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Ben Whitworth

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Porsche Carrera GT (2008) CAR review

Rated 3.5 out of 53.5

Ben Whitworth, 04 August 2008 10:32

The Porsche Carrera GT is – or was – arguably the world’s best-selling supercar. Initially Porsche planned to manufacture 1500 of the mid-engined targa-topped two-seaters, but the Leipzig production line called it a day at 1270. Which to even the most jaundiced-eye looks pretty impressive for a clean-sheet Le Mans-inspired £330,000 supercar that’s capable of a genuine 205mph Mind you, ...

Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe (2008) CAR review

Rated 3.5 out of 53.5

Ben Whitworth, 27 June 2008 09:00

It's time to drive the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, some two years after the company threw back the covers hiding its 101EX concept. Back then, no one ever pretended that was anything but a gossamer thin disguise for the upcoming Phantom Coupe. Fast forward 24 months and the first Coupes - running a 453bhp V12 and costing nigh on £300,000 - ...

Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI Elegance (2008) CAR review

Rated 3.5 out of 53.5

Ben Whitworth, 16 May 2008 09:31

Skoda’s Superb flagship has always been a leftfield option among mainstream motorway fodder. It had two difficult names to overcome, generic Volkswagen-esque styling, a lot of hand-me-down componentry and no real heritage to speak off. That didn't stop 12,500 brave souls from buying one in the UK. Skoda reckons its new Superb will be a far more attractive proposition when ...

Renault Laguna GT dCi 180 Sport Tourer (2008) CAR review

Rated 3.5 out of 53.5

Ben Whitworth, 10 April 2008 16:43

When it arrived late last year we gave Renault’s Laguna a bit of a pasting for its dull looks and overall lack of appeal. There wasn't much wrong with its driving dynamics, and Renault’s claim for best-in-class refinement and quality didn't seem too wide of the mark, but it was sorely lacking in sparkle. The Sport Tourer estate went some ...

Lexus IS-F (2008) CAR review

Rated 3.5 out of 53.5

Ben Whitworth, 07 February 2008 13:34

The new Lexus IS-F performance flagship arrives here this April primed to take on its BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 AMG rivals. Even its £51,000 price tag (M3 £50,725, C63 AMG £52,567) puts it deep into enemy territory. It may not have the aspiration strengths played on so heavily by M Division and AMG, but that hasn't stopped Lexus wheeling out a ...

BMW 135i Coupe (2007) CAR review

Rated 3.5 out of 53.5

Ben Whitworth, 21 October 2007 12:01

So, is this the ‘One’ that everyone has been waiting for? Very good. The thought of a small, highly focused BMW, with the full M Sport works, powered by one of the finest engines on sale has certainly had us salivating. Shoehorned into the 135i’s engine bay is the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six found in the 335i. It develops ...

Mazda 2 1.5 Sport (2007) CAR review

Rated 3 out of 53

Ben Whitworth, 18 June 2007 08:25

This looks a bit more interesting than the outgoing Mazda 2 You’re not wrong. When it arrives here in September, Mazda’s new 2 supermini will sit on spanking new chassis architecture – the same basic platform structure that will underpin Ford’s new Fiesta – and will trade the boxy profile of its predecessor for these sleek and wedgy lines that ...

GM Hy-Wire CAR (2007) review

Rated 3.5 out of 53.5

Ben Whitworth, 06 June 2007 07:31

The Hy-wire? Sounds like a circus act… Don't be fooled. It’s a very significant bit of technology. When General Motors unveiled AUTOnomy at the Detroit Motor Show five years ago, the oddly compelling hydrogen-powered chassis that looked more like an overblown and high-tech skateboard than the saviour of the motor industry, was seen as something as a watershed moment. Why? ...

Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE (2007) CAR review

Rated 3.5 out of 53.5

Ben Whitworth, 03 June 2007 02:36

How does a hydrogen-powered RX-8 work – and no technobabble please... It's simple. The RX-8's rotary engine can run on either petrol or hydrogen, which is stored in liquid form in a second fuel tank. The engine is fitted with a second set of hydrogen injectors that are situated above the intake chamber, and the driver has a switch in ...

Mazda 3 2.0D (2007) CAR review

Rated 3 out of 53

Ben Whitworth, 08 May 2007 05:09

This Mazda looks vaguely familiar – the 3 is hardly new is it? True, but the new turbo diesel engine under its bonnet is. Mazda has finally got around to boosting its 3 line-up with the big 2.0-litre turbo diesel already used in the 5 and 6. It joins the existing 90bhp and 109bhp versions of the 1.6-litre turbo diesel, ...

CAR magazine June issue 611
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