The website of Adam Sloman, freelance motoring journalist and author.
New Metal
MG: Back for good?
Feb 17th
Those that know me will know I’ve got something of a soft-spot for MG. From the BGT to the ZS, MG cars were what initially sparked my interest in motoring and I suppose got me here today.
MG's new corporate identity...
So, the invitation to a Press Event at Longbridge MG Birmingham is always something that is going to interest me, in both a professional and enthusiast guise.
Tuesday’s event was all about MG’s refreshed identity, it’s new website, it’s plans for 2011 and most importantly, it’s new cars.
Well I can honestly say I am optimistic for the future of the famous old name. Having driven several Chinese-spec MG6′s, I’ve already been impressed by the car and I look forward to putting a full, UK version through its paces.
MG’s new custodians seem to have a decent handle on what the brand means, and its heritage. The MG6 saloon in particular, looks great and thanks to over-whelmingly positive customer clinics, will arrive in the UK this summer, as opposed to late this year, as originally intended. Sales targets are modest for MG’s first 12 months (just 2000 cars) but the intention is to build slowly and ensure quality, rather than jumping in with both feet.
The most important thing for this new breed of MGs though, is the driving experience. If the 6 can offer the same rewarding drive as the highly regarded MG ZS it will be deserving of praise from not just the niche titles, but the motoring press as a whole.
On that front, only time will tell…
More indepth coverage of Tuesday’s press briefing can be found here and here, courtesy of AROnline.
A Chinese take-away…
Nov 9th
Recently I’ve been lucky enough to do a few reports on the forthcoming MG6, most recently at this summer’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, for the website Car Enthusiast.
Written in England, read in China!
I was quite surprised then when my copy turned up on this Chinese website!
超越自如、行云流水般的顺畅快感。试驾会后，外媒记者Adam Sloman表示“虽然只是一次短暂接触，MG6就已经让我热血沸腾，相信所有感受过它的人都难以逃脱橙色激情的诱惑！
Or, translated via the magic of Google:
After the test drive, external media reporter Adam Sloman said, ” Although this is only a brief exposure, the MG6 has made me excited, I believe that all people have felt it difficult to escape the temptation of the orange passion! “
It seems it’s also popped up on the Chinese MG website here, again with some liberal editing!
Of course if you’d like to read my original copy its here (although I can’t see anywhere I’ve said about the ‘orange passion’!) and keep your eyes on Keith Adams’ AROnline for my report from the NEC later this week!
Thanks to ‘Windy’ at www.mguk.org for the heads up on this!
Good ol’ Goodwood
Jul 3rd
Alfa's centenary sculpture at the 2010 FoS
Thursday I had the privilege of spending the day at Goodwood’s Moving Motorshow.
I love days at Goodwood, having been to the Revival Meeting for the past two years, but I’ve not made it to the Festival of Speed until now (I had tickets a few years ago, but a faulty Mini Cooper got in the way) so I was excited to finally make it.
The focus of Thursday was the Moving Motorshow, and all-new part of the festival that aims to recapture the spirit of a proper British Motorshow, with a proper exhibition hall, as well as offering ‘Drive and Ride’, allowing punters like you and I to expereince the cars on Goodwood’s famous hillclimb track.
That wasn’t all though, with manufacturers setting up huge exhibits, like Audi’s behemoth, complete with massive ‘A1′ signage, for just two A1s. One being a boggo red number, the other being Damian Hurst’s ‘art-car’. I’m still not sure about the A1, it looks OK in profile, but dead on, there’s something not quite right about the baby Audi. Given the choice, I’d plump for it’s cheaper Spanish brother, the Ibiza, in Bocanegra form. Lovely little motor, every bit as good as the A1 in my opinion.
Looking great from all angles, was Toyota’s FT-86 concept car. As far as I’m concerned, the launch of this one can’t come soon enough. I loved the sporty Toyotas, like the MR-2 and especially the Celica GT-Four.
I want tomorrow's Toyota today..
The car looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to try one out. After everything Toyota has been through this year, it’s great to see something like this from the Japanese firm. Toyota also showed off a couple of cars from their Rallying past, with a Carlos Sainz-era Corolla on display, although the rear windscreen was intact, so I’m not sure that Carlos ever drove this particular car! They also had the Top Gear Polar Challenge Hi-lux, so a good spread of cars were there.
