A bus once used by Sir Paul McCartney during the 1972 Wings Over Europe tour is heading under the hammer at auction.
The eye-catching double-decker bus was used by Sir Paul and Linda McCartney – as well as the rest of the Wings band – to travel over 7,500 miles across nine countries and 25 cities during the summer of 1972 with its psychedelic colour scheme ensuring nobody missed it wherever it went.
Completely and faithfully restored to its original heyday condition, the bus features wooden bunk beds, bright yellow colours and a bespoke cover for the upper deck which features ‘1972 Wings Tour Bus’ graphics. The top deck itself has been engineered as a performance space – now referred to as ‘The McCartney Stage’.
Sold by Car and Classic via online auction, the bus could fetch up to £200,000 by the time the hammer falls. The auction is set to run from April 22 until April 29, too.
The bus is accompanied by artefacts and memorabilia donated by founding Wings member Danny Seiwell, while an official license permits the use of artwork, logos and the names of both Paul and Linda McCartney.
Dale Vinten, Car & Classic head of editorial, said: “Just as [John] Lennon’s Rolls-Royce and the notable cars of other [The] Beatles members carry the weight of history, tour buses tell a different story, and bear witness to the behind-the-scenes magic that fuels the onstage brilliance.
“This essence is perfectly encapsulated in the Wings tour bus, still adorned in its psychedelic colours, and restored to how it would’ve been when the McCartneys and the rest of the band toured Europe over the summer of ’72. “
The new Focus ST Edition comes with adjustable front suspension and Brembo brake discs.
Ford has revealed a more hardcore version of its Focus ST hot hatchback with a new Edition model.
The Focus ST has been the only hot hatch on offer from the blue oval since the demise of the Focus RS back in 2018.
The new Focus ST Edition comes with adjustable front coil springs which allow the driver to tune the car to their personal preference.
The new ST Edition has fully tuneable suspension (Credit: Ford media)
The two-way adjustable suspension can be lowered by 10mm front to rear – compared to the standard ST setup – with a further 20mm adjustment available, too.
Extra stopping power has been brought in thanks to standard Brembo front brake discs, enabling the car to stop quicker and harder under fast track driving.
Under the bonnet is a 276bhp 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine allowing the ST Edition to do 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, reach a top speed of 155mph and produce 420Nm of torque.
The interior features large bucket seats (Credit: Ford media)
On the exterior, the ST Edition comes with an Azura blue paint finish, gloss black door mirrors, roof, rear and diffuser as well as lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels while inside, there are sports seats and blue stitching on the steering wheel, gear lever, floor mats and centre console knee pads. There is also a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic.
The Focus ST Edition is available to order now priced from £42,905, with deliveries expected later this year.
The new electric estate will go on sale starting at just over £50k
Volkswagen’s practical new ID.7 Tourer will go on sale shortly with prices starting from £52,240.
Initially, the Tourer version of the ID.7 will be available in just one trim level – Pro Match.
The all-wheel-drive GTX and more powerful Pro S models will be available to order from early summer.
The all-wheel-drive GTX and higher powered Pro S model will go on sale in early summer. (Credit: Volkswagen press UK)
Available to order from April 18, the ID.7 Tourer will come with a 77kWh battery for both the standard Pro Match trim and sporty GTX all-wheel-drive model giving a claimed electric range of 374 miles.
The Tourer will produce the same power as the hatchback version with the electric motor producing 282bhp. Further performance figures have not been revealed for the Tourer model but the hatchback version of the ID.7 manages to do 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds.
The ID.7 Tourer Pro S will come with a larger 86kWh battery and has a claimed range of 425 miles.
The basic ID.7 Tourer Pro Match will come with LED headlights and taillights, roof rails, 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and illuminated Volkswagen logos front and rear.
With five seats in place, the Tourer can provide up to 605 litres of luggage space, but fold the seats down and that increases to 1,714 litres.
The ID.7 Tourer will be priced from £52,240 for the Pro Match trim level with order books opening on April 18.
The Italian government has declared that the Milano name is banned from being used.
Alfa Romeo has received a backlash from the Italian government over the rights of the name used for its new Milano crossover.
The Milano was going to be Alfa’s first model to be offered as an EV, but now the Italian firm has had to have a rethink on a new name for its baby crossover.
