Two Bank Holiday weekends makes May a very good month for PHers. More time to enjoy your car, drive your car and read about cars! For this three-day weekend there's plenty to keep you entertained, from the Jaguar XE review to PH's latest quest for motorsport glory. See it all here!
Not that relevant, quite good fun though
This being PistonHeads, there was only one car to head for on the Jaguar XE the launch - the
V6 S
. It proved a very likeable and accomplished sports saloon even if the track didn't show the car off in its best light. The diesels are certainly good enough as well. A UK test beckons soon.
Funnily enough the review of a lightly revised BMW M135i has attracted more comments than an all-new small Jaguar sports saloon but that's the unpredictability of PH! The BMW still appeals with its glorious engine and sheer speed but it definitely fulfils a mini-GT more happily than an outright hot hatch. BMW will point you towards the M Performance catalogue for that...
There's a two-wheeled BMW tested this week as well, the R1200 GS. As has become expected from BMW's recent bikes, it's an extremely talented machine, performing everything required of it with aplomb. Perhaps not the most exciting though...
Don't forget this Lotus news as well!
But by far the biggest story of the week was Lotus's confirmation that it will
produce an SUV
, that it will be built in China and that sales will begin in 2019. Lordy. We're on 309 comments and counting...
Other less shocking news from Lotus came in the form of the Evora 400's Hethel lap time, announced as six seconds faster than the old Evora S. Yes it's a little lighter and more powerful than before, but could it be that the decision to finally fit a limited-slip diff has really paid off for lap times?
Just in case you hadn't noticed, there have been a pair of VW Golf estates driven this week too. Both the GTD and Attack have garnered their fair share of comments both good and bad so please feel free to contribute!
A final few things to wrap up on the general news side of things. The Morgan Aero 8 is one step closer to production reality, there's a new Corvette Z06 limited edition and Latin America will receive a Renaultsport Sandero. The lucky blighters.
Because the answer isn't always Golf R!
A significant week for the PH team in motorsport. Another group of very lucky people! Dan is off to Wales to race in the
Defender Challenge
while contributors Al Suttie and Jesse Crosse have been
hillclimbing AMGs
rallying Escorts
In fact Jesse's Escort has made Pic Of The Week, with another Ford featuring as Shed's choice of bargain barge. Plucked from the classifieds are a gorgeous Alfa GTV6 and a very rare Aston One-77. Unsurprisingly 'POA' is attached to the latter...
Moreover, seeing as there's an extra day off to fill, take a look at the latest PHTV episode, an Audi S3 Carpool and the PH Fleet farewell to the SEAT Leon Cupra 280.
One final thing - the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power needs PHers. See here! Enjoy the Bank Holiday and return for more next week.