Month: April 2018

If you’re a fan of the automobile, chances are you pay some attention to the cars that are around you on seemingly never-ending motorway journeys. You’ll enjoy seeing an old 70’s run-around on the roads just as much as modern day exotica, purely for the rarity factor.

Sometimes, we look at the bootlid of a car and wonder how companies came to give it its model name, and what the word in question means, if it’s even a word at all.

This list looks at the stories behind the model names of cars – some we see on the roads everyday, and others that are rather less common.

Toyota Yaris

Contrary to our hopes, the Yaris hasn’t been named after the French capital, albeit with an upside down Eiffel Tower replacing the ‘P’ in Paris.

Yaris is a combination of words from Greek mythology and German. In Greek mythology, ‘Charis’ is a singular form of Charites, which is a term applying to goddesses representing qualities such as charm and beauty.

Toyota swapped the ‘Ch’ with ‘Ya’ – German for ‘yes’ – a nod to the reaction they expected to receive for the compact hatchback’s styling.

Kia Cee’d

The Kia Cee’d – or ‘Cee-apostrophe-D’ as it was known during its run as Top Gear’s reasonably priced car – is actually an acronym.

The European market exclusive hatchback was the first built at Kia’s first (and so far only) manufacturing plant in the continent, located in Žilina, Slovakia. As such, the decision was to amalgamate the abbreviations for the European Economic Community, known as CEE in some areas, and European Design.

After realising that three ‘E’s was one too many, they switched out the final ‘E’ for an apostrophe. All punctuation is to be removed from the car’s title on the upcoming third generation model.

Bentley Bentayga

The Bentayga moniker is one that feels as though it should be made up, especially when the company naming a car that is called Bentley. However, the Bentley SUV actually owes its identity to the ‘Roque Bentayga’, a rocky peak near the village of Tejeda on Gran Canaria, one of the Canary Islands.

Chevrolet Camaro

Unlike many cars on this list, the name Camaro was chosen for precisely one reason; it sounds great.

However, Chevrolet had previously attempted to pass it off as a word found in a French-English dictionary, which meant ‘friend’. Some claimed that a Spanish definition was ‘A small, shrimp-like creature’, while a journalist managed to conjure up a translation to ‘loose bowels’.

Eventually, after touting that the Camaro was ‘a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs’, Chevrolet owned up to the obvious truth of the matter; the word was of their own making.

Hyundai Ioniq

The Hyundai Ioniq is a very good name for a produc that only comes with electrification to some degree, be it as a hybrid or an all-electric car.

The first part of the name is derived from ion, as per the lithium-ion polymer battery utilised in the Korean ‘liftback’ compact car. The name of the molecule was blended with unique, and thus, the Ioniq was born.

Nissan Juke

Duke’s across the land will be disappointed to learn that Nissan’s compact crossover was not named in honour of their title. In fact, the Juke name is derived from ‘jukebox’; this is because the Jukebox became synonymous with ‘youthful freedom and daring’, according to one South African Nissan retailer.

So, in an attempt to place a similar synonymy upon their new car, it became known as the Juke.

We look forward to the launch of the Nissan Text when the times comes for our generation to have their youths cultivated for the naming of a small car.

Renault Kadjar

When it comes to making up words for car names, this Renault crossover certainly wins points for its complicated backstory.

Supposedly, ‘Kad’ is derived from ‘quad’, and acts as an acknowledgement of the car’s four-wheel drive look and (optional) all-wheel drive system. As for ‘Jar’? That comes from the French words ‘agile’ and ‘jaillir’. Agile means what you’d expect it to mean, and ‘jaillir’ means ‘suddenly emerging from somewhere’.

That’s a big process to go through to facilitate such an odd-sounding name.

Ssangyong Rexton

The SssangYong name has an intriguing origin story itself, as it is the Korean translation of ‘Double Dragons’.

Their flagship SUV, the Rexton, is an amalgamation of English and Latin. The Latin ‘rex’ and English ‘tone’ are the words combined to make the name Rexton, which is intended to mean ‘the ruler’s tone’.

We sincerely hope that a movie entitled ‘Double Dragons: The Ruler’s Tone’ will soon be available to view in cinemas.

Vauxhall Adam

The scorn of all car enthusiasts named Adam, the name of this supermini holds its roots with Vauxhall’s stablemate Opel. The origin story in this instance is simple; the founder of Opel was named Adam.

We’re assuming that any attempts to name the car the Vauxhall Alexander Wilson for the UK market were scuppered.

