Heavens above, BMW has made the new 1-Series a front-wheel drive, stretched all proportions and slapped on its oversized grill. I recently test-drove a 118i M Sport to give you these impressions…
1-Series
Tested: Audi A3 Cabrio
The basic suspect
Sometimes it feels that the collective car makers are building a car for every person. New models, filling niches, updating a range, they just keep on coming. Obviously this is quite enjoyable when you’re a motoring journalist but it also means that you have to get your head around cars like the Audi A3 Cabriolet.
Tested: BMW 420i Coupe
The prettier twin
BMW recently announced two new ranges, the 2-Series and 4-Series. These follow in the footsteps of other even-numbered models to designate coupé and cabriolet vehicles. With the bizarre exception of gran coupés, this makes a lot of sense and we keenly welcomed a 420i to our test fleet.
Padtoets: BMW 316i
Beiere se trotse intree-sedan
BMW is al jare lank gevestig in Suid-Afrika, reeds vóór die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het daar al van die legendariese 328 sportmotors op die gruispaaie van destyds stof opgeskop. Daarna is daar enkele BMW 501 in die vyftigerjare deur ‘n trekkermaatskappy ingevoer maar die verouderde bakwerk van die motors het nie juis byval gevind nie, al was hulle met V8 enjins toegerus!
Tested: Mercedes-Benz A220 CDI
The thrilling drive
Very few vehicles generate so much excitement BEFORE they’re launched. Mercedes-Benz’s new A-Class seems to have been leaked out to all and sundry before many of us even received our invitation to the launch, but that doesn’t make it any less innovative and fresh once you get to see and drive it for yourself.
Launched: Audi A3 Sportback
The sophisticated choice
Good news. If you’re in the market for a premium hatchback, your extremely tasty choices have just been supplemented with a rejuvenated version of an old favourite – the Audi A3 Sportback. Ingolstadt’s regular 3-door A3 arrived late last year, the Sportback 5-door version took a little longer to gestate.
Tested: BMW 125i Coupe Sport
The tangerine thing
This January, a lot of people will be stomping out cigarettes, power-walking past bottle stores and straight to their nearest gym. I’m not sure what your new year’s resolutions are but one of mine was to be more accepting of change; and what better way to do so than with BMW’s new 1-Series Coupe.
Tested: 2012 Mercedes-Benz B200 BE
The joyful concept
For today’s review I’m delighted to tell you that our test subject was one of my least favourite automobiles ever and managed to swing that opinion almost 180 degrees within a week. I don’t like hate, it comes with so much guilt and anger, thus I’m eager to share my joyful experiences with you.
Tested: 2012 BMW 320i
The striking progress
I’m a petrol head. While most people fondly remember their first kiss, first bike or first dog, I like to think back to the first car I took sideways, the first car I managed to chirp into third gear and the first car I inevitably spun. These honours belong to just one automobile… a BMW Three Series.