Cumbria Times

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Volvo ES90 Launch Review

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

There’s something rather reassuring about a Volvo. I’ve owned a few. Not exciting in the shouty, chest-thumping sense, nor especially concerned with turning heads, but reassuring in the way a well-built dry stone wall is reassuring – solid, purposeful, and quietly confident in its own abilities.

P.ublished 25th April 2026

The God’s Country Classic Car Rally 17 October 2026

Bowcliffe Hall

Proud Yorkshiremen and women have often called our county ‘God’s Own Country’ Inspired by this description a small group of local business leaders including the Chair of the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust Ed Anderson, the former Chair Tom Ramsden and two prominent Yorkshire businessmen Jonathan Turner and Jonathan Sands OBE have come together to showcase our County with a Classic Car Rally w…

P.ublished 17th April 2026

Celebrate Classic Cars At Eden Camp’s Drive It Day This Weekend

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Eden Camp is proudly participating in Drive It Day on Sunday 26th April, in partnership with Coast and County Radio, for what promises to be a special day celebrating classic cars and heritage. Drive It Day was established in 2005, and is now an opportunity to celebrate transport heritage.

P.ublished 22nd April 2026

Isuzu Unveils Its New D-Max Electric Pickup

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Isuzu UK has shown The New Isuzu D-Max Electric Vehicle (EV) in right-hand drive at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2026. Announced in 2025 and previously shown in a European format, the new D-Max EV is the first fully electric pick-up in the UK to provide over 1-tonne payload, 3.5-tonne towing capacity and permanent four-wheel drive.

P.ublished 21st April 2026

Touring, BMW-Style. The i5 On Test

There is something quietly reassuring about a BMW Touring. For decades, it has been the thinking driver’s estate—subtle, capable, and possessed of a certain Teutonic restraint. Now, with the arrival of the BMW i5 Touring, that familiar formula is reimagined for the electric age.

P.ublished 11th April 2026

Forming A Close Bond - Daniel Craig And BYD's DENZA Brand

BYD group has announced that British actor Daniel Craig is launching a new campaign for DENZA, its premium technology-oriented automotive brand, to coincide with its global expansion in 2026.

P.ublished 30th March 2026

A Quick Peaq!

Škoda Auto is set to expand its portfolio in mid-2026 with the fully electric Peaq SUV, based on the Vision 7S concept. Built on the Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB) platform and produced in Mladá Boleslav, the model becomes the Czech car manufacturer’s new electric flagship.

P.ublished 30th March 2026

Electric Van Life – Farizon SV On Test

The Farizon SV is a new Chinese built, all electric van that has recently entered the UK market, aiming squarely at established models like the Ford Transit, Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Traffic. It is backed by Geely, the same automotive group behind Volvo and LEVC.

P.ublished 28th March 2026

Ineos Grenadiers Now On RNLI Duties

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

As an official vehicle partner of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), INEOS Automotive has delivered the first batch of Grenadier 4X4s to support the charity’s vital lifesaving search and rescue work.

P.ublished 24th March 2026

Lamborghini Life – Urus In The Dales

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

I’m lucky enough to get to drive and review most makes of car currently on sale in the UK, but I had the realisation that it had been many years since I had driven a Lamborghini. A few emails to the company’s PR and I was all set to enjoy a day with the latest Urus. Time was short, so I was at Lamborghini’s Leeds showroom bright and early, eager to maximise my time behind the wheel.

P.ublished 21st March 2026

BMW's New i3 Revealed.

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

BMW’s new i3 marks a major shift from the old city car into a fully electric 3 Series sized sports saloon aimed squarely at mainstream buyers. Built on BMW’s new “Neue Klasse” EV platform and due to arrive in the UK in the second half of 2026, it is designed to combine long distance range, ultra fast charging and the familiar 3 Series driving feel in an all electric package.

P.ublished 18th March 2026

A New Range Rover The Twisted Way

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Twisted Automotive, the specialists in re-engineering iconic British 4x4s, has unveiled its first-ever Range Rover project: the Twisted interpretation of a Range Rover Classic (TRRC). Following 25 years of perfecting the Defender, Twisted has applied its ‘anti-ordinary’ philosophy to the two-door Range Rover Classic. The TRRC is a project rooted in deep personal nostalgia.