Between around September and December last year, nearly every mainstream manufacturer was offering a scrappage scheme – or a ‘low-emission’ or ‘switch’ scheme as some like to call them.

These schemes see consumers trading in their old, more-polluting cars and vans in place of a shiny new motor, and being financially rewarded with a generous discount for doing so.

This not only reduces pollution, but can help consumers slash their running costs with a new vehicle, as well as receiving up to £7,000 towards a new car or van.

While some car makers extended their schemes from 2017 into 2018, most of these stopped at the end of March.

Fortunately, some manufacturers have re-launched their schemes, or extended them even further.

Here we list who is offering such schemes, and the best buy from each brand.

Ford

Ford has had, by some margin, the most successful scrappage scheme of any manufacturer – trading in 19,200 cars in the time its scheme has been running,

The latest offer applies to cars purchased by the end of June 2018 and registered by the end of December, while the car you’re trading in must have been registered before January 1, 2011 and owned by you for at least 90 days.

Discounts of between £2,000 and £4,850 are available on cars, and up to £7,000 across the firm’s commercial vehicle range. One of the most popular picks is £2,000 off Ford’s best-selling Fiesta.

Our pick:

Ford Focus

The unveiling of the new Ford Focus recently means that there are some fantastic offers available on the outgoing model. It still looks the part and is great to drive, if lacking on the technology front. Scrappage savings of up to £4,850 are available on Titanium models, but act fast as these models won’t stay around long.

Hyundai

Hyundai is another manufacturer that has extended its scheme. As with Ford, your car will be eligible if registered before 2011 and if you’ve owned it for three months. Unlike other schemes, though, Hyundai will only scrap the most polluting of those traded in.

Discounts of between £1,500 and £5,000 are available across the range until June 30, with the only cars not included being the sporty i30 N models, the i800 MPV and oddly, the emission-free Hyundai Ioniq Electric.

Our pick:

Hyundai i30

The i30 hatchback has only been on sale a year, but hefty scrappage discounts of £4,000 are available across the hatchback, estate and fastback variants.

Mazda

Mazda is keen to push its low-emitting petrol and diesel cars with its current generous offers that are available on cars registered by June. All cars traded in will be scrapped, while the offer is only available when buying a new Mazda vehicle emitting less than 135g/km of CO2, which excludes the MX-5 models and petrol versions of the CX-3 and CX-5 crossovers.

Savings of between £3,000 and £5,500 are available when trading in cars registered before December 31, 2010, and that have been owned by you for at least two months.

Our pick:

Mazda 3 Diesel

Mazda is offering £5,500 off any Mazda 3 fitted with its diesel Skyactiv-D engines. While discounts are not quite so generous on petrol models, £4,500 savings can still be had.

Kia

Kia has recently added more cars into its updated scrappage offer that started at the beginning of April. Previously only the Picanto and Rio were included in the offer, but now the Stonic crossover and outgoing Cee’d hatchback have also now been added.

Kia’s discounts are not quite as generous as other schemes, but £2,000 is available across the four mentioned models. The scheme requires you to have owned the car for 90 days, and for the car being scrapped to have been registered before June 30, 2011.

Our pick:

Kia Picanto

The Picanto is one of the best city cars on sale, and also has the benefit of Kia’s lengthy seven-year warranty. The £2,000 scrappage discount also applies to the firm’s recently launched SUV-style X-Line and X-Line S models, too.

Toyota

Toyota’s scrappage scheme is one of the widest out there, covering nearly every model in its broad range. Discounts of between £1,500 and £4,000 are available from cars as diverse as the Aygo city car to the Land Cruiser SUV.

Toyota’s scheme runs until July 1, with the car being scrapped needing to have been registered by June 30, 2010 and owned for at least six months before being traded in.

Our pick:

Toyota Auris Hybrid

The British-built Auris Hybrid might not be the most exciting of hatchbacks in the world, but it’s a fantastic family hatchback and is cheap to run in hybrid guise. A new model has only just been revealed, but in the meantime you can save yourself £3,000 off the old one through this offer.

Lexus

The Lexus scrappage scheme works in a similar way to the Toyota one. The difference being that the vehicle you’re trading in has to be registered by December 31, 2009 – the earliest of all the schemes sill running. As with the Toyota scheme, your car or light commercial must have been owned by you for six months and it has to be registered by July 1.

Discounts of up to £4,000 are available on CT, IS, NX and RX models.

Our pick:

Lexus NX

The Lexus NX is a striking, well-made and cheap-to=run SUV, which is made even more affordable by a £4,000 scrappage discount, even if you’ll need quite deep pockets to buy the car in the first place.

