And so it comes to pass… 2012 is fading into the pages of history, but what a year it has been! Great Britain hosted the Olympic Games, Barrack Obama was reelected and the world didn’t actually end. It was a great year for petrol heads too with an explosive Formula One season seeing Sebastian Vettel collect his 3rd world championship in dramatic fashion, some glorious car launches as well as some terrific anniversary celebrations.
For Inside Lane we have clocked our most successful year ever reviewing more cars, bringing you more news and receiving a greater readership. We are very proud of what we have achieved. Since Inside Lane started as a little blog in a small boys room years ago it has grown and that is all thanks to you guys and girls. Without you reading/watching what we do we wouldn’t be here and so I would like to thank each and every one of you.
2013 is set to be an even bigger year for the industry and we will be there waiting to bring you the latest. Have a fantastic New Year and drive safely.
No matter who you support, how often you watch it, there is no getting away from how dominant Red Bull have been in Formula One. Their cars have gone from the joke of the paddock to championship winning machines, but has it all been pain sailing? Taking a look behind often closed doors, Red Bull has produced a documentary telling their story from beginning to end. The half hour long piece talks about the trials and tribulations of coming from the back of the grid.
Tis the season to be jolly! Inside Lane brings you a bumper Christmas podcasts stuffed fuller than your stocking on Christmas morning. Matt talks about Porsche’s new 991 911 racer, Steve brings you news on the 2013 BMW Z4 and Tyler has an update on the Jaguar C-X75 supercar. All of that as well as the latest from Formula One and WRC.
If you are in the market for a small hatchback you have an absolute sea of choice. This lucrative sector of the market has just about every manufacturer under the sun baying for your attention. The class is dominated by the likes of VW’s very stylish yet grown-up Polo, and Ford’s funky Fiesta. Honda many years ago introduced its Jazz, a car that did just about everything. The Japanese swiss army knife was perfect for carrying vast loads, being a comfortable place to sit and had bulletproof reliability. This is the new Honda Jazz, but can it live up to its forefather?
To be specific our test car is the £14,550 Si model, a Jazz with a few sporty sprinkles. This specification includes unique 16” diamond cut alloy wheels, some sporty sills and bumpers, not to mention a unique interior. Overall the package does look very neat, particularly in what Honda call “white orchid.” It is a very well proportioned car externally with design architecture that is balanced. It may not be the last word in standing out from the crowd, but it is pleasing to the eye never the less.
Inside the Jazz is cavernous! Getting in for the first time is much like stepping into the TARDIS, it fells so much bigger on the inside. Honda have done a fantastic job in maximising interior space and making the Jazz Si a pleasant place to be. The unique fabric seats in contrasting black and white match similar tones struck by the black plastics and white finish of the exterior paint. Another nice feature is a little display in the form of a bubble that shows the current air conditioning settings. Though the seating didn’t offer much in terms of lateral support it did shine through with an overall comfortable position. Leg room in the rear is generous and thanks to Honda’s “Magic Seats,” that allow you raise the lower part seat swab yet maintain a divide to the boot, every inch of loading space can be used. The boot itself is of good size and when combined with the diversity of the rear bench, the new Jazz not only matches but by far surpasses the previous car in terms of utility.
Around town the Honda Jazz Si excels itself and proves to be more than a match for competitors. The large wing mirrors are perfect for keeping a watchful eye on others in a busy urban environment and visibility all around the car can not be faulted thanks to its large windows. Steering is light and makes parallel parking a joy. Honda has yet again provided a fantastic gearbox that is simply effortless in its function, from cog to cog it never misses a beat. It is clear that in such an environment the Jazz has no equal. The Fiesta and Polo are brilliant but the Jazz wipes the floor with them when it comes to the hustle bustle of the city. However, the trade off is that this Jazz is so suited to these surroundings that when it comes time to hit the open road, the competition fairs better. Powered by a 1.4 litre i-VTEC engine it does become apparent on motorways that the Honda Jazz begins to run out of puff. Approaching 70MPH it just feels like it could do with a few more horsepower to make an overtaking manoeuvre easier. It’s not that it can’t hold its own on the motorway, but it does feel a little reluctant to do so. That said, get the car up to speed and active the cruise control and it will sit there all day long with no trouble at all. The suspension has been tweaked for this Si model to give it a sportier edge and though firmer than the standard car, it does improve the handling somewhat. Whilst conducting our road test we managed to achieve 47MPG which isn’t bad at all in the real world.
