Latest car, EV, sportscar, supercar and motoring news, facts and industry gossip from Smart-Motoring.com.
I spent last weekend totally emerged in car culture under beautiful blue skys. How lucky am I? I spent Saturday at Players Classic at Goodwood then hot footed it over to South Wales for Round 2 of the British Drift Championship. With the great weather and a new course to play on excitement was already running high […]
British Drift Championship Round 2 Read Post »
The Goodwood Hill is, in places, a very scary motorsport place to be. There are large, distinctly unmovable stone buildings very close to the track at times during the assent. Indeed, close enough to see the moss growing on the old stones! So to hurtle up it in the new 900bhp+ McLaren P1 supercar at
Up the Goodwood Hill in a McLaren P1! Read Post »
Last weekend a new show was born when Players Classic came to Goodwood. This is not your typical modified car show. There are no car clubs here, no cars with nothing more than after market wheels, no sheds, no endless rows of identical Focus STs or Mitsubishi EVOs.
Players Classic, Goodwood Read Post »
This hotter RCZ, the RCZ R, surely looks mean enough in its matt black and copper colour scheme, and thanks to some pretty intense upgrades to the RCZ’s usual THP (Turbo High Pressure), 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder petrol motor, the tough new R packs the 260bhp potency to match its menace. That’s a full 160bhp/litre of grunt,
The new RCZ R is Peugeot's most powerful road car Read Post »
The new Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG goes on sale today and will cost from £37,845. And that’s big chunk of bang for your buck in the hot, compact, sub-£40k new car market. It’s true that the German manufacturers are fighting hard to out-do each other in the small-but-quick side of the market, and this first
360bhp Mercedes A 45 AMG outguns the competition Read Post »
Okay, so it might be thirstier than Gazza eating a turbo-vindaloo in the desert, but who doesn’t – circumstances allowing – fancy a bit of big Yank V8 in their lives from time to time? Well, there’s a design-tweaked Chevrolet Camaro coming to the UK in November, and from a smidge over £35,000 you can own one,
New Chevy Camaro power for £35k Read Post »
This weekend sees the return of the much loved ‘Dads Day out’ now known as The Supercar Event taking place at Dunsfold Park in Surrey. Performance Direct are delighted to be part of this charity event, held in aid of The Children’s Trust. Performance Direct and their good friends at The Supercar Event are offering
Win a Family Pass to This Weekend's Supercar Event Read Post »
The unmissable bright greeny-yellow Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive – to give it its full title – has brightened up the world of luxury electric motoring with its 7:56.234 minute new-record-lap of the legendary Nordschleife testing track, it has been confirmed.
Electric Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe lights up Nordschleife Read Post »
Although the sun didn’t shine as bright as it could have, that didn’t stop the crowds gathering at Santa Pod Raceway for this year’s Performance Vauxhall over the weekend. Over 11, 000 visitors made their way around the show, appreciating the many stands, displays and attractions on offer.
Performance Vauxhall 2013 at Santa Pod Raceway Read Post »
As a fantastic highlight to the classic car show calendar, The Bromley Pageant of Motoring was not to be missed! Motor-Vision’s photographer Sue Whyte was there to capture the action that took place including a ‘Porsche Parade’ celebrating 50 years of the iconic marque and an Aston centenary parade.
Bromley Pageant of Motoring 2013 Read Post »
Don’t let the slightly confusing marketing message trouble you; just enjoy these beautiful images of two absolute motoring icons side by side – the Porsche 911 and the classic Mini.