BMW

BMW’s scheme – named the ‘BMW Upgrade Scheme’ – works in a slightly different way to the rest, as the money received can only go towards a BMW PCP finance agreement.

BMW gives you a fixed £2,000 towards any of its models that emit under 130g/km, just as long as your car is an EU4 emission compliant, or lower, diesel vehicle registered before January 2011. The scheme runs until June 30, 2018.

Our pick:

BMW 3 Series

BMW’s 3 Series saloon has been a popular executive saloon for some time now, and the new model is better than ever with its improved infotainment system and driving ability. Not every 3 Series emits less than 130g/km of CO2, though.

The definitive warm hatch is back for 2018! The Suzuki Swift Sport has long held a place as a budget performance monster, able to deliver a driving experience of cars almost twice the price.

It’s making a return for 2018, with quite a few changes. We take a look at what’s new on Suzuki’s flagship machine.

Goodbye natural-aspiration…

Previous Suzuki Swift Sports have been lauded for their free-revving engines, requiring a lot of work to get the best of them – but providing a ton of fun in the process.

With ever-stricter emissions regulations, it’s sad to report the original 1.6-litre unit has fallen to the wayside. Its replacement isn’t one to write off just yet though – with a 1.4-litre turbocharged motor sourced from the Vitara S SUV now sitting underneath the bonnet.

…hello more power

The result of the new turbocharged unit is a marginal gain in power – developing 138bhp, up from 134bhp in the outgoing Sport – but huge gains in torque.

There’s now 230Nm which is available from 2,500rpm to 3,500rpm – with the old car producing a comparatively mere 160Nm at 4,400rpm.

A successful diet

Thanks to the lightweight underpinnings of the new Swift, the Sport manages to drop 70kg over the last car – now weighing in at 975kg.

The result is a car that can literally punch above its weight registering a torque-to-weight ratio of 4.2kg/Nm. For reference, that matches the new Volkswagen Polo GTI – a car in the class above. Not a bad effort, Suzuki.

More safety assistance

Safety plays a more prominent role in the motoring world now than ever before, and that’s something Suzuki has recognised with the new Swift Sport.

There’s no options list for this car, meaning standard tech includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, high beam assist and emergency braking assist.

For a car that once boasted little more equipment than automatic air conditioning, it’s a marked improvement.

Unmissable looks

Although opinions may be split on how the new Suzuki Swift Sport looks, it’s unarguably unmissable on the roads.

The core design of the base Swift remains, but now there’s huge air intakes on the front of the car – now looking prepared to swallow up any of its rivals – while carbon fibre-effect trim comes in the form of new side skirts and a rear diffuser. The Sport’s trademark dual exhausts appear too.

It’s all yellow

New and exclusive to the Swift Sport is a Champion Yellow paint finish – and doesn’t it half stand out!

The shade is inspired Suzuki’s previous efforts in junior rallying, aiding its sportiness that little bit more. If you’re not a fan, don’t worry, there’s a range of more subdued hues to choose from – including Burning Red, Speedy Blue, Pure White, Mineral Grey and Super Black.

No longer a performance bargain

Previous versions of the Suzuki Swift Sport prided themselves on being a budget performance bargain – offering tons of fun at a low price.

Sadly, that’s no longer the case. A new model will set you back £17,999 – which is a huge jump from the outgoing car’s £15k price point. It also puts it close to the starting price of the new Ford Fiesta ST, which will undoubtedly offer a whole different level of performance.

A company director who fitted a laser jammer to his Range Rover and gave speed cameras the finger has been jailed for perverting the course of justice, police said.

Timothy Hill, 67, threw the device in a river behind his home in Grassington, North Yorkshire, when he found out that officers were investigating the rude gestures made from the distinctive white vehicle with personalised number plates.

At first he lied about where the car was and tried to destroy the jammer.

But North Yorkshire Police said he was jailed for eight months and banned from driving for a year for perverting the course of justice.

Hill drove past mobile speed camera vans on the A19 near Easingwold, Thirsk and Crathorne three times in December and each time he was photographed gesturing to the camera with his middle finger.

Police detected that a jammer was fitted to his Range Rover, and he eventually admitted it was his when he was later questioned.

His speeds could not be determined so he was charged with perverting the course of justice, which he admitted on Monday.

After the case, Traffic Constable Andrew Forth said: “If you want to attract our attention, repeatedly gesturing at police camera vans with your middle finger while you’re driving a distinctive car fitted with a laser jammer is an excellent way to do it.

“It’s also an excellent way to end up in prison.