Supercars were also well covered, with Ferrari’s 458 Italia looking stunning in white, but it was beaten by the debut of McLaren’s MP4-12C. OK, so it’s not the most snappy of names, but the car looks incredible, and a fitting follow-up to the near mythical F1.
MG’s build up for the launch of the MG6 continued, and I was fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of a pre-production car once again. You’ll be able to read my thoughts online and in print soon enough, so I’ll have to keep schtum on that front for now!
Up near the house itself, a selection of Alfa one-offs and concepts from the past were out on display, with some wild and wacky designs, from the Stratos-esque Carabo (it was designed by Bertone too, so the similarity makes sense!) through to the angular Navajo. It’s not diffcult to see how it missed out on full production!
Speaking of wacky designs, the full field of Wacky Racers were also there, with Penelope Pitstop and Peter Perfect in attendence.
Alfa Navajo: Captain Scarlet's wheels?
There was plenty of fun stuff too, with a good showing from Top Gear, allowing people to get up-close and personal with the electric powered Hammerhead Eagle Thrust-i, or Geoff, as its also known. The 3,500 bhp Cummins diesel engined Mini was also pretty out-there, despite the hoofing great lump chucked in the back, it still looked better than the Countryman.
A glorious, sunny day, with thousands of happy punters, the Festival of Speed runs until Sunday and is well worth the trip, along with September’s revival, this is one of the must-attend events for any petrol-head.
Get on down to Goodwood. It’s automotive heaven.
Another successful showing for the new MG
Automotive Heaven
May 28th
Well I’ve just come through the front door after a day in Automotive Heaven. I’ve just got back from the 2010 SMMT Test Day.
Millbrook from the air. Looks great, doesn't it.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) host an annual get together for motoring journos like yours truly where we get the chance to try out all kinds of motors we might not have had chance to try out otherwise. With a wide range of manufacutrers from Audi to Mazda, the Test Day really is heaven for any car lover.
It all happens at the Millbrook Proving Ground, which features a variety of courses, from a high-speed bowl, to an Alpine-style track, through to 4×4 routes and City-style courses.
I met up with Ian Robertson (my editor at Diesel Car) and fellow budding freelancers James Stiff and Jason Penny. After a bacon-roll, we all settled down in the Concept Centre for the pre-event briefing, and then a safety briefing, bringing us all upto speed, detailing the rules and routes available, and by 9:00 am we were out, and able to chose just want we wanted to try first.
That's 'my' R8, the red one. Lovely, innit...
Suddenly, I was like a kid in a sweet shop, with so much to chose from, it was difficult to know just where to start and, in all honesty, I didn’t quite feel confident enough to just wander up to a manufacturer and say ‘ere, give us a motor!’ Thanks to the wonder of Twitter, I had an ‘in’. I’d been tweeting with SEAT PR man Mike Orford had invited me to come and say hello, so I thought I’d start there.
The SEAT was the first of many cars I drove through the day, so hey, I thought I’d tell you about them all, and give my impressions to them, together with a few ‘Top Trumps’ style facts!
SEAT Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra 1.4 TSi
The first car I got out in, the Bocanegra was a tidy motor, with plenty of poke from the 1400 TSi engine, the Ibiza is a cracking hot hatch that looks just stunning. The TSi means the engine is both turbo-charged and super-charged, meaning it develops around 170bhp.
Out on the Alpine Course, I found the Ibiza boasted plenty of grip and I would love to spend more time with it than the brief fifteen minute blast I got.
Engine: 1.4
Power: 170 bhp
Price: £16,695
Subaru Impreza 2.0 D RC
Next up I headed to Subaru, keen to try the new Boxer diesel Subaru hatchback. After being given the wrong key for the car, I set off, and I must admit, I was disappointed. Performance was certainly more than adequate, and the handling was good, but the interior was such a let-down. While the Boxer diesel is an example of millennium motoring, the dash and it’s surroundings are straight out of the 1980s! I guess I’ll just need someone at Subaru to send me a Cosworth version!
Engine: 2.0
Power: 150 bhp
Price : £21,500
Nissan Cube
A car I’ve wanted to drive since its launch, I can’t help but love the Cube.
