Category: News

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

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

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

Citroen Traction Avant

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

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

Renault Espace

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

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

Citroen DS

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

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

Bugatti Type 35

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

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

Citroen 2CV

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

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

Renault 5 Turbo

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

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

Peugeot 205 GTI

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

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

By Tom Wiltshire

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

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

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

Subaru Impreza WRX

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

Audi A4 Allroad

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

Toyota Land Cruiser

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

Ford Ranger

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

BMW 3-Series Touring

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

Jeep Wrangler

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

Skoda Yeti

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

Volvo XC90

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

Dacia Duster

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

Nissan X-Trail

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

by Oliver Young

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

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

Race car-inspired aesthetic

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

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

Big engine, small package

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

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

The exhaust is pretty raspy

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

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

Fancy racing seats

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

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

Not as difficult to drive as looks may suggest

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

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

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

Production is ultra-limited

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

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

It exists

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

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

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

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

Burnout Paradise

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

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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

Gran Turismo 3

 

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

Euro Truck Simulator 2

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

Need for Speed Underground 2

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

GTA San Andreas

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

Forza Motorsport 4

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

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

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

It’s powered by a V8 engine

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

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

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

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

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

Exterior changes have been applied too

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

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

The interior has been been given a high-end lift

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

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

It commands a fearsome price tag

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

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

It’s been planned since 2014

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

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

Recent figures have shown that the most popular colour choice for new cars in 2017 was black. That’s not the worst news either, as it’s just part of a monochrome podium that includes grey in second place and white in third.

Depressingly, an obsession with perceived resale values and not wishing to offend the eyes of potential buyers means that Britain’s roads are in danger of losing colour altogether. Just look at the options lists for any new car and you’ll likely find it’s a similar story.

For example, the big-selling Audi A4 saloon is available in 12 paint finishes – nine of which are black, white, silver or grey. Even cars aimed at younger buyers aren’t immune – the new Volkswagen Polo can be had in blue, red, or orange – on top of eight monochromatic offerings.

But some manufacturers still light the way for a brighter future, offering various great colours in which you can spec your new car. We’ve rounded up some of the best on sale today – along with a few from history we just can’t forget.

Sonoma Green

When the new Audi RS5 was launched, surprisingly little attention was paid to the car’s 444bhp V6 engine or quattro all-wheel-drive system. Instead, journalists and potential buyers alike were lusting over the colour.
It’s not that Sonoma Green is a particularly eye-catching shade, but it was an unexpected move from a company that launches most of its cars in silver or grey. We just wish it could be paired with a tan leather interior.

Lapiz Blue

The best colour for a Golf GTI is red, but for the four-wheel-drive R, only one shade will do for us. It’s the gloriously deep Lapiz Blue, and it marks the R out as a more discreet and classy offering than its yobbish little brother.
Admittedly, a rash of brilliant finance deals means the R is a fairly common sight on UK roads – but we love the colour so much that we wouldn’t mind if every car was painted in it.

Soul Red

Very rarely does a manufacturer produce a colour that looks the business across its entire range of cars, but Mazda hit the nail on the head with Soul Red. Whether it’s on the tiny MX-5 or the beefy CX-5, it looks great.
Though other colour options are available, we can’t imagine why you’d choose them – plus, the majority are monochrome and dark shades.

Geyser Grey

The 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911 brought us a glorious special edition. Fitted with a houndstooth cloth interior and recreation Fuchs alloys, it was a retro marvel that sold out quickly.
However, we’re more interested in the Geyser Grey metallic paint. It’s fantastically understated and suits the car down to the ground, without being just another shade of grey.

Cyan Racing Blue

Volvos aren’t exactly known for being eye-catching and flamboyant, but the hot Polestar models are another story. They’re available in this brilliant, bright blue – technically called Cyan Racing Blue, but known to most as simply ‘Polestar Blue’.
With the right wheels and bodykit, Polestar Blue turns a practical and dull Volvo into a loud and proud masterpiece. We’re not biased at all.

Liquid Yellow

Yellow cars are oft-maligned, and sometimes are subject to abuse – one pensioner in a picturesque Gloucestershire village had his yellow car vandalised for spoiling tourist’s views. We wonder what the tourists would have made of a Renaultsport model in the firm’s brilliant Liquid Yellow.
Lifted right from the Renault F1 team’s livery, Liquid Yellow has been a stalwart of the RS range of hot hatchbacks for years – and always looks incredible. Paired with gloss black detailing, it makes the latest Clio RS one of the prettiest hot hatchbacks around.