Alfa Romeo has decided to change the name of the Milano to Junior.
The new Junior will still be offered with petrol or electric powertrains. (Credit: Stellantis media)
The Junior name dates back to the 1960s with the Giulia and GT1300 – their purpose was to attract a younger audience to the Alfa Romeo brand.
The name Milano was chosen originally to pay tribute to Alfa’s history which began back in 1910 – and with the new Junior being their first EV, makes a groundbreaking change in the company.
Jean-Phillippe Imparato, CEO of Alfa Romeo said: “The choice of the name Junior is completely natural, as it is strongly linked to the history of the brand and has been among our favourites and among the public’s favourites since the beginning.
“We decided to change the name, even though we know that we are not required to do so, because we want to preserve the positive emotion that our products have always generated and avoid any type of controversy.”
The new Junior will still be offered in petrol and electric powertrains and will be available to order in early summer of this year with prices yet to be confirmed and will be revealed closer to the car’s launch date.
With the latest Skoda Kodiaq setting the standard one step higher, what has the competition got to offer?
Seven-seaters have always been a big hit with space-hungry buyers and since the recent fall in popularity of MPVs, seven-seater SUVs have only continued to find homes. That said, there are a few models which buck the seven-seater SUV trend.
The latest Skoda Kodiaq, however, has set the bar one step higher by offering great value for money, while being practical, good to drive, safe and above all having enough luggage capacity with all seven seats in place – with an impressive 340 litres of space.
But, even though the new Skoda Kodiaq is a great all-rounder, what if you’re not sold on its new look? Or do you want something even cheaper?
Here, we have compiled a list of seven seats that should be on your shortlist for this sector of the market.
Dacia Jogger
The Dacia Jogger gives great value for money while offering seven seats and low running costs. (Credit: Dacia press UK)
The Dacia Jogger is a car which offers this brand’s usual focus on value for money but adds in some excellent spaciousness and, of course, seven seats.
The Jogger offers low running costs, masses of space, decent equipment levels and all for just £18,295 – you can even get a hybrid version of the Jogger to make those journeys even cleaner and cheaper, though it does make the Jogger more expensive to buy.
The only downsides to the Jogger are that the looks divide opinion, the build quality isn’t class-leading and the third row of seats is a little tight and would only really suit small children.
Nissan X-Trail
The X-Trail has been a solid, reliable and dependable choice ever since the original debuted in 2001. (Credit: Nissan news UK)
The Nissan X-Trail has been around since 2001 and in that time it has grown a reputation for being a sturdy, reliable and capable off-roader.
The latest X-Trail is now in its fourth generation and remains available with seven seats, just as its predecessor was.
The new model features Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system which brings smooth and efficient driving without the complexity of range anxiety and charging the car up.
However, if you do go for the seven-seat option, only children will feel comfortable in the back due to the limited knee and headroom while boot space is a touch compromised with all the seats in place.
But, the X-Trail boasts a smooth ride and is refined at motorway speeds with little wind and road noise – as well as being good when the going gets tough off-road.
Volvo XC90
The XC90 can seat seven adults in comfort with the added benefit of a decent size boot. (Credit: Volvo cars media)
The XC90 has always carried a touch of class and dependability. The XC90 has been around for over two decades now and even now it’s only in its second generation.
The current model has been around since 2015 and although it’s started to lag behind rivals in terms of technology, it’s still a great choice for those wanting a genuine seven-seater.
Unlike many cars in this segment, the XC90 can fit seven adults in its cabin, with the third row of seats having enough head and legroom as well as providing a decent boot space.
Another point to make is the rear seats in the XC90 can also be flipped down and folded back up in a matter of moments thanks to its clever design.
It may be an older addition to this list, but the XC90 is still a wise choice for those looking for a sensible seven-seater.
Kia EV9
The EV9 has bold looks as well as a spacious and futuristic interior. (Credit: Kia press office UK)
The looks may divide opinion, but the new Kia EV9 electric SUV is a really good car beneath its wild exterior.
It comes with a 99.8 kWh battery pack giving an electric range of 349 miles and is available with single and dual motor form.
The entry-level Air model is very well equipped with heated front and second-row seats, an electric tailgate, 19-inch alloy wheels and wireless smartphone charging.
