘box is given many names by different manufacturers. Volkswagen and its sister brands go for DSG, Porsche for PDK, Renault goes for EDC, Hyundai and Kia for DCT… However, they all work in fundamentally the same way.

CVT

Standing for ‘continuously variable transmission’, CVTs do not have ‘gears’ in the same way as other transmissions do. Instead, an infinitely changeable single ratio theoretically ensures that the car is always correctly geared for maximum power or economy, depending on conditions.

Pioneered by DAF in the 1950s, and later refined by Volvo, the CVT ‘box can be incredibly economical when driven carefully. They tend to be avoided by keen drivers, though, as they can provide a somewhat disconnected feel to the car – and any attempt at rapid progress is usually met by spiralling engine revs and a whole lot of noise. Their smoothness and variable nature makes them ideally suited for use in a hybrid car, though.

Automated manual transmission

Look at the bottom end of the market and chances are you’ll find a few automated manual transmissions. These ‘boxes leave existing clutch and gearbox operations in place, but simply robotise the action making for cheap and easy installation as well as being light weight.

Automated manuals are perhaps the most despised transmission around though, and can be horrifically jerky around town, as well as dawdling under hard acceleration. In fact, automated manual transmissions are guilty of ruining a fair few cars – so steer clear unless you know what you’re in for.

Electric vehicle

Electric cars don’t technically have a transmission, but if you’re considering an automatic car you should take a good look at electric vehicles. They act almost identically in most conditions, with two pedals and no gears to shift, but have the added bonus of a totally smooth and silent powertrain and zero tailpipe emissions.

EV’s aren’t ideal for everyone, of course – you’ll need somewhere to charge, and if you regularly do longer trips you’ll definitely need some form of combustion engine. However, if your circumstances suit, you too could be a convert to the electric lifestyle.

There’s no getting away from it: insurance is one of the pricier aspects of car ownership. And being a legal requirement means that cover for your vehicle isn’t something you can avoid.

However, that’s not to say you have to buy the first policy you find. There’s a variety of ways to bring down your insurance costs – here are some of the best.

Shop around and haggle

As you may have noticed, there are all manner of price comparison sites offering insurance quotes. These are a useful starting point – though make sure to try more than one.

Once you’ve found the best possible quote, start phoning other insurers to see if they can improve on it – some may be able to do a considerably better deal than the one you’ve initially found. Just picking up the phone can make a real difference to the overall price of your premium.

Consider choosing a black box policy

Telematics systems, or ‘black boxes’, are devices fitted to a car that can monitor the owner’s driving. Elements such as speed, braking severity and acceleration are measured and then relayed back to the insurance company.

Because of this system, and the ability for the policy provider to see how well – or badly – a motorist is driving, insurance premiums can fall. It all depends on whether you’d like a company seeing your driving habits or not.

Limit policy mileage

When you take out a new insurance policy, you’ll be asked to provide an estimate of how many miles you’ll be travelling over the course of a year. Over-estimating this can cause the premiums to increase considerably, so being able to tell insurers that you’ll be undertaking a lower number of miles can help bring premiums down.

However, make sure they’re still accurate – an incorrect mileage estimate could cause problems if you ever need to claim.

Choose a less powerful car

This may sound like an obvious one, but buying an insurance policy for a high-performance sports car can be an expensive thing indeed. Opting for a less powerful, smaller engined vehicle can reap dividends when it comes to insurance as policy providers know that it’s less capable of higher speeds and has slower acceleration.

Of course, if you’re planning on buying a sports car from the off then you’ll take the higher insurance cost as part of the deal. But if there’s some movement in your decision, then choosing a less powerful car can really help bring policy costs down.

Think twice before adding younger drivers to the policy

It may be tempting to add a just-passed driver to your policy to save spending huge amounts on premiums for a newly qualified motorist, but this could hike up your own policy.

Furthermore, if that younger driver is found to be the one who is predominantly using the car, then this could invalidate the insurance – and potentially incur prosecution. This whole process is known as ‘fronting’ and is highly discouraged.

Ensure your car has the proper security systems

A proper system can prove to an insurance company that the car is secure when left alone. Most new cars come with all manner of security systems, so insurers are unlikely to question these more up-to-date vehicles.

Older vehicles may not have any system fitted, though, so finding a decent aftermarket kit could really help bring premiums down.

Clear the garage

Yes, it may be easy to keep all your unwanted items in the garage, but clearing it and storing your car there could do wonders for your insurance premium.