“As Hill’s case shows, perverting the course of justice is a very serious charge which carries a custodial sentence.”

By Tom Wilkinson

More often than not, some cars you drive leave you with a memory – even if that memory is one of boredom, discomfort or disgust.

However, some cars have left a mark of people the world over due to affiliation with tragedy or controversy. In this list, we look at nine of the most infamous cars to ever hit the roads.

O.J Simpson’s Ford Bronco

When O.J Simpson became implicated in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, his image of smiling American hero began to burn away. His public image continued to suffer when he was listed as a fugitive after failing to turn himself in to police, and he was soon located on Interstate 405, being driven by friend Al ‘A.C’ Cowlings.

The vehicle used for the low-speed chase, which was broadcast live across the United States, was a now infamous white Ford Bronco.

The chase eventually ended at his Brentwood home after 50 miles of driving, with 20 police cars in tow.

John F. Kennedy’s Lincoln Continental SS-100-X

The presidential limousine codenamed SS-100-X started life as a 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible. When it became clear that this car was not going to lead an ordinary life, it was extensively modified at the proving grounds of Lincoln’s parent company, Ford.

It was delivered to the White House on June 15, 1961, with some 41 inches added to its length.

It led a relatively normal life until November 21, 1963. John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding through Dallas, Texas in the backseat of SS-100-X.

Surprisingly, the car continued service for the White House until 1978, after undergoing extensive modifications in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination. 

Tupac Shakur’s BMW 7-Series

The relatively unassuming Mid-90’s 7-Series featured on newscasts and publications the world over after the drive-by shooting which took the life of rapper Tupac Shakur.

The vehicle the musician was in at the time of the fatal incident, a V12 750il, was leased by Tupac’s record label, whose co-founder was behind the wheel of the vehicle when the shooting took place.

The car recently re-emerged with a for sale sticker at Celebrity Cars Las Vegas, complete with a £1.2m price tag.

James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder

The Porsche 550 Spyder is an accomplished vehicle in its own right, but thanks to a tragic incident at a junction in Cholame, California, it will forever own the moniker ‘Little Bastard’.

The brief cinematic career of James Dean ran in parallel with a strong ambition to be a racing driver, with a particular target being the Indianapolis 500.

After taking part in several club races, Dean purchased a 550 Spyder, and was set to race it in Salinas, California.

Dean crashed his 550 Spyder into the side of a turning Ford Tudor saloon car. The Porsche bounced across the road and off to the side of the highway.

Dean sustained fatal injuries in the crash, and cemented his pet name for the car as an alternative moniker that would stand the test of time.

Adolf Hitler’s Mercedes Grosser 770

If you’ve seen a photo of Adolf Hitler in a car, there’s a good chance that the car in question was a Mercedes Grosser 770.

The drop-top version of the 770 was built between 1938 and 1943, during which time just 88 were built; seven of them were used by Hitler.

The luxurious Mercedes was used by many high-ranking officials in Nazi Germany, and was one of the most expensive cars available in the country at the time.

Ted Bundy’s Volkswagen Beetle

While the Beetle’s life began in Nazi Germany, the car was better known as ‘The Love Bug’ by 1974. However, another sinister footnote in the long history of the Beetle came into being that year, after a spree of murders in Colorado, Utah and Washington all featured one of the rear-engined vehicles.

The vehicle in question was owned by serial killer Ted Bundy, and featured in every attack he performed.

He was pulled over for an ordinary traffic offence in 1975, at which point, handcuffs, masks, gloves and more were discovered. Bundy was eventually jailed, though he escaped twice, stealing a second VW Beetle on the latter occasion.

Jack Sears’ 185mph AC Cobra Coupe

The sleek lines of the AC Cobra Coupe were designed with Le Mans in mind, and to beat the Shelby equivalent pictured above. The problem with designing a car for Le Mans is a lack of places to test the car that share the circuit’s high-speed nature.

However, the then-unrestricted M1 motorway presented the perfect opportunity for UK based teams, and it was one that many took.

The Cobra, driven by legendary racer Jack Sears, hit 185mph on the public roads in the early hours of June 11 1964. As this was not illegal, no consequences occurred initially, however, national newspapers soon caught word.

It quickly became front-page news, and the story became the catalyst for the introduction of a motorway speed limit.

Paul Walker’s Porsche Carrera GT

With a V10 engine intended for a Le Mans racer, and a top speed of 205mph, the Porsche Carrera GT is not a car for the faint of heart. It earned a reputation as one of the most extreme Porsche’s ever.