MSO Amethyst Black

This is how you do black right. McLaren’s MSO division will create just about any bespoke colour you like, but we’re massive fans of Amethyst Black. It’s a sophisticated multi-layer colour, which appears dark until the light catches it just right – when it lights up with a deep purple hue.
When fitted on the curves and creases of a McLaren supercar, it’s just as eye-catching as a bright shade, and slides under the radar more easily, too.

WR Blue Mica

Think of a Subaru and you’re almost certainly going to picture an Impreza WRX STI, finished in WR Blue Mica with gold wheels to match.
The colour is synonymous with the Japanese manufacturer’s World Rally Championship success, winning three constructors titles between 1995 and 1997, while sporting the now-famous blue and gold colours. An Impreza in any other shade is just wrong.

Rosso Corsa

What colour is a Ferrari? Sure, the Italian brand’s supercars look amazing in yellow or blue – but Ferraris are red, and that’s how it always will be.
Rosso Corsa in its purer, non-metallic form is more often found on older Ferraris, with updated versions named Rosso Scuderia and Rosso Mugello equally popular on contemporary models. We like it best on the Ferrari F40 – as do many others, we’re sure.

British Racing Green

Patriotism ahoy – British Racing Green is absolutely the national shade, though the lack of small British sports cars wearing it is a cause for concern. Still, on vintage vehicles, nothing looks better.
Made famous by the 1954 Jaguar D-Type, various shades of green had appeared before on Bentley cars at Le Mans. It’s now relegated to the options list of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, usually under a different name. We say bring back BRG!

Jaguar’s new E-Pace SUV is about to hit UK roads – and is set to be a huge seller for the British manufacturer. Coming in the wake of the popular F-Pace, it’s designed to appeal to people wanting a slightly more compact but high-riding SUV.

Not only is this latest compact SUV good to look at, it’s also packed with innovative new tech features – and here are five you need to know about.

4G internet hotspot

Not only is the E-Pace capable of tackling rough terrain, it can also provide an internet hotspot for its passengers. That means you can wirelessly connect to the internet on a variety of devices – all from the comfort of the car.

The car itself is also internet-ready, giving you instant access to internet-based apps via the car’s infotainment system. Put the CDs away – this is all the multimedia tech you’ll need.

Smart activity key

For those who are on the go, taking a key can be annoying. That’s why the E-Pace comes with a wearable, waterproof activity key. Rubberised and comfortable, it lets you lock and unlock the car simply by pressing your wrist against the boot.

It’s also waterproof to 20 metres, meaning you’re free to go swimming, surfing or kayaking without worrying that it’ll break. The regular key stays inside the car but is deactivated – keeping things safe and secure.

Phone-based remote

If you’ve ever been inside your house and wondered how much fuel is left in your car, then this could be the ideal feature. Currently being used by a variety of manufacturers, the phone-based remote allows you to check the E-Pace’s fuel levels, as well as where you’ve parked it.

Not only that, but you can also see how efficiently you’ve been driving or check your overall average speed.

Lane departure warning

A useful piece of new tech for those who spend a lot of time on the motorways, the E-Pace’s lane departure warning system vibrates the steering wheel should it detect that the car is drifting across a lane. It’ll also flash a warning on the main screen ahead of the driver too.

In addition, the E-Pace packs lane-keep assist technology. This will gently steer the car around bends when it detects that your hands are on the wheel, making longer journeys more comfortable.

Head-up display

The head-up display on the E-Pace is projected directly on to the windscreen and gives clear and easy-to-read indications regarding speed and the current gear. In addition, it displays satellite navigation directions – meaning you don’t have to look down at the main screen.

When coupled with audible commands, the system lets you follow the satellite navigation without having to lose concentration by checking other screens.

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas maybe the place to learn about smart fridges, huge flat screen TVs and the latest drones – but it’s also rapidly becoming a hot bed of car news too.

More and more car manufacturers are investing in huge stands and unveiling their latest technology at the event in Sin City.

This year, Japanese and Korean manufacturers flocked to the event to show off their new products. Here we take a look at the biggest news.

Kia Niro EV

Korean firm Kia used the show to take the wraps off its next generation electric car – an SUV with a range of 238 miles. It features a 64kWh battery pack and leads the charge for the brand’s promise to roll out a further 16 more electrified vehicles by 2025. On the outside it debuts a smart, futuristic look while inside there’s a gesture-controlled cockpit and 5G connection for high definition content streaming – that means Netflix on the go and no buffering for your passengers to worry about.