All in all Honda has done a very good job with this new Jazz and the Si model with all of its toys does make for a smart little motor to behold. Whilst it doesn’t offer the perfect all-round package, around town it can’t be matched making it ideal for you city slickers. Of course another couple of aces the Honda Jazz has up its sleeves are strong residual values and brilliant reliability. The Honda Jazz suits a purpose.
Sometimes you just make a mistake… It happens to the best of us. A slight error of judgment leads to a wrong decision. When it comes to buying stuff that is exactly why you should keep your receipt. However, when it is to do with bigger things it’s not a straight forward as going back to the shop and getting a refund…. Or is it?
Vauxhall, this Christmas, are allowing people who purchase a new Ampera to return the car within 30 days of buying it and get a full refund if they decide they don’t like it. What a bold statement to make! It clearly shows that Vauxhall have absolute faith in their plug-in hybrid. This could just be one of the best marketing exercises the company has ever pulled off. Not only does it give buyers absolute piece of mind, but it also contrasts what many competitors would be will to do for a dissatisfied customer.
It is a rather costly time of year thanks to the Christmas season. After the gifts have been exchanged and the turkey eaten, money can be tight, particularly in the current economic climate. If you run a car, 2013 means that you have at least three guaranteed expenses. Road tax, MOT and the dreaded car insurance. If you are like me, your renewal is soon after the New Year and the letter containing the documents for insurance have already arrived. Car insurance is an unavoidable cost, but it can be made a little easier on your bank balance if you shop around.
I would advise calling your current insurer to see if they would be willing to make a reduction on the basis of you being a reoccurring customer. This may lower your bill slightly, but don’t stop there. There are many price comparison sites out there, such as comparethemarket.com, who are willing to do all of the leg work, getting quotes from multiple insurers, making sure you get a broad perspective of how much you should be paying. If your current insurers offer is not competitive you have one of two options. Firstly give them a call back and tell them what you have found concerning competitors pricing, they may be willing to match them to keep your custom. Alternatively you can switch insurers with very little hassle. Rival companies are very keen to acquire new clients; you may find their deals much more pleasing than the one that came through the post.
The moral of the story is don’t be willing to just accept what a company tells you. Go out, do some homework and save those pounds!
The “wind in your hair” experience is something that many people want from a car. Putting the roof down on a summers day and going on a drive alfresco is most enjoyable. BMW has been in this market for years producing some brilliant little roadsters along the way. The Z4 is by far their most popular and for 2013 it gets a few new tricks.
The low slung sports car keeps its handsome looks but takes on a few new exterior details that further define it. LED lights and some snazzy new rims build upon the elegant yet meaningful stance of the car. There is a new entry level engine on offer for 2013 in the form of a 2.0 litre turbo that churns out 154BHP as well as 177lb-ft of torque. Labeled the sDrive18i, it will crack 0-62MPH in 7.9 seconds but also returns 41.5MPG.
As Dean Martin once said “the weather outside is frightful” and as we plummet into the depths of winter conditions outside can be challenging. Despite temperatures being in negative figures and snow primed to fall, life goes on. We all still need to get to work or travel to locations. Is your car ready for winter? A few simple things can make life much easier whilst commuting.
Tyres are very important to a car at any time of year, but none more so than when the roads offer less grip than usual. Ensure your tyres have a good level of tread depth as those four rather understated black bits on a car go a long way to stop you in an emergency. Also if your car is using summer tyres consider changing to all-year or winter tyres as the tread pattern may not be suitable for wet or icy conditions.