Tragically, the car came to prominence once more some ten years after its launch, on November 30, 2013.

Fast & Furious star Paul Walker was in the passenger’s seat of a Carrera GT, alongside close friend and avid amateur racer Roger Rodas. On Hercules Street in Santa Clarita, California, the car left the road at a speed between 80mph and 93mph; the ensuing crash cost both men their lives.

Princess Diana’s Mercedes S-Class

On the August 30 1997, a 1994 Mercedes-Benz S280 crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris.

The Mercedes carried Diana, Princess of Wales, who was being pursued by paparazzi.

In the tunnel, the car collided with a pillar at 65mph. Henri Paul of the Ritz Hotel was driving the car, with Diana and Dodi Fayed sitting in the rear passenger seats.

Diana was still conscious after the crash, but would later pass away as a result of serious internal injuries.

Mercedes has chosen the Beijing Motor Show to show off its latest concept car. Named the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury, it’s a jacked-up, three-box saloon with SUV styling cues that hides a Tesla-rivalling 740bhp all-electric powertrain.

The Vision SUV takes its design from previous Vision concepts – that means sleek, curving lines and an enormous, glitzy front grille with a Maybach bonnet ornament above. There’s a chrome styling line that runs the full length of the vehicle and in a pleasingly retro touch, bisects the rear window.

The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury, just presented at Auto China, shows how the typical strengths of an exclusive high-end saloon and an SUV can be combined. Let this short video guide you through the key facts! #AutoChina #MercedesMaybach pic.twitter.com/S5KQIL2Bs3

— Mercedes-Benz (@MercedesBenz) April 24, 2018

To further distance the car from just looking like a high-riding saloon, Mercedes has added black plastic cladding around the wheel arches and hefty chrome scuff plates on the bumpers.

Car culture in China is disproportionately focussed on saloons, hence Mercedes’ decision to give the car a three-box silhouette.

Mercedes says that the Vision SUV is primarily intended to be chauffeur-driven – another nod to Chinese culture, where most of the upper-classes wouldn’t dream of driving themselves. The interior therefore is trimmed with adjustable rear seats, as in the S-Class luxury saloon, with a wide centre console featuring an integrated tea service.

Up front, the Vision SUV benefits from Mercedes’ latest driver tech, including twin 12.3-inch displays for driver information and controlling the in-car entertainment.

Under the skin lies a 740bhp electric powertrain, which sends torque to all four wheels. It claims a theoretical maximum range of 311 miles on a charge, while top speed is limited to 155mph.

The Mercedes-Maybach Vision SUV Concept is unlikely to see production in its current form – as with previous Vision concepts, it’s more a display of intention. In the future, we can therefore expect to see Mercedes-Maybach launching a hyper-luxury SUV inspired by this concept, to rival the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and upcoming Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

“The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury is a totally new archetype of a kind never seen before,” says Gorden Wagener, chief design officer at Mercedes’ parent company Daimler AG. “Our concept combines the DNA of an SUV with that of a saloon to produce an ultra-modern SUV of three-box design.

“With sensuality and pure sophistication, we have created a timeless vehicle that underscores the position of Mercedes-Maybach as the ultimate luxury brand.”

If you want furniture, you go to IKEA. If you’re after a smartphone, Apple or Samsung are your best bets. And if you want a car, you go to a car manufacturer. Or do you?

Car companies are some of the worst culprits for branching out into market sectors they may not be entirely familiar with, and the resulting products can often be very bad indeed. That’s not a rule, though – some manufacturers arguably produce better products when they’re not concentrating on cars.

For some, it’s a way of branching out into lucrative ventures that might help finance their efforts in the automotive sector. For others, it’s just a bit of fun. We’ve rounded up some of the more random and interesting efforts that car manufacturers have created and commissioned.

Aston Martin furniture

Aston Martin is best known for creating beautiful and desirable luxury cars, and now it’s looking to carry those traditions into the furniture market.

Previewed at this year’s Milan Design Week, a collaboration between the British firm and interior design experts Formitalia will give Aston fans the chance to bring some of that famed craftsmanship into their living rooms.

The collection goes on sale in September, with a exquisite sofa, armchairs, coffee table and even a bed all on offer.

Honda robotic lawnmower

Honda’s guilty of producing a wide array of products that aren’t cars. There’s its range of mobile generators, a private jet, the world’s most famous robot assistant – Asimo – and… a robotic lawnmower?

