Author: Ryan Hirons

One Lamborghini driver in America can consider themselves lucky to be alive, after a crash into a concrete pole split their supercar in half.

The incident took place in Fairfax County, Virginia on Thursday night. It’s not clear how the accident occurred, but the aftermath is – with the Lamborghini Huracan’s mid-mounted engine and rear axle completely separated from the front of the vehicle.

From Gallows Road and International Drive overnight. Lamborghini hit a concrete light pole and was cut in half. The back end was on fire and quickly extinguished by the crew from Engine 413, Dunn Loring. One adult driver was treated for minor injuries by Medic 413. #fcfrd #news pic.twitter.com/vOG4o1Ovfo

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 27, 2018

According to authorities, the Italian machine caught fire as a result of the crash which was quickly extinguished. Incredibly, nobody was seriously hurt – with the driver treated on the scene for minor injuries.

A tweet from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue said: “From Gallows Road and International Drive overnight. Lamborghini hit a concrete light pole and was cut in half.

The back end was on fire and quickly extinguished by the crew from Engine 413, Dunn Loring. One adult driver was treated for minor injuries by Medic 413.”

When completely attached to the car, the Lamborghini V10 power unit develops 602bhp and 560Nm of torque in all-wheel-drive Huracan models, sending the £155k supercar to 60mph in 3 seconds flat with a 202mph top speed possible.

A reckless driver of a car transporter has taken the roof off a brand-new Range Rover in transit, while damaging another.

Images posted online by Greater Manchester Police’s traffic feed shows the aftermath of the incident on the M61 near to Farnworth and Walkden that took place on Wednesday morning, which transformed a Range Rover Velar into the models first convertible version.

One from yesterday – #M61 Motorway, car transporter driver fails to lower top deck and collides with bridge resulting in turning this Range Rover into a none factory build convertible! Driver reported for due care. @NWmwaypolice pic.twitter.com/SqSj0ctfmw

— GMP Traffic (@gmptraffic) April 26, 2018

Along with the roofless SUV, another Range Rover model was also damaged and a Green Flag recovery vehicle appears to have been a helpless victim of falling debris from the transporter.

An accompanying tweet for the images from GMP’s traffic feed said: “One from yesterday – #M61 Motorway, car transporter driver fails to lower top deck and collides with bridge resulting in turning this Range Rover into a none factory build convertible! Driver reported for due care.”

It’s not clear where the Range Rover vehicles were heading, although the visible delivery packaging on the exposed interior of the Velar suggests they were customer-bound. A man as has been issued with a ticket for driving without due care and attention following the incident.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were called at 9.55am on Wednesday 25 April 2018 to reports of a collision at junction 4 of the M61 southbound, near to Farnworth and Walkden.

“A transporter collided with a bridge and in turn caused damage to the vehicle behind. A man has been issued with a ticket for driving without due care and attention.”

Although buying a new car can be an exciting time, it can also be stressful. There’s a lot to consider: what make and model to choose, what engine type do I want, which option boxes should I tick and – perhaps most crucially – how will I pay for it?

In an ideal world, we’d all save up enough money to pay one lump sum for a new set of wheels but for most that’s simply not an option, leaving many pondering the question of applying for a personal loan or opting for finance when purchasing their new vehicle. We take a look at both to help you choose how to pay for your next car.

Bank loans

What’s good about a bank loan?

When taking out a bank loan, you borrow a set amount of money agreed that is paid back over a period of time agreed with your creditor. As a loan is not secured against your vehicle, the car is yours from the moment you pick it up.

Unlike car finance, you also don’t need to place an initial deposit to borrow the money – which could land you in a new car sooner than saving for an initial finance payment would. Also, bank loans do not limit your annual mileage in a vehicle, like many finance options do.

Opting for a bank loan also gives you the freedom to shop around to find the best interest rates. Remember, you’re not just limited to the bank you hold an account with when seeking a loan.

Is there a catch?

As with anything, bank loans are not all plain-sailing. They’re generally a lot harder to successfully apply for than car finance, as creditors are more likely to refuse you if your credit rating is poor.

Loan interest rates are also often higher and can increase after your initial application.

Car finance

What are the advantages of car finance?

Financing a car can be an easier process than using a bank loan to purchase a car, as its usually agreed through a dealership when buying a vehicle. Financing also usually brings lower interest rates and you’re more likely to be approved if you have a poor credit rating than you would a bank loan.

There are two main types of finance available – hire purchase (HP) and personal contract purchase (PCP).

What’s the difference between HP and PCP?