It was great fun to drive, OK, it was gutless out on the Alpine course, but that’s not what it’s meant for. The Cube made a really big impression on me, and I’d love to have one at home. It needs more power, (I think a diesel would be great, Nissan’s partner Renault make some good ‘uns) but it was hilarious to drive and put a proper smile on my face.
Engine: 1.6
Power: 108 bhp
Price: £14,000
Volkswagen Golf R
The fastest Golf money can buy, the Golf R is one impressive car. It’s 6 speed, 2.0 TSi pumps out over 260bhp. Thankfully the chassis can handle it. Again out on the Alpie Course, the Golf ate up the twists and turns with ease.
At over £30k, the Golf is expensive, but what a car!
Engine: 2.0
Power: 270 bhp
Price: £30,300
Nissan 370Z
Nissan’s Zed cars are legendary, and the 370Z is the latest to wear the famous badge.
I slotted myself into a Roadster and headed off. The car sounds incredible, the V6 offers wonderful soundtrack and the gear change? Sublime. Despite having driven a fair few open-top motors, I’ve never been all that fussed about them, the Roadster has changed all that.
I finally understand the point of topless motoring!
Engine: 3.7 V6
Power: 331 bhp
Price: £30,445
Honda CR-Z
There’s been quite a bit of buzz about Honda’s newest hybrid. I spent hours playing Gran Turismoas a kid, and one of my favourite car in the game was the 1980′s Honda CRX. The Z apes the X’s back end, while winning the green vote with it’s eco-friendly hybrid set-up.
I enjoyed the CR-Z, it handled neatly and had a slick, tight gear shift. My only disappointment was the rear visibility, which was awful. I’m sure there will be plenty of CR-Z’s with rear dents and quarter scrapes in a few years time!
Engine: 1.5
Power: 124 bhp
Price: £16,999
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon
I was keen to get behind the wheel of an Alfa, any Alfa, as the Italian marque is one of my personal favourite. The 159 Sportwagon didn’t disappoint. Pokey and punchy, the 159 would make a great family wagon if we didn’t already have the French tour bus!
Engine; 2.0 diesel
Power: 150 bhp
Price: £23,395
Honda Civic Mugen Type R
Honda know how to build a quick car, and the Mugen Civic Type R is that. One word sums the car up, frantic. Everything in the Civic seems to happen so quickly, it’s Gran Turismo gaming in the real world. The dynamics of the car a just inch perfect, it responds to the driver instantly. Brilliant stuff.
A very pricey car, but a fantastic drive.
Engine:2.0
Power: 237 bhp
Price: £38,599
Toyota Prius T-Spirit 1.8 Auto
After the intense nature of the Civic, I decided I’d try something altogether different, in the shape of the Toyota Prius. I also got the chance to meet up with Scott Brownlee and put a face to the Tweets! The Prius is a very different beast to any other car I’ve driven, moving off in near silence was an eerie feeling, and one I think I’d take some time getting used to. Still, the technology underneath it is nothing short of fascinating.
Engine:1.8
Power: 98 bhp
Price: £22,610
MINI Clubman Cooper D
I’m still not sure about the Clubman’s styling, or the silly rear suicide door, but the Clubman D was a neat handler, and nippy to drive. A tad raucous at start-up, the Clubman soon settled down, and hey, just or once, I’m willing to admit I may have been wrong about the MINI. But I still think the earlier ones look better.
Engine: 1.6
Power: 110 bhp
Price: £16,235
Alfa MiTo Cloverleaf
I really wanted to like the MiTo, but sadly, I didn’t. It wasn’t engaging enough to drive, and ultimately left me disappointed. I didn’t find it as responsive as others like the MINI or DS3. I want more time with the MiTo, because I think the car deserves a second chance.
Engine: 1.4
Power: 170 bhp
Price: £17,885
Audi R8 Spyder V10
There were two cars that EVERYONE wanted to drive at Test Day, this and the Focus RS500. Well, I let everyone else que like made before lunch, happy to try out the other cars on offer. With lunch out of the way, (I didn’t stop to eat) I headed over to Audi and waited patiently. After about fifteen minutes the red R8 pulled up, ready and willing. As I made myself comfortable (i.e. pulling the seat up close to the wheel so my stubby legs could reach the pedals) the chap from Audi showed me the cars spec sheet. There at the bottom, £ 115,000. This was a genuine supercar, with a supercar price-tag. Within minutes I was out on the high speed bowl, the sound of the V10 was just incredible, slip the car into 4th and push your foot hard to the floor and it simply took off, the force was breath-taking, everything about this car was just awesome.