Working in pretty much the same way as a robotic vacuum cleaner, the Miimo follows the layout of your lawn, mulching the grass up so finely that there are no clippings left behind or bags to empty. It’ll run fully autonomously via a smartphone app, knows when to recharge itself, and is fully waterproof for all-weather gardening.

Because if you can afford it… why not?

Peugeot pepper mills

Peugeot is another manufacturer that seems to spend more time not building cars than it does building them. It’s one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of scooters and bicycles, but weirdly enough it’s also a globally respected power in the field of salt and pepper mills.

Peugeot’s been making salt and pepper mills since the 19th century, and with high-quality stainless steel mechanisms they’re still considered some of the best in the world. The secret is being able to change the coarseness of the grind – ideal for chefs.

Lamborghini tractors

You may know Lamborghini for its audaciously loud — both visually and literally — hypercars that make a statement like nothing else on the road. But did you know of its humble beginnings as a tractor manufacturer?

Back in 1948, Ferruccio Lamborghini founded a company called Lamborghini Trattori — which used discard war materials to create its agricultural machinery. He found success in that company and in 1963 decided to use his newfound fortune to start up a luxury car firm, following a dispute with Enzo Ferrari over a clutch-related issue on his Ferrari 250GT.

Lamborghini Trattori continues to produces tractors to this day — alongside its hyper-exoctic machinery.

Volkswagen currywurst

The Volkswagen Group has quite an empire — owning numerous car brands, running the VfL Wolfsburg team and er, producing Currywurst?

Yep, in “things that couldn’t be more German”, the car giant also produces the traditional spicy sausage. It’s not exactly limited-run production either — with sales of the firm’s Currywurst consistently higher than the amount of cars sold across its many manufacturers. There’s even in-house produced ketchup to compliment it.

There’s been no confirmation as to whether the Currywurst has been fitted with real meat cheat devices, though.

Toyota sewing machines

Fancy turning your nan into a JDM fan? A Toyota sewing machine might just be the way to do it.

Some of the firm’s current offerings might be unfairly described as appliances, but its range of sewing machines are literally that. In fact, its history can be traced back to the 1920s and the invention of the automatic loom and it wasn’t until 1933 that Toyota made its first car.

We’re keeping an eye out for someone to swap a 2JZ on to one of these things.

Porsche’s… everything

German manufacturer Porsche has a dedicated fanbase all over the world – and these Porsche nuts often feel the need to display their love for the brand wherever possible. That could be why the manufacturer lends its name to a whole multitude of lifestyle products under the Porsche Design label.

If pressed, you could probably furnish most of your house and wardrobe with Porsche design items. Not only is there a full range of clothing and sportswear, but Porsche Design also makes glasses, luggage, watches, and a whole suite of electronics including a smartphone and laptop.

One of our particular favourites is the 911 Soundbar, which connects via Bluetooth and is shaped like the exhaust of one of the firm’s iconic 911 sports cars.

The Duchess of Cambridge has just given birth to her third child – and transporting around not two, but three heirs to the throne presents her with a whole new set of problems. Forget etiquette training, royal protocol and diplomacy – the most important issue facing William and Kate is which car they should buy.

The biggest problem is that of child seat law. With three young children, the royal couple need a car that’s capable of accommodating three bulky, high-backed child seats. Astonishingly, there’s nothing on the couple’s current fleet that will do this.

Their daily transport is a Range Rover, which only offers two ISOFIX child seat mounting points – despite its vast size. For special occasions, there are Bentley and Jaguar limos – no better on the child seat front – and Prince William’s two-seat Audi R8 supercar.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with a few different options for the newly enlarged Royal Family – all of which can comfortably accommodate three child seats.

Land Rover Discovery

In the interests of keeping things British, we kick off with a true icon – the Land Rover Discovery. This seven-seat SUV is immensely popular among family buyers, and provides a sufficiently regal air along with bags of room inside.

It’s decent to drive, is offered with a wide array of engines and best of all, is guaranteed not to get bogged down during some bootleg greenlaning around Richmond Park or Sandringham.

Range Rover Sport

Moving up the market but down in size, the Range Rover Sport actually offers more seats than the full-sized Range Rover. It’s also rather leaner and better-looking, but will still fit in beautifully pulling up to any state banquet.

Best of all, it can be had with the incredible 525bhp supercharged V8 engine, making for one of the fastest people-movers on the planet.

Seat Alhambra

If you have three children, at some point you just have to bite the bullet and admit that an MPV makes the most sense. With a cavernous interior, wide-opening doors and three rows of seats, there’s nothing that can swallow up kids and their clobber quite like a people-carrier.