Nissan mind reading

Nissan says its cars of the future will read drivers’ minds to reduce reaction times and make autonomous driving more comfortable. The Brain-to-Vehicle (B2V) technology can predict human behaviour and detect when a motorist is feeling uncomfortable thanks to clever software. Brain waves are decoded by a special headband worn by the driver and Nissan says it cuts reaction times by guessing when a driver is about to make a movement – like braking when they spot stationary traffic.

Toyota e-Palette

In the future tipping the pizza boy will be a thing of the past if Toyota has its way and your Mighty Meaty is delivered autonomously by one of these. It’s called the e-Palette, an autonomous, electric vehicle designed to be used by businesses like Amazon, Uber and Pizza Hut. The idea, says Toyota, is businesses can adapt and modify the platform to suit its needs – be that carrying passengers as a taxi, or dropping off your last-minute online purchases.

Honda off-road robot

Another Japanese car firm looking to help industry is Honda, with the all-terrain 3E-D18 robot. Looking like a quad bike, it’s designed to be adaptable so owners can use it for construction, or on the farm. Honda describes the autonomous, battery-powered 3E-D18 as a “work horse” which could be adapted for use in search and rescue or fire fighting as it “minimises human exposure to dangerous environments”. Using GPS and sensor-based autonomy it can navigate almost any terrain.

Fisker Emotion

Move over Tesla, there’s a new electric car in town – although if you didn’t search hard, you’d have missed it at CES. Tucked away in the corner was the Fisker Emotion – an electric supercar with a 400-mile range and claimed top speed of more than 160mph. With similar dimensions to a Tesla Model S, the Fisker has mad butterfly front and rear doors controlled by a smartphone, three screens inside for the driver and autonomous capabilities. First models are due in 2020 and it’ll cost £96,000.

Byton Concept

With a former BMW i executive at the tiller of the company, Chinese-owned Byton is hoping its electric concept car will be a hit. With a 469bhp power train, and a 323-mile range the car debuts a whopping dashboard-wide screen to give the driver all the information they could dream of. Available with two power options – buyers will be able to pick from a 268bhp rear-wheel drive version, or four-wheel drive 469bhp option. The batteries form part of the chassis and instead of door handles it uses facial recognition cameras to unlock the doors. It is due to enter production next year at a cost of £33,200.

If I’ve learned one thing about travelling to America, it’s this: Don’t ever get a connecting flight anywhere. Ever.

Ok, so there’s plenty of other things I’ve learned along the way too. Like the fact you can turn right on a red light, that you have to pay for fuel before using any and they like to put cheese on everything. Even fruit.

But when I write my memoirs of life on the road as a motoring journalist (which will be never), that key connecting flight point will ride high in the chapter list.

Journey from hell

Why? Well, I write this after 46 hours of travelling to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show. It should have been a simple journey, but turned into one from hell – but thankfully was made a little sweeter by a car.

Let’s rewind a few, painful hours to where it all went horribly wrong. I’d got off a BA flight from Heathrow to Dallas. I’d enjoyed free wine, watched a not altogether terrible film and slept soundly for a good few hours. Life was good.

Immigration woe

But then Dallas took all that away. Thousands of people stood in the queue for immigration and despite some high viz, queue jumping ticket thrust into my hand, entering the promised land was tough.

Quite why America still has a ridiculous problem processing visitors is beyond me. This is the home of Google, of Apple, of some of greatest business brains in the world. Why one of them can’t put some of their cranial activity to one side for a week and solve the issue of getting humans through its immigration halls is beyond me.

Two-headed chickens

To be fair, the orange fast pass helped, but still the process took too long. Time was ticking away for the connecting flight to Vegas. And then all hope of catching it evaporated with the sight of thousands more people trying to get out of the baggage hall.

American borders are cruel, you see. Once you’ve escaped the hell of immigration they make you stand for hours in another line to get out of the baggage hall. A man has to stamp a piece of paper that says you’re not bringing two-headed chickens into the country.

I felt like moaning, but then realised he’d only call me ‘sir’ a lot and had a gun. And if we know one anything about Americans, it’s that they like to use guns.

Missed flight

I ran for the flight, but missed it by minutes. And so began a chain of events that would see me eventually crossing states on an epic road trip to Nevada.