Insurers like to hear that a car is being kept in a secure location, and a garage is certainly one of these. Just make sure that if you’re planning on keeping a car in the garage, you have a variety of building security systems fitted.

Our friends across the Channel have given plenty to the UK. Beautiful words such as rendezvous and critique, stunning baked goods and patisserie products – not to mention fashion, actors, cheese, wine… especially the wine.

But France has also produced its fair share of fantastic cars. Germany may be the home of teutonic efficiency and subtle style, and Japan the reliability kings – but French cars major on beautiful styling, incredible innovation and legacies that last a brand’s lifetime.

Though French cars as a whole went through a rocky period in the late 90s and early 00s, they’re back on track today. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites, modern and old.

Citroen Traction Avant

The Traction Avant is credited as the car that popularised front-wheel drive, setting the template for the majority of mainstream cars for decades. The name ‘Traction Avant’ even literally means ‘front-wheel drive.’

The car also pioneered fully independent suspension and a monocoque body construction, making it a truly space-age design for the mid-1930s.

Renault Espace

For at least two decades, the MPV reigned glorious in the family car segment – and the people-carrier to crown all people-carriers was the Espace. It took the minivan format that worked so well in America and made it Euro-friendly, with efficient engines, seven seats, and a car-like driving experience.

It was a great success. Although the first month on sale weren’t the strongest when Renault sold, um, nine, it soon became a hit once customers recognised the versatile value of the boxy MPV bodyshell. Sadly, Renault won’t sell the latest model in the UK.

Citroen DS

The DS occupies a place in the annals of history as one of the most beautiful cars ever. It’s also one of the most innovative, one of the most comfortable – and one of the most coveted.

Sophisticated hydropneumatic suspension gives the DS a true ‘magic-carpet’ ride, and the sleek and aerodynamic bodywork concealed a car that topped its class for handling and braking. It was so clever, Citroen was terrified to replace it, and the DS blessed us with twenty years of production.

Bugatti Type 35

Though it’s now owned by the mighty German VW Group, Bugatti was a French brand – and its Type 35 remains one of the most recognisable racers ever made, thanks to its incredible alloy wheels with inboard brakes.

It’s also one of the most successful, estimated to have racked up over 1,000 race wins – at its height, it was winning 14 races every week.

Citroen 2CV

Affectionately known as the Tin Snail, the 2CV was Citroen’s answer to the VW Beetle – cheap, simple transport for the masses. One of its design requirements was famously the ability to carry a basket of eggs over a ploughed field without a single one breaking. Make no mistake – the suspension on this thing was truly marshmallowy.

2CVs remain immensely popular among enthusiasts, who appreciate their style, simplicity and longevity.

Renault 5 Turbo

The Renault 5 Turbo kicked off a hot hatchback revolution that would see France produce some of the best pocket rockets of all time. A rally car homologated for the road, the R5 Turbo’s steroidal styling and incredible mid-mounted 158bhp engine meant it didn’t just stand out from the crowd – it eclipsed it.

The R5 Turbo even inspired a spiritual successor years later, in the form of the bonkers Clio V6.

Peugeot 205 GTI

From the most outrageous hot hatchback to the best. The Peugeot 205 GTI is credited with teaching a generation of hatchback enthusiasts how to drive quickly and, even 24 years after its introduction, remains just about the most fun you can have on four wheels.

Equipped with a perky 1.9-litre engine (later a 1.6), performance was ample. However, it’s the 205’s handling that really amazes. Completely adjustable on the throttle, brilliant fun even at low speeds and yet still safe enough for younger drivers to have some fun. It’s an icon.

By Tom Wiltshire

When winter comes around, it can sometimes feel like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s almost Christmas, but also the weather is often gloomy and miserable. With that in mind, it makes sense why a lot of people tend to go away around this time of year in search for a different wonderland.

If you’re planning to drive to your destination — be that the Alps, Scandinavia or Weston-super-Mare — you’ll need something practical enough to pack your trip essentials, capable enough to tackle the threat of harsh weather and comfortable for a longer-distance drive.

We’ve picked out a selection of cars under £10,000 to tick those boxes…

Subaru Impreza WRX

There’s a reason the Subaru Impreza made an icon of itself on the rally stage. With genuine performance, go-anywhere capability and typically Japanese reliability, it proved both an incredible competitor in motorsport and a dependable machine in the real world. So, if your winter getaway is going to require something that won’t break with the ability to tackle some snow should it fall — and be a ton of fun in the process  — look no further than a WRX. Along with a decent amount of power from its 2.5-litre ‘boxer’ engine, and estate variants could swallow plenty for a trip.