The Alhambra is one of the best of the breed, with trusted VW components, a really premium-feeling interior and good driving manners. It’s also certain to blend in to the background, ideal for Royals who want to remain under the radar.

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

If the Seat Alhambra blends in, then the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso stands out – for all the right reasons. It’s an MPV that’s genuinely stylish, with bags of gallic flair everywhere from the upside-down ‘face’ to the 3D-effect taillights.

It’s also got one of the best interiors in the business – clever, well-built, roomy and flooded with light. George, Charlotte and the new baby can spend hours gazing through the vast windows or panoramic roof and windscreen combo.

Fiat Doblo

If William and Kate were looking to pinch a penny – after all, the taxpayer does contribute to their motoring costs – then they could do a lot worse than the bargain-basement Fiat Doblo. It’s one of the cheapest ways into three-row motoring.

Unashamedly van-based, the Doblo isn’t exactly pretty – nor is it fast, or premium, or good to drive, or feature-packed… but it’s big, comfy and spacious. And cheap. Very cheap. Try and remember that.

Audi Q7

Other manufacturers besides Land Rover make big seven-seat SUVs. The Audi Q7 is one of the best out there, with room in all three rows for child seats and one of the most premium interiors on sale today.

And if you want discretion, say no more. Provided the couple don’t opt for too much glitz and glamour on the outside of the vehicle, the Q7 is very discreet. Finally, the best bit – Prince William is a huge Audi fan and actually owns one of the firm’s R8 supercars. We can think of few better pairings.

Ford Galaxy

Another big, hefty people-carrier with three rows of seats, the Galaxy’s best feature is its ubiquity – especially in Central London. Favoured by taxi firm Addison Lee, a black Ford Galaxy with heavily tinted windows is almost as common a sight as a black cab.

It’s a comfortable ride with lots of space, though Ford doesn’t offer it in range-topping Vignale trim. That’s a shame, after all, what self-respecting Royal doesn’t like a bit of quilted leather?

Volvo XC90

Sensible, stylish, superbly safe and Swedish, the Volvo XC90 is one of the best SUVs out there and is bound to keep all three of the little princes and princesses safe should the worst happen out there on the roads.

It’s available in planet-friendly Twin Engine hybrid form, too, enabling silent and emission-free motoring around central London.

Schoolchildren have joined forces with West Midlands Police to help launch a new range of Mercedes-Benz riot vans – with pupils from local schools giving the vehicles a range of names.

Each of the eight new Sprinter vans has been given a name – three of which are Copzilla, Optimus Crime and Zeus.

The special crime-fighting vans have been uniquely kitted out by specialist bodyshop MacNeillie. Based on the 5.0-tonne long-bodied Sprinter, the vehicles can seat up to 10 officers, and come fitted with a secure prisoner cell too.

The vehicle’s glass is reinforced, allowing it to withstand attacks, while run-flat tyres can still be driven on for over 20 miles after a puncture.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “These names are wonderful, and bring a smile to your face. When I heard all the entries I was amazed by the imagination and intelligence of our young people.

“There is a serious side to this too, though. Our new, state-of-the-art riot vans will be put to good use in helping officers to fight crime and arrest criminals.”

Each van has been fitted with uprated axles, which make them better suited to dealing with heavier cargos as a result of the additional equipment inside.

West Midlands Police ran a competition which asked local children to come up with eight names for the new vans. Once finished, officers toured local schools to visit the winning youngsters – whose selected names have been applied to the side of the vehicles.

Sergeant Andrew Edwards observed: “I have been astounded by the creativity and energy shown by the schoolchildren, as well as the support provided by their teachers, who have worked very hard with us to make this a rewarding experience.

“I am also incredibly proud of the police officers and staff who have devoted their own time to this initiative. They have certainly captured the imagination and spirit of the youngest members of the communities we serve.”

Over the years, Britain has created some wonderfully good-looking cars. Yes, some haven’t quite hit the mark, but many have worked their way into the motoring hall of fame.

We know that this list could go on forever, but we’ve hand-picked a small selection that stand out from the crowd. See if you agree with them.

Aston Martin DB10

The Aston Martin DB10 was designed for one of the coolest film characters ever – James Bond. Sleek and elegant in design, it’s given way to the current Vantage – with many design cues on the production car lifted directly from the DB10.

There isn’t a single angle that the DB10 looks bad from. It’s got some hallmark Aston design features – the large, upside-down wing grille, for one – but it’s definitely a modern car. We’d argue it’s one of the most beautiful, too.

