When the word ‘skunkworks’ is attached to a car, you know you’re in for something special. It usually means an engineering passion project too unorthodox for mainstream backing. And that’s the case with this week’s Cult Hero, the BMW Z3 M. “It’s an unbridled, rewarding and rare sports car that delivers an unforgettable drive.
It’s a great ad for not only its maker but the forgotten fuel, too. Diesel: so much maligned these past years that it’s now on the cusp of becoming the minority powertrain of new car sales, long eclipsed by electric cars, soon to be eclipsed by plug-in hybrids and heading for the file labelled ‘history’. Yet here I am, driving around in a car powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine – and I couldn’t make a case for anything more suitable.
Sport, Normal or Eco? We work out how best to configure our crossover. The Nissan Qashqai has a Sport driving mode. This surprises me a bit, because the Qashqai isn’t the sort of car you would think of as being sporty in any way, shape or form. That’s not meant as a criticism: the Qashqai is very good at what it does. But I would describe it using words like practical, durable and sensible. Sport? Not so much.
Compact hybrid SUV arrives to face a grilling from our high-mileage photographer. Well, this is a result. Put the aggressively muscular Civic Type R and adorable E electric supermini to one side and I wouldn’t have pegged Honda as a particularly style-oriented brand, yet the HR-V crossover I’ve just taken delivery of is actually something of a looker.
Capable new pick-up takes the Kuga platform and tops it with F150-inspired styling. Ford’s new Maverick expands the brand’s US and Canadian light-duty pick-up range to three. Slotting in below the bodyon- frame F-150 and Ranger, this unibody truck is built on the same platform as the Escape/Kuga SUV. Less thirsty than the often-huge alternatives, the four-door crew-cab Maverick won’t come to the UK, where Ford says it has buyers covered with the 20cm-longer Ranger. A 2.
French brand’s performance division gives the luxury saloon a go-faster makeover. There’s something about handfinished and skunkworks cars that speaks to the imagination, which makes the origin story of the new range-topping DS 9, the E-Tense 360 4x4, quite appealing. In the ongoing quest to establish itself as a credible premium car player, DS has produced a fast version of its flagship saloon.
Popular crossover is facelifted with a focus on improving the quality of the interior. Sales of the Volkswagen T-Roc have exceeded expectations in many markets, including the UK, so it’s no surprise that the changes made halfway through its planned life cycle are rather subtle. There are tweaks here and there but nothing that fundamentally alters its appearance, performance or driving character in any great way. A new-look front end is the key exterior design change.
The first shipment of right-hand-drive electric SUVs has arrived in the UK. It has been a long two years for European Tesla fans. The Model Y has been on the road in the US since 2020, but only now has the compact SUV arrived here. Based on the Model 3 saloon, the Model Y adds a degree of functionality, a chunkier stance and a heftier price. Starting at £54,990, the (officially 331-mile) Long Range tested here is one of two variants, alongside the £64,990 Performance.
A ferocious performer, the 996 GT2 is a blistering 911 that still flies relatively under the radar. Total 911 presents your complete guide to buying one Written by Kieron Fennelly Photography by Ali Cusick Porsche Turbos have an illustrious record in motorsport. The 934 and 935 dominated sports car racing in the 1970s and when Group C took over from Groups 4 and 5 in the 1980s, Porsche’s 956/962 ruled the roost until the factory withdrew after six victorious seasons.
Sports Saloon F30 335i M Sport Saloon Practical, fast, tuneable, and great to drive. This generation of BMW’s 335i is arguably the best – and it is affordable too... Six-cylinder petrol 3 Series have always held a bit of a soft spot in our hearts and the F30 in 335i guise is undoubtedly one of BMW’s finest. And in an era when diesel 3 Series started to predominate the 335i found itself a more exclusive choice, bought more by private buyers than fleet managers.
Market Watch Diminutive, but definitive, BMW’s seminal 2002tii Coupé is an appealingly affordable classic. Words: Guy Baker Photography: Various 2002tii Coupé Few classic cars are more recognizable than BMW’s ground-breaking 2002, and the 1971-1975 2002 tii Coupé is the best of the breed. Simple to look after and great fun to drive, the rear-wheel drive tii offers greater reliability than a 2002 Turbo – and far better value. With good examples guaranteed to appreciate.