Birmingham to Edinburgh in a Tesla Model S P85 Gallery
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Monday, 6 April 2015
Tesla Model S P85 7 Day Diary - The Silent Treatment
After seven days with the Tesla Model S P85 here are some thoughts on the car from my daily experiences.
Day 1 – Collection from the Tesla Store
I had arranged to meet a member of the press team to discuss and collect the Tesla Model S from the new Birmingham Tesla Store.
Going into a Tesla Store is a very different car buying experience to the norm. There is a very crisp and clean cut style to the interior of the store and it has a slightly Apple-esque feel. The environment makes you feel a lot more like you’re buying an item of technology rather than a car.
In the store I briefly spoke with a product specialist who gave me an overview on the car buying experience and gave me a bit of an insight into the type of people who visit the store and ultimately become customers.
Shortly after that I was greeted by Laura from the press team to show me the Tesla Model S I would be testing and give me a walk-through of all the features. There is no way I can summarise all the features and functionality of the Model S in a few words, there is just so much this car can do, so you’ll have to keep reading to find out more, but I can certainly say I have never seen a car as unique and configurable as this one.
Day 2 – The Silent Treatment
Getting to know the Tesla Model S P85 on the second day was lots of fun, driving the car was the most surreal driving experiences and also one of my favourite driving experiences too. The fact that the car has no engine but still works better than most combustion engine cars on the road is just insane.
To start there isn’t even a concept of actually turning the car on, walking up to the car with the the key in your pocket, the Model S deploys the door handles on approach, turns itself on, and gets itself ready to go. This means you can get into the car, put it in drive, and you’re off, without a sound or single vibration. The sensation is just unreal. Initially you feel as if you have either gone deaf or forgotten to turn the car on and are just rolling.
The first thing I noticed driving the Model S was the complete lack of noise, at worst you will get a bit of tyre noise followed by some wind noise. The second thing I noticed was the extreme amount of instantly deliverable torque that is available from the electric motor. One sharp prod on the accelerator will send the car thrusting forward with immense amount of force… it’s absolutely incredible.
Day 3 – What do Others Think?
Going out for the evening I picked up a few friends, which gave me a good opportunity to see what other people’s opinions of the car were, and also how much usable room there is in the car. My passengers loved the external design features of the Tesla Model S P85 and felt that it looked very high class. Once inside they were amazed by the amount of room in the car as well as the use of luxury materials and build quality. Obviously they were all blown away by the 17inch central console screen, which goes without saying really.
Day 4 – The Most Connected Car on the Planet
After having the car for a few days I really started to settle into it. With its own 3g connection and iPhone App I just love how connected the car is. I love the performance and I even love the fact that it makes no noise; somehow that seems to take away some of the guilt of driving a fast car.
As well as a petrol head I am also a tech guy, so this car simply feels like the one for me. More than anything else about the car I was very intrigued to see how a truly electric car can challenge the combustion engine market. After my time with the Tesla it doesn’t just challenge the combustion engine but it also exceeds it both in performance and environmentally.
Day 5 – Planning the Perfect Photoshoot
Ross Jukes and I had plans for shooting the Tesla Model S from the moment it was booked in, months before. And one shot that we really wanted to get nailed with the Tesla was a powerful rolling shot of this modern and innovative car. We carefully selected the right road, tracking car and camera gear and then did some testing beforehand to make sure everything was spot on. I’m happy to say we definitely got the shot we were after. Take a look at the picture below and let us know what you think of the shot.
https://youtu.be/i-mU6NreICo
In the evening I took the car to a social event where it certainly got some attention, and well deserved attention too. A lot of people asked what car it was and when I said “it’s a Tesla” the common response was “who makes a Tesla?”. This really drove home to me that the brand awareness in the UK is still a work in progress. But despite some people not knowing the brand, they were all very interested in the car and clearly identified it to be a premium product right from the off.
Day 6 – Long Distance Testing
With all electric cars there is currently a big discussion about the usable range available. So we made it our challenge to ensure to test this out, put some miles on the car and give it a proper test.
We settled on a two day 700 mile round trip from Birmingham to Edinburgh and back again. You can read more about the trip soon, but in summary we started from the Hyatt Hotel in Birmingham, where there is a Supercharger, and worked our way all the way up the country to the Supercharger at Edinburgh Airport.
Day 7 – Scottish Return Journey
While in Scotland and before we headed home from this epic journey it would have been wrong not to treat the P85 to some of the U.K’s best driving roads. We took the Model S on the A708 from Selkirk to Moffat, which has some of the most impressive pieces of asphalt landscape that you could ever imagine. The Tesla Model S was an absolute dream driving through these roads. I can guarantee I won’t forget a single minute of the trip in my lifetime. Take a look at a few highlights from the A708 in the video below.
https://youtu.be/y0KjuAq8-lg
Once out of the hills and back onto the motorway we drove the car back to Birmingham and sadly delivered it back to the Birmingham Tesla Store. I was very sad to drop this car off and can’t wait for another opportunity to test out a later revision of the Tesla Model S.
Supplied by: Tesla
Tesla Model S P85 7 Day Diary - The Silent Treatment
Friday, 3 April 2015
Daniel Craig Picks up the Keys to his Lotus Evora 400
Mr James Bond himself has taken a wander down to Lotus and purchased a new Lotus Evora 400. This is no luxury Aston Martin GT that he is used to, the Evora 400 is the most powerful Lotus ever made.
