First impressions of Alfa Romeo’s high-performance version of the cute little MiTo. The new MiTo QV now uses a 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo Petrol engine, producing 170hp, in combination with Alfa’s transmission (with steering-wheel paddle shifters) for the first time. Top speed is 136mph and it can reach 60mph in 7.3 seconds. Outside …

Alfa Romeo’s hot hatch sister act, the MiTo and Giulietta, just got hotter… Life doesn’t get much better than an invitation to Alfa Romeo’s historic proving ground near Milan to drive new sportier versions of the MiTo and Giulietta. I drove both cars over a 70km road route, followed by several …

Is the Giulietta worthy of the Quadrifoglio Verde badge? First impressions… Just like its tomboy little sister – the MiTo – the Giulietta has been given a sports makeover. Most significantly, it now uses the same direct-injection, 1750cc turbo petrol engine and six-speed transmission from the stunning Alfa Romeo 4C …

Toyota slashes £600 off its hot new Toyota Aygo – on sale from July 1. The all-new Toyota Aygo will be available from £7,995 when it hits UK showrooms in July thanks to an initial £600 discount. Toyota’s city car, which shares much of its DNA with the Citroën C1 …

McLaren star Jenson Button arrives in style for the Canadian Grand Prix. Jenson Button, who will drive various Rolls-Royces to selected Grands Prix this season, has chosen a Wraith and Ghost during the Grand Prix Du Canada weekend. “I am absolutely delighted to be accompanied by the very best in …

BMW launches first ever five-door MINI hatchback. Looking like a stretched version of the standard MINI hatch, the designers haven’t just squeezed in two extra rear doors. The new variant boasts a longer wheelbase, more headroom and a bigger boot. The new MINI Cooper 5-door Hatch and Cooper D 5-door …

Fashion guru Gok Wan has taken delivery of Vauxhall’s extended-range electric car. The ‘How to Look Good Naked’ star, who’s also designed a range for Sainsbury’s, is driving the eco-friendly way from behind the wheel of a top-of-the-range Vauxhall Ampera Electron. “I have to drive a car which gives me …

Jaguar and Lexus share top manufacturer honours in major reader satisfaction survey. The influential What Car? JD Power results are out for 2014 with Jaguar and Lexus named the brands that consistently get it right. The Volkswagen Up!, Skoda Yeti and Kia Venga were among the model category winners in …

Like the look of this? Believe it or not, it’s a MINI like you’ve never seen before… This stunning interpretation of an open-top two-seater has been created by MINI and Touring Superleggera, the legenendary design and coach building house based in Milan. Called the MINI Superleggera Vision, the new one-off …

The Honda CR-V is a master of deception. Now in its fourth generation, it’s been bodybuilding over the years and now dwarfs the 1995 original. The concept is the same though – a roomy five-seater SUV with a cavernous boot. Available with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, and in …