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First Drives

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It’s like playing Abba at 78rpm

Giles Smith's first drive review: Volvo V60 Polestar (2014)
Published 28 April 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

First drive review: Rolls-Royce Wraith (2013)

Recently I was among a few hand-picked journalists invited to a secret rendezvous at the Rolls-Royce factory in West Sussex to see its new Wraith.
Published 25 April 2014
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First drive review: Maserati Quattroporte (2013)

Only the Italians could get away with calling their luxury car, the Four-door. But if you are going to call it after the means of ingress and egress...
Published 25 April 2014
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First drive review: Suzuki SX4 S-Cross (2013)

for a good many years, the Suzuki SX4 has enjoyed that 'quirky' handle, with its slightly roguish style and mini-SUV pose. But this latest all new...
Published 22 April 2014
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First drive review: SsangYong Turismo EX (2013)

SSANGYONG: mean anything to you? Up to now the company has probably been most famous for bringing to British roads a big old beast called the Rodius...
Published 22 April 2014
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First drive review: Audi RS 7 Sportback (2013)

Last week you no doubt will have read about Jeremy Clarkson letting his hair down in Audi’s RS 5 cabriolet. This is its bigger, more powerful...
Published 22 April 2014
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First drive review: Porsche 911 Turbo S (2013)

In Turbo form Porsche's flagship is still quite able to set your trousers on fire, but subtle hints tel Giles Smith that the car is in control even...
Published 22 April 2014
Vauxhall Insignia review

First drive review: Vauxhall Insignia (2013)

Only the most determined Vauxhall-spotter will notice that what theyre looking at here is actually an updated version of the Insignia but under the...
Published 22 April 2014
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First drive review: BMW 518d SE saloon (2013)

In the vicious, back-alley knife-fight that is the executive saloon market, the 5-series is BMWs Mack the Knife. And when those other German spivs...
Published 22 April 2014
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First drive review: Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.6 TDI S...

At first glance, it might be hard to see the point of this new Skoda Rapid. The Rapid Spaceback is basically a version of the current notchback model...
Published 22 April 2014
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First drive review: BMW i3 Range Extender (2014)

I'M IN an electric BMW i3 at some point in the future, to be more specific, last Wednesday. Im on the A2 wafting almost silently towards Kent, the...
Published 22 April 2014
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First drive review: Hyundai i10 (2014)

HYUNDAI, AS YOU may know, hails originally from South Korea, but I dont recall hearing that country mentioned once last week as various high-level...
Published 22 April 2014