Caterham releases limited edition Seven CDX

British sports car manufacturer Caterham has released a unique commemorative version of its Seven roadster dubbed the CDX to celebrate 15 years of running its specialized driving day program. Only 20 examples of the high-spec model will be built, each powered by a highly tuned 1.6L Ford sigma engine with 135hp. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. Click here to read more…

Gas Guzzlers of the 1970’s

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Citroen DS may be returning from Car Junkyard

Citroen will revive its legendary DS badge for a new range of near-premium models, industry sources said.

The French brand will unveil plans for the new DS range on Wednesday, when the carmaker launches a global rebranding campaign.

A concept previewing the first DS-badged model, a DS3 small car, will debut at the Geneva motor show in March. The DS3 will go on sale in the first half of 2010. Click here to read more…

MINI - Why Not?

Apparently, the best thing to buy these days is a Mini.  Why is that, I hear you ask?  Well, very simple.  The Mini is the most popular car on the social networking site Facebook.  I guess they found that out through one of their scientific surveys of course.  Well, there’s 24,000 members of Mini Cooper related Facebook groups, the next being Honda Civic fans.

There aren’t too many cars that have as much of a reputation, or indeed a history, as the Mini.  Going to a quick history lesson, the BMC (British Motor Corporation) produced the car and its successors from 1959 - so this car has a long shadow.  The first variant is considered a style icon of the sixties, as nothing else quite matched it for profile or indeed fun driving.

One of the most amazing things about the Mini is the small form factor.  It’s pretty damn tiny on the inside, but due to the way in which the design maximises space, it is actually reasonably roomy on the inside.  This gives enough space (just about) for five people.  There have been numerous parodies on this, with a record being set back in 2000 when 18 women fit into the car.  I’d imagine they were all of one sex as it could lead to some compromising positions, even in the new, larger Mini One.

Driving forward (pardon the pun), Mini was given a facelift by the newest owner, BMW.  This MINI (capital letters, or Mini One) is bigger than the original, in height, weight and breadth.  It also weighs almost double the original style icon.  The biggest change perhaps it the addition of modern configurations to the car.

Of course, as the MINI is a modern car, it had to be updated for safety and expectation reasons.  Has it lost its charm though?  Well if you ask me, it never really had that much.  A product of the time it was made, it seems now a dinosaur.  A relic.  Would I have an original?  Frankly no, I prefer bigger cars, and more to the point, I’d hate to see how it fared in a NCAP safety test.  What with some of the monster-sized vehicles we have on the road these days that could end up messy.

What of the new cars’ driving ability though?  Well, it is interesting.  It comes in a variety of formats such as the MINI Clubman (insane - why do you need a small car in an estate version?), the Mini One (hatchback, very reasonable), the MINI Convertible (yeah, okay, I’ll admit this is actually cool) and the Mini Cooper S (or the newest version of the sport, the John Cooper Works) - the sports variant.

Let’s look at the Cooper S - it’s the car I’d be most likely to own, if I were ever to own a Mini (or MINI).  The 7.1 seconds to 60 is actually quite quick, and it has the superb handling characteristics you’d expect from a smaller, road-hugging vehicle.  The turbo kicks in nicely and creates an engine that is a little peakier than the supercharged variant.

The car handles well, being both agile and responsive through turns.  You’ll also find that it is quite grippy too, so it should do you quite nicely whether you’re journeying through the city or those B-roads we all know and love.  Overall, the MINI is extremely good - if not personally to my taste.  I think it’s the faux-retro that annoys me actually - you’ll see what I mean when you step inside one.  The huge oversized speedo might get to you.  Or maybe how the MINI isn’t actually mini anymore.

Whatever your opinion on the MINI, you’ll find it reliable, a good driving experience and something that other people will respect you for driving.  I’ll be one of them.  I’d just never have one myself.  But then, that’s the beauty of cars right?

Hillmans Are Forever

One of the things that I love to see is a nice happy story about cars in the papers.  Too often you get some sulky journalist whinging about how vehicles are killing they environment, killing children or just generally being the scourge of the Earth.  However, these same people probably climb into their 20MPG Aston Martin at the end of each day.  It is, therefore, a pleasure to read a good ‘happy’ story about motors.

