supercarzz

  The new   Ford F-150 Raptor   R is the most extreme version of the brand's best-selling pick up yet. It's the latest entry into the hardcore Raptor line-up of sporting off-roaders and is much quicker, larger and more potent than the hot pick-up that Ford sells in Europe, the Ford Ranger Raptor. That's chiefly because, rather than a 3.5-litre V6 pumping out 284bhp and 362lb ft, the fastest F-150 takes its reserves from a variant of the 5.2-litre supercharged V8 most recently used for the Mustang Shelby GT500 - one of the most potent Ford road cars of all time. The supercharger has been tuned to boost low-end and mid-range torque, while the new stainless steel exhaust manifolds, deeper oil pan and bespoke oil cooler and filter mean the Raptor R can keep cool in high temperatures and under extreme load. But in keeping with the Raptor nameplate's off-road focus, it's the fact that the R will be able to maintain high speeds across challenging terrain that...

  The MPV is on the verge of extinction, its place in many manufacturer price lists taken by SUV-infused family cars that offer less space and practicality but more of the me-too kerb appeal that buyers currently crave. The situation hasn't been lost of  BMW , which has just launched its second-generation 2 Series Active Tourer, a compact people carrier in the mould of  Citroën C4 SpaceTourer  and  Renault Grand Scenic , both of which have been killed off in the UK as a result of slow sales.  So what exactly is the 2 Series Active Tourer? Well, it's an all-new machine for a start, a replacement for the original, which had the distinction of being the firm’s first-ever front-wheel-drive machine, essentially paving the way for the acceptance of the current F40-generation  BMW 1 Series . It’s underpinned by the brand’s latest FAAR front-wheel-drive architecture, which means the car is bigger than before and, crucially, capable of housing BMW’s latest Gen5...

  Athough the   Honda Civic   is the most frequently lauded used hero in the real world, the larger   Honda Accord   comes a very close second, based on my inbox. This is a proper quality package that’s safe, well made and always going to work, provided that it’s looked after. A luxury car in a modest package, the Mk7 Accord offers some nice petrol engines for those who only potter about and, from 2004, a frugal diesel option. The saloon is simple and straightforward, and the Tourer estate is worth considering too. It hardly has the biggest boot, but it is user-friendly, with rear seats that fold flat at the touch of a button and the pull of a lever. The powered tailgate is also very handy, opening at a press of the key fob. The ABS sensors and wheel bearings are the only real weak points, along with the tailgate release on the Tourer. What  Honda  offered us from 2008 was some more effective executive salooning, courtesy of th...

  The long-awaited Volkswagen ID Buzz, a retro-styled electric follow-up to the hugely popular original Microbus, has been revealed - read all the details   here. The new arrival's debut comes five years since it was shown in concept form, and off the back of a long preview campaign which last month saw a camouflaged version of the fully-electric, retro-styled MPV displayed in London.  An animated sketch featuring a concept design for the ID Buzz was also revealed, alongside the main teaser clip which presents the ID Buzz with a rainbow camouflage with the models headlights on display. The model is planned for UK sale during the latter half of 2022 and will become Volkswagen’s fourth dedicated electric model, following the  ID 3,  ID 4  and newly unveiled  ID 5 .  It will also be the first ID model to be offered both as a passenger vehicle and a commercial vehicle, with production planned to take place at VW’s commercial vehicle pla...