Lancia has come back to take over the E segment with a saloon that in these last months has been probably over-discussed and sometimes over-criticised. Nevertheless, all interest surrounding Lancia Thema’s launch can be interpreted as a positive signal and here is a chance to critically analyse if detractions were based on real flaws or just sparked by concerns about Lancia’s identity as a brand.

But let’s start by going straight to the point: we think that the Thema is a remarkable car, valid, reliable, quite refined and of obvious qualities such as being the 15% cheaper if compared to one of the German vehicles in the same segment. Its appearance is quite flashy, with 20in alloy wheels, eye-catching fenders and vertical rear lights that Lancia Designers have compared to Lancia Flaminia’s optical units.

From an aesthetic point of view due to features such as the chrome elements, Lancia Thema doesn’t fit the image of the typical European vehicle nevertheless its elegance is unquestionable. In this regard, we think that the purple-brown tone chosen for the official photo shoot is extremely appropriate and makes it look even more stylish.

Continue reading: Lancia Thema test drive: first impressions

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Lancia Voyager is ready to take on the international market hoping to sell in Europe at least 11,000 units a year: a demanding target in the current financial climate, but nevertheless not impossible to achieve. In Europe we are talking about a starting price of €39,900 which, taking all the trims into consideration, can be quite inviting.

Lancia has introduced some innovations: it has modified the bumper’s design, the front grill, introduced some new LED lights and in terms of passenger compartment’s configuration, the Voyager is adopting a 2-2-3 module, the direct evolution of the 2-3-2 chosen for the Chrysler Grand Voyager. The body is characterised by numerous chrome elements and the optical groups’ design is also been reviewed: the final result is an eye-catching and flashy vehicle that won’t surely go unnoticed.

Talking about the engine, the four-cylinder 2.8 diesel (163 hp / 360 Nm) at first sight doesn’t seem enough considering that the Voyager weights 2.3 t, nevertheless it satisfies this vehicle’s needs. Be prepared for a regular drive though: the Voyager keeps a steady pace without any significant acceleration regardless of how hard we push the pedal. The six-speed automatic gearbox in our opinion feels a bit slow while the braking system is of remarkable good quality: responsive and sharp.

View the full Lancia Voyager photo gallery

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The idea behind the Nissan Juke is quite simple: to build a compact crossover able to provide both practicality and all the features usually associated with SUVs such as extreme driving comfort and the advantage of towering over traffic. Most models feature front wheel drive which, together with the compact dimensions and reasonable carrying costs, makes this vehicle the perfect answer to the urban driver’s needs.

Thanks to its style and personality the new Juke has conquered the ‘best seller’ rank in its category and Nissan seems to be winning the bet it has taken when they opted for the risky formula of adopting an extremely innovative style. The public is responding remarkably well and this small Japanese SUV managed to sell an astonishing 12,500 units in the first 9 months of 2011.

Continue reading: Nissan Juke road test: the results

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In this video former DTM pilot Ellen Lohr is at at the Hockenheim track to test the new Mercedes SLK 250 CDI, a car with average consumption levels of 4,4 l/100 km, a maximum speed of 240 km/hr and able to go from 0 to 100 km/hr in 6,5 seconds. The SLK 250 CDI - Mercedes’ first diesel spider - also features the same 2,1 l biturbo 204 Hp and 500 Nm we have seen in other models, which enables this car to offer the same standards in terms of performance delivered by petrol engines. In the video, Ellen Lohr also has the chance to meet up and challenge former DTM opponent Roland Ash, who’s driving a Mercedes 190 E 2.5 16 Evo, but we are not going to spoil the surprise by telling you who wins!

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Embarassing day for Top Gear: evidence has surfaced implying that Jeremy Clarkson was totally aware of the fact that the battery of the Nissan Leaf tested for the final episode of the show’s 17th series did not have enough charge to finish its 60-mile journey. A serious issue, if you consider that the incident has been used to discredit electric cars‘ effectiveness as well as their place in the future of the automotive sector.

During the Top Gear test in fact we can see the Nissan Leaf running out of electricity half way through its journey to Lincoln - Lincolnshire - followed by the presenters’ 10-hour long struggle to get it recharged. Little we know that the show’s producers have deliberately flattened the battery before setting off in order to make electric vehicles look unmanageable and unreliable in the real world.

We have to remind you that Top Gear seems to have a problem with this kind of cars, often knocking them down, and is currently been sued by electric car maker Tesla for the similar alleged misrepresentation of their Roadster during a 2008 show. The Guardian seems to back up the Nissan Leaf test sabotage theory by pointing out that the car’s electronic dashboard would have notified the driver about the percentage of electricity available (and its translation in miles) as soon as he turned the ignition on.

