Category: News

For BMW aficionados, the 3 Series Touring is something of a legend. To outsiders it might seem like just another estate, but over the years it has built a reputation as the thinking man’s 3 Series, packing style and practicality into a great-to-drive package.

What’s more, while you might expect the birth of such a model to come from boring business people poring over sales statistics to decide whether a load-lugging version of the popular saloon would be a good idea, its story starts in a much more interesting way…

E30

BMW bosses had not planned to offer an estate version of the second-generation 3 Series because no rival models did, and none offered enough practicality for the 3 Series to be left behind. However, a prototype engineer called Max Reisböck was getting frustrated at the lack of space in the saloon for his family.

He bought a wrecked saloon and set about creating a wagon version in just six months. Friends encouraged him to show the BMW board, and they loved it so much they asked to keep the prototype to study it. Within three years, a production model was on the market.

Over 100,000 were sold, with both petrol and diesel, and rear- and all-wheel drive options.

E36

Following the warm reception of the previous generation, BMW knew it was on to a winner with the 3 Series estate. The E30 might not have been a huge sales success, but it showed there was appetite for the body shape, and it was simply ahead of its time.

With the 1990s and the third-generation 3 Series, BMW’s rivals had caught on. Both Audi and Mercedes-Benz now offered estates, so the E36 had to be good.

Fortunately, it was. Unlike huge modern estates, the E36 was more like a big hatchback, offering lightweight construction and a focus on being fun for the driver. Many enthusiasts consider the wagon to be the best-looking body style for the E36, even over the coupe and convertible versions.

E46

Arguably the prettiest generation of 3 Series, the Touring was a given now that it had established itself as a market leader. Now well-established, BMW considered creating a high-performance version.

The M3, one of the most iconic and best-loved performance cars of the past few decades, had only been offered in saloon and coupe form, but BMW built a prototype M3 Touring to see if everything would fit together.

It was so far advanced that journalists were invited to drive it, pitched as a PR exercise but almost certainly to also gauge customer interest. Sadly, despite a seemingly positive reception, the E46 M3 Touring never made production.

E91

Based on the E90 saloon that debuted in 2005, the E91 was not the biggest or most practical estate at its price point. However, it still earned admiration and drew customers, thanks in part to BMW’s class-leading chassis dynamics, and the prestige of the badge.

While the E46 was once considered for the M3 treatment, there was never any true, well-founded speculation for the E91. However, the twin-turbo 3.0-litre engine in the 335i delivered 306bhp, and could accelerate from 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds.

Not enough for you? Fortunately, BMW tuning experts Alpina made an estate variant of its B3, which is the closest thing you can get to a factory-built M3 Touring.

F31

By time the F31 generation Touring came into being, it wasn’t lacking competition from within its own model range.

Not only was the saloon version on the market, but there was also the newly-introduced 3 Series Gran Turismo, as well as the coupe and convertible variants, marketed as the 4 Series. The 3 Series Touring was a little closer to some less premium rivals in the practicality stakes, but was still not the most practical estate out there.

G20

The newly-revealed estate version of the current 3 Series is unlikely to provide many surprises. It will drive superbly and be a little down on space relative to some rivals, while still managing to be one of the best estate options out there courtesy of its other abilities.

Of course, the speculation for an M3 variant is bubbling under as always, but it seems unlikely; of course, keeping your fingers crossed won’t hurt!

Nissan is giving the world a taste of the future with an all-electric prototype ice cream van.

The Japanese car manufacturer teamed up with Mackie’s of Scotland, which makes ice cream on a farm powered by wind and solar energy, to show how ‘carbon dependence’ can be removed from production to distribution.

Traditional ice cream vans tend to be diesel models, which need the engine ticking over even when parked to keep the refrigeration equipment running.

However, Nissan’s prototype, which has been built to celebrate Clean Air Day, is based on the firm’s zero-emission, all-electric e-NV200 van. The vehicle runs from a 40kWh battery, while the on-board equipment gets its juice from a new portable power pack called Nissan Energy ROAM, which uses recycled battery cells from the company’s old electric vehicles.

The two packs have a combined storage capacity of 1.4kWh and produce up to 1kWh. They can be recharged from a 230v mains supply in about an hour, or via the roof-mounted solar panels.