Audi A4 Allroad

Spacious and capable — two words to describe this German estate. The Audi A4 Allroad is an estate with added versatility, thanks to a raised ride height and four-wheel drive. This means, while the regular A4 Avant is a good choice for everyday driving, this Allroad version is a safer bet for all-weather motoring. It comes with a decent helping of luxury too, with cars in this budget offering navigation, parking sensors, cruise control and — if you shop right — heated seats. Even the longest journeys should be a comfortable breeze.

Toyota Land Cruiser

It doesn’t come more rugged and reliable than this. The Toyota Land Cruiser has been renowned for its can-do attitude ever since the first one came along in 1951. With a powerful engine and a properly functional four-wheel drive system, it defines the go-anywhere vehicle. On top of that, it’s huge dimensions mean it can swallow just about any amount of cargo and there’s enough luxury in this budget for the needs of most.

Ford Ranger

A pickup taking your fancy? This offering from Ford may be able to help. The Ranger is the best selling pickup in the UK – and for good reason. It has a large load box easily capable of carrying everything you need, for starters. Plus, its all-wheel-drive system means it isn’t just a load lugger — it’s got great off-road and all-weather ability too. Not only will it get the Christmas tree in the back, but also the family at the same time, thanks to capacious seating for five.

BMW 3-Series Touring

You’ll have to sacrifice all-wheel-drive if you want a well-kept BMW 3 Series Touring within this budget, but for those longer, more motorway-bound journeys, why look any further? Not only has it made a name for itself as one of the most practical cars on the market, but it’s also one of the most comfortable too. With examples as recent as 2014 around for under £10k as well, you shouldn’t have to worry about reliability concerns nor outdated technology.

Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Wrangler is a name synonymous with off the beaten track motoring — taking on the harshest of terrains and doing it with ease. On this budget, you should be able to get your hands on a good early ’00s Wrangler complete with a big 4.0-litre engine. If your winter getaway involves tackling deep snow, treacherous rivers and even a frozen lake or two, this might be the perfect companion.

Skoda Yeti

The Skoda Yeti may not look like a big car on the outside, but it certainly has the space of one the inside. A generous boot and good rear legroom combined with efficient and smooth engines make this a good long distance family cruiser. Better yet, it didn’t cost a whole lot when new either — so very recent examples with low miles can be found for comfortably under £10k.

Volvo XC90

The XC90 is Volvo’s largest SUV and has been a popular choice for many families for a long time. It’s a great do-it-all machine, with four-wheel drive, seven seats and plenty of space for all your belongings — the XC90 is the winter holiday dream machine. While high-mileage examples are most common in a £10k budget, proven Volvo reliability means that shouldn’t be a concern as long as it boasts good service history.

Dacia Duster

Getting an SUV for under £10,000 brand-new may seem unlikely, but with the Dacia Duster you can — starting at just £9,995. However, it must be said that if you want four-wheel drive and some other extras, the price starts to rise — which is where the used market comes in. Low-mileage 2015 examples fall within the price range, and offer genuine off-roading capability with efficient engines. Sure, it’s not the most luxurious machine, but for sheer functionality, it does the trick.

Nissan X-Trail

Nissan’s X-Trail is something of a forgotten gem when it comes to the world of 4x4s. Perhaps it’s overshadowed by more iconic rivals like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Toyota Rav4, but that doesn’t mean the X-Trail fails to deliver on capability and dependability. The upside of its lack of popularity is that it becomes a bargain on the used market. For £10k, the potential of sub-60k mile examples opens up complete with a functional all-wheel-drive, enough space for five and a capacious boot.

by Oliver Young

The Toyota Yaris GRMN has arrived! The latest performance machine to come from the Japanese manufacturer, this hot hatch is developed by Gazoo Racing — the brains behind Toyota’s motorsport activities including entries in the Le Mans 24 Hours, World Rally Championship and VLN Endurance Series.

As a result, this is a Yaris unlike any other — it’s powerful, seriously quick, fun to drive and just as well-suited to the track as a country road. We’ve had a drive, and here’s seven of the coolest things about the Toyota Yaris GRMN.

Race car-inspired aesthetic

It just takes one look at the Yaris GRMN to realise this is no ordinary hatchback. It has aggressive-looking bodywork, 17-inch BBS alloy wheels, a centre-mounted exhaust, a rear spoiler and to finish the package — an eye-catching set of stickers.

