Motoring News
14 March 2013BMW 320d GT first drive review
The 3 GT is an interesting package, with a hugely practical and attractive interior. The handling remains good, but the diesel engine shows its age
A BMW 3-series with added space – especially in the rear seats and the boot.Unless you're familiar with riding on the back bench of some of BMW's biggest machines, you'll be quite unused to legroom on this scale, and if three occupy it, they'll make the surprise discovery that the arrangement will be tolerable for more than half an hour. This is the new 3-series for families, and families that need more room than a 3-series Touring or even a 5-series saloon can offer.Though not as much as the rather odd-looking 5-series GT provides, this 3 GT being its new, smaller brother. The 5 GT offers cavernous room, but within an envelope that's probably BMW's unhappiest aesthetically. By comparison the 3 GT is more harmoniously sculpted, even if its rear end looks over-heavy in the bumper area and the rearmost pillar seems anaemic.So it's not the most handsome BMW, but if you consider it as a rakishly sporty, five-door MPV-coupé, its appeal becomes easier to understand. Especially when you learn that the car was born out of a delve into 3-series customers' desires, these including more room – not so surprising if you've served time in the back of the saloon – and the raised seating of SUVs. Which is why this car is unusual for being a taller sports hatch of a kind that, in the premium segment, has no direct equivalent.Calling it a GT might seem odd, but these letters have been liberally applied – or m
read moreBMW 320d GT first drive review
The 3 GT is an interesting package, with a hugely practical and attractive interior. The handling remains good, but the diesel engine shows its age
A BMW 3-series with added space – especially in the rear seats and the boot.Unless you're familiar with riding on the back bench of some of BMW's biggest machines, you'll be quite unused to legroom on this scale, and if three occupy it, they'll make the surprise discovery that the arrangement will be tolerable for more than half an hour. This is the new 3-series for families, and families that need more room than a 3-series Touring or even a 5-series saloon can offer.Though not as much as the rather odd-looking 5-series GT provides, this 3 GT being its new, smaller brother. The 5 GT offers cavernous room, but within an envelope that's probably BMW's unhappiest aesthetically. By comparison the 3 GT is more harmoniously sculpted, even if its rear end looks over-heavy in the bumper area and the rearmost pillar seems anaemic.So it's not the most handsome BMW, but if you consider it as a rakishly sporty, five-door MPV-coupé, its appeal becomes easier to understand. Especially when you learn that the car was born out of a delve into 3-series customers' desires, these including more room – not so surprising if you've served time in the back of the saloon – and the raised seating of SUVs. Which is why this car is unusual for being a taller sports hatch of a kind that, in the premium segment, has no direct equivalent.Calling it a GT might seem odd, but these letters have been liberally applied – or misapplied – for d
read moreWhy texting at the wheel is as dangerous as being well over drink-drive limit
Writing text messages while driving is as dangerous as being considerably above the legal drink-drive limit, researchers have found.
read moreFord line-up will only ever feature one RS model
Desire to preserve the badge's allure plus the arrival of the Mustang in Europe will keep Ford's performance flagships unique
Ford is unlikely to have more than one RS product on sale at any time, according to its president of marketing in Europe, Roelant de Waard.Recent speculation had suggested that, if given the go-ahead, the next-generation Ford Focus RS could launch in 2015 and be joined in an expanded range by other RS products, potentially including a Fiesta RS.However, Roelant de Waard said, "Our focus now is on the Mustang, but over time there is aways room for RS products. But what is clear is that RS shouldn't be a series, or a car badge that we have in our portfolio all the time. It is an extreme car – something more than ST."It is so evocative that I'd be highly surprised if there were not more RS products – plural – in the future, but I would be surprised if there was more than one at the same time."
read moreRenaultsport Clio prices
News
14 Mar, 2013
Renault has revealed prices for the new Clio RS, and it costs £2,000 more than the Ford Fiesta ST
read moreClio Renaultsport prices
News
14 Mar, 2013
Renault has revealed prices for the new Clio RS, and it costs £2,000 more than the Ford Fiesta ST
read moreFirst Drive: Renault Clio RS 200
Can this new RS, with its 1.6-litre turbo, paddle shifters and five doors give us the same thrills as the last one?
read moreTanner Foust Edition Focus ST
You need this car if you’re a massive fan of our boy Tanner
read moreVW invests for long road ahead
German carmaker warns of market pressures as it gears up to spend more than €50bn on new plants and vehicle technologies over the next three years
read more“We’re here and we mean business”
Chinese company Qoros discuss the future with TG. Sam Philip reports
read moreKen Block’s Gymkhana in miniature
Watch this 1/8 scale replica of KB’s 4WD Fiesta tear up a warehouse…
read moreTT Electronics chief upbeat despite slide
UK electrical components manufacturer hit by dwindling automotive sales in Europe, where company makes roughly half its revenues
read moreMore drivers running illegal tyres
News
14 Mar, 2013
Figures show that motorists are waiting longer before replacing worn tyres
read moreBMW cashes in on US and China growth
German carmaker reports a 5.9% rise in pre-tax profits for 2012 despite the tough economic conditions in the European car industry
read moreVolkswagen: spluttering along
The German carmaker’s results are less than impressive, but it still looks better placed than any other European volume carmaker
read moreMercedes G63 AMG 6x6 in action
Videos
14 Mar, 2013
Watch official footage of the ultimate off-roader - the new £350,000 Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6
read moreRenault Clio RS prices revealed
Renault Clio RS prices revealed