Behind the wheel, the EV9 soaks up lumps and bumps well and it’s very refined at speeds with little road and wind noise.
If you like the looks, and you’re willing to spend a little extra – the EV9 is a great all-round electric seven-seat SUV.
Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery offers go anywhere capability with luxurious credentials. (Credit: Land Rover media centre)
The Land Rover Discovery has always been a strong contender if you want a go-anywhere, luxurious, practical and capable seven-seater off-roader.
The Discovery has been around since 1989 and while it may not be the most reliable of choices, it still has the DNA from its bigger brother – the Range Rover – when it comes to tackling the rough stuff.
It comes with a choice of mild-hybrid diesel engines that help with its economy and are more than powerful enough for everyday use.
The latest model comes with air suspension as standard which improves the ride comfort while the interior is filled with storage compartments and even the third row of seats is perfectly capable of carrying adults in decent comfort.
Several car names have disappeared and returned over the years with good reasons, too.
With the recent reveal of the new Vauxhall Frontera, we see another familiar name return to the UK car market.
A lot of research, time, money and effort goes into coming up with names for new car models, however, within the last decade we have seen a steady amount of famous names return – but in different body styles.
Cars like the Fiat 500, Volkswagen Beetle and Mini all made a comeback reliving a retro and iconic design while transferring their famous names from the 20th into the 21st century.
However, there are some cars that you wouldn’t think would be launched with a name that resembles the past of a well-known model.
So, here is our list of cars that carried a name badge that resembled an older model from the past.
Vauxhall Viva
The Viva name returned as a budget city car in 2015 and came with a 1.0-litre petrol engine that produced 75bhp. (Credit Stellantis media)
The original Viva was launched in 1963 and ran until 1979. The Viva was a small family car that was one of the most popular cars on British roads throughout the 1960s and 1970s – with over 1.5 million units produced.
It came as a total shock then, that in 2015 Vauxhall would revive the name of a memorable classic to its new Chevrolet Spark-based city car.
The 2015 Vauxhall Viva was a five-door city car to rival the Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo and was phased out of production in 2019.
It came with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that developed 75bhp –however, a small boot and lack of refinement meant the Viva lacked behind key rivals like the Volkswagen UP!
Ford Puma
The Puma name returned in 2019 as a baby crossover – which is based on the recently demised Fiesta supermini. (Credit: Ford media)
The Ford Puma first went on sale in 1997 and became famed for its fun driving dynamics, well-tuned chassis and cheeky looks.
It was essentially a Fiesta with a prettier coupe body, but that made the Puma a very desirable package and today it is seen as a future classic.
In 2000, the Puma was given a sportier makeover with the Ford Racing Puma – which came with a 1.7-litre four-cylinder engine that produced 153bhp and was limited to just 1000 units.
The old Puma went out of production in 2002 – until in 2019 the Puma name returned – but not with the same identity.
Instead, the Puma returned as a baby crossover to rival the Nissan Juke. But, that hasn’t caused sales to dwindle, as the Puma has become one of the UK’s best-selling cars and is great fun to drive thanks to sharp handling and little body roll.
The current Puma shares its platform with the recently demised Fiesta hatchback.
The Puma ST also gives the model a sporty pedigree just like the original Ford Racing Puma.
The ST comes with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 197bhp and has a top speed of 130mph – with a new model being released this year with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine mated to an automatic gearbox.
Renault 5
The Renault 5 E-Tech is an electric supermini that harks back to the original 5 from the 1970s to 1990s. (Credit: Renault press UK)
The Renault 5 was replaced by the well-known Clio back in the early 90s, but the 5 name is set to return this year with a retro-inspired electric hatchback called the 5 E-Tech.
With no plans to drop the Clio, for the first time in Renault’s range, the Clio and 5 E-Tech models will both be on offer.
The original Renault 5 went on sale in 1972 and became the supermini of choice if you wanted French style with low running costs, an affordable price tag and good driving characteristics.
A variety of performance models came along with the 5 GT Turbo, Gordini and the mid-engined Turbo.
The new 5 E-Tech will also have a performance model later down the line with the Alpine A290.
DS3
The DS name made a return in 2010 with the DS3 supermini. In 2015, Citroen decided to make the DS its own sub-brand. (Credit: Stellantis media)
The original Citroen DS from the 50s was a revolutionary car. Not only did it look like no other car, but it also was the first model to use Citroen’s legendary hydropneumatic suspension.