This is all inspired by the Yaris WRC car, and it’s fair to say Toyota have pulled off the race-car-for-the-road look.

Big engine, small package

Under the bonnet of the little three-door Yaris is a supercharged 1.8-litre petrol engine — a reworked version of that currently found in the Lotus Elise.

It develops 209bhp and 250Nm of torque, taking the tiny hatch from 0-60mph in 6.2 seconds and up to an electronically limited top speed of 143mph.

The exhaust is pretty raspy

Providing vocal chords to the fruity engine is an exhaust system that has been heavily reworked just to be able to fit in the Yaris’ chassis.

The original car was not designed with a high-performance variant in mind, so the team at Gazoo had to get creative with a single-catalytic convertor system. The end result sounds incredible.

Fancy racing seats

Move over, Alcantara, there’s a new kid on the block. The GRMN’s front bucket seats are coated in a plush material called Ultrasuede, which looks and feels better than most other options on the market.

The units themselves were designed specifically for the car by component manufacturer Toyota Boshoku. They provide incredible support, even under the hardest of track driving, while remaining extremely comfortable.

Not as difficult to drive as looks may suggest

While the Yaris GRMN looks and sounds wild, it’s actually a pretty easy thing to drive.

Sure, it’s seriously quick and precise, but it doesn’t require mountains of effort to have fun and you’re unlikely to end up outside your comfort zone both on the road and track.

The best bit? You’ll have a smile on your face every single time, too.

Production is ultra-limited

Sure, at £26,295, the GRMN is a pricey thing but those willing to pay the cash will be in something of an exclusive ownership club.

Just 600 examples will be made — 400 for Europe and 200 for Japan, where it’s called the Vitz — and all have already been sold. Don’t expect prices to fall much on the second-hand market either, as a car of this rarity is likely to hold value for a long time.

It exists

With the world of all-electric powertrains and autonomy looming, it’s a relief to see a company put out a low-volume, insane little hatchback for no reason other than “why not?”.

There’s no electrification here, no CVT gearbox, no innovative fuel saving solutions. Just raw performance, and for that we’re glad.

For a whole generation of car enthusiasts, driving games have played a huge role in their love of cars.

Whether that means perfecting the digital Nordschleife with a Nissan Skyline or blasting foes with an unexpected blue shell, driving games have presented a new way for petrolheads to express and develop their love of vehicles since Atari released Space Race back in 1973. We’ve taken a look at seven of the best driving video games of all time.

Burnout Paradise

Burnout is the pinnacle of arcade racing series, and Paradise perhaps showcased the franchise at its best.
Released in 2008, Paradise was set in the fictional sunshine haven of Paradise City — a playground for racers, full of ramps, hoops to aim for and walls to smash other racers to pieces.
This may just be the most outright fun game on this list, and rumours are circulating a remastered version could appear on the current generation of games consoles later this year. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed…

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Is this the ultimate party game? Nothing else combines high-octane racing thrills with slapstick violence in the same way Mario Kart does, and over a quarter of a century of past titles means the latest 8 Deluxe Edition is the best of the breed.
Nintendo isn’t exactly known for high-quality graphics, but the cartoony style of Mario Kart 8 is genuinely stunning – while the live orchestral soundtrack is brilliant, when it’s not being drowned out by your friends screaming at you for launching ANOTHER BLUE SHELL, MICHAEL.
Mario Kart 8 delivers on almost all fronts, except realism – but you’re likely to have so much fun playing that you won’t care. After all, when you’re a giant spined turtle chasing a princess while driving a teddy-bear shaped quadbike with flowers for wheels, everything else just seems a little bit dull.

Gran Turismo 3

 

Ask any petrolhead born in the 1990s, and Gran Turismo is likely to have played a role in their interest in cars.
Gran Turismo 3 was the very first for the series on PlayStation 2, where the franchise had its golden years. Released in 2001, the third-generation of the game may have had less cars than its PlayStation predecessors, but it brought along mind-blowing graphics and unrivalled driving dynamics — as well as one of the most iconic soundtracks in video gaming history.
Not to mention, almost 15 million copies were sold, making it the second-most shipped game on Playstation 2 — just behind Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

Want to live the life of a trucker without committing to a career in haulage? Euro Truck Simulator 2 is the game for you.
The Czech-made PC game takes place across, you guessed it, Europe and allows players to start up their own haulage company and transport cargo across the continent — going from Rome, to Paris, to er, Sheffield, and plenty of places in between.
Not only that, but the game features a vast array of licensed trucks from the likes of Scania, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and DAF.

