Motoring Con Brio

Icons of the motor industry are normally cars that sit well and are truly out of the budget of the majority of driver’s financial clout. The MINI was different though when it was first put on sale in 1959; being a small car that made driving affordable, stylish and revolutionised the segment in a way never seen before. This made sure MINI instantly became one of Britain’s best-loved small cars and that remains the case today.

However, the MINI range is somewhat different now to how it used to look with a host of new models bought to market by new owners, BMW. Nowadays, you can have your pick from a hatchback, convertible, roadster, Clubman, Paceman and Countryman in range of specifications. But, the real changes to the MINI can be seen when comparing the all-new entry-level MINI Hatch, available at Coopermini.co.uk from 2014, to the 1959 model:

Dimensions

The starkest contrast between the current model and the opening gambit has to be the sheer size. BMW clearly believes that when it comes to the MINI, bigger is better. The figures tell you everything you need to know with the new Hatch being more than two and a half feet longer, seven inches wider and two inches taller than the first MINI. The only thing that has truly stayed the same is the amount of seats throughout; staying steady at four only.

Styling

The style of the original MINI was the key reason for it being taken into the British public’s hearts. First views of the new MINI Hatch at its World Premiere at the Oxford Plant in November show how the latest incarnation is a much fiercer and muscular-looking car. The back-end is far more voluptuous and the all-over bulkier appearance does detract from the small more distinguished charm of the original.

Performance

As you’d imagine the comparison in the performance between the two is hardly fair given the improvements to engineering which is extremely vast. The top speed of the original was just 72mph, whereas the latest model is topping 130mph; while the 0-60 pace is almost twenty seconds quicker. In the economy stakes the new engines will do more than 20mpg more than their predecessors.

Technology

Technology is something that has improved out of sight under BMW stewardship with connectivity for all tablets and MP3 players. It is an unfair comparison really, but it does highlight just how far technology in such an iconic car has come since the sixties. The new Hatch can also boast parking assists, an innovatively-lit cockpit-like driving console and cruise control capability.

For modern driving you should pick the new Hatch, but the original MINI still has the charm that its contemporary rival cannot match.

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When buying a car, have you ever though to yourself: why can’t I have a reliable car, but with the styling and flair of a French car maker? Well, as it turns out Toyota, Citroen and Peugeot were thinking the same thing and decided to pull their resources to produce a trio of city cars taking the industry by storm.

The small city car market has skyrocketed alongside the growth of congestion charges to reduce the traffic in crowded metropolitan cities. This is due to the fact that they are inexpensive to buy, maintain and run on a daily basis and great for zooming through congested streets. The partnership between Citroen, Toyota and Peugeot has given birth to the C1, Aygo and 107, but let’s see how they stack up in a highly competitive market:

Peugeot 107

The Peugeot spin on the trio’s partnership is an extremely inexpensive little car to run everyday with an economy that will never dent the budget too much. It has the distinctive Peugeot looks with the trademark lion motif and split grill. All in all, a Peugeot 107 in Sunderland really can make nipping around town a lot of fun.

Citroen C1

The C1 comes in the cheapest of these small triplets cut from the same cloth, which always goes in your favour in terms of city car desirability. It is a cute-looking city car as you’d expect from Citroen who have always been at the sharp end of car design; take the Megane and DS3 for example, your honour. It has a chunky look inside, but is noisy and basic that really does go against it when you want a car that you have to live with on an everyday basis.

Toyota Aygo

Toyota probably had the most to lose in this arrangement as far as the car was concerned as it is their reliability, build quality and durability that made them famous. Adding that French charm has seen them experience a bit of “je ne sais quoi” and the Aygo enjoys a sweet little engine and smooth gear changes, which makes it fun to burst around town. This is prerequisite of a small city car, but the price is on the strong side in a market where the emphasis is all on the affordability.

City cars make a lot of financial sense and the trio of Toyota, Citroen and Peugeot are pretty little cars with enough sparks to keep you happy on your jaunts around town.

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Driving enthusiasts of the world – if you really want to get the most from your beloved car, you should pick yourself up some modern accessories.

Accessories can make everything better, and when it comes to driving they’ll ensure you can upgrade your experience. There’s nothing better than having a car that’s fully kitted out with the latest technology, gadgets and must-have items, and we’ve got the ideal list for you to choose from.

Check out these five amazing accessories that you definitely need in your life:

Driving Gloves

Okay, so they might not seem that technologically advanced, but a good pair of driving gloves will certainly make you feel the part.

You can buy specially-made gloves that can give you extra grip when driving, so you can get better control of the gear shift and steering wheel. They’ll also probably make you feel pretty cool.

Sat Nav

They might be old news to most people by now, but you’d be surprised by how many people haven’t actually jumped on the sat nav bandwagon.

Buying a good quality sat nav can save you endless hassle, and you’ll even be able to get apps that can integrate a sat nav function on your phone if you don’t want to invest in a full-fledged one.

Dashcams

Otherwise known as a dashboard camera, a dash cam could save you a lot of time and effort should you ever be involved in an accident.