Range Rover

The Range Rover is one of very few totally classless cars – and we don’t mean that in a bad way. In fact, what it’s capable of is appearing totally at home wherever it is – whether that’s outside a fashionable Chelsea member’s club, up to its sills in thick mud, on a country estate or cruising round some of the less reputable suburbs in the country.

It helps that it’s an incredibly capable car – class-leading off-road, pretty decent on it, and equipped with one of the most luxurious interiors on the market. The imposing styling and sky-high driving position also ensure that whenever you’re behind the wheel, you feel like the king of the road – and there’s not much higher praise than that.

Triumph Stag

James May once described the Stag as ‘the blokeiest bloke’s car ever’. That’s not to say it was objectively fantastic, as it was slow, poorly built and heinously unreliable.

However, the Stag’s long, lean lines are undeniably equal parts gorgeous and striking, with testosterone flooding out of every panel gap. Make no mistake, if the Stag was a person, it would have a hairy chest with a medallion on.

Caterham Seven

The Caterham has been around for some time now and, across the years, has changed very little in terms of design. It’s another car which has been created with lightness in mind, and in that sense, it’s very stylish indeed.

Even the widened SV chassis introduced relatively recently has the same styling as the traditional Caterham – and keeping things light is the name of the game. Its looks are created through a need to make it as sharp and agile as possible, and that certainly makes it distinctive.

Ariel Nomad

Okay, so it may not have actual styling, but the Nomad is an impressive thing to look at, simply because its looks are dictated by its function. Yes, it doesn’t have any doors and yes, the likelihood is that in the rain you will get wet, but the way the Nomad moves down the road – or any surface, for that matter – is nothing short of incredible.

It may not be one of the most ‘stylish’ cars on this list, but its looks are impressive because of its dedication to going fast.

Jaguar E-Type

We couldn’t in all good faith leave the Jaguar E-Type out of this list. It’s been voted one of the most beautiful cars ever made more times than we could count, is always one of the first mentioned whenever you’re asked for a British icon, and quite frankly it’s just stunning.

It was also surprisingly accessible, providing British drivers with one of the cheapest routes to 100mph+ motoring. Effortlessly cool, timeless, sleek, and stylish – that’s the E-Type.

Aston Martin DB9

When Aston Martin revealed the DB9 back in 2003, it kicked off a whole new generation of vehicles for the British manufacturer. Even now, the V12-powered grand tourer looks effortlessly stylish, with its raked roofline and long, swooping bonnet echoing design touches of past Astons while also moving forwards.

It became immediately desirable, and set the precedent for future Aston vehicles. Even now, with a new wave of cars coming into the market, the visual influence of the DB9 is easy to see – and that’s no bad thing at all.

Morgan Plus 8

To some, the Morgan Plus 8 may be a little olde-worlde, but its long, flowing hand-beaten bodywork laid over an aluminium and ash wood frame is an exquisite blend of old building techniques and up-to-date technology.

In a world of sharp, angular car designs dictated by modern design methods, the Plus 8 is a breath of fresh air. The interior’s styling is equally as good, with large dials and hand-stitched leather combining to create a cabin which is more of a transport to yesteryear than a conventional cockpit.

Rolls-Royce Dawn

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is all very well if you want to be whisked around in total luxury. But what if your primary goal is to see and be seen? Then you’ll need the Dawn, which is Rolls-Royce’s flagship convertible.

It’s the size of a small country but remarkably sleek, and exquisitely detailed throughout – as you’d hope for a car that costs well above the average house price in the UK. It’s also eerily silent, but put your foot down and the 563bhp V12 engine will hustle you to scary speeds in no time at all. In many ways, it’s quite magical – and definitely a car for the exhibitionist.

Mini

The Mini is easily one of the most iconic car designs of all time. Created through the need to produce a compact car with decent interior space, it’s overall architecture is all about creating room where there really shouldn’t be any. A Mini is recognisable on any road, in any country – and it’s all down to way it looks.

The ‘new’ Mini has attempted to capture some of the magic of the original, and has done well in some respects. In others, it will never be able to match the iconic first-generation car in the way it looks.

DeLorean DMC-12

The DeLorean DMC-12 was but a fleeting entry into the ever-changing world of motoring, but it certainly made an impact. Built in Northern Ireland, the DMC-12’s body was designed by Giorgetto Giugario of Ital Design, and crafted from brushed stainless steel.

Then there were the doors. The DMC-12 featured gullwing doors, giving it an even bigger visual impact when parked. Yes, the DeLorean DMC-12 was short-lived, but it’ll go down as one of the most iconic cars of all time – and easily one of the most impressive to look at.