Need for Speed Underground 2

First there was the original Need for Speed Underground, a high-octane racer, centred around ridiculous street-style customisation and a variety of different race styles. Underground 2 took everything that was good about the original and improved on it, adding open-world style roaming, a greater variety of cars, and even more options to turn your standard road car into a ridiculous street racer.
It’s not exactly the most technically accomplished racing game in terms of graphics or physics, but the soundtrack was a masterpiece – and there was even a moderate amount of story to go with it. We’re hoping for a HD remake some day soon.

GTA San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto isn’t a driving game series, per se – the competitive element is a very small part of the games as a whole. But driving is still at the forefront of everything you do in-game, and over years of development Scotland-based Rockstar North has near enough perfected the formula.
San Andreas is perhaps the most fondly-remembered of the Grand Theft Auto games, combining an enormous and varied map with a compelling storyline, brilliant characters and a huge selection of cars in which to have fun. Whether you’re “borrowing” a stranger’s SUV you found at a fast food restaurant or doing doughnuts in an imitation Lamborghini, the open-world nature of the game means there’s always a way to enjoy yourself.

Forza Motorsport 4

Since its introduction in 2005, the Forza Motorsport series has been at the forefront of the console racing sim scene — and the fourth iteration has been the best of the award-winning bunch to date.
From its launch in 2011, FM4 came with more that 500 cars (with over 670 after all downloadable content had been released) which was a number unheard of outside of Gran Turismo, as well as 26 unique track locations.
It featured an expansive career mode, a huge variety of multiplayer modes and fun gameplay — all topped off by at-the-time cutting edge graphics that took full advantage of the Xbox 360’s performance capabilities.

Today, Land Rover revealed its most powerful Defender – a V8-powered, 400bhp version of the British brand’s iconic 4×4.

Limited to just 150 units the Defender is a last hurrah before an all-new version arrives later on in the year. Here are six things that you need to know about this hugely powerful swansong Defender.

It’s powered by a V8 engine

Harking back to the early V8-powered Series III Stage 1 from 1979, the Defender Works V8 produces 399bhp and 515Nm of torque from a 5.0-litre V8 engine. Sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, it allows the Defender to hit 60mph in just 5.6 seconds.

Though we know the power outputs, we have yet to be told the official economy details. However, given the car’s power output and high performance, it’s likely that the Defender won’t be the best in terms of miles per gallon.

The engine isn’t the only area that has been upgraded

Because of the Defender’s high power output, other mechanical elements of the car have been updated too. As such, uprated brakes help bring the car effectively to a stop, while large 18-inch diamond-turned alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres contribute to better traction levels.

In addition, new springs, dampers and anti-roll bars should give the Defender improved on-road handling manners and better suit it to higher driving speeds.

Exterior changes have been applied too

How do you tell the Defender Works apart from a more run-of-the-mill example? Well, aside from the burbling engine note, there is a variety of exterior changes to look for. You’ll find the roof, wheel arches and front grille finished in black paint, while the door handles, fuel filler cap and Defender bonnet lettering are all made from machined aluminium.

All this does make the car stand out, with the large alloy wheels in particular giving it plenty of presence.

The interior has been been given a high-end lift

Not only has the exterior of the Defender been given a range of highlights, but the interior has been worked over as well. Now, Windsor leather has been used to trim the dashboard, door panels and headlining. It’s also been applied to the Recaro sport seats, giving them a far more luxurious look.

In addition, an infotainment system with satellite navigation and media functions has been fitted, bringing the interior of the Defender firmly up to date.

It commands a fearsome price tag

Owing to its limited numbers and powerful engine, the Defender comes with a rather daunting price tag – £150,000 in fact.

Available in both 90 and 110 wheelbase layouts, the Defender is, as mentioned, limited to just 150 examples – so it’s likely that they’ll become collectors’ items as soon as they’ve been snapped up.

It’s been planned since 2014

Apparently the idea of a building a more powerful Defender has been around for some time, according to Tim Hannig, Jaguar Land Rover Classic director. He said: “The idea of reintroducing a V8 Defender was something we were discussing as far back as 2014, when we were still building the Defender in Solihull.

“We knew the demand was there for a powerful and fast Defender – the Land Rover authenticity is the ultimate finishing touch for discerning clients purchasing these collector’s edition Defenders.”