With this week’s announcement of the new third-generation BMW X5, I felt it was time I owned up to the irrational inclination I have towards wanting to own the original iteration. #2 – BMW X5 Way back in 1999 when the millennium was just around the corner, Bill Clinton was President of the United States…
Category: Manufacturers
Audi R8 V10 Plus Advert
This is quite possibly the best TV advert I’ve seen in sometime: Celebrating that the Audi R8 V10 now comes with the S-tronic gearbox, this video is just superb. The whip crack violence of each upshift is immense, tempered only be the spine-tingling downshifts with accompanying flames. Audi, if i win Euromillions tonight, you’ve got…
Volkswagen’s Crazy Power-Pickup Amorak Concept
If you hadn’t noticed, and it has been kept well hidden, EngageSportMode is a little bit of a fan of Volkswagens. ESM also happens to be a fan of pickup trucks, stemming from a lifelong aim to own a Dodge Ram or other huge American truck. So the unveiling of the Amarok by VW a…
Friday Photo From the Archives #6
Ok, I apologise. The title for this post is actually rather misleading, as the featured content is neither a photograph or particulary old. However, I do not care. A couple of months ago we brought you the epic work of FS Aviation and their drone cameras from the Monte-Carlo Rally. Well, the guys have been…
New Volkswagen up! Special Editions
EngageSportMode is a genuine fan of the Volkswagen up!. When we tested the base-model Take up! last year, we were hugely impressed with its value for money, perky performance and VW quality. We suggested that should you want a new city-car, you had no other viable option. It’s also worth pointing out that we were…
BMW M6 Gran Coupe – Dial M for Marketing?
EngageSportMode has a little bit of a love/hate relationship with BMW. Hate is, probably, too strong a word. Instead try an underlying suspicion that it is selling its values up the river slightly. For every car such as the 1M Coupe, M135i or Z4 comes something like the X6, 5-Series GT or 6-Series Gran Coupe….
Friday Photo From the Archives #5
Continuing with the theme of ESM’s BTCC correspondent, here is a (fairly) recent photo of our two cars chilling out together: A few similarities; both black, both VW-group, both petrol-turbo and both with motorsport pedigree. Our correspondent’s is the rather rare Seat Leon TFSI, which existed for only a short period of time in the…
VW Polo R-Line – 1,000 Mile Review
As you might have just read, after a huge period of indecision, ESM finally acquired a Volkswagen Polo R-Line. That was back in late January so, several months and miles later, just what has the kitted-up supermini been like to live with? First, some photos from when it arrived and the cleanest it has been…
ESM’s 2012 Car Buying Predicament #6 – The Finale
Recently I wrote about the end of my ownership of the 9N3 Volkswagen Polo, following the epically long saga to replace it which began all the way back in October last year. So after several months of searching, test driving and negotiating, just what did land on the EngageSportMode drive? Originally when my quest began I…
End Of The Road: The VW Polo 1.4 SE (9N3)
I intended to write and publish this item many, many, weeks ago. However, certain events transpired to prevent me from doing so. So here it is, now, slightly later than planned. Â In short, the 9N3 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SE pictured above is no longer with me, having been traded in for something else, which…
Rekindling my love for the WRC
Recently I wrote about whether Volkswagen’s assault on the World Rally Championship, with the Polo R WRC, could help recapture my interest in the sport. The Polo R WRC had a strong second place in Monte Carlo, with Sebastien Ogier behind the wheel. However, it was that other Sebastien (Loeb) who won yet again. Regardless…
The Tame Geek Reviews the Audi A5 Convertible
ESM likes Audis. So does our good friend, and contributor, The Tame Geek. So when he spotted the chance to take a spin in a new Audi A5 Convertible, he leapt at the chance like a startled gazelle. Head on over to his site to check out what he thought of the drop-top Ingolstadt cruiser….
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