50 years of the Porsche 911 with, err, Mini Read Post »
The days when a Pick-up was just a pick-up are long gone, the 4×4 has gone through a mini revolution in terms of luxury, from a heavy load bearer to a 4-seater capable of outdoing all other 4x4s on the daily school run in all weathers. This transformation has fascinated me for a while, and
When is a pick-up not a pick-up? Read Post »
A bit more beef under the bonnet is always a good thing and the third-generation Skoda Octavia vRS – ‘the thinking man’s’ quick saloon and estate – gets an even meatier motor to go with its fast-halo-car-styling. The best-looking Octavia vRS yet gets 217bhp for 154mph at the top and 62mph in 6.8 seconds. Quicker
New Skoda Octavia vRS with 217bhp Read Post »
This is a big story for us motorists to watch and it’s hard not to call it a good idea. Drivers who hog the middle-lane or tailgate other cars could face on-the-spot fines of £100 and three points on their licence under new plans unveiled today. Will this keep those aggressive rear-bumper-reps at bay and
Three licence points for tailgaters and middle-lane hoggers Read Post »
Every small boy wants to believe in Father Christmas, the tooth fairy and the existence of flying cars. I remember being overjoyed when I managed to get a near exact replica of my Uncle George’s large boxy estate car back in the seventies, made by Dinky if I recall correctly. It amuses me now, as
The Maverick – a car that can really fly Read Post »
Fat is definitely good when it comes to 911s, and over the years only the fastest and most expensive 911s have enjoyed the benefit of a chunked-up, wide-arch tail section. Unless it’s a limited-run car. And for a touch over £90k, this Commemorative 50 Years Edition of the Porsche 911, special edition gets those so
Porsche 911 goes beamy for 50-years celebration Read Post »
This weekend saw the 10th anniversary of The Classic Ford Show held at the famous Santa Pod Raceway and our friends at Performance Direct were there to soak up the action – and the sun that eventually broke through! As special shows go, The Classic Ford Show didn’t hold back. In place were exceptional attractions
Classic Ford Show 2013 – 10th Anniversary! Read Post »
The UK’s fastest one-make racing series comes to Brands Hatch again this weekend, and with championship leader Bradley Smith winning four-from-four so far, the rest of the field will be racing on maximum attack to grab back some precious points. Every Radical SR3 racecar is set to the same performance levels in this series –
The Performance Direct Radical SR3 Challenge hits Brands Hatch this weekend Read Post »
Formerly known as ‘Dad’s Day Out’ Performance Direct are delighted to announce their association with this year’s Supercar Event held at Dunsfold Park in Surrey, which promises to be a perfect gift for Father’s Day. Coming up to its 7th year, The Supercar Event have teamed up with The Children’s Trust and is set to
Dad's Day Out at The Supercar Event this Father's Day! Read Post »
BMW has tweaked up the M5’s styling to match a recent 5 Series model facelift, but along with the facial refresh, the new M5 can now be had with the rather tempting-sounding Competition Package, making it the most powerful production Beemer ever. The rear-driving super-saloon with this £6,700 power-up will now push 575bhp; up from
New BMW M5 Competition Package most powerful yet Read Post »
Explore the Vantage V12 S’s top speeds, cutting-edge features, and why it set a new benchmark for Aston Martin. Get the full scoop on this iconic release now!
Lighter, faster, quicker – new V12 Vantage S is the most potent Aston ever Read Post »
Judging by the sound this 208 T16 makes, it’s clearly a super-serious racecar. Lightning-quick, full-throttle gear changes, absolutely thumping boost from the 3.2-litre, V6 twin-turbo motor, and neck-snapping braking forces courtesy of fat Michelin slick tyres and composite stoppers.
Video: Loeb unleashes the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak racer! Read Post »
Working with Performance Direct, I get to cover a lot of events, but Modified Nationals has always been my favourite. It’s always big with a huge club turn out, live stages and a great atmosphere. Having part of it under cover also helps when the weather turns a little British as it has for the last couple
Modified Nationals in good weather shocker! Read Post »
For 30 years Nismo has been heating up Nissan models and their latest work on the 370Z is more than just a gentle warm through. Sharper styling, beefier brakes and suspension, and an extra 15bhp of shove makes the new 370Z Nismo a tough act to follow for the £36,995 pricetag.
New Nismo 370Z packs 340bhp punch Read Post »