Bill Silver was in The Daily Mirror a few days ago due to him having a motor that’s been around some time.  When I say some time, I mean a REALLY long time.  His Hillman 14 is a bit special.  Not only is it really old (made in 1939), it has managed 240,000 miles in Bill’s 45 years of ownership.  This is, as the paper has pointed out, enough to get Mr Silver all the way to the moon (though not back).

Perhaps the greatest achievement of this wonderful mechanical creation is the fact that it has been utterly, utterly reliable.  This Hillman 14 has managed to be a trouble-free motor; never braking down and passing MOT’s (including its’ latest one) with flying colours.  A classic in two senses of the word then.

Unfortunately, Bill has had to sell the car due to ill health.  He’s not asking much either mind, only a mere £1,800 at auction.  Given the car has some wonderful history and an impeccable record for not braking down; I’d quite like to be in the queue for this one.  However, you might want to change the interior – it has something akin to what I’d describe ‘dogs bed pattern’.

What does this story tell us though?  Well, aside from cars being made just prior to the war being invincible, it poses some interesting questions.  If I buy a car today, it theoretically should last for 240,000.  However, this is only what ‘some’ engines are capable of.  Is this the truth though, or simply that people get rid of cars too early?

I have a sneaking suspicion that Bill isn’t quite telling the whole story.  You see, Bill looks like he knows his stuff in the picture.  I think that although modern motors are far more complicated, they don’t get looked after.  Mr Silvers, I’d wager, is a man who would know exactly how to change a tyre, as well as check oil levels, know what knocking sounds like etc etc.  Basically, all of the things that the modern driver apparently has great difficulty with.

Whatever your car is, I dare you to try to make it a success story (rather than changing it every few years).  Take Bill’s example here and look after your motor.  Clean it, care for it and check your fluid levels.  Get to understand the basics.  Follow the instructions to change your tyre, so if you ever have to do it for real you’ll know what exactly you have to do and in which order.  Perhaps then you’ll have a motor to be proud of too.

The Hillman 14 is a medium sized car that was produced back in 1925 by the Hillman Motor Car Co Ltd.  It has a large stroke monobloc side valve 1954cc four cylinder engine.  It has a four speed gearbox and drum brakes.  Top speed is 55MPH flat out and it can manage around 25MPG – not bad for a car that’s as old as your granny.

The Marcos TSO

It may come as no great surprise if you haven’t seen a Marcos car before.  It may have an illustrious history but was quiet for some years.  A couple of years ago saw the release of some new models, including the Marcos TSO - a real alernative to the many sanitised two seaters out there and something with real spirit.

The TSO GTC is a classic British race-inspired 2-seat sports coupe that comes with racing suspension, racing brakes and a rear diffuser. The GTC is priced at £49,950.

The TSO R/T delivers a thrilling open top driving experience with dual removable roof panels - combining a roadster experience with the safety, confidence and styling of the coupe. The R/T comes equipped with touring suspension, cargo nets and premium sound and is priced at £53,950.  Both models come standard with a 420 horsepower Aluminium V8 Engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. A 462 horsepower Performance Pack is also available.

“The TSO’s combination of tuned V8 power and lightweight design delivers both stunning performance and breathtaking sound in a reliable, precision Engineered and affordable British Supercar”, said Tony Stelliga, Marcos Engineering’s Managing Director.

The TSO is professionally Engineered. Composites and components are CAD designed and fabricated in England. The Chassis is Engineered and manufactured by Prodrive - a leading developer of motorsport chassis and race cars that have earned five British Touring Car Championships and six World Rally titles. Designed to be lightweight and responsive, the TSO inspires confidence and is communicative up to and beyond the limit.

The TSO is reliable - with the same proven V8 Engine and drivetrain components found in the Corvette and Monaro. Induction, exhaust and electronics modifications by Marcos further enhance the TSO’s drivability and performance.

The TSO is a performer – a lightweight composite body, space frame chassis and V8 engine provide an impressive power-to-weight ratio. With the Performance Pack the TSO accelerates to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and to 100 mph in 8.5 seconds. Huge 340mm AP Racing brakes deliver a 0-100-0 time of 12.9 seconds. Overtaking is effortless with a 50 to 70 mph time of just 2.1 seconds. Top speed is over 185 mph.

Marcos Engineering is a based in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England - the heart of the British Motorsport Industry. The Company builds exclusive, fun to drive, high performance British sports cars. For more information visit