Jonathan Goddard News Archive

Reviews from Jonathan Goddard

Results 101 to 125 of 274.

Toyota's newer, warmer Yaris
T Spirit name dropped in favour of better specced SR model 18 March 2007 20:25 GMT
Toyota has unveiled its new range-topping Yaris – the SR 1.8.

Powered by a new petrol engine with Dual VVT-i technology and with sports-tuned steering and suspension, body kit, 17-inch rims and a load of premium equipment spec such as climate control and fully...
Capital cab ride "among world's best"
Taxi journey from Marble Arch to London Eye voted into top ten 13 March 2007 19:50 GMT
A trip in a London taxi through the heart of London is among the top ten best cab journeys in the world, according to a leading international travel guide.

ForbesTraveller.com has ranked a trip in a black cab from Marble Arch to the London Eye, via Piccadilly...
Overhaul of teenage driving standards proposed
Young motorists face dual-test system 11 March 2007 13:44 GMT
Young drivers face a 2-year ban on driving at night under a proposed overhaul of the driving test system.

Designed to cut road deaths, the change would force teenagers to wait until they are 18 before taking their test. And even if they pass, youths will then...
Government launches CO2 emissions campaign
Drivers told to change habits and tackle climate change 11 March 2007 13:32 GMT
The Government has launched a new campaign designed to encourage drivers to reduce their vehicle's carbon dioxide emissions.

Launching the first phase of the Act on CO2 campaign, an initiative aimed at tackling climate change, transport minister Gillian Merron...
Morgan to produce fuel-cell car
Traditional meets futuristic 8 March 2007 16:24 GMT
Traditional, hand-built car specialist Morgan has announced its plan to be one of the first car makers to produce a hydrogen fuel-cell car.

Morgan "Life Car" - a hydrogen-fuelled, zero-emissions car – will be built using Morgan’s existing wooden-framed body....
Altea gets the 4x4 treatment
Freetrack concept can go off-road, and it's white 7 March 2007 21:23 GMT
SEAT has unveiled the Altea Freetrack Prototype, a 4x4 concept based on its existing Altea hatchback.

At 185 mm higher than the Altea, the Freetrack has the same 250bhp 2.0 T FSI engine as the recently debuted in the new Leon Cupra. The model’s width has also...
Justy switches to Subaru
Skooby gets much-needed entry level model 7 March 2007 21:11 GMT
Subaru is to bring back the Justy small car programme. Later this year, Subaru dealers will be selling a new Justy based on the Daihatsu Sirion city car.

Both Daihatsu and Subaru are now part of the Toyota group after being bought from General Motors. Already...
Audi to launch yet another coupe
July launch for new rival to 3 Series 7 March 2007 21:00 GMT
Audi is taking the fight to arch-rival BMW with the launch of its new A5 and S5 four-seater coupes. The cars are pitched squarely against BMW’s 3-series coupe – and its M3 performance derivative.

Audi’s is looking to have a model in every car segment – A5 is...
New Fabia due soon
Skoda aims lower - in age, that is 7 March 2007 20:51 GMT
Skoda is looking to attract younger buyers with its all-new second-generation Fabia hatchback.

The car, which goes on sale in the UK on May 17, has borrowed some styling devices from the Mini, such as different-coloured roofs in white or silver, with matching...
Volvo pimps the XC70
All-wheel drive estate gets a facelift 5 March 2007 22:53 GMT
Volvo has given its rather sedate XC70 AWD (all-wheel drive) estate a shot in the tracking rod with some bold new styling and a shed load more equipment.

Available with a 3.2-litre straight six-cylinder petrol engine (245bhp) and its second generation 2.4-litre...
Convertible Phantom coming soon
Roofless Rolls-Royce. Respect 5 March 2007 22:32 GMT
The new Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé will make its Euro debut at the Geneva motor show this week, with production of the new model beginning in Goodwood this summer.

The two-door, four-seat convertible is hand-built on an advanced aluminium spaceframe,...
Audi unveils most powerful diesel SUV
Q7 Gets A Steroid Boost 4 March 2007 15:20 GMT
The most powerful diesel SUV on the market will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

The 335bhp Audi Q7 has a 4.2-litre V8 TDI, capable of hitting 62mph in just 6.4 seconds and with a top speed of 146mph. Power is transmitted through a six-speed tiptronic...
2p rise in petrol price predicted
Dodgy Fuel Fiasco Rolls On 4 March 2007 14:57 GMT
Petrol and diesel prices could jump 2p a litre because of the ongoing rogue petrol fiasco, drivers were warned last night.