HP is pretty easy to understand. The list price of a car is broken down into a deposit and a number of monthly payments – the number of which is agreed with your creditor. Interest is added, so you ultimately pay a little more than if you were to pay in full, but the car is yours to keep once the full balance is covered. Hire purchase is also available on used cars.

PCP can be a little more complicated, as it’s usually split in three phases. There’s usually an initial deposit that can be agreed with the dealership, although from time-to-time you may find a nil-deposit offer. Then, there’s the monthly deposits – the time of which varies, although most contracts are over a three-year period.

Finally, at the end of your monthly payments, you have a choice of three options. First, you can hand the keys back to the dealer with no extra fees – meaning the car is no longer yours. If you wish to keep the car, you can pay a settlement fee and the vehicle then belongs to you or, if you wish to upgrade, you can trade the vehicle in towards a new one with any value left over the settlement fee knocked off the price.

What’s not-so-good about finance?

While finance may sound like an easy option, it’s worth remembering you don’t own the car until all payments have been made on finance. If you struggle to keep up with payments, the finance company will have the right to repossess the vehicle.

There could also be mileage limitations and other stipulations applied to the car, as finance companies will want as little depreciation as possible in case you decide to return the vehicle.

Bank loan or car finance: what’s best for me?

Both car finance and bank loans should be considered and researched to your individual needs to work out exactly what is best for you, but some general rules do apply.

If you’re in a good credit standing, and can comfortably afford to pay it off, a bank loan could be your best bet as you own the car from day one and will have no limitations on vehicle usage. It can also work best for those who change cars often, particularly used, as the vehicle is not tied up in a contract.

For those with poorer credit standing, and particularly younger drivers who have little history, car finance may work best. It may mean the car isn’t yours until the end of the payment period, but it offers more flexibility and, in the case of PCP, upgrading to a new car is simple if you wish to do so at the end of the term.

Regardless of which you decided to choose, always research your options extensively and ensure you know the ins-and-outs of any payment contracts before you sign the dotted line.

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.

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.

For large families, having a practical and reliable car is usually a must — but with so many other things to pay for, affordability is valued over most things.

A car that can take all the kids out on an adventure to the beach while packing lots of buckets, spades and spare clothes — while dropping gran off to bingo on the way — may sound cost with so many on the market, there’s plenty of bargains to be found in the classified. We take a look at the seven best seven-seat cars on sale for £7,000£

Ford S-Max

The Ford S-Max might be the quintessential seven-seater — offering bags of practicality, easy driveability and consistent reliability.

£7k in the classifieds can get you a well looked-after example from the early part of this decade, with high equipment levels if you’re not fussed over higher-mileage — or a strong, low-mileage example for those looking for a more basic package.

Land Rover Discovery 3

If you need your budget seven-seater to head off-road, look no further than the Discovery 3.

You’ve got the practicality of any MPV, but with the proven capabilities of Land Rover’s off-roading technology. At £7k, you’ll be looking at some pretty high mileage examples so it’s worth taking extra time to find a well-kept model.

Kia Sorento

Kia has carved its name as one of the most reliable and capable brands in recent years, and you can make sure those boxes are ticked on your seven-seat checklist with a Sorento.

Thanks to the firm’s seven-year warranty, you might even be able to find an example that’s still covered by its manufacturer’s original guarantee within budget.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

Not every car on this list has to be a big MPV! It’s not the most well-known fact, but Mercedes has offered seven-seat versions of its big estate car.

Sure, at this price you will be looking at pretty well-used examples that could potentially cost a lot more in repairs and service — but do your research, and a gem of a German estate could be yours at a low cost.

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso

At £7k, the C4 Grand Picasso could well be one of — if not the — newest seven seaters you can buy.

For that, you can pick up decent examples from 2014/15, albeit with high mileage. If you’re happy with an older car, you can examples with less than 60k miles with no problem at all.

Nissan Qashqai+2

The Nissan Qashqai has become one of the most popular cars on the market, and you can get in on the action with a seven-seat variant for under £7k.

Plenty of the used market at this price have high levels of equipment, allowing you to ride in relative comfort and luxury at a pretty low price — all while remaining practical.

Volvo XC90 

The Swedes know how to make high quality cars that can stand the test of time, and the Volvo XC90 is no exception to that rule.

£7k will land you a very well-kept example from the turn of the decade — offering tons of luxury and a premium badge at a not-so premium badge. You know it’ll run forever, too.

It wasn’t too long ago the Ford Mustang was finally put on sale officially in the UK – having arrived here in 2016 for the first time in the iconic model’s 44-year history. Demand has been huge on this side of the pond, with the firm claiming to have sold more than 33,000 units since arriving in Europe.