A man behind a counter frowned a lot at me, but said he’d ‘done me a favour’ by getting me on a flight to Phoenix and then on to Vegas.

I made that flight, took a seat next to a huffing man, but it took off two hours late, ruining any chance of me making my next connection in time. There was only one thing for it, I joined the man next to me in the huffing.

New hope

A woman behind a counter at Phoenix told me I was stuck, very cheerfully she did too. How Americans can keep their happy faces on when delivering bad news is another mystery. I can only imagine the same falseness is used on death row. ‘Ok, sir, here’s your needle, have a nice day!’

She booked me on to a flight the next morning, but couldn’t guarantee I’d get a seat. I took the ticket from her, smiled, and threw it in the nearest bin.

Google Maps told me a road trip to Vegas would take about six hours, so the hunt for a car began. Avis came up trumps with a Ford Mustang – sadly not a V8, but a decent V6 – and within half an hour I was driving it to the cheap motel the airline had booked for me.

Flew to Dallas. Immigration misery and baggage cock up meant missed connecting flight. Got another to Phoenix. That was delayed too so missed connection to Vegas. Now stuck in Phoenix so done the only sensible thing… screw you planes pic.twitter.com/A3bdTLGbcW

— James Baggott (@CarDealerEd) January 8, 2018

Hire car win

It’s incredibly easy to book a car in the States – a driving licence and credit card is all you need – and they didn’t even sniff at the fact I’d be driving it 300 miles away from where I picked it up.
The next morning I hit the road. Driving past Phoenix airport I rose a salute to the planes reaching skyward – this Mustang a way of improving a rather desperate few days.

With some soft rock on the radio, I was on my way, heading north towards Kingman on I93. The dual carriageway bumps and grinds its way through huge landscapes, a forest of Joshua Trees at the roadside swaying gently as huge articulated trucks thunder past.

Interstate cruising

My Mustang settles into a cruise, the comfortable seats worn cosy by the hundreds of borrowers who’ve already added 19,000 miles to the Ford. It’s not until you take to the road, that you realise quite how big America is. It’s not just the portions, or the soft drinks that are super-sized – the roads, the skyline and scenery are all of epic proportions too.

I watch countless RVs rumbling down the road – these don’t tow Fiat 500s or Smart cars behind them, like in the UK, I spot one towing a Volvo S80 saloon and another a Range Rover.

Lunch of champions

On the Arizona radio station I’m tuned to, a dust storm warning is issued. When it strikes, it says, stop the car, wind up the windows, turn on your lights and sit it out. All I see ahead, though, is rain sweeping its way across the plains like a shower curtain.

I stop in Kingman for some reward lunch. The famous In N Out burger illuminated sign rises high above the freeway, showing me the way. American motorways are brilliantly signposted for food (funny that), with huge signs telling you what delights can be found off each junction.

I’d been holding on for an In N Out. Their simple menu – burgers with or without cheese, and fries – is something even the country’s floppy haired leader can understand. It’s delivered in baskets and is deliciously dripping in calories. Needless to say, the burger joint is rammed with happy clientele.

Sightseeing gold

As I leave Kingman, still heading north on the I93, I start to see signs for the Hoover Dam. I’m late for the CES show in Las Vegas now and have missed most of the action, so decide to stop. Let’s face it, how often do you happen to be passing a landmark as iconic as this?

I pull off the freeway and roll up to a security post. There the guard tells me I can drive across the dam and park for free on the Arizona side.

Creeping over the huge structure, built in 1931 during the Great Depression, in this modern Mustang, feels surreal. I park up, jump out and marvel at the sheer scale of it. Pictures do not do the enormity of it justice.

Trump towers

An hour later I’m pulling up at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas at rental car returns. The 300-mile journey has taken me around eight hours and has been far less stressful – and a lot more memorable – than a few more awful hours in a tin can in the sky.

I rescue my bag from the airport – it made it to Vegas long before I did – and find an Uber to take me to the bright lights of the city. It’s pouring with rain as I arrive at Trump International hotel, the gold and chintz of the place as tacky as the rest of Vegas.

It’s nearly two days since I left home, I’m still wearing the same clothes, but I’m smiling. Coming to America shouldn’t be this tough, but when it is, a Mustang and the open road can make things feel a whole lot better. Maybe, missing those connecting flights isn’t such a bad thing after all.

Over the past 50 years, three letters have resonated deeply in the motoring world – GTI. Applied to some of the greatest road cars of all time, it’s come to represent a genuinely involving driving experience.