Lotus Evora 400 Spec
The 400 will do 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds and do a top speed of a staggering 186mph. Can you imagine going that fast a couple of inches off the ground.
The Evora 400 is lighter and more efficient than ever before, it also improves on the already brilliant benchmark that Lotus has for handling.
In the pictures above we can see Daniel Craig having a cheeky look around his new car before setting off home to give it a good spanking
Daniel Craig Picks up the Keys to his Lotus Evora 400
Thursday, 2 April 2015
Land Rover Special Ops shows Off Range Rover SVAutobiography
Do you remember the Autobiography Black, well we now have the replacement for it called the SVAutobiography.
The SVAutobiography is powered by a 550bhp, 5.0-litre, supercharged V8. Which is boosted by 40bhp over the standard V8. Making the SVAutobiography the most powerful full size Range Rover ever built. All that power goes though an eight-speed auto ZF gearbox using the second-generation Terrain Response system.
Luxury All Over
Top end Range Rovers are all about the rear passenger space and this model uses the extended wheel space to create even more room. In the back there are power-adjustable seats with lots of leg room.
It’s a place for business with laptop friendly, pop-out tables and lots of room to move about, and if you need a refreshment whilst on your journey you can just reach over to your fridge to grab yourself a drink, very handy.
Class on the Outside
The main difference on the outside is the two-tone paint scheme. Santorini Black is the only colour available above the doorhandles, but there are 9 options you can choose from for the lower half of the car.
The large front grill is covered in Graphite Atlas, which I have never heard of before, but sounds fancy. The lettering on the bonnet and and rear badging has also been changed to reflect the fact that you are in a Special Ops vehicle.
As ever the Range Rover looks super impressive and I can’t wait to see one of these in the flesh some day soon.
Source: Land Rover
Land Rover Special Ops shows Off Range Rover SVAutobiography
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
What's the Best Car for A New Driver?
Have You Recently Passed Your Driving Test?
With your newly acquired license in hand, the world can feel like your oyster. Choose the right car and you’ll get the freedom of being able to drive anywhere without the costs that can often come with owning a car.
New drivers face a variety of difficulties when finding a car. There’s the cost of the car itself, often several thousand pounds, then there’s the importance of safety, the cost of insuring your car, which can be significant for young drivers, and not forgetting the ongoing maintenance costs as well.
Thankfully, a huge variety of new cars are available that are ideal for new drivers which won’t necessarily break the bank. Better still, many of these cars are available with great financing deals that make owning a car more financially accessible for many people.
We recently spoke to car warranty provider Warrantywise to learn more about the best cars for new drivers. Read on to find out about four affordable, fuel efficient, safe and reliable cars that are ideal for new drivers.
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is cheap, comfortable and easy to drive, making it a fantastic car for young drivers. It also offers some of the best fuel efficiency available, with the 1.6 TCDI model achieving an outstanding 85.6 miles per gallon.
Although they are sometimes far from powerful, the Fiesta’s selection of engines are all enough for light motorway driving and perfect for use in the city. It’s also got a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, making it a safe choice for inexperienced motorists.
The basic Ford Fiesta Studio is available from £10,145. The Zetec 1.0 litre, which won the International Engine of the Year award in 2012, 2013 and 2014, is priced from £14,695.
Peugeot 108
The Peugeot 108 is an inexpensive, easy to drive car that’s perfect for new drivers worried about insurance costs. Why is it so perfect? Because Peugeot offers a new scheme called Just Add Fuel that includes insurance, tax, servicing and more.
The Just Add Fuel scheme is a personal car lease arrangement aimed at new drivers and people in need of an inexpensive economy car. For £119 a month, you get a new Peugeot 108 with insurance and other expenses all paid for a three-year contract.
After three years, you can either give it back to Peugeot or keep it for a fee. The Just Add Fuel scheme is only available for drivers aged 21 and over. Since the 108 only costs £8,245 to purchase, it’s also a great choice for drivers aged under 21.
Dacia Sandero
Perhaps the cheapest car in the country, the 1.2 litre Dacia Sandero might not be the world’s most comfortable or luxurious car, but it offers amazing value for drivers in need of an affordable car for round-town motoring.
The basic 1.2 litre Dacia Sandero Access costs just £5,995 brand new and includes a free three-year warranty. Diesel models offer even better value, boasting improved fuel efficiency (a fantastic 74.3 miles per gallon) and a five-year warranty.
It’s worth noting that the interior of the Sandero is incredibly basic, although this is only an issue on the basic model. The Ambiance version, which costs £800 extra, is fitted with a more comfortable interior and several additional security features.
Vauxhall Corsa
The Vauxhall Corsa is the most popular car in the UK for new drivers, and it’s easy to see why. With a sleek design, a reasonably spacious interior and a range of financing deals, the Corsa is one of the most desirable and accessible cars for new drivers.
Priced at £12,265, the Corsa Excite offers reasonable fuel efficiency and a large boot, with 285 litres of capacity. Cheaper, simpler and less luxurious models are available from just £8,995, making it even cheaper than the Ford Fiesta.
The wide range of small engines are ideal for city and light motorway driving. Better yet, the Corsa is available on a two-year financing deal with a £500 deposit, making it extremely accessible for drivers on a limited budget.
Which car is best for you?
From the Ford Fiesta to the Vauxhall Corsa, all four of the cars listed above offer a great mix of value, safety and comfort. Which new car do you think is best suited to your taste, budget and driving needs?
What's the Best Car for A New Driver?
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