Author: Robin Roberts

The more you drive, the more energy you save with the latest Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid. It sounds illogical but it’s true because the familiar standard 1.6 litre petrol engine is now joined by a more sophisticated electric motor and battery system which recovers energy lost during braking. This recovered energy when transformed and pushed into the 8.9KWh traction battery means its pure electric range grows as the miles pass. What’s more it will charge from flat in a little over two hours from a 7KW point and it has an electric only range of 39miles. The highly refined powertrain…

Heavy rain, snow showers, ice and mud can combine to make any possible winter journey an impossibility unless you have a big and expensive 4×4, or you cannily drive a Suzuki Swift SZ5 Allgrip. This is the hatch that’s a match for many winter road washouts or white-outs. What’s more it will not break the bank or cost you high maintenance bills for just a few weeks work when really needed. Then, when you don’t need to utilise its Allgrip or 4×4 firmness, you can relax and enjoy its competitive urban commuter qualities. Suzuki has a big reputation in the…

A new toll system for  using the Severn bridges is being considered by a consortium led by English councils from the West Country. They are likely to be part of a M4 & M5 road tolling scheme to discourage traffic and encourage motorists to use public transport or share vehicles, primarily to reduce traffic jams in Bristol, but also along the motorway corridor in south Wales. While the bridges may well escape specific fees and their maintenance cost fall on Welsh Government, the plan from the West of England Combined Authority would probably mean tolls charged at the eastern end…

The original Hybrid Recreational Vehicle from 1999 was a more sober suited trendsetter but a lot has happened in two decades as fashions changed. More manufacturers have poured into the market for practical but performance edged cars, some without any real credibility, but others have made an impression. The range topping 182ps HR-V Sport CVT is definitely a driving delight. The HR-V range of manual or continuously variable automatics come with a choice of 1.5 petrol or 1.6 diesel engines in five trim levels from just over £19,000 to about £29,100. Top Turbo-Sport petrol models using the engine from the…

In my experience, if they are not larger than life, rock stars tend to be small and noisy performers, and the Fiat Rockstar lived up to expectations. Very much the noisy baby in the extensive Fiat family of cars, the 500 has been one of its most successful and in 2019 passed the 3million sold mark. That success has been down to the fact it meets the needs of so many at comparatively modest cost and the clever stylists and engineers within Fiat are continually reinventing the 500 with unique and distinctive names and trims. Our test of the sub-900cc…

The brakes have been applied to electric vehicle plans at the Aston Martin St Athan plant, it has been reported. The main investor behind a total £500M boost to the company’s balance sheet last week, fashion and motor sport entrepreneur Lawrence Stroll, wants plans and development rebalanced. Aston Martin president and chief operating officer Andy Palmer intended their new Welsh plant, which officially opened in December, to lead their EV technology drive. That includes plans for a new Lagonda saloon due in two years time being rescheduled for 2025 and other models with hybrid petrol-electric engines being considered. Media is…

The large Kodiaq and mid-sized Karoq have now been joined by the compact Kamiq as this SUV sector wipes away traditional saloon and hatchback models across Europe and throughout the USA. No volume manufacturer can be without at least one SUV and VW sub-brand Skoda has enormous resources to utilise as it extends its offerings. Motorists love SUVs because they bring so much practicality and this really is true of the compact Karoq, which is easier to park than larger models but still offers excellent internal space for passengers or possessions. It also comes at a more affordable price than…

Aston Martin’s St Athan project is rolling ahead and another 300 people are being interviewed for jobs as a further £500M investment is raised for the company. A business consortium led by motor sport billionaire and Racing Point F1 team’s Canadian owner Lawrence Stroll has bought 45.6m new ordinary shares to make him executive chairman. This will bring in £182M and a further £318M will be added from additional shares taken up by existing major investors. The boost is needed to offset losses due to slower than expected sales in 2019 and the rising costs associated with the St Athan…

SEAT built its reputation on small cars although its now expanded the range upmarket, but it still knows how to make a good city car in the Ibiza. The Ibiza five-door range comprises three 1.0 litre petrol engined models of 80, 95 or 115ps with a choice of 5 or 6sp manual gearboxes and 7sp auto with the most powerful, plus 95ps 1.6 diesel 5sp manual-only transmission. There are six trim levels and the six model range runs from £15,645 to £18,975 before options are chosen. Simply, there is in the Ibiza range something for anyone who wants an agile…

Schoolchildren in Wales face losing some of their regular buses from September when new regulations are introduced on wheelchair access. Ken Skates AM, Minister for Economy and Transport, has asked the Department For Transport to exempt school buses from the new regulation for public transport. He also wants buses used on replacement rail services to be excused from the regulations. Mr Skates said the regulations, which were outlined last year, place immense demands on small and medium-sized bus operators, some of which rely almost entirely on school contracts for their income. The new regulations stipulate low floor access and additional…