Though most remember it for its application on the Golf, the GTI badge has found its way onto a number of other Volkswagen cars too – and here’s 10 of the best combined.

Lupo GTI
2001-2004

The little Lupo was, as standard, a very popular city car. Compact in proportions yet spacious inside, first time drivers and those looking for low running costs loved the Lupo. However, the GTI was there for motoring enthusiasts.

Powered by a 1.6-litre engine with 125bhp, the Lupo GTI could hit 60mph in under eight seconds and, thanks to tuned suspension and sticky tyres, was an absolute hoot in the bends, too.

MK1 Golf GTI
1975-1983

The original, and possibly one of the most iconic hot hatches of all time. The MK1 Golf GTI followed a simple formula; low weight, just enough power to keep things interesting, and neat handling. Capable of hitting 60mph in eight seconds, the Golf GTI was quick for the time, while remaining practical thanks to its hatchback bodystyle.

Now a cult classic, prices for MK1 Golf GTIs in good condition are constantly rising.

MK2 Golf GTI
1983-1991

The second-generation Golf GTI had a difficult task on its hands, as it followed in the footsteps of the much-heralded MK1. Though larger and heavier than that first GTI, the MK2 offered a more grown-up driving experience – though still an exciting one.

Initially offered with a 1.8-litre engine, with just under 110bhp. Later on, a more powerful 16 valve version was released – giving drivers a little more punch. A facelifted ‘Big Bumper’ version was introduced around 15 years later than the GTI’s first reveal.

MK7 Golf GTI
2017-

The most recent GTI released, the MK7 Golf brought more technology and power to the line than ever before. A turbocharged 2.0-litre engine pushes the Golf to 60mph in under 6.5 seconds, while sports suspension allows the GTI to remain agile in the bends.

Though larger than ever, the latest GTI is still instantly recognisable thanks to red trim in the front grille, and tartan cloth seats inside – just the same as you’ll find in the first MK1 GTI.

MK5 Polo GTI
2011-2015

The Volkswagen Polo GTI was closer in size to the original GTI, and, thanks to a 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged engine it could hit 60mph in under seven seconds. In addition, it came with a good level of practicality, and enough space inside for four.

A typically high level of build quality had been applied throughout, but was criticised for being too grown-up. However, it did show Volkswagen expanding the GTI name into other areas other than just the Golf.

Up! GTI
2018-

Though yet to arrive on UK roads, the Up! GTI promises to be one of the most interesting cars to wear the GTI moniker yet. Despite using a small 1.0-litre turbocharged engine, it’s claimed to be able to hit 60mph in just over eight seconds – close to identical to the original GTI’s time.

Similar in size to the Lupo GTI, the Up! GTI is ideal for UK B-roads, with enough power to keep things interesting yet not too much to make it serious.

MK5 Golf GTI
2005-2009

The MK5 GTI was a true leap forward for the range, following on from the disappointing MK4. Engine capacity was up from 1.8 to 2.0-litres, endowing the GTI with a healthy 197bhp. It was also, for the first time, available with a dual-clutch DSG gearbox, offering fast gear changes as well as refinement on longer trips.

The MK5 GTI represented a return to form, not least because it was fitted with true performance mechanicals.

Polo GTI
2018-

Again, in a similar vein to the Up! GTI, the new Polo GTI has yet to arrive in the UK. More powerful than the older model – though only by 7bhp – it’s aiming to be more involving and direct to drive than the first-generation Polo GTI.

The suspension has been firmed up for better cornering while, interesting, it’s going to be offered initially with only a dual-clutch DSG gearbox – though a manual is expected to arrive later.

MK3 Golf GTI
1992-1997

Though larger and heavier than ever before, the MK3 GTI is now starting to look like somewhat of a future collectors’ item. Originally somewhat lacking in power – particularly when compared to the lighter MK1 – it was soon boosted with a 16 valve model.

It was also the most spacious GTI made up until that point, and was more refined than ever before, meaning that drivers could travel further in more comfort.

MK4 Golf GTI
1997-2004

It’s lower down the list for a reason, but in terms of natural progression the MK4 GTI needs to be included here. Yes, it may not have been the most involving to drive nor the sportiest looking, but without it Volkswagen wouldn’t have redoubled its efforts and created the MK5.

It was, at least, comfortable to drive over long distances and looked unassuming enough to be parked anywhere safely – but it lacked the sparkle that people expect from a GTI.