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3 days ago | 
forbes.com | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
‘Is that the new Range Rover?’—a question often received regarding the large white SUV on my driveway—‘No, it’s a KGM’. Eyebrows raised and depending on the individual, the conversation would sail or sink. If the latter, a swift follow-up with ‘Ever heard of SsangYong?’ worked well. What Is The KGM Actyon? The early Actyon was an unsightly SUV with drunk-camel-like handling and no direct rival: a useless gift from SsangYong to South Korea, parts of Europe and Kazakhstan.
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4 days ago | 
countrylife.co.uk | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
In the 1980s and 90s, Ford was the major hot hatch player. The Fiesta XR2 — with its pepper-pot alloys, extra spotlights and flared wheel arches — inspired dreams among the youth. The maniacal Escort RS Cosworth, built to fulfil homologation requirements for rallying, made lottery wish lists. Then came the RS-badged Focus. RS cars were hardcore: potent engines, all-wheel and rally DNA.
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2 weeks ago | 
flipboard.com | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
22 hours agoThe Amazon-owned company plans to start fully autonomous driving there later this summer. Zoox, the self-driving company owned by Amazon, is making its Los Angeles debut. On Tuesday, the company said it's expanding its test fleet to Southern California, meaning riders there will eventually be able …
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2 weeks ago | 
forbes.com | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
Rather than potter around in this week’s press car, a BYD Sealion 7, I thought I’d pit it against my two extra-furry dogs who emit litres of saliva, require the chilliest of environments, and need acres to get comfortable. They’re not the biggest dogs, but they could be amongst the pickiest. What Is The BYD Sealion 7? Before diving into the dog tests, the Sealion 7 is Chinese manufacturer BYD’s Coupe SUV.
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2 weeks ago | 
forbes.com | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
Us dog parents are barking mad about our four-legged family members. My dogs are rescues; they are anxious and fearful, but a car ride often settles them—probably because they know the park awaits at the journey’s end. Travelling to said park means piling my Siberian Husky and Shepkita into my Mini. We’re a bit like a travelling circus, and smiles are often conjured as we debark (pun intended).
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3 weeks ago | 
forbes.com | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
Ah, the daily commute: heavy traffic, potholes, and terrible drivers. It’s enough to make you forget that driving can be fun. However, all is not lost and choosing the right car can inject fizz back into driving, but which should you choose? An athletic Lotus Emira or a brawny Ford Mustang? And so the battle of muscle car vs sports car begins. First, ask yourself: does tire smoke and a thumping V8 give you tachycardia or a headache? Head To Head: Muscle Car Vs Sports CarStill not sure?
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3 weeks ago | 
forbes.com | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
The Aston Martin Valhalla has been dubbed the "ultimate driver’s supercar’. It uses a flat-plane crank 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 and three electric motors to emit 1,064 bhp. The British car maker ceased production of the ultra-sleek Valkyrie hypercar to make space for the Valhalla. Only 999 units will be built and production begins in the second quarter of this year. Testing is underway in the United Kingdom and on the IDIADA Spanish proving ground.
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3 weeks ago | 
forbes.com | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
Dacia sold more than 100,000 first and second-generation Dusters in Britain, but the latest third-generation car is even more of a hit. It looks good, has a hybrid powertrain and is affordable, but what’s the Dacia Duster like to live with? I spend a week with it to find out. 2025 Dacia Duster What’s New:Almost everything. The new Duster sports chunkier off-road-like bodywork with its plastic trim (made from 20 percent recycled material) and boxy nose.
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3 weeks ago | 
forbes.com | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
Nissan launched the Qashqai into the U.K. market in 2006 and over time it won numerous awards such as ‘Best Small SUV’ and ‘Used Car of the Year’. The Qashqai’s looks remained subtle until Nissan produced the third generation, which led to the newest facelift reviewed here. 2025 Nissan Qashqai What’s New:The biggest change is the Qashqai’s front end, which was inspired by Japanese armour. It’s handsome.
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4 weeks ago | 
vanfleetworld.co.uk | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell
Matt MacConnell investigates the challenges around electric van outfitting and how electrical accessories are affected. As 2035 approaches, electric van sales have been gradually increasing. According to SMMT data, there were 76,871 electric vans on UK roads at the end of January 2025 – a figure that represents 1.6% of all LCVs on British roads. For perspective, there were 5,266 electric vans in the UK at the end of 2020.
