Friday Photo from the Archive #12

After an extended hiatus due to relocation, ESM returns with it’s regular Friday feature. Ok, 24 hours probably doesn’t qualify as archived, but EngageSportMode finds it impossible not to feature the all new 2015 Ford Mustang. So here it is: Styled by Moray Callum, younger brother of Ian Callum, the new Mustang dispenses with a lot…

SEMA 2013 – The wild and wonderful

Held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the SEMA Show brings together the USA’s billion dollar aftermarket tuning and performance industry for one week. The show is a chance for companies from across the globe to show off their wares, but is also seized upon by car manufactures to show off their own creations. We’ve picked out…

2013 Frankfurt Motor Show Photo Highlights

EngageSportMode couldn’t be at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show but, fortunately, it knows some people who are. So with the press days now out of the way, what are some of the highlights from the 2013 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung? Below are some of the stand out new cars announced at this year’s show. Some are purely…

Short Review – Ford Focus ST Estate Mountune

EngageSportMode is a fan of quick estates so, when given the chance to get behind the wheel of Ford’s latest hot load-lugger, we jumped at the opportunity. To get it out of the way, the colour is called Tangerine Scream. Quite frankly it sums up the nature of the Focus ST Mountune perfectly. This car…

Friday Photo From the archive #10

Whilst the past few FFFAs have featured exciting videos, hot hatches or worthy saloons today’s picture is none of them. In fact it’s a badly painted Mk3 Ford Granada: Not just badly painted, but also broken down at the side of the M2 in Kent. 2007 was the year EngageSportMode attempted the Crumball Rally “Italian Job”…

Top Gear Returns – Series 20, Episode 1 Review

Top Gear is arguably the biggest motoring-related television programme in the world. So for what is now the 20th (!) series, EngageSportMode will be writing a short review of each episode. So here we go [warning, contains non-aerodynamic spoilers]: Top Gear Series 20, Episode 1 – UK Air Date 30th June 2013 I’m not sure…

2012 EngageSportMode Awards (Part One)

After a long twelve months, the time has finally come to hand out the infamous EngageSportMode ‘macaroni and glitter’ trophies to this year’s award winners. It may now be 2013, but cast your mind back (a few days) to last year. Despite the world’s ongoing financial problems, the ever-present environmental lobby and the ridiculous price…

ESM’s 2012 Car Buying Predicament #2

Previously on ESM, I set out a rather lengthy list of criteria that I wanted the Polo replacement to have. Somewhat predictably, I then went away and spent several hours days searching AutoTrader and other classifieds. When you’ve given yourself a string of demands which make your average terrorist blush, unsurprisingly the options were limited, with…

I Could Afford That / Classified Dreaming #3

Certain things cross the transatlantic divide rather well; television shows, rock music (I’m looking at you Springsteen) and a growing tendency to litigate over anything. Other things have tended to find the journey across the “pond” rather more difficult. Many of the products of Motor City have failed to make the adjustment to life in…

Car of the Year: ESM is ahead of the curve

Today the seven cars nominated for the 2012 Car of the Year award were unveiled.To summarise the choices are: – Chevrolet Volt (hybrid schmybrid), – Citroen DS5 (seriously?!), – Fiat Panda (hurrah!), – Ford Focus (yawn….snore), – Toyota Yaris (………………), – Volkswagen Up! (an ESM favourite), And, finally, what’s this at number seven? Could it…