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THE ubiquitous Ford Focus needs little introduction, but this latest model with its 1.5-litre TDCi engine takes Ford and fuel economy to a whole new level. I’ve never found Ford diesel engines among the most economical on the market, but with this new unit, the secrets seem to have been unlocked.
IN this stylish n-tec specification which adds lots of extra trim, styling flourishes and safety equipment this version of the Note will strike a chord with many buyers.
Its attractive Ink Blue paintwork may well seal the deal, but the 1.2-litre three-pot with just 59PS won’t be everybody’s cup of tea. It’s not bad around town, which is probably where most buyers of this model will stay, and once up to speed it cruises quietly, but if you need to overtake anything quicker than a tractor, you will struggle.
WINCHCOMBE Camping and Caravanning Club site at Brooklands Farm, near Tewkesbury is One of the nicest sites I have ever stayed on. As well as plenty of room for motorhomes caravans and tents, there is a large mobile home park for lodges which are quite plush and are equipped with everything you need for a luxurious week away from it all and some of the lodges overlook the lake.
THE thoroughly modern Millie is another of those cars which came into being as a fairly honest remake of a much-loved classic, but has gone on to morph into an entirely new brand. Under BMW ownership, The new Mini has been an unprecedented success, selling millions of examples all over the world.
THE Mazda MX-5 is the world’s favourite sports car – it is also mine! It has always been a fabulous little car with almost bullet-proof reliability, but this new model raises the bar again and is the best so far. Accused of being a girl’s car in some quarters, it now looks far more aggressive, or perhaps I’m just more in touch with my feminine side, but I really don’t care, I love it and thoroughly enjoyed my few days with this newcomer.
IF this Jaguar F-Type Coupe isn’t one of the best looking cars on the road today, I’ll eat my hat. My son described it as “epic”, and who am I to argue? The spiritual successor to my dream car, the one I would buy if money were no object, the glorious E-Type, this sleek coupe really is art on wheels.
IN what Mazda call their “most intense period of activity ever” we have seen this year five new or revised models launched in the UK: the 2 and the 6, plus CX-5, CX-3 and MX-5, so that the Japanese maker now claims the “youngest model line-up of any manufacturer”.
WHAT IS so puzzling about the Mitsubishi ASX is why it hasn’t been more popular in the UK. Curiously, and without referring to statistics, its presence seemed more obvious on roads on the other side of the Channel, where a Breton neighbour had one and which, coincidentally, sported the same dashing white livery as the test car!
MAZDA is on a roll across Europe. Sales increased by 29 per cent year-on-year between July and September, extending the brand’s growth to 12 consecutive quarters. The Japanese car maker sold just under 60,000 vehicles in the third quarter, outpacing an overall market that was up by 10.6pc and raising its market share to 1.7pc.