The French firm’s hydropneumatic suspension was a world first for production cars. Instead of using coil springs, Citroen’s system uses a sphere-shaped spring absorber with inert gas and nitrogen on one side and incompressible hydraulic fluid filled that was connected to the suspension on the other side. The result? An incredibly comfortable and cloud-like ride.
The DS became an iconic car for the 20th century and even to this day, is an all-time classic with many different permutations including an estate, convertible and four-door saloon.
In 2010, Citroen decided to revive the DS name with a posh sub-brand starting with the DS3.
The DS3 was a quirky and cool-looking supermini that rivalled the Mini and Audi A1.
A hot Racing version followed in 2011 with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that was taken from the Mini Cooper S – producing 204bhp and had a top speed of 140mph.
Lamborghini Countach
The Countach made a return in 2021, but as a hybrid and limited to just 112 units worldwide. (Credit: Lamborghini media)
Lamborghini has always known how to make the perfect pin-up bedroom wall supercar. Ever since the company moved from making tractors to vehicles, they have made some great cars with unforgettable names.
One that the Italian supercar maker made back in the 1980s was the Countach – a direct rival to the Ferrari Testarossa.
The original Countach production ran from 1974 until 1990 – but in 2021 the Countach name made a return to the Lamborghini line-up and was still a fully-fledged supercar with hybrid power.
Only 112 Countach LPI 800s were made and come with a V12 engine with an electric motor, enabling it to do 0-60mph in just 2.6 seconds, has a top speed of 220mph and produces 803bhp.
The Battista electric hypercar went into production in 2022 and the Reversario is the latest edition to the firm.
Italian design house Pininfarina has revealed a bespoke hypercar designed for one lucky customer.
The Reversario is a special edition of Pininfarina’s Battista electric hypercar which was limited to only 150 units worldwide when it went on sale in 2022.
There have also been limited runs of the Battista with the Anniversario that was revealed in 2020 to celebrate the firm’s 90th birthday.
The Reversario will come with 1,874bhp and will do 0-60mph in just 1.79 seconds. (Credit: Pininfarina Automobili)
This new model is hand-built and features unique exterior colour schemes that represent Pininfarina’s heritage. Unlike the Anniversario which featured a white top half body and grey finish for the lower section, the Reverario does this the other way around with a grey body on top of a white lower half.
Underneath the skin, there are four electric motors with one driving each wheel – while an electronic stability control with a software differential allows the driver to tailor the power delivery and handling responses.
The Reversario comes with the same battery pack as the standard Battista – a 120kWh lithium-ion battery contained with strong and lightweight carbon fibre housing.
Performance figures are the same as the standard car with 1,874bhp, 2,300 Nm of torque, a 0-60mph time of just 1.79 seconds and 0-124mph in 4.75 seconds.
The battery pack is mounted centrally behind the seats to give the best centre of gravity.
Prices for the Reversario have not been revealed yet, but considering the standard Battista had a price tag of £2 million – expect this bespoke model to cost a lot more than that.
The STJ version of the Huracan will be limited to just 10 units worldwide.
Lamborghini has revealed a limited-run-out model of its smallest supercar, the Huracan STJ – which will be the last V10 production car the company produces.
By the end of this year, the Huracan will be replaced by a new hybrid supercar with further details to be confirmed.
The STJ is based on the STO version of the Huracan which was revealed in 2021 but has a number of styling differences and bespoke liveries.
STJ stands for Super Trofeo Jota. Super Trofeo is the Lamborghini one-make racing championship, which was established in 2009 and Jota is related to the FIA regulations that set racing car specifications.
The Huracan STJ’s naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine produces 640bhp and 565Nm of torque and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox with power sent to the rear wheels alone. Performance figures are yet to be revealed.
The last dance for our Huracán range must be unforgettable. Introducing the Huracán STJ, the super sports car born with one goal: to celebrate, once again, our epic V10 engine. #Lamborghini
It has four-way adjustable shock absorbers to give a better ride, improving the handling and giving the best experience when the STJ is being used on a track.
Bridgestone Potenza Race tyres have been specially designed for the car and are made with high-grip compounds to deliver excellent traction when driving around a circuit.
