Jonathan Goddard News Archive

Reviews from Jonathan Goddard

Results 51 to 75 of 274.

Infiniti coming to the UK
New crossover SUV heralds marque's arrival 16 August 2007 21:13 GMT
The all-new 2008 Infiniti EX coupe crossover, shown for the first time this week, will form part of a four model premium range that will be launched across Europe starting in a year's time.

The EX is a new addition to the global Infiniti range not previously...
Women can't get enough of company cars
Four-wheeled perk is number one 16 August 2007 20:50 GMT
Women workers now value a company car more highly than men in the workplace, ranking it above a pension scheme when it comes to employee perks.

The Bank of Scotland Drivers’ Report 2007/8 claims this is points to a growing "live-now" attitude among the female...
New Fabia Estate incoming
Junior box on wheels available soon 14 August 2007 23:41 GMT
Contain your excitement, motoring fans - Skoda has released pictures of its new Fabia Estate.

With not a cake in sight, the new Czech load lugger is fractionally larger than the one it replace. Boot capacity has grown by an impressive 54 litres (up to 480 litres),...
MPH makes 200mph kings of the show
Assembled: Top 20 fastest road cars ever 13 August 2007 21:49 GMT
This year’s MPH motor show extravaganza will for the first time ever assemble every 200mph+ car ever made under one roof.

The Jeremy Clarkson-fronted event, which runs in November in both London and Birmingham, will feature the fusrt ever 200mph+ car – the Ferrari...
Chevrolet announces new supermini
Aveo shown for the first time 13 August 2007 21:36 GMT
Chevrolet is launching a new supermini – the Aveo.

A fairly interesting exterior is matched by a rather high-quality interior with soft-touch plastics and better fabric than we’re used to seeing from the car company formerly known as Daewoo.

Two...
Suzuki set to make a Splash
All-new supermini set for Frankfurt debut 10 August 2007 22:01 GMT
Hot on the heels of Subaru’s Frankfurt Motor Show lineup announcement, Suzuki has said it will debut an all-new compact car, the Splash.

The company’s fourth new model in just three years, the Splash will be out in 2008. At just 3.7m long and 1.7m wide, it will...
New Impreza set for Frankfurt debut
Subaru shows off stunning rally concept, too 10 August 2007 9:11 GMT
Subaru will debut its all new Impreza at September’s Frankfurt International Motor Show.

As well as the 15. and 2.0 five-door hatch, the World Rally Car concept Impreza, the facelifted Tribeca SUV, the new Justy supermini and the R1e electric car will be shown,...
Tyres put to the test
Choose your rubber carefully, says ADAC 8 August 2007 22:37 GMT
Wider tyres improve braking but are noisier and offer less roadholding in wet conditions, according to new tests.

Germany's ADAC motoring association looked at five different Michelin tyres with rims of between 15in and 18in, all on the same Kia Cee'd.
C-Charge set for big changes
Emissions-based fees on the way 8 August 2007 22:28 GMT
The capital's Congestion Charge is set for a shake-up, linking a new incremental system to a car’s C02 emissions as well as ending the automatic hybrid exclusion.

Models that emit 120g/km or less will be exempt from the £8-a-day charge, while those producing...
Nissan hits the right Note
Lots of red for range expanding hatch 7 August 2007 20:04 GMT
Nissan has announced a new addition to the NOTE range.

The Acenta R, priced at £11,840, isn't a hot hatch despite the moniker. It just stands for red, so what you get is a lot of it: red detailing in the upholstery for the seats and door pockets is matched by...
UK motorists can't read road maps
Drivers too reliant on technology 6 August 2007 20:42 GMT
New research suggests 11million motorists cannot read a basic road map. Over a third of motorists polled struggled to read a four-figure grid reference and a 83% couldn’t identify the map symbol for a motorway.

More than a thousand UK drivers were tested by...
Fiat warms up its Grande Punto
T-Jet powers into showrooms 3 August 2007 20:25 GMT
Fiat has added a hot (more like warm) hatch to its Grande Punto lineup.