Engine: 5.0 V10
Power: 523 bhp
Price: £115,000
Peugeot RCZ THP 156
The prettiest Peugeot since the 406 Coupe, the RCZ is an excellent car despite it’s humble underpinnings. On the Alpine course it really inspired my confidence, its a wonderfully poised and balanced car, and a real turn-around for Peugeot, and shows they really can built cracking cars.
Engine: 1.6
Power: 156 bhp
Price: £20,450
Citroen DS3
Citroen’s MINI was very impressive. While not as much fun to drive as a MINI, it still offers a great hot-hatch blast. The interior is great, with a real feeling of quality. The DS3 is a nice, left-field option for those that don’t want to follow the heard into a MINI. And I want the steering wheel for my Picasso…
Engine: 1.6
Power: 150 bhp
Price: £15,900
Lexus IS-F V8
The big Lexus sadly did little for me, it sounded great but as an overall experience? Hmm, I’m not sure I am convinced. And as for that awful 1980′s VCR style clock plumbed into the dash? Oh dear. The car has a great interior (I love the angled armrest and switches in the doors) and the instruments themselves look superb, it’s just all a bit let down by that nasty clock! With more time in the car I’m sure I’d get more out of it. Maybe one day I’ll have near £60k to spend on a car!
Engine: 5.0
Power: 417 bhp
Price: £56,540
Ford Fiesta
The Fiesta is a genuine legend, and one of Britain’s most popular cars. The newest model moves the game on a stage, being a really impressive little hatch. Good fun, with some mild sporting pretensions, the Fiesta is a cracking little car, without feeling the need to become a retro-throwback.
Engine: 1.6
Power : 117 bhp
Price: £15, 645
Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup
Renault are the current kings of the hot-hatch with the cars like the Clio, Twingo and Megane. In bright yellow ‘Cup’ spec, the Megane demands attention, and thankfully, it lives upto its reputation. On the Alpine course it was a blast, I loved it, and it’s really not difficult to see why Renault have received so many plaudits from press and punter alike.
Engine: 2.0
Power: 250 bhp
Price: £23,160
Ford Focus RS500 (Production Number 001)
The Focus RS is one of the fastest Fords money can buy, and lets be honest, who doesn’t like a fast Ford? Well, when the blue-oval announced they’d be doing a special RS500 to bid farewell to the current model, the sold out. Instantly! Well thankfully Ford brought one along, production model number 001-the first RS500. It was incredibly, the turbo singing away, the grip and just sheer amount of power, all combine to make the RS50o one hell of a car.
Engine: 2.5
Power: 345 bhp
Price: £34,000
Fiat 500 Arbath Essesse
The Arbath is mental. It reminded me a lot fo the fun I used to have in my Mini Cooper, foot to the floor, chuck it into bends, and hang on til you come out the other side! Small and nimble, the 500 is just what I want in a small car.
Engine: 1.4
Power: 135 bhp
Price: £14,150
Volkswagen Polo GTi
The Polo GTi was one car I was keen to try as soon as I saw the vehicle list for the day. The car I drove was German, complete with left-hand drive. The DSG gear was great (although I prefer a manual) and it reminded very much of what the old mark one Golf GTi was all about.
Engine: 1.4
Power: 170 bhp
Price: Not yet on sale in the UK
Volkswagen Scirocco R
I swapped Polo for Scirocco and set off, with high-hopes. I wasn’t disappointed. A brilliant car to look at, and a brilliant car to drive. The Scirocco would defiitely earn a place in the Sloman gargae.
Engine: 2.0
Power: 260 bhp
Price: £28,505
Mazda MX-5 Sport Tech
The last car I drove on Test Day, the MX-5 can be summed up in one word. Fun. The little Mazda is the perfect small roadster, following on from Brits like the MGB and Triumph Spitfire in fine style. Despite my MG allegiances, I have to say I prefer the MX-5 to the TF. I could’ve stayed out in the MX-5 for the rest of the day, if the marshalls had let me!
Engine: 2.0
Power: 157 bhp
Price: £20,270
Fantastic Ford-the Focus RS500
So, that was that.
