by Lem Bingley

The annual test day organised by the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders feels a lot like how I imagine speed dating must feel. You stay in one place – in this case Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire – and race through a number of short, sharp getting-to-know-you sessions. Only it is cars rather than prospective life partners you are trying out for size.

As with a speed date, each test is only really a chance to garner first impressions. Any annoying traits like snoring or the car equivalent – a maddening rattle – are unlikely to bubble to the surface. It all boils down to the immediate, instant appeal of various alternatives.

As I take the Mini Paceman Cooper SD out for a spin on Millbrook’s undulating and twisty hill route, it’s a shame that it follows my prior speed-dating candidate, a BMW 3-Series GT that I wound up quite fancying. While the five-door BMW coupé is no beauty, it does provide great company on an interesting road. This three-door Mini coupé is much prettier but seems a little vacant in comparison.

by Lem Bingley

Painted stealth black and boasting six wheels, this Volvo XC70 pick-up truck has almost as much road presence as Batman’s Tumbler.

While I couldn’t help pausing to photograph the car, it’s actually been carefully customised to enable the opposite. It’s a purpose-built camera car from which to shoot videos of other Volvos.

by Lem Bingley

A couple of days ago I had the chance to drive the new Range Rover, the latest edition of the gargantuan off-roader that squashes the earth into submission under two tonnes of aluminium, leather and luxury. Being decidedly more interested in cars that provide just enough rather than far too much, I instead borrowed the keys to the smallest 4x4 by far.

The humble Fiat Panda 4x4 is one of those products that manages to clamber over the normal rules of desirability. It isn’t fast or quiet or refined or luxurious and yet it still manages to seduce. I spent under an hour with the car and climbed out wanting more. Actually, I climbed out wanting to own one.

by Lem Bingley

Honda has begun taking deposits for its new NSX sports car, which is, of course, a petrol-electric hybrid. The retail price has yet to be announced, but deep-pocketed punters for whom the unspecified list price won’t be an issue can reserve one of these super hybrid cars from Honda UK for a mere £5,000 down. For delivery in about two years’ time.

The new NSX will feature a mid-mounted V6 engine driving the rear wheels, supplemented by two independent electric motors propelling the front tyres. Honda says the NSX will be able to use its two motors to independently accelerate or brake either of the front wheels, yielding improved turn-in and cornering poise. It sounds clever and no doubt it will work seamlessly. With a combined total of about 400bhp on tap the new NSX should be quite quick too.

by Lem Bingley

Drivers who want to avoid paying the London Congestion Charge will soon have their options considerably narrowed. Today, London’s Mayor confirmed anticipated changes that mean far fewer new cars will qualify for exemption from the charge from 1 July this year.

The cutoff for exemption on low-emissions grounds will fall from the current 100g/km limit to just 75g/km. While that may not sound like a huge drop, at a stroke it removes the vast majority of cars that currently qualify.

So, exactly which cars will continue to enjoy a free pass throughout the Congestion Zone, when the new rules are brought in this summer? In short, all have one thing in common – a plug to hook up to the mains.

by Lem Bingley

For reasons best known to Nissan, I’ve travelled all the way to Norway to test the newly updated Leaf electric car, which is now built in the UK.

Despite appearances, there is some sort of logic to my journey from London to Oslo to drive a car built in Sunderland. First, it’s a lot nippier here – indeed a few frozen flakes of snow are wafting about in the air – all the better to show off the Leaf’s newly improved heater. And secondly, Norway is by far the biggest market for Leafs in Europe, and for EVs in general. About 40% of the 10,000 Leafs sold in Europe to date live here, with demand stoked by attractive taxation, well developed charging infrastructure, and great perks like access to bus lanes.

by Lem Bingley

Someone, somewhere, is having a laugh. The Citroen DS3 I’ve been loaned in the middle of an arctic cold snap is finished in Polar White. It stands out in my photographs like a snowflake in a blizzard. It also happens to be the new soft-top Cabrio version of the car – perfect for opening wide to soak up the warm spring sunshine, which will surely be along any month now.

At least the open-top DS3 is snug when fully zipped up. With the roof closed, it’s not immediately obvious you’re travelling in a soft-top. It seems just as quiet as the fully enclosed version of the DS3, and feels equally composed on the road. The suspension remains firm and jittery, and the absence of metalwork overhead doesn’t seem to have lessened the body’s rigidity. No squeaks, rattles or groans arise, and the steering feels as sharp and direct as in the hatchback. According to Citroen, even the drag coefficient is unchanged.

Partly, that’s because so little of the hatchback has actually been sawn off and thrown away. Viewed from the side, the Cabrio is virtually indistinguishable from the tin-top because the doors, side windows and roof rails remain unaltered. It’s only the roof panel and hatchback that have seen attention from Citroen’s hacksaw.