Externally, there will be a choice of two different livery options. The first is a combination of grey bodywork and a black roof with red and white details – while inside there are black Alcantara seats alongside red stitching.
The second configuration consists of blue bodywork and a black roof with red and white details – in addition, both models come with a carbon fibre-plated ‘one of 10’ badge, too.
Prices have not been revealed for the Huracan STJ, but expect it to carry a premium over the old STO model which was priced at £260,000.
Compact crossover will be the successor to the Giulietta and Mito hatchbacks.
Alfa Romeo has revealed its latest offering into the compact crossover class with the Milano.
The new Milano will be the first Alfa Romeo to be available as a full-electric model – alongside a conventional mild-hybrid version.
The Milano electric will come with two trim levels – Elettrica and Veloce. The mild hybrid will come in Ibrida trim while an initial launch edition called the Speciale will be available in both mild-hybrid and electric powertrains.
On the outside, the Milano has pronounced wheel arches, adaptive LED matrix headlights, hidden rear door handles, and a large front grille with the Alfa Romeo logo shaped into the grille itself. It also has compact dimensions – measuring at just over four metres in length and 1.5 metres in height.
On the inside, there is a digital 10.25-inch colour screen, as well as in the centre of the dashboard houses another 10.25-inch touchscreen. Owners can customise their own homepage for the infotainment screen. The attention to detail is reminiscent of Alfa Romeo’s heritage with the air-con vents shaped like the four-leaf clover to represent the sporting pedigree of the brand – while sports seats are available as an option.
The Milano Ibrida will be offered with front and all-wheel-drive versions and will come with a 138bhp 48V hybrid system. The 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo is boosted by 28bhp courtesy of the electric motor, too.
.@alfa_romeo presents the new MILANO: Sporty at heart, compact in size and Italian style at first sight. #MILANO combines a captivating style with the most advanced technology in terms of comfort, connectivity, and driving dynamics. Learn more: https://t.co/Zyibwn9t7xpic.twitter.com/5TZFrgItNK
The Speciale launch trim will be offered with either mild-hybrid or electric power. It has features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, a vinyl and fabric interior, an electric driver’s seat with massage function and an electric tailgate.
The electric versions of the Milano will come with two power outputs. The Milano Elettrica comes with a 158bhp electric motor and has a claimed range of 250 miles on a single charge or up to 366 miles around town.
The sportier Veloce gets a 243bhp electric motor – while both models are mated to a 54kWh battery pack. Alfa Romeo hasn’t revealed the figure for the electric range on this model – but expect it to be less than the Eletrrica’s 250 to 366 mile range.
Charging from a 100kW rapid charger will take 30 minutes to charge the Milano from 10 to 80 per cent. Boot space is said to be one of the best in class with a loading capacity of 400 litres of space and EV versions also feature storage compartments under the bonnet.
Order books open in early summer for the Milano with prices to be confirmed closer to the car’s release date.
New top-of-the-range model will go on sale with a starting price of £24,180.
Hyundai has revealed prices and specifications for its i20 N-Line S model.
The top-of-the-range sporty N-Line S will be priced at £24,180 and features exterior and interior elements taken from the flagship Hyundai N brand.
The N brand is the South Korean firm’s performance division, producing hot hatches such as the i20N and i30N, while more recently it took a swing at hot EVs with the Ioniq 5N.
The N-Line trim is more mainstream, with sporty exterior and interior aesthetics as well as affordable running costs and prices.
Under the bonnet, the i20 N-Line S is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces 98bhp and 72Nm of torque. There is a choice of a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
The N-Line S features heated front seats and steering wheel as well as ambient lighting. (Credit: Hyundai press UK)
The current N-Line in the i20 range comes with a rear spoiler, N-Line leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, as well as sportier front and rear bumpers and side skirts. But the N-Line S adds to this with bespoke 17-inch alloy wheels, multi-coloured ambient lighting, heated front seats and steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors plus a Bose audio system.
There is also a choice of ten exterior colours as well as the option to have a two-tone paint scheme with Phantom black contrasting roof and door mirrors.
Safety equipment in the N-Line S includes lane keep and follow assist, autonomous city braking, a speed limiter plus driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags.
The new i20 N-Line S is available to order from April 11, with deliveries expected later in the year.