Kalyana Sivagnanam, managing director of Nissan Motor GB, said: “Ice cream is enjoyed the world over, but consumers are increasingly mindful of the environmental impact of how we produce such treats, and the ‘last mile’ of how they reach us.

“By eliminating harmful tailpipe emissions and increasing our use of renewable energy, we can help make this a better world for everyone.”

The prototype may not have been launched on a ‘Sundae’ but Nissan no doubt hopes it’s got the competition licked with a van that could lead to hundreds and thousands of sales…

The Porsche 911 is part of an elite club of sportscars whose iconic status is simply not up for debate.

Having endured for the better part of 60 years, the 911 took the foundation set by the 356, and cemented itself and its manufacturer as one of the most prestigious sports car brands out there.

But, while ‘911’ is to Porsche what Hoover is to vacuum cleaners, that’s not to say that the engineers in the factory haven’t produced some other equally impressive vehicles over the years.

Here are the best non-911 Porsches to have ever rolled off the production line.

Boxster/Cayman

When the Boxster first arrived on the scene in 1996, it was looked down upon in some circles for being the Porsche aimed at those who couldn’t afford a 911.

However, as the years went on, the capabilities of this mid-engined drop top grew to be appreciated, with the eventual addition of the hardtop Cayman furthering the appeal of the Boxster platform.

Now labelled collectively as the 718, the Cayman and Boxster have proven themselves to be extremely capable, especially in variants such as the track-focussed GT4.

Cayenne

The Cayenne SUV was a bold choice for the marque, flying in the face of what purists saw as the brand’s identity. The perception of the Cayenne being a turn away from what Porsche had been known for to that point was not helped by the fact that a factory Le Mans racing programme was scrapped in favour of the Cayenne.

However, this move has absolutely paid off. Not only is the Cayenne extremely capable, but – alongside the Boxster – its impressive sales helped Porsche thoroughly remove itself from a raft of early to mid-1990s financial strife.

Carrera GT

While the Cayenne did mean the end of a racing programme at the eleventh hour, the hard work of the engineers wasn’t put to waste.

The 5.7-litre V10 from the scrapped Le Mans car soon found its way into the Carrera GT concept in 2000. The response to this vision of a Porsche supercar was so positive that it was put into production in 2003, and quickly became renowned as one of the most visceral, intense driving experiences in 21st century motoring.

While its spiritual predecessor – the 959 – was largely 911-based, the Carrera GT danced to the beat of its own drum, and let any doubters know that Porsche could still produce magic, even if they were now producing SUVs to keep the bookkeepers happy.

968

When it comes to Porsche’s front-engined offering of the late 70s, 80s and early 90s, it seems that time has done a lot to make the heart grow fonder.

Many customers rejected the 928 – which was pitched as the brand’s new flagship, much to the chagrin of fans and customers – and the other front-engined cars produced by the firm at the time.

However, the last of the breed – the 968 – has become something of a cult classic, with fans growing to recognise its impressive chassis dynamics and 3.0-litre inline-4 engine, which was particularly potent in the later turbocharged variants.

918 Spyder

To say that the 918 Spyder had a lot to live up to is perhaps the mother of all understatements.

Not only was its most obvious predecessor the spectacular Carrera GT, but the 918 nomenclature meant it was also being angled to evoke the spectacular 917 Le Mans race car.

Much like the Carrera GT, the 918 borrowed its 600bhp, 4.6-litre V8 engine from the racing side of the Stuttgart stable; specifically, the RS Spyder of the late-2000s. Deciding this simply wasn’t enough for a flagship hypercar, it was then combined with two electric motors, which added an extra 282bhp.

The result? A combined 875bhp, and courtesy of featherweight construction, the 918 could attack any track or twisty road with aplomb, and accelerate from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds, ultimately continuing on to a top speed of 214mph.

356

While it would be a bold move to argue in favour of this Porsche being the best, it is certainly the original.

First arriving in 1948, the 356 was the first production automobile from Porsche, a name which had already established itself thanks to Ferdinand Porsche Sr.’s work on the likes of the Volkswagen Beetle and Auto Union Grand Prix ‘silver arrows’.

His son ‘Ferry’ then kicked the brand off as a manufacturer with the 356, which was heavily based on the Beetle, and started a legacy that includes its replacement, the 911.

Panamera

Porsche had been experimenting with the idea of a saloon-style car long before the arrival of this car, as can be seen courtesy of the 989 concept of the late-1980s.