They’re already hugely popular in Russia, where the roads are known for being notoriously dangerous, and they can be incredibly useful over here as well.

Stop the arguments of whose fault that fender bender was and prove it once and for all.

DVD Players

This one’s more for your passengers than yourself. A portable DVD player attached to the back of a headrest can give endless hours of amusement and entertainment to those not driving, which means they’re especially useful if you have kids!

DAB Radios

Another one that many people have already joined in on, so if you’re still umming and ahhing over whether to get one yourself, you’re definitely late to the party.

DAB radios have been kicked off again now though, as more and more people look for increased in-car entertainment. One of the best things about them is that, as a driver, you can get fun from them too!

Can you think of any other car gadgets and cool accessories that you absolutely have to buy?

This guest post was written by Aurora Johnson on behalf of Central Contracts, a car leasing company with options for businesses and personal customers.

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If you haven’t had a chance to check out an international auto show either in the US or in a foreign country it is definitely something worth seeing. Not only is it informative and a great way to get to know more about auto products that you already love, but you can also find out what’s new in the auto industry, from exciting new models to long awaited car reveals. You might even get the opportunity to test drive the newest models in various courses that really display their capabilities and test the thresholds of new vehicles.

The show is organized by a group that tours around the world with ridiculously expensive exotic cars and new models that aren’t yet available to the public. As you can imagine, these cars carry a lot of liability and the cars carry the risk of getting damaged or even being stolen. They probably have to take great precautions for such events. In order for the organizers to have complete peace of mind they have to make sure they have an accident lawyer or have a great deal of insurance to cover their losses if something were to happen.

Last year in Portland there was an incident that ended with the Lamborghini Gallardo catching fire because of a dumb decision by the driver. One thing that is common in all auto shows is the requirement for all vehicles entering the event to have only a quarter tank of gas in the car. The person who was responsible for delivering this car to the show didn’t adhere to this rule and the amount of gas in the car was higher than the maximum requirement. What he decided to do was leave the car in neutral and rev the engine until it was red lining. This was taking a while so the driver decided to lodge a piece of wood between the seat and the gas pedal so it would create a make shift placeholder that would keep revving the engine. Since the car was sitting idle it started to heat up, eventually caught fire and the fire marshals had to put it out.

In a situation like this I would hope that the owner of the car had a good attorney in Oregon who would be able to get him all of the money he deserves. This driver who had one job managed to screw it up so horribly. It’s heartbreaking to see such a beautiful car be permanently damaged due to the foolishness of the driver.

Auto shows are great and you really have to give it up to the individuals, organizations and companies who organize and sponsor them. At the same time it is a pretty scary thought to have people who have never been around exotic cars to actually drive or operate them. Keeping your assets covered with insurance and legal forms is the best way to make sure if something does happen, your damages are covered.

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Vehicles come in all shapes and sizes making them the ideal personal transport regardless of your lifestyle. However, the practical car market is one that all car makers want to make their presence felt in; with so many families looking for cars able to cope with moving a large number of people and goods easily with minimal fuss.

Flexibility in cars for the family is paramount and has seen the birth of the Multi-Purpose-Vehicle market; with manufacturers looking to build cars that can perform in a multitude of situations. In the second hand car market you’ll find hundreds on offer, but it is important to separate the wheat from the chaff before deciding. Here are some of the best practical cars across the small car market right up to the ultimate people carrier:

Toyota Yaris

The supermini market is a highly competitive one with the likes of VW, Ford and Toyota scrapping to find the ideal blend of style, fun-driving and practical small cars. A Toyota Yaris does everything you’d expect of a Supermini and much more. There is so much space inside the cabin and boot that the Yaris could easily be considered an MPV. If you want a small car that can cope with a few people on-board now and again then a Toyota Yaris is the ideal car.

Ford S-Max

MPVs have to be flexible to the rigours of everyday family life; and the S-Max is as adaptable as they come. It’s not hard to see why it has become a best-seller and class leader with the cabin offering space and flexibility to fulfil the needs of an ever-expanding family. You’d normally expect this functionality to impinge on the looks and drive of a larger car. But yet again the S-Max stands alone with stylish looks and a great driving experience; in terms of providing expert handling and good ride quality to keep the driver interested.

Vauxhall Zafira

When it comes to flexibility, Vauxhall has been receiving admiring glances in its direction for years. Its’ highly successful Zafira model is the epitome of practicality with an innovative seating structure that can remove seats and provide endless space or vice-versa in a few seconds. Its clever interior is matched with good refinement and reasonable dynamics; all this making a used Vauxhall Zafira just about as good as it gets for an affordable and admirable family car.

Ford, Toyota Vauxhall know how to do practicality to keep families happy and A1 Carriages in Dartford has the best next-to-new practical cars from all three car makers ready to buy.

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Volkswagen is one of the most successful brands in the motor industry having been responsible for the genre-defining Golf and iconic Beetle. It is famed for its ability to manufacture durable, reliable and refined cars at an affordable price that has seen its popularity hardly dwindle throughout numerous generations.

