Author: Robin Roberts

Genesis was slow coming into Britain but it has accelerated is pace and progress. After a long spell in the US, Genesis arrived in the UK in summer 2021, initially into the business-backed fleet sector where it promised unrivalled VIP buying and service arrangements through direct sales and ‘studios’ with a “we come to you” business model for exclusivity. After gradually building up its brand and range from pure petrol or diesel models it eased into the ev-sector as well. Behind the scenes it also migrated from a stand-alone brand as the halo of the Hyundai Group – which also…

The Kia EV4 is a landmark model for the brand and possibly the UK car market. The EV4 breaks new ground for Kia as the first zero emissions model made in their Slovakian factory and their first hatchback model to have an electric powertrain. Building on the success of the more utilitarian EV3 BEV, the new model is aimed at the markets for Hatchback and Fastback buyers and delivers a far more sporting drive as well. Its careful pricing with initial finance contributions from UK Government and Kia finance build on its practical roomy and spacious package. There is also…

Ford has taken a traditionally cautious approach towards its pure electric range and it’s reaping the benefits without disappointing familiar buyers and going out on a limb. It has scaled back on its pure EV future and written off £14.5Billion investment as it refocuses on future models. Broadly, it is going to fall in line with rivals who are now preparing to offer a range of petrol, mild and plug-in hybrids along with pure electric models in selected markets. It wants to have the widest possible appeal to a very diverse customer base. So, the highly successful stylish petrol Puma…

The number of new cars registered in the UK exceeded two million last year for the first time since the pandemic. Nearly 500,000 of the new cars sold were electric, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes, welcomed what he called a “reasonably solid result amid tough economic and geopolitical headwinds”. But electric car sales were still not increasing fast enough to meet official targets, he said, warning of a growing gap between consumer demand and the government’s ambitions. Discounts worth thousands per vehicle were “unsustainable”, he said. In total,…

Audi has dealt a clever hand and a blow to rivals by offering petrol or diesel mild hybrid new versions of its highly popular Q5 rather than go down the pure electric road now being taken by competitors. It is, simply, building and selling the cars customers are asking for in their lives. They are also a lot cheaper than pure battery electric vehicles. While initially sold with a self-charging 48-volt motor, there will be plug in hybrids joining the range in the near future. Now in its third series, the range comprises six versions with petrol or diesel engines,…

International Motors Ltd, a leading UK-based vehicle importer and distributor, will introduce new Mitsubishi vehicles to the UK from next summer. The new models, drawn from Mitsubishi Motors’ global line-up, will bring the brand’s latest advancements in innovation and four-wheel drive technologies, to the UK market, it said today. Complementing the established Mitsubishi aftersales network of over one hundred sites, a dedicated number of retailers are currently being appointed to handle sales and customer service. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in summer 2026. Sharon Townsend, Head of Mitsubishi Motors in Solihull, said, “We’re delighted to be introducing exciting new Mitsubishi…

It’s not turned a wheel on British roads but already been rated as one of the safest cars you can buy. The all-new Mazda6e has achieved a maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP in its recent series of tests. In the two categories of Adult Occupant and Child Occupant protection, Mazda’s latest all-electric model scored an excellent 93%. The Mazda6e was also rated 74% for the protection of Vulnerable Road Users and 77% for its Safety Assist systems. The Mazda6e’s 93% score in Adult Occupancy included maximum points in the side barrier test and good or adequate protection to all…

Making the right car at the right time is an objective all manufacturers aim to achieve but do not always reach and the 21st century has been decades of decisions and, generally, success for Skoda. After producing some of the ropiest cars sold across Europe in second half of the 20th century, Skoda became part of the massive Volkswagen Group in 1991 and their models and fortunes dramatically changed. Once the bargain brand of VW which reworked previous models as they were superseded, the current Skoda line up is, in fact, a parallel range utilising the Group’s enormous engineering resources…

On the back of soaring sales in September, a new Kia Sportage has hit showrooms. After four generations since 1995 it has become Britain’s most popular family sized SUV and now gets a significant facelift outside and in with a number of technical improvements to build on the range’s powertrain options. The latest fifth generation of eight models come with a choice of three power trains and renamed three trim levels, Pure, GT-Line and GT-Line S, utilising 147bhp 1.6 four-cylinder petrol engine or 235bhp version with a 47.7kW electric motor as a hybrid. Depending on the model and engine there…

Sometimes it’s not the first which leaves a lasting impression but the last which comes first in your mind. That’s certainly the case with the Lexus LM350, a rival to the established luxury MPVs from the premium German brands. In the rarefied ranks of executive people movers chauffeuring between airports and hotels or whisking their occupants to film premieres, the Lexus LM350 hybrid brings a new level of exclusivity, refinement and sophistication, together with remarkable economy. Originally announced in 2019 and going on sale in the Far East the following year as a petrol only model, the second generation from…