Final drive of the day was the Honda Super-N. A car that wants to be driven flat-out EVERYWHERE. In an odd way, it reminds me of my old 106 Rallye. Flawed in many areas, but nothing else on sale is quite like it…
Tim Pitt
@timpitt100.bsky.social
UK car journalist at Motoring Research. Words on websites and in print, plus social media for The Intercooler.
More judging for the @SGMWupdates Car of the Year award. Next contender is the Kia EV2: a very grown-up small car, seen here in range-topping GT-Line spec (yours for £28,995, including a £3,750 Electric Car Grant).
Next on the list is the Nissan Micra. Already making unfavourable comparisons with my long-term Renault 5. Hope Ford makes more effort with the (also R5-based) new Fiesta than Nissan has here.
Not fully convinced by the Prelude as a sports car, but it’s a swift and relaxed GT that I could certainly bond with. Interestingly, the ‘S+ Shift’ gearbox is less convincing here – when combined with a petrol engine and CVT – than the simulated manuals in many recent EVs.
Next up: the new Honda Prelude. A ‘non-premium’ coupe almost feels like a blast from the past in 2026. But anything that isn’t just another pseudo-SUV is immediately interesting – so I’m very much here for it…
Fiat Grande Panda is full of lovely details – and references to the Giugiaro original. I’ll have mine in dark red with steel wheels and ‘4x4 Sisley’ stickers, please.
Next up at today’s SGMW Car of the Year judging day is the Fiat Grande Panda. This one is the 110hp mild hybrid, combining a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a six-speed automatic ’box. Prices start from £18,995 – or £20,995 for the EV version.
Exploring Essex in the electric Volkswagen ID. Polo. This 52kWh version has an official WLTP range of 280 miles – nearly 30 miles more than a 52kWh Renault 5. A 441-litre boot is 60 litres larger than the current VW Golf, too.
Judging day for the Southern Group of Motoring Writers Car of the Year 2027 award today. Aiming to drive as many cars as possible between now and 4pm! First up: the Volkswagen ID. Polo.
‘Bruce McLaren’s 1969 M6GT was a guiding star for us. We didn’t want to create a carbon copy or continuation, though. Every single element had to fight its way into the design.’ I meet McLaren design boss Kemal Curic for a deep dive into the new McL 6GT: www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/mcl...
Speaking of #IDPolo, here’s some pictures from the UK press launch where I snuck in my #Polo BlueGT into the @volkswagenuk.bsky.social heritage press fleet lineup-up to illustrate how the family has evolved. #Volkswagen
Daimler Double Six spotted in Caterham. Ooof. Curves in all the right places. There can’t be many car names cooler than ‘Double Six’ either…
‘One GV60 is a smooth, easygoing EV that assiduously brings down your pulse-rate. The other is a high-riding hot hatch – the sort of car that could give an Audi RS3 a hard time on a twisty road.’ Read my Genesis GV60 Magma review on Motoring Research: www.motoringresearch.com/car-reviews/...
Morgan Supersport 400 on test. Vital stats: 408hp, 369lb ft, 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, 180mph, 1,170kg, 35mpg and 180g/km. Price before options: £135,558.
‘The artist William Morris said: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. The Giulia seems to tick both boxes.’ Read my first report on living with an Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce. New on Motoring Research: www.motoringresearch.com/car-reviews/...
Arguably the biggest news for the Morgan Supersport 400 is that you no longer need to have the plastic, banana-shaped BMW gear selector. Morgan’s own anodised grey aluminium lever costs £1,746, and looks far more at home in a British sports car.
Porsche Cayenne S Electric on test. Vital stats: 666hp, 797lb ft, 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds, 155mph, 2,555kg, 113kWh battery, 390kW charging speed and 388 miles of range. Price before options: £99,900. Price as tested: £128,554.
Comparing the Porsche Cayenne S Electric with the Cayenne E-Hybrid. Two completely different vehicles sharing the same badge – so is the newer EV a better buy? Video coming soon…
‘It looks like a car that guzzles raw eggs for breakfast, a Huel shake for lunch and a bloodied steak for dinner, washed down with several cans of Monster. Introverts need not apply.’ Read my review of the new Lamborghini Urus SE Performante – now on MR: www.motoringresearch.com/car-reviews/...
‘If you’re in the market for a family EV and want more than just fuss-free transport and a long warranty, it’s well worth a look.’ Read my review of the Kia EV4 GT – an electric alternative to a Golf GTI. Now live on City AM: www.cityam.com/kia-ev4-gt-r...
‘After scratching the surface previously, driving the Temerario on-track felt like seeing it with fresh eyes. The days of Lamborghinis being dynamically inferior to rivals from Ferrari or McLaren are over.’ Read my review of the MY27 Lamborghini Temerario on City AM: www.cityam.com/temerario-on...
‘Chuck the GTI into a bend and it feels poised and precise. You sense the Torsen differential begin to bite, hauling you towards the apex then unwinding again as you blast away.’ Read my review of the new Peugeot E-208 GTI – now live on Motoring Research: www.motoringresearch.com/car-reviews/...
Quick fillup in my long-term Renault 5. It’s been said before, but the difference in cost compared to recharging at home is insane. Up to 93p per kWh with BP Pulse. Range has dropped in this cooler weather, from about 215 miles to 200 miles, at an average of 4.3 miles per kWh.
‘The Emira had a few teething troubles, but has finally blossomed into the car it should have been from the start.’ Read my guide to the best new sports cars on sale, including the Lotus Emira, Porsche 911 and Morgan Plus Four – along with one to avoid: news.uk.cityam.com/story/245699...
Inside the new Peugeot E-208 GTI. Love the red carpets, although the fact that Peugeot supplied black mats “so the carpets won’t get dirty” doesn’t say much for their practicality…
With 280hp and 254lb ft, the new Peugeot E-208 GTI has more than twice the power and torque of a classic 205 1.9 GTI. However, it’s also a lot heavier: 1,535kg versus 880kg. Zero to 62mph takes 5.7 seconds, while top speed is limited to 112mph.
Peugeot E-208 GTI has plenty of retro design details, including 18-inch wheels that resemble the 205 1.9 GTI’s OE Speedline rims. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres are optional, although they reduce the official range to 219 miles (compared to 233 miles on Hankook rubber).