However, according to its UK boss, Robert Hazelwood, VW is lacking something from its range. He told WhatCar? that the German car maker has missed a trick by not already wading into the small-SUV market to take a slice of the pie created by the funky and innovative Nissan Juke that has sold well since its incarnation.

He feels that the fact that there have been moves by Vauxhall, with their Mokka model, and Peugeot, with the 208, to quickly jump into bed with Nissan Juke’s niche; which leaves VW slow on the uptake; admitting that VW “could really do with a small SUV or crossover”. It really is quite a bold statement from a car maker that really has been at the sharp end of the market for a long time.

What can we expect VW to do about this?

At the Sao Paulo Motor Show last year VW launched a concept car in the shape of the Taigun, which has the same platform as the Up! but with a longer wheelbase of the Polo. This is what we can expect to be VW’s Juke rival with a four-wheel-drive option and turbocharged engine; which could be on sale from next year. Watch this space.

Is it likely to be a success?

When VW thought it was lagging behind in the city car market it was not content with its class leading Supermini and family hatch to keep it ticking over. Instead it wanted to show its muscle, so it decided to manufacture the VW Up!; which is a tiny city car with all the economy, style and drive of a consummate city car and immediately put the other city cars to shame. If it can work the same magic on a mini SUV then you can expect them to be there or thereabouts when the final votes are in.

If you have your heart set on a VW or like the sound of their possible SUV reshuffle then a Volkswagen car lease is the most affordable way to own one without having to pay for it outright.

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There is something magical about a barmy British summer as the sun finally comes out and improves everyone’s mood. We’ve just had the hottest July on record for a far few years and its’ gone to our heads. When the weather is so nice here you see no need to go abroad for the weather and instead enjoy the charms of Britain.

One thing that the hot weather does make us do especially is try and spend as much time outside as we can; seeing as we are normally trapped inside during the punishingly cold winter days. The best way to make the most of the nice weather is take the family on a camping trip and get back to living on the land. It’s an opportunity for the children to experience a different, simpler way of life away from technology and a great way to get them involved with nature. However, what should you look for in ideal family used cars in Swansea that can cope with a camping trip?

Extra storage

Cubbyholes in the cabin of a family car are a Godsend to parents with so many accessories needed to hand when kids are young. You’ll find that manufacturers have cottoned on to this fact and now equip their cars with additional storage areas all around the interior; including cup holders for those long journeys.

Durability

Family cars take a lot of stick over the years as kids kick and pull every nook and cranny. This means that you should always look for an interior that is put together properly where all the panels fit or you may find it falling to bits in next to no time. Also with camping trips it may need to be able to navigate its way through tricky terrain in and around campsites, so it best for the car to have a modicum of off-road capability.

Large loading bay

Packing for a week-long camping trip can be a bit of mission with everything including clothes, tents, bikes, food and all other necessities. This makes the need for a wide loading bay to be able to fit items in quickly, easily and with minimal fuss otherwise it can be a real struggle to fit everything into a small space.

Flexible seating

A lot of effort is being put into making practical family cars versatile inside to offer families flexibility from day to day. When heading off on a camping trip you must be able to trade seating for space to be able to fit both the kids and the luggage in the back. Being able to move, flatten or remove seats entirely can make the difference.

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Sometimes in life there are little surprises hidden away that cheer you up, like finding a fiver in your winter jacket on the first cold day, and sometimes there are bigger surprises. That was the case when grandchildren found an early version of an E-type Jaguar in a derelict barn that their ancestor had stowed away back in 1974. Luckily, they managed to save it from destruction before the structure was demolished by bull-dozers in Le Mans, Northern France.

The E-type Jaguar is truly a motoring icon from the 1960s to the modern day. It rose in popularity chiefly due to its curvaceous lines, like the shape of a bullet; as well as its supreme performance and keen price for its day. Rival manufacturer, Enzo Ferrari, even described it as the ‘most beautiful car ever built’, which just added to its prestige.

The rear-wheel drive E-type celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011 when it was powered by a 3.8-litres engine. It boasted a 150mph top speed and it had the ability to race from 0-60mph in just seven seconds. The car notched up 70,000 sales over its thirteen year manufacturing stint with the majority of them going overseas.

It’s surprising just how many old classic cars are found in barns, but it is becoming rarer to find them in such top condition as this E-type Jaguar was found in France. This wasn’t just an ordinary model you would find at the likes of HA FOX Jaguar; it was one of the first E-Type Jaguar cars to roll off the production line.

The Jaguar was bought in 1969 and through its serial number can be traced back as the fortieth RHD E-Type. The owner had it repainted then drove it to the French barn before putting a dust blanket over the top and leaving it, still with its 1974 tax disc prominently displayed and it was not touched again until his grandchildren discovered it.

At auction, the E-type sold for £88,040 in a car auction held at Ascot last month and it is believed that the romantic story may have helped raise the offer. It was sold alongside a host of other sought-after motors from the past with a Bentley Eight and Connaught L3. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get shut up in a barn and banished to the annals of history once again or be stored again in some dark place to an inch of its life.

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