Finally, carry the essentials! Deicer can be a life saver in treacherous conditions, visibility is key. Always have an ice scraper in the car to clear the windscreen before setting off. Taking a mobile phone with you is a sensible precaution allowing you to contact help if it is needed.
Keeping these things in mind will not only make sure your car is in good condition, but also keep you safe. Drive carefully over the coming weeks.
I hate to say it but over the past few decades Great Britain has lost a lot of the things the makes it so great. Gone are the industries of which this country were built upon, vanquished is the hunger to be the worlds best. All of this is very sad for people who say they are “proud to be British” and long for the days when Britannia ruled the waves to return. Well people of the United Kingdom stand fast as Aston Martin has heeded your call.
Aston Martin are one of the only companies in the automotive sector that remain British. Though subsidised by a few foreign investors, each car is designed and crafted at their HQ in Warwickshire, but more importantly, each machine is constructed with a true British “stiff upper lip” ethos. The company over the past have suffered many blows but their ingenuity and fantastic craftsmanship have triumphed in the face of adversity. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is their best selling model and for very good reason.
Sitting upon the tarmac is nothing short of a master piece. This is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, not so much a car, but an automotive sculpture. It truly is glorious to look at with its bold lines and aggressive stance. The sheer attention to detail really affirms the Vantage as a premium product. Everything from the door handles that sit flush to the body, to the precision of the side vents all give this car a sense of depth, a sense that this is more than just a machine to ferry footballers to and from training.
Inside the beautiful mastery of materials continues with hand crafted leather and comfortable seats. The cockpit is a snug affair feeling like it literally wraps around you, cocooning you with both luxury and functionality. Visibility is rather good for a car of its caliber and though lacking the rear seats, if that’s what you want to call them, of its direct competitor of the Porsche 911 the Aston never feels cramped.
Turning the key brings to life the cars 4.3 litre V8, 380BHP beating heart. The sensation that rushes through your ears is akin to a a lions roar. The noise of this machine is simply biblical. 0-60MPH is completed in 4.8 seconds and the V8 Vantage wont stop until it hits its top speed of 175MPH. Unlike a lot of modern performance cars, our test car was equipped with a manual gearbox which suited the demeanor of this machine perfectly. In motion this Aston is not a machine that will let you lie back and do everything for you. It requires a driver not just to push buttons, but to take it by the scruff of the neck and make it dance. You get as much out of the V8 as what you put in. Turn-in even in difficult conditions is sharp and precise thanks to steering that offers good levels of feedback. Tickle the throttle upon the exit of a corner and the back end comes out to play in a manor that brings nothing but a smile to your face. Putting your foot down is met with a symphony of pure power that echoes booms around the surrounding landscape and when it comes time to slow down the rotors on this coupe are more than capable. With each downshift of the extremely satisfying gearbox the car pops and bangs adding to the drama.
Though it is clear that the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is meant for those continental blasts to France and not really spend its days pounding a race track, nothing stopped it from being anything short of impressive. It is refined yet capable, relaxing yet exciting. This V8 Vantage shall not only be remembered as one of Astons greatest creations, but also one of the best cars money can buy.
In 2002 Ferrari made their halo car. Said to be the ultimate in Formula One technology for the road, Ferrari’s Enzo was born. Packing a 6.0 litre V12 punch the machine became an instant legend. But that was 10 years ago and with McLaren revealing their P1 hypercar to be nothing short of incredible, the Italians want to get back into the spotlight. A new Enzo is on its way.
Internally codenamed F150, that name will likely change due to Fords most popular pick-up already using it, the new car has been teased in Ferrari’s official magazine. The shadowy images show a highly sculpted front end that is dominated by what appears to be a nose mounted air intake. At the rear bodywork is shown to be almost shrink-wrapped to its carbon fibre bones. We know the car will be powered by Ferrari’s new V12 engine that is mated to an F1 inspired KERS.