August 20, 2013

Mercedes-Benz GLA is a Classy Crossover

The current trend for car manufacturers at the moment is to take their hatchbacks and use them as the basis for a new crossover. Mercedes-Benz want to grab a slice of a market where BMW with their X3 and Audi with the Q3 have been making some good money. The new Mercedes GLA aims to do just that with bold looks and the allure of that three pointed star on the grill.

First seen as a concept car a few months ago, the GLA sit upon the same platform as the current A-Class. In appearance the car makes a very bold stylistic statement to its competitors with heavily sculpted lines and bonnet bulges. Inside the cabin is well trimmed as in all Mercedes products offering a premium environment for passengers to spend their time. The engine lineup is divided by what choice is made in the drivetrain department. If you were to opt for the front wheel drive variant you can choose from a 1.6 litre turbo petrol engine with 154BHP or a 1.8 litre turbodiesel with 134BHP. However, go for the all-wheel-drive model and you may have either a 168BHP 2.1 litre turbodiesel or a 208BHP 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol. Gearboxes are again divided by drivetrain with the front drive car getting a six speed manual and the 4X4 a 7 speed dual clutch affair. The most economical model is the GLA200 CDI (2.1 diesel) that can achieve 65.7MPG.

Triumph TR6 – still a Genuine Classic

The Triumph TR6 is one of the finest examples of 1960s car manufacturing, and even today there’s a healthy market for this beautiful sports model. The performance, styling and even the luggage space are impressive, although some critics thought it wasn’t a radical enough change from the TR5.

One look at the magnificent Triumph TR6 is enough to convince anyone that it’s a truly iconic car these days. Even when it was being produced in the 1960s and 1970s it must have seemed to even the most casual observer that this was a classic in the making. Sleek, powerful and exceptionally cool, it remains highly sought-after by collectors everywhere.

For many of us, the first thing that stands out about the TR6 is the radiator grille, which appears to be smiling at you. It’s almost as if the car is welcoming drivers and passengers in readiness for a pleasant drive around the local area. In many ways, the grille introduces the feel-good factor before you’ve even placed the key in the lock and switched on the ignition.

A whole new era or same old, same old?

Although the TR6 sold well when it was first introduced, there was an element of ‘same old, same old’ among many reviewers. The TR series had been developing steadily, but the six wasn’t radically different from the five. It’s perhaps a little strange that it’s regarded as a classic now but was rather more of a run of the mill sports car even in its heyday.

Most convertible sports cars from this era offered about as much luggage space as a matchbox, but the TR6 was pleasingly roomy. The clever design included a boot that proved surprisingly roomy, enabling owners at the time to pack a suitcase and head down to Brighton to watch the Mods and Rockers beating the hell out of each other.

Now regarded as one of the classic British sports cars of its generation, the Triumph TR6 was felt by some to be a little clunky at the time. The steering and gearbox were thought to be rather stiff, but it’s probably this robustness that has enabled so many models to survive to this day. Collectors who search the web for a TR6 will be delighted by the wide choice.

With a top speed at the time of 120mph, it offered plenty of power to the boy racers and the Jackie Stewart wannabes. For drivers who wanted more from the accelerator, however, the E-Type Jaguar (150mph) would have been a better option. For most ordinary mortals, though, the TR6 had all the get up and go they would ever need.

There were more than 90,000 TR6s manufactured at Triumph’s plant in Coventry, and a significant number still remain. These days, there is a healthy market for them, especially on the Internet, so if you’re looking for a TR6 to grace your driveway you only have to log on to the web.

2014 Audi Quattro is Every Childs Dream

The Audi Quattro is a legendary car with all of the prestige and silverware in motorsport to justify its status. The first car in rallying to bring all wheel drive to the table, the Quattro dominated and showroom success soon followed. With staring rolls in T.V. shows such as the BBC’s “Ashes to Ashes,” the Quattro has always been seen as a bit of a hero on four wheels. But what if the Quattro became a villain? What if this powerful machine manifested itself as a bit of a monster? The 2014 Audi Quattro does just that.

Looking like something you drew as an overenthusiastic child, this modern day Quattro in an all wheel drive menace. Spawned from last years Quattro concept, this is Audi’s new halo car. Powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 producing over 600BHP, this car can crack 0-62MOH in under 4 seconds. It will cost more than any other Audi that has gone before it when it goes on sale as a limited production run next year, meaning that it will likely sell out just as fast as the car can accelerate.

Inside Lane “the podcast” Episode 65

Episode 65 of Inside Lane “the podcast” brings plenty of heated debates. Are Formula One’s strict rules and regulations ruining the racing spectacle? Should the 2014 F1 cars be more like the Red Bull X1 prototype? Should we ditch “back-marker teams” in favour of competitive teams running 3 cars? Also news on the very well priced MG3 as well as the latest from the world of WRC. Enjoy!

Download from iTunes or listen online. SEE PODCAST PAGE FOR DETAILS