P.ublished 16th March 2026

A New Era For BMW – The iX3 Launch Review

This is an exciting time for BMW. The company’s UK CEO, David George, has confirmed that we can expect to see more than 40 new vehicles by the end of 2027. The first of the ‘Neue Klasse’ (New Class) range of cars is the iX3, recently launched to UK media at the firm’s UK base in Farnborough.

P.ublished 14th March 2026

Taycan Cross Turismo – Electrifying Speed Meets Everyday Practicality

Whether we like it or not, fast forward a decade or so and it is likely that electric cars will be the norm. What does that mean for the car enthusiast? Will we all be driving around in anonymous battery-powered boxes, devoid of any character? Well, not if Porsche has anything to do with it!

P.ublished 7th March 2026

How To Care For Your Classic Car

Owning a classic car is about far more than simply keeping something old on the road. It’s about stewardship; it’s important to have some understanding how these cars were built, how they age, and what they need to remain safe, reliable and enjoyable for years to come.

P.ublished 7th March 2026

Suzuki’s E Vitara – A Winter Test

Suzuki’s Vitara has been a mainstay of the Japanese company’s range since 1988, with the fourth generation launching in 2016. Recent refreshes and a move to hybrid power will ensure that it will continue on sale for many years to come. However, with more buyers now wanting a fully electric car, Suzuki has released its first offering in this rapidly growing sector, the e VITARA.

P.ublished 28th February 2026

Tickets On Sale For The Festival Of The Unexceptional 2026

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional is the only motoring event to celebrate base model brilliance, attracting owners and fans of unexceptional cars from all over the world. Twelve years after the first event, the 2026 festival returns to Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire on Saturday 25th July, where thousands of enthusiasts are expected to marvel in the magnificence of the mundane.

P.ublished 27th February 2026

Skoda Expands Its 4X4 Range

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Škoda Auto continues to build on its long-standing all-wheel-drive heritage and currently offers customers its broadest 4x4 portfolio across a wide range of segments: from the Octavia and Superb, through the Karoq and Kodiaq SUVs, to the all-electric Elroq and Enyaq models. State-of-the-art all-wheel-drive technology improves traction, stability, safety and comfort by supporting driving dynamics in demanding conditions, for example on wet roads, snow and unpaved surfaces.

P.ublished 24th February 2026

Subaru’s Forester In The Dales

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

The latest Subaru Forester continues its legacy as a reliable, practical, and rugged SUV, but with some updates that aim to modernise its appeal. While it excels in off-road capability, spaciousness, and safety features, it faces stiff competition in the crowded compact SUV segment.

P.ublished 21st February 2026

Dales Subaru Named Overall Retailer Of The Year For 2025

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Retailer network celebrates outstanding achievements across multiple performance categories. Subaru recognises local dealerships as the backbone of its personalised automotive service approach

P.ublished 18th February 2026

Inster Cross – Hyundai’s Range-Topping City EV Driven

Launched last year in the UK was Hyundai’s Inster, a distinctive little A-segment electric car. At a recent drive day, I had the opportunity to sample the range-topping ‘Cross’ model. There’s an off-road vibe, but be aware the Cross is just front-wheel drive, so perhaps it’s best not to venture too far off the beaten track.

P.ublished 14th February 2026

AA Calls For Drivers To Take Extra Care On Wet Roads As Flooding Risk Remains High

AA urges drivers to slow down as wet roads increase stopping distances. Surface water and hidden potholes raise risks for road users. “Taking a cautious approach is key in prolonged wet weather” – AA expert patrol

P.ublished 7th February 2026

Hyundai IONIQ 9 – Big, Bold And Brilliantly Electric

There comes a time when a family outgrows their regular five-seat hatchback. What next then? If the budget is generous, then a Land Rover Defender is a popular choice, as witnessed on the school run to my local independent school. The shift to fully electric motoring has seen manufacturers such as Hyundai step up and offer the perfect car for the larger family in the form of the IONIQ 9.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

Geely EX5 – Another Chinese Newcomer On Test

You may not have heard of Geely, yet! However, those with some interest in things automotive will know that the Chinese brand already owns, Volvo, Polestar and Lotus. Now it wants to bring its own offerings to the UK, and its first model is the EX5, the subject of this test. EX5 joins the already crowded fully electric C-segment SUV market and will need to be good to make an impression.