The Sunday Mirror reports that the rise will happen because supermarkets will have to pay higher prices for emergency replacement stocks....
Saab first to offer alternative fuel engine choice
Flex-Fuel First 1 March 2007 14:34 GMT
Saab has become the first car company in the UK to offer an alternative fuel engine choice in every single model in its range.

Available in all three 9-3 bodystyles of Sport Saloon, SportWagon and Convertible, Saab’s 1.8t BioPower flex-fuel engine emits 50-70%...
Vauxhall announce the VXR8
The Monaro Is Dead – Long Live The VXR8 26 February 2007 15:43 GMT
The Monaro was, quite simply, motoring genius. Vauxhall’s decision to axe the muscle car was a blow to many, but one that’s been cushioned considerably with the announcement that a replacement is incoming.

The new Aussie-built muscle car – the VXR8 – is more...
Kia to show off Excee'd cabrio concept in Geneva
Cee’d? No, Excee’d 23 February 2007 10:29 GMT
Kia will display its Excee'd cabrio concept on at the Geneva auto show in a couple of weeks.

Styled by Kia's new chief design officer Peter Schreyer, it's based on the new three-door Cee'd hatchback, due to go into production at the Zilina factory in Slovakia...
Eden Project to hold Green Motor Show
This Other Eden 23 February 2007 0:21 GMT
The Eden Project in Cornwall is to hold what it claims is the world's first green motor show.

From 30 March to 15 April, the oddly named Sexy Green Car Show will feature hybrids, electric cars and biofuel-compatible vehicles from manufacturers including Saab,...
Potholes tackled by new website
Mind The Gaps 22 February 2007 13:55 GMT
A new website has been launched to help motorists tackle Britain’s potholed roads.

Designed to assist long-suffering motorists, potholes.co.uk will allow people to highlight poor road surfaces to their local councils, plus advise on how to make a compensation...
Brake discs break sooner than you would expect
Brake Disc Breakdown 22 February 2007 13:54 GMT
Brake discs are wearing out faster, warping and losing their braking performance earlier on some modern vehicles according to an alarming new report.

A leading auto parts supplier claims it is regularly supplying replacement brake discs for nearly new cars...
Pink Panther limo for sale on eBay
£75,000 but no bids yet 20 February 2007 22:15 GMT
Fancy owning a piece of TV motoring history? Well now you can, after the owner of the Pink Panther limo posted the vehicle on ebay today.

The famed stretched pink monstrosity from the opening Pink Panther cartoon credits, based on an Oldsmobile, was designed...
Ferrari celebrates 60 years with exhibition movie
Ferrari In The Frame 19 February 2007 15:02 GMT
If you’re heading over to Milan before the end of June this year and you're also a film fan it might be worth taking a tour of the Maranello – the home of Ferrari – for a unique exhibition.

As part of the company’s 60th Anniversary celebrations, Ferrari are...
Audi TT Roadster arrives in UK
Anyone For TT? 19 February 2007 14:58 GMT
The car that almost single-handedly spearheaded the resurrection of the two-seater sports convertible returns to UK roads this month with the arrival of the new Audi TT Roadster.

Concealing somewhat radical new advances in construction and suspension technology...
C-Charge Extension Good News For Honda
Hybrid cars go free of charge 18 February 2007 13:57 GMT
The extension of London’s congestion charge zone will lead to massive growth in the adoption of cleaner hybrid cars, says Honda.

Sales forecasts predict there will be over 6500 more low-emission hybrid cars on London’s roads by 2008 – each taking advantage of...
Hyundai European C-segment hatchback coming
Hyundai Aims To Crack Europe 18 February 2007 13:56 GMT
Hyundai will unveil its new European C-segment hatchback at its press conference at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday 6 March 2007. Codenamed FD, this will be the first ever car from the Korean manufacturer designed specifically for the European market.

Hyundai...
Mitsubishi i minicar on sale from July
i Comes, i Sees, i Conquers? 18 February 2007 13:54 GMT
Mitsubishi has confirmed that its cute "i" minicar will go on sale in the UK in July. The rear-mid-engined, four-seater “i” has already achieved cult status in Japan with its original styling, agile handling and clever use of interior space.

Around 37,000 were...