Introduced in 2010, the Panamera faced some criticism for its dumpy styling, which would ultimately be rectified when the second-generation model was introduced in 2017.

However, regardless of the look, the Panamera has always been acknowledged as an extremely capable car in the bends, and serves as further proof that Porsche is anything but a one-trick pony.

Summer is now upon us, and it’s the perfect time to take to the roads and enjoy the lighter evenings and (mostly) dry weather.

But what are the best cars in which to do that? Well, we’ve picked out some of the best – and all for a £15,000 budget.

Mazda MX-5

The MX-5 is a bit of an obvious choice when it comes to summer cars. It’s a drop-top, for starters, which means you can fully enjoy the summer sun when it finally arrives. It’s also involving to drive, as well as reliable and relatively cheap to run, too.

Our budget is enough to nab a current-generation car too, representing impressive value for money. There’s the choice of either a 1.5 or 2.0-litre powered version.

Bentley Turbo R

If you’re going to make the most of the summer, then why not do it in style? Enter the Bentley Turbo R. With a 6.7-litre V8 it’s immensely powerful, and will quickly waft you from point A to point B in effortless luxury.

Fortunately, you can actually grab a Turbo R for around £10,000, which works well for our budget – as we’d keep the remaining £5,000 aside for repairs, maintenance and even fuelling the thing – a full tank will cost over £130.

Porsche Boxster

Debuting as the pint-sized Porsche for those who couldn’t quite afford a 911, the Boxster has carved out a fanbase and market all of its own over the course of a 20+ year career to date.

For this money, both the first and second-generation Boxster are comfortably available. Take a look at the post-2007 Boxster S for optimum performance; it comes equipped with a 291bhp, 3.4-litre flat-six engine, which sounds and goes like a Porsche should.

Audi S1

Audi’s pocket-sized A1 may have been the last car people expected the German firm to give its ‘S’ treatment to, but it did – resulting in the S1. With a 2.0-litre engine under the bonnet giving 227bhp to play with, its performance far exceed what its cutesy looks would lead you to believe.

It’s a car which will make any countryside blast a joy, but it does the everyday jobs very well too – so there should be a grin on your face even during the daily commute.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak

A pick-up is always an enjoyable mode of summertime transport, and the Ford Ranger Wildtrak is a great option. It’s big, brash and in-your-face, but that’s what you’d expect from a big pick-up truck.

It’s available with a 3.2-litre V6 for our budget, giving the Ranger Wildtrak plenty of performance to go with its looks.

Land Rover Defender

In truth, the Defender is perhaps the car for all weather, but it certainly suits the sun.  At under £15,000 you can find quite a few factory-spec vehicles, many of which are currently geared more for commercial use, as well as many examples that have been tastefully modified by previous owners.

If you’re thinking of making a trip to Cornwall over the summer for a spot of surfing, the Defender certainly stands out alongside the heavy contingent of VW Californias in the beach car park.

Vauxhall VXR8

As many may already know, the VXR8 is a Vauxhall in name only. The reality is this car is a production of General Motors’ Australian subsidy Holden, more specifically, its Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) performance division. This lump of Aussie muscle borrows the 6.2-litre V8 from a Chevrolet Corvette, with 430bhp on tap.

Whether you want a hairy drive on a B-Road, or the opportunity to draw eyes at the many summertime car meets across the country, the VXR8 has to be a candidate.

Renault Avantime

Is an MPV really a summer car? In this instance, absolutely.

Thanks to a large sunroof and minimal pillars, the interior of the Avantime is a very light place to be. Plus, the push of just one button puts into ‘grand air’ mode, which retracts all windows and the sunroof, thus effectively making the car convertible.

The only downside is that these cars are rare, and so they are far more costly than you would expect an over 15-year-old MPV to be – but if you want something that stands out, this is the car for you.

Jaguar XK Convertible

What would such a list be without a V8, drop-top sports car?

Jaguar’s take on grand touring was one of the most impressive convertibles out there in the late-2000s, with its 4.2-litre V8 making a pleasing rumble, and offering up a pleasing portion of performance to boot.  Producing 300bhp, the 4.2-litre motor was later superseded by a 5.0-litre unit in 2009, but you’re unlikely to find the newer, more powerful cars at this price point.

