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Images by Hayden Povey.

There’s something very likable about the Alpine A290 GTS. Yes, it looks fresh and funky in a 2020’s type of way but behind all that, it also feels a nostalgic and charmingly analogue in a 1980’s type of way too. For the uninitiated, that squat stance and purposeful nose clearly trace a lineage back to the original ‘Hot Hatch’, the Renault 5, only now it’s reborn with a 52 kWh battery, 220 horsepower and more character than most electric cars at twice the price.

For a company that trades as much on emotion as engineering, Aston Martin has rarely struggled to make an entrance. Yet the new DB12 S unveiled this week (under embargo from Gaydon) isn’t merely another performance evolution, it’s another incredible statement of intent.

Hotel Ambasador Split: A Luxury Arrival

The Alpine A110 R 70 arrives like a perfectly timed coup de théâtre—the final act of a 70-year love affair between Dieppe's engineers and the art of making automobiles dance. This 70th anniversary edition is, quite literally, the last of its breed before Alpine succumbs to the electric revolution. Consider it the automotive equivalent of Catherine Deneuve’s final film: impossibly beautiful, utterly French, and destined to leave you pining for what once was.

Images by Hayden Povey.

Every so often, a car turns up on my driveway that sets the neighbours’ curtains into full cardio. And I reckon the Polestar 4 might just be the most talked-about of the lot. Within the hour, heads were tilting, questions were being lobbed over hedges and before long I was presiding over what felt suspiciously like a Parish Council meeting.

I took the Corvette Z06 Convertible on a week-long tour through the rolling hills and winding lanes of southern England, the sort of countryside where Aston Martins usually rule the roost. From the chalky cliffs of Sussex to the winding backroads of Surrey, the Z06 devoured every mile with theatrical flair. The highlight? A sunset wine tasting at the Roebuck Estates Vineyard, where the golden light glinted off its sculpted lines as elegantly as the sparkling rosé in my glass.

Audi S6 Avant E-Tron Launch Edition – Review in the Grand Touring Style

Audi claims the S6 Avant E-Tron will waft you up to 384 miles on a single charge. Naturally, we decided to test that with a civilised jaunt from Guildford to Norwich and back again — 325 miles in one sitting, no recharging, no fuss, just the quiet purr of electrons and the smug glow of not visiting a petrol station. Touring in style, as always.

Held from the 10th to the 13th of July, this year’s fantastic event was built around a single, stirring theme: The Winning Formula – Champions & Challengers. A salute not only to the past 75 years of Formula 1 but to the daring spirit that unites motorsport legends with up-and-coming, next-gen challengers.

Predictive damping, torque vectoring, regenerative braking and active aero might all sound well and good but what if you just want less of all that? What if you just want to reconnect with the outright physics of driving again? Enter the A110: a lightweight, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car that does away with all of the above.

Aston Martin is a brand that has weathered war, bankruptcy, Bond and a barrage of reinventions more times than is strictly sensible and yet it continues to craft machines that blend utter menace with majesty. The new DBX S, the flagship of Aston’s ever-growing SUV range, is the latest expression of that enduring brilliance. A luxury bruiser that can tow a horsebox, out-drag most sports cars and serenade your ears with a burbling V8 soundtrack.