It’s not sitting around on that initial success though. For 2018, the Mustang has been refreshed with more tech, fresh looks and increased power in an effort to carry on that success. We take a closer look at what’s new.

A fresh face

The new Ford Mustang carries over the core look of the outgoing model, but it does bring a number of tweaks to keep it up to date.

At the front there’s a revised lower front grille, the addition of a front splitter for more downforce and new bonnet with integrated air intakes to help keep the engine cool. As for the rear, a redesigned bumper and diffuser feature while a new optional boot spoiler is also available.

A way to keep your neighbours happy (or to annoy them)

If you want to take your muscle car out for a drive in the early hours, but don’t want to disrupt your neighbours, the Mustang’s new active exhaust has the solution for you.

Dubbed ‘Good Neighbour Mode’, there’s a configurable timer on the system that keeps it in ‘quiet’ mode between selected hours – so not to disturb the peace around you.

Alternatively, there’s also a ‘race track’ setting, which lets the 5.0-litre V8 engine scream at the top of its voice. That’ll teach Gareth next door not to badly play Muse’s Hysteria on his car boot sale electric guitar at 3am.

Even more power

The 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine might be something of a dinosaur in modern terms, but that hasn’t stopped Ford taking it up a notch for 2018.

There’s more power from the brute – up to 444bhp from 410bhp – which has resulted in a quicker 0-60mph time of 4.4 seconds and a 155mph top speed. It’s still not exactly efficient, returning 22.8mpg on the combined cycle, but who cares when it sounds so good?

Rev-matching technology that makes you look like a pro

If you’re struggling to perfect the heel-toe technique on your downshifts, then this new gadget on the Mustang has you covered.

Rev-matching technology works by “blipping” the throttle during downshifts, resulting in a smoother gear change that allows you to carry more speed through corners.

It’s not an entirely new thing in the motoring world – previously appearing on the likes of the Nissan 370Z, a number of Porsches and the Ford Focus RS – but this is the first time we’ve seen it on a Mustang.

A 10-speed automatic gearbox (Yep, 10)

Ok, 10 gears may sound absolutely ridiculous on any car – let alone a muscle car – but this new transmission has proven to be a fantastic addition to the Mustang.

Derived from the Ford F-150 Raptor (yes, it comes from a pick-up truck), this automatic box is far from sluggish – great for performance driving – and the addition of two extra gears means cruising at motorways speeds is more comfortable and more efficient than before.

Clever new suspension

If you fancy paying an extra £1,600, you can have your Mustang fitted with seriously clever ‘MagneRide’ suspension.

It’s a complicated thing, using a fluid that can be magnetically stimulated to change the resistance of the dampers, but the end result is a car that can do it all. Switch to Sport+ mode, and the suspension will firm up to deliver an uncompromised driving experience – which can then be switched up to a more relaxing ride for motorway miles at the touch of a button. We’d definitely spec this on our Mustang.

Improved safety

Ford has been on a mission to take the Mustang from two stars to three for Euro NCAP’s safety ratings, throwing more tech at the car to do so.

This means the ‘stang now has Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Lane Keeping Aid, along with the existing Adaptive Cruise Control and Auto Emergency Braking systems. You can cruise along in your new muscle car with an eased mind.

In recent years, a boom in sales of SUVs and crossovers has seen manufacturers come up with new and alternative ways to capitalise on the trend – spawning classes of car previously never thought.

SUV-inspired city runabouts may have seemed a wild idea a decade ago, but now, they’re fast becoming one of the most popular segments on today’s market. Here, we take a look at the seven best on sale today.

Vauxhall Viva Rocks

Vauxhall’s latest offering definitely Rocks! (Sorry).

The Viva Rocks joined the British firm’s line-up late in 2017 and has instantly become one of its most interesting offerings. It’s well-equipped, offers good levels of equipment and is a genuine joy to drive. It maintains all the practicality and usability of the base Viva too, making it a perfect tiny tearabout.

Ford Fiesta Active

How do you take Britain’s best-selling car and have even more driven off forecourts? Add a crossover version, of course.

This is the Fiesta Active, new for 2018 and guaranteed to be an instant sales success. It takes the already-excellent Fiesta platform, and adds more ruggedness – as well as more kit, including selectable driving modes, meaning drivers will be ready no matter the conditions.

Kia Picanto X-Line

The Kia Picanto is a cheerful little machine, and the Korean manufacturer has brought even more personality with this – the X-Line.

It adds a funky look to the little hatch, as well as more customisation options to give buyers an opportunity to create something unique and reflect their personalities via the means of a small crossover.