P.ublished 3rd February 2026

BYD Sealion 5 DM-i UK Launch Review

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Anyone with a modicum of interest in things automotive will have noticed the increasing number of cars from Chinese manufacturer BYD on our roads. In 2024 they sold a modest 8,788 cars in the UK, rising to a heady 51,442 last year. There are now 125 dealers, with more being added each month.

P.ublished 24th January 2026

Potholes – A Costly Menace

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Who should pay for pothole repairs - Kwik Fit research reveals views of drivers

Drivers across the UK are being hit harder than ever by the cost of pothole damage, as new analysis released on National Pothole Day (Thursday 15 January) reveals the total financial impact of potholes on vehicles rose to an estimated £589 million in 2025, up from £579 million in 2024 and £474 million in 2023.

P.ublished 17th January 2026

Drivers Warned Of Abandoning Cars In The Snow This Winter

Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay

Car insurance expert MoneySuperMarket has issued a warning to motorists who abandon their cars on the road in the event of heavy snowfall During this month’s icy road conditions and heavy snowfall during Storm Goretti, a storm being described by the Met Office as a "multi-hazard event", some drivers may feel forced to temporarily abandon their vehicles on the roads.

P.ublished 13th January 2026

Autobiography – Diary Of A Range Rover Driver

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

At home in Hampstead Village.

Why does someone buy a Range Rover? Is it because of Land Rover’s legendary off-road heritage, whereby all their cars are exceptionally capable when the going gets tough? At one time that may well have been the case, but with a steady push upmarket, this is now much less likely.

P.ublished 10th January 2026

Kia’s Exciting New Van – The PV5 Launch Review

I’ve been driving vans since I was 18. My father had an engineering business, and there always seemed to be some piece of heavy equipment which needed moving. I was charged with hiring a van and getting the job done. The Transits that I first hired were slow, extremely noisy and difficult to drive.

P.ublished 3rd January 2026

Celebrating 50 Years Of The Golf GTi

When the Golf GTI was launched in 1976, no one could have guessed that the 108bhp Volkswagen, with its red grille surround, black wheel arch extensions and golf ball gear knob, would soon become the world’s most successful compact sports car. Only 5,000 units were planned, but in the first year alone dealers sold 10 times as many vehicles.

P.ublished 30th December 2025

Chery Tiggo 9 Launch Review

When my boys were younger, we always had a seven-seater car on the driveway. We had space for all their friends and our extended family for days out and general running around. People carriers were the order of the day back then, but now we have large SUVs with that all important extra row of seats.

P.ublished 20th December 2025

Automotive Ramblings

I’ve worked for myself most of my adult life which means spending a lot of time on my own. I don’t mind my own company, though it is far too easy to get distracted. Even as I write, the kettle beckons, as it must be at least an hour or so since I last had a brew. I also find it helpful to talk to myself, though doing this out loud in the local supermarket seems to be frowned upon.

P.ublished 13th December 2025

Off Out For A Drink? Leave The Car At Home

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

We are now in the midst of the Christmas party season, and it can be tempting to get behind the wheel after an evening out or perhaps set off early the next morning after a particularly boozy evening. England and Wales have the highest drink-drive limit in Europe which cannot be very sensible.

P.ublished 6th December 2025

Electric Cars – A Budget Special Report

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

This government, like its predecessor, says it wants to actively encourage motorists to switch to electric cars. The choice is now wider than ever, and prices are coming down. There are now EVs available to buy from less than £20,000. With another £10,000 available to spend, the choice is huge, with plenty of family-sized vehicles on sale.

P.ublished 29th November 2025

Autumn Budget: A Guide For Car Owners

Lucy Sherliker, Head of Customer at Zuto car finance, comments on what the latest changes in the budget could mean for car owners.

P.ublished 26th November 2025

New Workhorse From Toyota – Land Cruiser Commercial On Test

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Toyota launched its Land Cruiser Commercial just a few months ago, and being a bit of a fan of the Japanese manufacturer’s go-anywhere truck, I booked one in for testing at the earliest opportunity. It currently sits on my driveway, covered in frost and will be taken out on a farewell jaunt later today.

P.ublished 22nd November 2025

Introducing The Car Buying Coach UK

From electric vehicles and new safety regulations to volatile used-car prices, today’s car buyers are facing a more complex market than ever before. For many, the process has shifted from exciting to overwhelming — a maze of conflicting reviews, pressured sales environments, and finance deals that aren’t always as clear as they seem.