Mini Convertible

If you want something chic that suits the city, look no further than the Mini.

Having produced a convertible for each generation to date since BMW took the reins, there are no shortage of drop-top Minis out there for you to choose from. For this money, you can comfortably find a current-generation example, or one of the higher-spec John Cooper Works variants from its previous incarnation.

With the government wanting only cars that are “effectively zero emissions” being sold in the UK by 2040, and ultra-low emission zones popping up in cities as local authorities try to tackle air pollution, electric vehicles are becoming more popular.

However, the buying public have been slow to uptake EVs, with legitimate concerns about range and recharging and less legitimate worries about stuff like whether you can drive them in the rain. (Of course you can.)

To encourage motorists into zero-emission cars, the government has put a plug-in car grant in place to make EVs more affordable. How do you take advantage of this discount? Read on…

What types of vehicle are targeted?

The plug-in grant doesn’t just apply to cars, it’s also applicable for vans, motorcycles, mopeds and taxis, so long as their official emissions figures fall under the amount specified in the legislation.

What are the categories?

The criteria required for a vehicle to be eligible for the grant is different depending on the type of vehicle. For cars and taxis, they must emit less than 50g/km of CO2 and travel at least 70 miles without any emissions at all.

Motorcycles must have zero emissions and travel at least 31 miles between charges. Mopeds can’t have any emissions either, but only have to travel at least 19 miles on a charge. Finally, vans must have emissions of less than 75g/km and travel at least 10 miles between charges.

How much can I save?

Again, this depends on the category. Car buyers can save 35 per cent of the vehicle’s value up to a maximum of £3,500, while motorcycle and moped buyers can get 20 per cent, up to a maximum of £1,500.

The biggest potential savings are for van and taxi drivers, who can save 20 per cent of the vehicle’s value up to £8,000 and £7,500 respectively.

Which cars does this apply to?

There are currently 24 cars, 13 motorcycles, 16 mopeds, 11 vans and one taxi eligible for the grant. The full list is available on the government’s website.

There are a wide variety of cars available, ranging from relatively inexpensive superminis like the Renault Zoe and Smart EQ Fortwo, up to more premium options such as the Audi e-tron and Tesla Model S.

In the taxi category, the only eligible option is the LEVC TX, which is the latest generation of London black cab. It runs purely from an electric motor but has a petrol engine acting like a generator to recharge the batteries when necessary.

What do I need to do to get it?

Absolutely nothing. The beauty of this grant is that there’s no onus on you to fill out forms or chase rebates – the grant is automatically applied to the cost of the car and the government reimburses the dealer or manufacturer you’ve bought the car from.

 

Sometimes rules are made to be broken. But when producing a product, be it a car or a carpet, it’s often best to go along with the crowd rather than breaking the mould.

However, making the bold decision to do something different can sometimes have spectacular, popular results, and that’s been proven to be the case on numerous occasions in the motoring industry.

Be it a move away from what the rest of the industry is doing, or a departure from what the brand is typically known for, these are the new cars that defy current conventions with exciting consequences.

Aston Martin Vantage AMR

The automatic gearbox has become the go-to installation for practically every high-end car on the market, and even though many cars will have Formula One-style flappy paddles to their name, plenty of car enthusiasts lament the loss of the manual gearbox.

Aston Martin responded to the woes of manual gearbox fans with the Vantage AMR. In this track-centric version of its baby sports car, the Mercedes-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox is ditched in favour of a seven-speed manual transmission.

Naturally, the purists have rejoiced.

Morgan Plus Six

Almost as quickly as Aston Martin endeared itself to the old guard, Morgan made them revolt.

The Morgan Plus Six was extremely divisive when it was revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The Worcestershire-based firm has always been known for cars that were strictly analogue, and often built from a log too.

But, while the turbocharged, automatic-gearbox’d Plus Six is certainly a departure for the company, it is likely going to be spectacular; it’s set to be the quickest Morgan ever, with a top speed in excess of 170mph, and a mere 1075kg curb weight.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

Typically, the ‘sporty’ version of an SUV is nothing more than a bodykit, but in recent times, the market for truly unhinged high-riders has soared.

Leading the way in this sector is the ballistic Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which borrows the 697bhp, 6.2-litre supercharged V8 from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat muscle car.

This allows the Trackhawk to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.5 seconds, and push it on to a top speed of 180mph.