The 1.4 T-Jet 120 Sporting features a turbo-charged petrol engine without compromising too hard on emissions and fuel consumption. Available in both three- and five-door versions, the new...
Nissan shows off anti-drink concept car
Won't let you drive drunk 3 August 2007 20:16 GMT
Nissan has showcased a new concept car featuring multiple preventative features designed to tackle drink-driving. The various technologies are designed to detect the driver's state of sobriety and to activate a range of preventive measures including immobilisation of the...
Skoda expands to Australia
Czech it out Down Under 3 August 2007 20:07 GMT
Skoda is expanding its business to Australia - the first time the VW-owned Czech auto maker has taken its cars to the continent.

The Roomster and Octavia models, including their vRS versions, will be launched in October at the Australian International Motor...
Special edition Santa Fe on the way
Hyundai 4x4 gets loads more kit 1 August 2007 22:43 GMT
A new Hyundai Santa Fe limited edition model will offer around a grand's worth of additional equipment over the usual CDX model.

Diesel powered, the Hyundai Santa Fe Limited is available as either a 5 seater for £23,795 or a 7 seater for £24,895, with auto versions...
Bentley hits the magic 200mph mark
New Contintental GT Speed isn't for wimps 1 August 2007 22:34 GMT
Bentley has announced its first ever 200mph car.

The Continental GT Speed is the most powerful production Bentley ever. A potent addition to the company’s Continental series, the GT Speed gets a wider, lower air intake and more upright radiator grille that...
Peugeot shows off new coupe concept
308 gets all sexed up 31 July 2007 21:43 GMT
Peugeot has lifted the conceptual lid on its latest sexy little number - the 308 RC Z.

A 2+2 coupé, the stylish design at the front is taken directly from the standard 308 but has been given a sharper and sportier lower panel incorporating the single air intake,...
Steering wheel developed for drifters
A sideways look at the Japanese street-racing trend 31 July 2007 21:32 GMT
MOMO has answered the ongoing buzz surrounding the Japanese drifting trend by specially designing two steering wheels specifically for people who like to drive sideways.

The Drifting steering wheel comes in two versions – racing and tuning – and features a 90mm...
207 special editions launched
Peugeot unveils new hatchback models 30 July 2007 22:29 GMT
Peugeot has unveiled two new 207 special editions.

The m:play, powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine and available in both three- and five-door body styles and a trio of exterior colours, features air conditioning, sports seats, leather steering wheel, and a...
New resource for green motoring
Government website highlights less-polluting cars 30 July 2007 20:56 GMT
The Government has launched a new website that gives consumers online information about the lowest CO2 emitting models on the market.

Launched at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) HQ in London, www.dft.gov.uk/ActOnCO2 lists the 10 lowest...
Insurance cost of flouting mobile phone law
Choosing to go without a headset could cost you dear 29 July 2007 16:16 GMT
Motorists are being warned that ignoring mobile phone laws could have an impact on their car insurance premiums.

As well as a fixed penalty notice, which includes a fine and points, motorists are legally bound to inform their insurance companies. Research conducted...
SEAT announces new models
Spanish-based car maker to enter B-segment market 30 May 2007 11:22 GMT
SEAT is to produce not one but two new B-segment models.

Competing against cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Peugeot 407, SEATs will enter the mid-size family hatch/junior executive sector with a saloon and estate in 2009. B-segment cars account for around 1.15...
Breathalyse drivers at random, says ROSPA
Accident prevention group calls for tough drink-drive move 30 May 2007 11:07 GMT
Police should be given special powers to breath-test any motorist they choose, according to experts.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said that recent figures about young drink-drivers underlined the urgent need for a reduction in the...
More economical Minis on the way
More hi-tech, same price, cheaper to run = result 25 May 2007 15:15 GMT
Mini hatchback models are set to become super economical thanks to a variety of technical revisions due later this year. Already BMW Group’s cleanest ever car, the Cooper D will be capable of returning an astonishing 72.4mpg, with emissions of just 104g/km.

With...
Kia remodels the Picanto
Not-at-all groundbreaking facelift is probably a good thing 25 May 2007 14:59 GMT
When is a facelift not a facelift? When Kia launches its new Picanto, natch.

Due for it’s world debut at the Barcelona motor show on June 7 (contain your excitement, please), the new Picanto does very little different to the old one. But seeing is the KP has...