P.ublished 22nd November 2025

Is Your Car Ready For Winter? Time To Check

With colder weather now upen us, it is undoubtedly time to give your car the once over. Many of my tips require no expertise, just a little time and if you are not sure, then most garages will help.

P.ublished 22nd November 2025

Alfa Romeo Junior Gains A Hybrid Variant

Hot on the heels of the fully electric Junior I drove earlier this year comes a hybrid model, or ‘Ibrida’ in Italian, which sounds so much better. So, how does it all work? The system is designed to maximise the efficiency of the vehicle CO2, thanks to the support of the eMotor and the eDriving phases. When driving at low speeds, the electric motor allows for silent manoeuvring.

P.ublished 15th November 2025

Kia EV4 – UK Launch Review

The first question I am usually asked about any electric car I am testing is what is the range? Well dear reader, the new Kia EV4’s quoted range is up to 388 miles. Enough for anyone I would suggest and being a Kia, the quoted range is usually fairly accurate.

P.ublished 12th November 2025

Electric Dreams Or A Charging Nightmare?

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Kia EV6 charging cheaply at home

I have just spent a week behind the wheel of one of the finest electric cars on sale in the UK. The Kia EV6 GT wafted me to events around the country in comfort, silence and considerable style. I have a home charger, so setting off each morning with a full battery usually means a relaxed day, with no need to think about public charging.

P.ublished 8th November 2025

GWM Poer300 Truck – First Drive

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Great Wall Motors is back in the UK with vengeance. Some of you may recall the Steed pick-up sold in the UK between 2014 and 2016, or thereabouts. It was a rare sight though was popular with those who required a simple working truck.

P.ublished 1st November 2025

Mazda6e First Drive Review

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Mazda has been one of the slower manufacturers to electrify their range. The feeling I get is that it believes a range of different forms of powering our vehicles is still very much the way forward. Petrol and even diesel engines are still offered in many of their cars. The MX30 has been the company’s only fully electric offering and now that is only offered as a plug-in hybrid.

P.ublished 29th October 2025

Suzuki e VITARA Launch Review

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Suzuki’s Vitara has been a mainstay of the Japanese company’s range since 1988, the fourth generation launching in 2016. Recent refreshes and a move to hybrid power will ensure that it will continue on sale for many years to come. However, with more buyers now wanting a fully electric car, Suzuki has released its first offering in this rapidly growing sector, the e VITARA.

P.ublished 24th October 2025

Preparing Your Motorhome For Winter Storage

Drain your water system now Many insurance policies require a winter drain-down from around November, often from the 1st, and set conditions for when the campervan is unoccupied in colder months. Even for policies that allow drain-down up to mid-March, insurers may still contest frost damage claims if freezing weather arrived earlier and the system was not adequately emptied, arguing a…

P.ublished 24th October 2025

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio – A Fond Farewell

A new Stelvio is scheduled to be launched towards the very end of this year and will continue to be Alfa Romeo’s range-topping SUV. As the old model quietly disappears from the dealer forecourts, I had chance to bid the current car farewell with one last extended drive. And I did so in style with the Quadrifoglio, the performance model and a rather special car.

P.ublished 20th October 2025

Suzuki Swift 4WD – A Gripping Tale

As we approach winter, many rural motorists will perhaps be considering purchasing a car with 4x4 capability. Smaller SUVs have been the way forward, but increasingly the option to send drive to all wheels is only available on the pricier top-spec models. However, there is another way.

P.ublished 18th October 2025

Kia Updates Its Top-Selling Sportage

The UK first saw the Sportage in 1995 and at a recent drive day, I had the opportunity to drive one such early model. It was fun to spend time with the car, if only to see how much not just the model but the brand too has improved.

P.ublished 11th October 2025

Hyundai’s Latest Kona Electric On Test

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

Hyundai updated its Kona range in 2023 and somehow a drive in the latest model had eluded me. No matter, as the accommodating PR team recently sent me a top spec Ultimate model. Time to put it to the test on some of Yorkshire’s finest roads. The Kona Electric range starts at £32,400 and this entry model comes with the smaller 48kWh battery.

P.ublished 4th October 2025

Summer Is Over – Prepare Your Car For Autumn/winter

Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor

With changeable autumnal weather now open us, it is undoubtedly time to give your car the once over. Many of my tips require no expertise, just a little time and if you are not sure, then most garages will help.

P.ublished 27th September 2025

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