To say that is a ‘proper’ performance SUV is putting it lightly.

Audi SQ5

After a brief spell as a petrol-powered car, the performance-centric Audi SQ5 has returned to a diesel motor, sailing against the tide of the industry at large.

The new SQ5 features a 342bhp, 3.0-litre unit that produces a hefty 700Nm of torque.

It’s impressively efficient too, with a claimed 41.5mpg. This is partially down to a mild hybrid system, which makes use of the braking energy that is otherwise wasted.

Lamborghini Urus

Yes, Lamborghini has made an off-roader before; the rough and ready, military-purposed LM002. And, given that the firm first built tractors, and still does so today, you could say that a certain level of precedent exists for a high-riding Lambo.

However, the Urus is definitely a major departure from Lamborghini’s typical oeuvre.

There’s nothing particularly shouty or dramatic about the Urus; it features a 4.0-litre twin turbocharged V8 found in many other Volkswagen Group products, and it shares its platform with Audi’s Q7, the Bentley Bentayga and other large SUVs from the German-owned family of brands.

However, it is certainly a capable performance SUV, and regardless of what traditionalists think, it seems like a car that’s going to sell in droves.

Making cars is a complicated and expensive business. That’s why manufacturers often team up to share technologies and know how. It makes the process simpler and cheaper, and the end result is often beneficial to the consumer.

However, these alliances can fly under the radar of the regular punter. Even if you’re aware that companies work together, you might be surprised to learn just how deep some of these alliances run. So we’ve put together a list of some of the biggest and most surprising automotive alliances in the industry…

VW Group

This is the one that most people know but perhaps aren’t aware just how deep the parts sharing goes. The VW Group owns a huge number of manufacturers including Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat, Skoda… and Volkswagen, unsurprisingly.

The vast majority of vehicles, particularly in the more mainstream brands, use a shared ‘platform’ known as MQB. What this means is that ‘hard points’ are standardised, so stuff like crash structures, engine mount points and electrical system mount points are all the same.

Therefore, VW Group manufacturers can fit a variety of engine types, infotainment systems and everything else you can think of, so long as they’re built to fit the platform. Other parts get shared, too. The engine, for example, could be essentially the same in a Seat or Skoda.

The downside is that all of these models can feel the same, but VW has done a pretty good job of giving each a slightly distinct character.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance

This trio has been making headlines recently. It has been involved with a potential merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles that, if it had gone through, would have created one of the biggest car makers in the world.

Instead, the trio remains in a strategic alliance that sees them share technology and know-how to advance their research and development more quickly and for less money.

Ionity

As the industry shifts towards electrification, creating all-new powertrains and the networks to support them are proving too daunting for manufacturers to go alone. That’s why we’re seeing a few unlikely partnerships begin to blossom, none more so than Ionity.

This is a new high-speed electric vehicle recharging network that’s being funded by BMW Group, Daimler, Ford, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche. There are some rivals here – direct and indirect – which shows just how seriously these carmakers are taking the need to build EV infrastructure quickly. It’s all for the greater good…

Toyota and BMW

There has been speculation about a new Supra, Toyota’s iconic sports car, ever since the last generation went off sale in 2002. This year, finally, the icon was reborn – and it was largely thanks to BMW.

Back in 2012, Toyota had decided it wanted to remake its sports car, but wanted it to have an inline-six-cylinder engine like the old one. It didn’t make one anymore, but BMW did, and rather than invest in a new engine for a single, low-volume car, bosses flew to Germany to make a deal with the Germans.

They eventually agreed to collaborate on a project that would see Toyota help fund the development of a pair of sports cars — the Supra and the latest Z4 — using a BMW engine.

Toyota and Suzuki

One of the more UK-relevant collaborations here is, perhaps unexpectedly, between two Japanese firms. Toyota currently builds its European market Corolla here in the UK, and the underpinnings for that car will soon form the basis of a Suzuki car — quite likely the next-generation Baleno.

Like the Corolla, it will be built in the UK at Toyota’s Derby plant, with the firms also collaborating on the development of hybrid technologies going forward.

Hyundai and Rimac

Rimac is a very niche manufacturer of electric supercars, so it may be strange to hear that Hyundai — one of the largest firms in the world — is looking to them for development assistance. Well, that’s exactly what it’s doing with its upcoming halo ‘N’ car, because the bigger part of Rimac’s business is building and selling electric vehicle components, such as batteries and powertrains.