Test Day was over.
I’d driven 22 different cars, with a combined value of a staggering £578, 133.
My personal standout cars were (obviously) the R8 Spyder and RS500, but for stuff that I might actually be able to afford, I’d plump for the MX-5, the Nissan Cube, the Peugeot RCZ and the Citroen DS3. The Mazda because it was pure, unadultered fun, just like the British sports cars from yesteryear I’ve spent so much time writing about. The Cube because it’s just so different, OK, it felt underpowered, but as an overall package, it had so much character and that goes a long way in my book. The Pug RCZ was a car I was keen to try, after colleagues had enthused about it, and the reports are true, it’s a great car and Peugeot finally seem to be back on form. I’d take the RCZ over the over-exposed Audi TT any day of the week. The DS3 shows that a small car doesn’t need to ape the past to be succesful, it’s 1600 engine was so willing to hustle me up and over the Alpine course, and the interior is first rate, it’s a cracking place to be. The only let down is the white roof. Just don’t do it, the DS3 is a great car in it’s own right, it doesn’t need to mimic the MINI’s styling gimmicks. I also took a ride in the Jag XJR with my Diesel Car Editor Ian, and a passenger ride with Mazda tamed racing driver Mark Ticehurst in the Mazda 3 MPS. 165mph on the banked bowl was something else. The Mazda was as rapid as the Jaguar was luxurious.
It was great to say a few hellos to people I’d spoken to online and meet new people too, and try out such a wide range of cars. All in all just one day did feel like nearly long enough!
I was soon off an on my way home, after an amazing day. It was great to put faces to names Roll on Test Day 2011!
Images courtesy of Newspress.
Sneak Peak
May 13th
Here’s a little sneak peak for my coming article in MG Enthusiast:
The New MG6
The June issue of MG Enthusiast is out on the 21st May (funnily enough, my birthday!) and has a full low-down on the new MG, with lots of great photos (if I do say so myself) as well as my reactions to arguably the most important MG in the company’s history. There’s also a Q&A with Guy Jones, Sales and Marketing Director at MG Motor.
Don’t forget to buy a copy, on sale 21/05/10
I just can’t decide if I like
Jan 16th
The new Ford Focus.
Funny face-The New Focus
I just can’t help thinking there’s something not quite right about that front end, and I think I know what it is. It’s the coloured struts either side of the number plate.
Like the Chevrolet ‘belt’ on the front of the Cruze, it ruins the front end.
Ford’s press-release speaks about ‘kinetic design’ saying:
‘Taking kinetic design to the next level
The two models share a sporty and dynamic character, marking the next evolution of Ford’s acclaimed kinetic design form language. The kinetic design approach uses bold vehicle designs to capture the feeling of energy in motion, so that cars look like they are moving – even when they are standing still.
With its striking front end, sleek profile, dramatic rising beltline and athletic stance, the new Focus clearly telegraphs the rewarding driving experience that awaits customers when they take to the road.
This dynamic quality is reinforced by the distinctive design of the interior. The new Focus has an extremely modern, cockpit-style interior, with the stylish centre console wrapped around the driver and providing outstanding access to the vehicle’s major controls and display panels.
A key element of the interior is the quality of craftsmanship. The cabin’s bold and contemporary graphics, the sculptured shape of the soft-touch instrument panel and the choice of superior trim materials all help to give occupants the feeling that they are travelling in a premium-class car.’
For the first time in it’s history Ford has managed to design a good looking Focus saloon, too, with the bigger-booted brother looking much more natural than previous models, even if it does seem as big as the old mkI Mondeo!
The 2011 Ford Focus saloon
If we’re honest, all Ford seems to have really done is upscaled it’s excellent Fiesta, and grafted on a stylish rump for the saloon. Like the Fiesta, the quality inside the car has improved too, and the released interior shots show a very high quality, high spec cabin.
2011 Focus cabin
With Vauxhall’s latest Astra recently launched, a the VW Golf continuing to set the standard in the sector, the new Focus will aim to knock the VW off it’s perch when it launches in early 2011. If it continues to offer the sort of driveability previous Focus’ have it’s bound to succeed, funny front grille or not! Now come of Ford, when’s the next RS going to launch?
2011 Focus hatchback
