As one of the key models in the Audi range, getting the refreshed A3 right is an important job. We drove all four body types, and various engines, to see if the A3 still has what it takes in a competitive market. Backstory In the same year England crashed out of Euro ’96, Audi launched an upmarket compact hatchback to the…
Opinion – Why the resignation of Chris Evans gives hope for Top Gear
With news that Chris Evans has, quite publicly, quit as a Top Gear presenter after just one series, ESM reflects on what it means for the show.In a world where someone resigning from a top job has become almost commonplace, that Chris Evans threw the towel in quite so soon after the end of Top…
Photo Gallery – 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed – On the hill
In the final of our three 2016 Festival of Speed galleries, we’ve covered the all-important action of cars tackling the hillclimb course. Don’t forget to check out our two previous galleries – the first covering the best bits from the race car paddocks, and the second made up of new road cars on show. Road cars on…
Photo Gallery – 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed – Motor Show
Ok, officially Thursday is the Moving Motor Show at the Festival of Speed. But, there are so many elaborate manufacturer stands there, that the entire weekend has become the de facto British motor show. We featured part one – our highlights from the race car paddocks – yesterday. In this section we’ve also included the road cars…
Photo Gallery – 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed – Paddock Action
Despite weather that threatened to make Goodwood seem more like Glastonbury at times, the 2016 Festival of Speed proved to be as impressive as ever. ESM was there, for two days this time, getting up close and personal with as much of the machinery as possible. We could write 1,000s of words but, instead, we’ll give you…
Ned Jasper – New Mercedes-AMG GT R
The AMG GT R stole the show at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed, with a combination of visual aggression and aural menace. Let Ned Jasper tell you more about this green monster.Louder, lower and angrier – that, I presume, must have been the design brief when AMG decided to come up with this thing. It’s called the AMG GT…
BTCC 2016 – Croft | Photo Gallery
The British Touring Car Championship made the annual trip to the North East, and ESM’s BTCC Correspondent was on hand as usual. Whilst we wait for the words, he’s sent a selection of photos for us to enjoy first. As you’ll probably discover, our BTCC Correspondent made the most of the pit lane walkabout to…
BTCC 2016 – Oulton Park | Reviewed & Rated
Following a month’s break, the BTCC returned at Oulton Park as the series added another two winners to this season’s races.Astonishingly, one of those winners was former double champion Colin Turkington, who drove his Subaru home for a first ever BTCC win for the manufacturer. The win came in only their seventh BTCC race after…
Friday Video: 2016 Audi Sport R8 Advert ‘Spin’
We never really feel the need to justify posting anything to do with the Audi R8 here at ESM, and we just can’t escape the mesmerising attraction of the latest advert. Whilst previous R8 adverts have concentrated on the epic power and glorious sounds of the R8’s V10 engine, the latest video is apparently all about control. Perhaps Audi are…
SMMT Test Day 2016 – Part Two
We’re continuing our twelve car odyssey through this year’s SMMT Test Day. Part one can be found here if you need to refresh yourself. Things get a little weird and a little crazy in part two. If our first selection of cars at SMMT were varied, although generally performance themed, the second sextet proved to be incredibly diverse. From…
SMMT Test Day 2016 – Part One
Returning to the SMMT Test Day after the extravagant ‘twelve cars in one day‘ affair of last year, ESM promised to try to be more selective over driving choices this year. The result was certainly a varied motoring experience, to say the least. It’s the potentially the biggest day of the year for anyone who writes about cars,…
Opinion – Season 23 ‘New’ Top Gear and Extra Gear
So, after months of speculation and hype, the latest version of Top Gear finally arrived. The reaction across social media and wider has been almost universally poor. ESM’s editor explores why it missed the mark. I’ll admit that I’d grown tired of the previous incarnation of Top Gear. The format had become stale, Clarkson had disappeared even…