N is Hyundai’s performance arm, and it has never made a full-blown sports car before. With that in mind, it makes sense to utilise the expertise of a boutique supercar manufacturer to aid with developing a serious machine. Rimac isn’t getting the short end of the stick either, with a reported $90m (about £71m) invested into the firm by Hyundai.

Volvo and Uber

You may think of Uber as just a ride-hailing app, but there’s much more to the firm than just that. In recent years, it has been working with the Swedish premium car manufacturer to accelerate development on driverless cars with the goal of using the tech as part of its service.

The two firms just showcased what is reportedly the first ever production-ready self-driving car — an XC90 SUV kitted out with an abundance of radars and sensors. No word on plans for sales though, with current legislation likely to hinder public availability anytime soon.

Aston Martin and Mercedes

Considering Aston Martin is such an icon of British history, it might shock you to learn that it is part-owned by Mercedes’ parent company Daimler. With a five per cent stake, the Germans don’t have much say in the running of the company, but it does mean Aston Martin gets access to AMG’s fantastic V8 engine (as well as some other less exciting bits like interior switchgear).

Aston Martin is still largely creating its own cars, responsible for the design, platform and development of its V12 engines, but this deal with Daimler reduces development costs and complexity – vital for such a small company.

There are few manufacturers which don’t offer an SUV of some kind. They range from dinky compact versions, right the way to full-fat seven-seater versions. And sitting at the top of the range are the luxury SUVs, offering drivers a truly premium experience.

There are several on the market today, and we’ve picked out some of the very best luxury SUVs available.

Bentley Bentayga

Bentley’s Bentayga aims to deliver everything you’d expect from one of the Crewe-based manufacturer’s luxury sports cars, but in a larger and more off-road orientated package.

Though its looks aren’t as natural as the rest of Bentley’s line-up, the Bentayga certainly fits the bill when it comes to luxury. It’s also impressive when it comes to performance, outpacing many conventional sports cars.

Audi Q7

This list is dominated by Volkswagen Group vehicles, and the Audi Q7 is one such example. It shares a platform with the Bentayga – and the Lamborghini Urus as well for that matter – but manages to undercut both in terms of price.

It still offers a premium ownership experience, however. There’s plenty of standard equipment, and seven-seats too, which makes it a great choice for larger families.

Mercedes GLS

Sitting atop Mercedes’ range of SUVs is this – the GLS. Effectively the S-Class of SUV vehicles in the firm’s range of off-roaders, it packs seven seats and a wealth of technology. It’s been recently updated too, sharpening its looks and bringing it closer into line with the rest of the company’s cars.

If you’re after a more luxurious experience then a six-seater version is available, with two single aircraft-style seats in the middle row replacing the traditional bench.

Lamborghini Urus

Lamborghini would be one of the last car manufacturers you’d expect to create a modern SUV. It’s been historically angled towards big, flamboyant supercars (though it did make one short-lived off-roader), so the Urus came as a bit of a surprise when it was revealed.

It certainly lies on the sportier end of the spectrum, but still gets all manner of high-end materials and technology.

BMW X7

If you’re looking for something with a tank-like presence but with an upmarket interior there are few SUVs that do it better than this big BMW. Some cars hide their size well, but the X7 embraces its heft, going for an intimidating look rather than something more sleek and sophisticated.

On the positive side, it’s supremely comfortable to drive and gets your typical BMW interior, which means top-end materials and the firm’s excellent iDrive infotainment system. The downside is its sheer size, while there’s no getting away from the fact BMW’s top-level luxury models just don’t quite match up to the opulence of Mercedes’.

Range Rover

Range Rover’s offerings are quintessentially British, providing plenty of badge appeal and great driving dynamics, coupled with almost limitless off-road capabilities. For true premium appeal, the basic Range Rover can’t be beaten, especially in its high-end Autobiography trim.

Here you get four-zone climate control that can be optimised for different passengers, LED headlights, luxury leather seating, a high-end surround sound system, and the same serene driving experience you expect from lesser models.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

When Rolls-Royce first revealed it was to make an SUV, many enthusiasts were up in arms. However, it makes perfect sense from a business point of view, and you just know the British luxury car maker was never going to mess it up.

