Ben Barry | Petrol | £30k to £40k

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Mazda MX-5 GT (2012) CAR review

3.5

Ben Barry, 21 August 2012 14:00

Talk about stealing the limelight: so much has the focus been on the new Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ twins that just about everyone has forgotten about one key alternative, the Mazda MX-5. Now Mazda UK are hoping to put at stop to all that, with this MX-5 GT concept. A production car would be preferable, surely… Well, hopefully that’s ...

Mercedes SLK 250 (2011) CAR review

3.5

Ben Barry, 08 March 2011 00:01

This is the new Mercedes-Benz SLK, the third generation of Stuttgart’s folding hardtop sports car. Traditionally, 50-something females have been the SLK’s key demographic, but Mercedes is trying to shift the needle a little towards men. It’s a tricky brief : improve refinement and usability even further, while enhancing driving dynamics too. But Mercedes is bullish: ‘We were surprised when ...

Mercedes E250 CGI Cabriolet (2010) CAR review

Ben Barry, 30 March 2010 10:30

With the CLK convertible out of the Mercedes line-up, the four-seat soft-top niche is filled by this, the E-class Cabriolet. We’re driving the E250 CGI. What’s the spec of the new Mercedes E250 CGI Cabriolet? The CGI part tells us we’re driving a direct-injection petrol turbo. The 250 bit means this is the 1.8-litre turbo that’s good for 201bhp and ...

BMW Z4 sDrive35i (2009) CAR review

3.5

Ben Barry, 19 March 2009 23:00

It says something that the first-generation BMW Z4 is already off-sale, yet it still looks ahead of its time, and is still fun to drive. The second-generation model, then, has quite an act to follow. CAR has just driven it, in twin turbo 35i trim – a 23i and 30i are also available – and we can report that it’s a very ...

Subaru Impreza 330S (2009) CAR review

Ben Barry, 05 March 2009 10:00

We’d pretty much given up on extracting any pleasure from the new Impreza. Then we drove the new 330S and – shock, horror – it’s very good indeed. Even more surprising, the differences between the 330S and the WRX STI aren’t particularly striking. And the differences between the Subaru Impreza STI and 330S are... The 330S begins life in Japan ...

Vauxhall VXR8 facelift (2008) CAR review

Ben Barry, 17 September 2008 09:00

It might have only been launched a year ago, but the Australian-built Vauxhall VXR8 has already been upgraded. The big news is the new LS3 engine. Seems the 6.0-litre V8 LS2 was a bit weedy at 411bhp and 405lb ft, so the LS3 takes its place with a newly swollen 6.2 litres of Aussie muscle. The VXR8 isn't exactly in ...

VW Passat R36 (2008) CAR review

3.5

Ben Barry, 29 May 2008 11:09

This is Volkswagen’s most powerful production Passat yet - the new R36, a car that trumps the last generation’s unloved W8 in the power stakes. Big deal, you might think, but bear with us. For £30,990 you get a 3.6-litre V6 churning out 295bhp and 258lb ft, four-wheel drive versatility and subtly imposing styling. What sets the VW Passat R36 apart visually? ...

Vauxhall VXR8 (2007) CAR review

Ben Barry, 31 May 2007 04:23

That’s one hell of a Vauxhall you've got there... Don’t let the badge fool you. It reads Vauxhall but underneath that chunky sheetmetal is Holden’s new Commodore Clubsport R8 with a higher spec GTS interior. Re-badged as the VXR8, and wearing a barely believable £35,105 price tag, this 411bhp monster will terrorise British roads come mid-June. The new Commodore is ...

Lotus Europa S (2006) CAR review

Ben Barry, 10 September 2006 00:01

What's this – a slightly bigger Elise? Kind of. Lotus claims the Europa delivers the majority of the Elise and Exige's driving thrills while offering a load more practicality and comfort – 'business class by Lotus', says the blurb. It's a bit longer than the Elise, a smidge wider and a good deal heavier (995kg versus 860kg), but sticks with ...

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