Top Gear has replied stating that the point of the test wasn’t to make the vehicle look bad, but “to show how bad the charging infrastructure is in the UK [therefore] the car needed to run out of charge so that could be demonstrated” adding that the purpose of the test was not to test the car’s mileage claims. Still Jeremy, we feel a bit cheated.

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We just had the chance to test-drive the new Nissan Micra DIG-S in Germany, a car whose main objective is to be as green and affordable as possible. DIG-S stands for Direct Injection Gasoline Supercharged, which in this case is it’s a three-cylinder, 1.2-litre petrol engine, 98 hp, with CO2 emissions of 99 g/km. And thanks to these CO2 levels, this Micra was awarded a Pure Drive badge - which can be obtained only when a vehicle can prove to be eco-friendly by featuring emissions lower than 130 g/km (to be reduced to 120 g/km in 2013/14).

Talking about the interiors, the overhall quality is very good: comfortable seats, quality plastics, pleasant colors’ combination. Visibility is also extremely good and the panoramic sunroof helps a lot in reduced-light situations. Other features include an audio system with USB and AUX plug as well as an outstanding navigation system with an easy-to-use interface and an handy manual switch that enables the zoom.

Continue reading: Nissan Micra DIG-S road test: the results

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After celebrating the sale of more than 5m vehicles since 1997, and after the remarkable success of ix35 and i20, Hyundai is now seriously challenging competitors with the new i40 Wagon, a vehicle boasting an innovative style, a good engine, all sorts of comforts as well as a highly competitive price.

In terms of design, we can define the i40 as very fluid with specific graphic elements that, according to Thomas Buerkle - Hyundai’s European Chief Designer - have been inspired by natural shapes. The wagon doesn’t come across as bulky and it looks much smaller than what it actually is thanks to the well-thought design which makes the whole thing very dynamic. In addition, details such as the rear spoiler make this vehicle look quite sporty.

Continue reading: Hyundai i40 Wagon: road test and technical specs

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It’s been a couple of successful years for the new Renault Mégane SporTour and for the Mégane range in general. Compared to the old model, the new SporTour has improved massively in terms of design and now features much more dynamic shapes.

The vehicle we’ve been driving for the past few weeks - a SporTour 1.5 dCi 110 hp - can be defined as attractive, practical, roomy as well as cutting-edge. In fact, despite the classic feel, the Mégane SporTour is packing the latest technology such as a dual-clutch six-speed EDC gearbox.

Continue reading: Renault Mégane SporTour road test: the results

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During our visit to the Hyundai showroom in Frankfurt we had the chance to see the Veloster in detail as well as to test-drive it. Even if the model we tried was a pre-production one, we can definitely say that this is a crossover suitable for someone who doesn’t want to pass unnoticed. The Velosters’ style in fact can be defined as daring, and the fluidity of its shapes confirms that Hyundai seems eager to distance itself from the past in terms of design.

The first thing that catches the eye is probably the fact that only the passenger side has two doors, while the driver’s has only got one. This changes the vehicle’s feel depending on the viewer’s perspective: more sporty or less intimidating, it’s just a matter of points of view. And despite the rear door’s handle being integrated with the window, the passenger side rear window looks actually bigger then the others, as in some sort of optical illusion.

Hyundai Veloster Wallpaper

The Veloster’s front view is quite aggressive due to the headlights’ design, while the radiator’s hexagonal grill is almost becoming Hyundai’s signature feature when it comes down to convey a family feeling to a vehicle. The hatchback is divided horizontally in two parts, with the top section becoming an extension of the adjustable panoramic roof, therefore providing extra brightness. Parking is made easier by a video camera that not only supplies a wider view, but also displays some guide-lines on the screen for the driver to follow.

Continue reading: Hyundai Veloster Test Drive: the results

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The first “Yankee” Fiat has officially arrived: big, spacious, with a competitive price and that retrò feeling that makes it so American. The Freemont is here to stay and with its unique style will take the place of three different vehicles in the Fiat range - Chroma, Multipla and Ulysse - considered maybe a little too old for the job.

A crossover between a SUV and a mini van, Fiat Freemont can be regarded as Dodge Journey’s little baby. In fact, the reason why the Freemont is so aesthetically similar to the Dodge is that Fiat planned to sell an average of 30,000 units in Europe before the end of 2011, and simply they didn’t have enough time to develop a new design. But despite the two vehicles being almost identical in shape, it’s the technical details that make the real difference.

Continue reading: Fiat Freemont's road test: the feedback

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