Enter the Cullinan, which is admittedly awkward in its styling but no less elegantly imposing than more established models like the Phantom and Ghost. Inside it’s just as luxurious as you’d expect, with some crazy options such as a cool box with bespoke whiskey glasses, a drawer in the boot built to cater to your favourite past-time, and rear-facing seats with a cocktail table. Exquisite.

Tesla Model X

Tesla has built a reputation for itself as the industry-leader when it comes to electric cars. It has built a niche for itself in that regard, building premium vehicles with zero emissions. The Model X is its SUV model, and it’s a highly desirable thing even if you’re not an ‘eco-warrior’.

Its gullwing doors are still fascinating all these years after they were first revealed, its huge windscreen makes it lovely and airy, and those quibbles about build quality have largely been addressed. And with 300-plus miles of range in some configurations, range anxiety need not be a thing.

Going sideways in a car. It’s something that a lot of us have seen, be that on the internet (where many people are captured getting it horribly wrong) or even in the local empty supermarket car park.

But it’s something that isn’t advisable, nor really legal, out on the public road. The best place to learn about car control is always on private land with plenty of space, few things to hit and – most importantly – no one around.

The Caterham Seven, meanwhile, isn’t a car you’d usually associate with drifting. Though it has the go-to combination of being rear-wheel-drive and relatively highly-powered, it’s a car which is more focused on handling and grip rather than smoking tyres and hitting big angles.

The Caterham Drifting Experience, however, aims to go against that. It’s a new experience, created in partnership with MotorSport Vision (MSV) to give people the opportunity to go drifting in a Seven. And we’ve been given the chance to try it out before it goes live.

It’s being hosted at Brands Hatch, and though this may conjure up visions of attacking bends on the track – which is going to form part of the experience, albeit at additional cost – we’d be focussing on drift sections, which takes place in one of Brands’ large paddocks.

We’re shown to the cars and, to begin with, they appear to be like any old 270R model. Sure enough, they use the same 1.6-litre petrol engine with 135bhp as you’d find in the road-going Seven, but there have been some subtle changes made to them in order to better their ability to go sideways.

Chief among these are the tyres. Though the fronts are sticky, like you’d expect to find on any Caterham, the rears are effectively van tyres – and they’ve been pumped up to rock solid levels. It means that while the front of the car will generate plenty of traction, the rear will be free to slip around.

First, we’re let loose around a coned track with an instructor sat beside us. Immediately, the difference is noticeable and though we’re taking things slow to begin with, the car is eager to step out with the merest hint of throttle.

We’re given a few ‘settling’ loops of the circuit of cones, prodding the throttle and feeling the car begin to slide. It’s wonderfully progressive, and the Caterham’s dinky little steering wheel is easy to navigate. The finale of the loop is a doughnut – which you’d think would require you to mash the throttle to the floor and apply some steering angle.

But in reality that isn’t the case. There’s an initial, sharp snatch of throttle needed to unsettle the car, and then routine stabs of gas to ensure it keeps rotating, consistently adjusting the steering to keep it going in one, perfect circle. It’s a lot harder than it looks, but before long it’s all knitting together.

Trying out Caterham’s new drift experience today. Sticky front tyres on the car, van ones at the back. Here’s rare, never-before-seen footage of @WillBeaumont going sideways too. pic.twitter.com/LjWCIyBtzl

— Jack Evans (@jackrober) May 22, 2019

The instructor then clambers out of the Seven (exiting a Caterham has never been a graceful thing), and we’re given the chance to attack the course completely solo. It’s akin to the teacher stepping out of the class; all of a sudden you’re committing more throttle, taking corners at greater speeds and testing your bravery on each new loop of the track. Most of the time it all comes together, though on many occasions it doesn’t – in spectacular fashion, we’d add.

The organisers then announce that the course is being re-jigged. Rather than a simple single cone to doughnut around, there would be a figure of eight section to navigate. It means you have to enter the area sideways, rotate around the cone and allow the car to naturally pendulum in the opposite direction to travel in, predictably, a figure of eight.

Again, it’s a case of sounding easier than it is. The initial slip is fine – it’s just the same as the previous exercise – but tying it together in one, fluid figure of eight takes some practice. Thankfully we manage to avoid hitting the cones – and only once over-do a slide – and soon have an eight-shaped drift on the go. It’s addictive stuff; each time you come back in, you’re raring to have another crack at it.