Suzuki Ignis

Suzuki are the masters of the city car, and the Ignis is definitely not an exception to this rule.

It’s the only car on this list built from the ground up to be a little city tear-up that can also take a little bit more on if need be – especially so when paired with the firm’s excellent Allgrip four-wheel-drive system.

Dacia Sandero Stepway

Good news! Budget brand Dacia offers a rugged version of its popular Sandero city car.

This budget machine is pretty basic, but as a result, it’s cheap and also boasts plenty of character. If you want something that can take just a bit more than the city runabout, then this is one of the cheapest – and definitely not the worst – way to do so.

Citroen C3 Aircross

Citroen wouldn’t be Citroen if it didn’t have a quirky option in its line-up, and this is the latest.

The C3 Aircross takes the already eccentric C3 and adds a little more pizzazz, with an increased ride height, beefier bodywork and – for the full lifestyle look – colour-matched roof rails.

Fiat Panda City Cross

The Fiat Panda is getting pretty old now, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not one of the most interesting offerings on the market – with the Panda City Cross only adding to that.

This is more than just marketing to make it seem like a tiny off-roader – featuring an all-wheel-drive system and skid plates designed to protect the car from any terrain thrown at it. It’s a surprisingly capable little machine, and one we adore.

You could soon be picked up by a driverless Jaguar I-Pace at the touch of a button, as the British car manufacturer is teaming up with American firm Waymo to build up to 20,000 autonomous units of the electric SUV.

The Google-owned company has developed an autonomous system that will be fitted to the I-Pace, joining its development fleet before the company launches a driverless ride-hailing service later this year.

Waymo, which was founded in 2009 and was originally known as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, claims to be the only transport company to have a fleet made up entirely of autonomous vehicles.

Ralf Speth, chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “With the Jaguar I-Pace we have a world-beating car that’s captured the imagination of customers around the world. Our passion for further advancing smart mobility needs expert long-term partners.

Introducing the world’s first premium electric self-driving vehicle – the Waymo @Jaguar Self-Driving I-PACE. pic.twitter.com/BKhofAAahV

— Waymo (@Waymo) March 27, 2018

“In joining forces with Waymo we are pioneering to push the boundaries of technology. Together we will deliver the self-driving Waymo Jaguar I-Pace with the grace, space and eco-pace that customers expect.”

John Krafcik, chief executive of Waymo, said: “While we’ve been focused at Waymo on building the world’s most experienced driver, the team at Jaguar Land Rover has developed an all-new battery-electric platform that looks to set a new standard in safety, design and capability. We’re sure Waymo riders will enjoy the safe, premium and delightful experience that the self-driving I-Pace will provide.”

This isn’t the first time Jaguar Land Rover has been involved in autonomous vehicle testing. Last year, the British firm began testing a number of cars fitted with driverless technology in its home city of Coventry – a first in the UK.

Order books are now open at Ford dealers across the country for its latest crossover – the Fiesta Active.

Starting at a price of £17,790, the jacked-up city car is available in three variants – Active 1, Active B&O Play and Active X – and will join the firm’s range alongside the Ka+ Active in “offering buyers an exciting lifestyle crossover”.

It retains the basic design of the latest version of the Fiesta, but all Active models will receive a rugged-look body styling kit, an increased ride height, roof rails, front fog lights and 17-inch alloy wheels as standard.

There’s also three selectable drive modes – Eco, Normal and Slippery – along with Hill Start Assist.

Other features included at no extra cost are lane-keep technology, automatic headlights, a heated windscreen and rear privacy glass. Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity features too, which also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

B&O Play models add more kit and get their name from 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio systems that feature, as well as aesthetic tweaks such as a black roof with matching rails. There’s also yellow highlights throughout the cabin, along with additional tech such as cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, illuminated cup holders and a 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster with traffic sign recognition. Pricing for B&O Play variants begins at £19,190.

The range-topping Active X brings partial leather upholstery, heated front seats, power-foldable door mirrors with puddle lights, a rear-view camera and parking sensors, as well as the addition of navigation and DAB radio to the SYNC 3 system. It’s available from £20,290.

Two engines are on offer for the Fiesta Active. There’s one petrol unit, a three-cylinder, turbocharged 1.0-litre motor that is available in four states of tune – 84bhp, 99bhp, 123bhp and 138bhp.

A diesel option is also available. This is a 1.5-litre engine, developing 84bhp. No matter the choice of engine, a six-speed manual gearbox features, while auto stop-start technology is included as well.

Orders can now be placed for the Ford Fiesta Active, with deliveries to follow imminently.