The Seven itself is a breeze to control. Though the unassisted steering is a touch heavy to begin with, once up to speed it becomes second nature. The instant throttle response makes judging how much gas the car needs easy, and the brakes (though not all that needed) provide enough stopping power to quickly unsettle the car, and make it easier to slide.

We come to a halt, and before we know it the day has come to an end. Not only has it been huge amounts of fun, but it’s been informative too – the way a car reacts on the very limit of grip showcases so much about weight transfer and responses that it could improve the way you deal with driving in slippery conditions, or if you were to start sliding in an emergency situation.

This event isn’t something exclusive to journalists, either. It’s going to be a new experience offer located permanently at Brands Hatch. Each drift session costs £189 and consists of three hours of driving. For those looking for more of a challenge, there’s a track experience too. For £549, it gets you six sessions of 15 minutes, and is conducted alongside pre-existing track day events.

Lamborghini is already one of the wackiest car brands on the go. In an age of downsizing engines, electric vehicles and autonomy, it’s refreshing to see a brand so hellbent on keeping big naturally-aspirated V10 and V12 engines.

If you think Lamborghini’s road car efforts are wild though, they still have nothing on some of the concept vehicles the Italian firm has crafted over the years. We’ve picked out some of its best…

Huracan Sterrato

Though the newest concept here, having just been recently revealed, the Huracan Sterrato is definitely deserving of the title of one of Lamborghini’s wildest creations.

Based on the not too tame V10-powered Huracan supercar, it’s an off-road ready monster. The Sterrato gets treated to a 47mm suspension lift to help it clear rougher terrains, while beefy tyres have been introduced to reduce the risk of damage while increasing grip on looser surfaces. Further still, inside there’s a titanium rollcage, a four-point racing harness and new carbon fibre seats. Completing the look is an LED light strip stuck on the roof, because why not?

Estoque

The Lamborghini Estoque was never meant to remain as a one-off, so it’s something of a sad inclusion on this list.

It was the firm’s showcase of how cool it could make a saloon look, and it had enthusiasts across the world frothing at the mouth. The long, sleek angular design was classy yet had a trademark Lamborghini flair thanks to its aggressive visuals that would go on to make the face of the Aventador. Better still, it housed a V10 up front. Lamborghini always teased the idea of production, but sadly it never happened and the Estoque remains a concept to this day.

Asterion

It’s hard to think of a world where Lamborghinis go electrified. If the Asterion is anything to go by though, it perhaps wouldn’t be as sacrilegious as it sounds.

This dinky would-be Huracan successor has the modern Lamborghini hallmarks — dramatic styling and a screeching V10 in the middle. While yes, there is the addition of electric motors, they only serve to make this even more ‘Lamborghini’ — taking power to a combined figure in excess of 900bhp. If that’s the future of the Italian firm, we have no complaints.

Terzo Millennio

The Terzo Millennio – which means “third millennium” – was a collaboration between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Lamborghini to design the sports car of the future. The pair described it as more of a ‘thinking box’ than a preview of a production car.

It was an electric vehicle, but used supercapacitors instead of batteries because they can store and discharge energy more quickly. These fed an electric motor in each wheel, which would have made it all-wheel-drive.

If Lamborghini does create an all-electric supercar in the future, this is an exciting preview of what it could be like.

Egoista

With Lamborghini’s extrovert styling, it could be argued that you need an ego to drive one. In 2013, the Italian manufacturer celebrated that fact in a 50th anniversary gift to itself in the form of the Egoista, which translates as ‘selfish’.

Based on the Gallardo, it featured a 5.2-litre V10 engine making 600bhp. However, the Gallardo’s body was thrown to one side and in its place was placed a futuristic, angular design with a single-seat cockpit.

Aventador J

What do you do if you work at Lamborghini and the boss says “I want something special for the Geneva motor show, and you have six weeks to do it”? Well, the first thing is probably flap about a bit in a panic. But then you chop the roof off your flagship supercar and create something special.

Rumour had it the Aventador J was created for a very wealthy customer, but it turns out it was an exciting internal project. Lambo engineers took the roof and windscreen off the Aventador and gave it more aggressive front and rear bumpers – as if it needed them. The result is an astonishingly stylish one-off bull.