French car manufacturer Renault has re-designed the front end of their popular Espace model to provide a new, dynamic identity for the seven-seater MPV. Design The Renault Espace, now 28-years old, has undergone a stylish, ten-years younger makeover. The 2013 model features a more contemporary front end, new Hurlingham wheel trims and new Monterey and Dark Eptius alloy wheels. The 2013 Renault Espace has been given a facelift Inside Standard features include Carminat TomTom Live® navigation system, a hands-free card, an electronic parking brake and Bluetooth® audio streaming, AUX and USB soc ..read more

British designer Ross Lovegrove has unveiled the striking new Renault Twin’Z Concept Car. Furniture designer Lovegrove contributed to the car by conceiving and creating the Twin’Z’s impressive bodywork bumpers, lights, grilles, LED roofscape, wheels and interior. The result is a ‘fun, modern, artistic take on the citycar’, and it’s hard to disagree with Renault’s description. The all-electric rear-wheel drive, rear engine vehicle is just 3.62 metres in length with a high middle sitting on 18″ wheels; the compact footprint offers responsive handling. Amid the host of next generation design ide ..read more

Nissan Note (MPV) £12,000 It’s going to be produced in Sunderland but there are more reasons to go for Nissan’s cost-effective MPV than simple patriotism. The 2013 will be more modern and stylish than its stoical predecessors. There’s the car’s Noteworthy (geddit) storage and plenty room for five grown-ups. A supercharged engine is expected to be added to the range the long-term but expect to see Nissan’s new MPV toward the year’s end. Renault Clio SUV £13,000 Going up against Nissan’s Juke and Skoda’s Yeti, the new Clio SUV might not even be called Clio, with Captur (a former name for a 2011 ..read more

From Ford’s scripted oval to Volkswagen’s Germanic simplicity, from Ferrari’s swaggering black stallion to Volvo manliness, car logos aim to communicate unique brand credentials of the manufacturer, the car and indeed the driver. But what of the stories that lie behind logos? VCARS.co.uk’s Paul Reaney dug a little deeper and unearthed a few things you might not know about the logo on the front of your car. Ford’s Blue Oval Truly ubiquitous, a mainstay of modern logo design, the famous ford blue oval effortlessly balances modernity against heritage. The original badge was designed by an en ..read more

Renault has taken the head-spinning step of giving away their cars. Ironic then, that it’s the company’s electric Twizy getting the freebie treatment. Spanish customers who buy a Laguna or Espace, selling slowly in the country, will receive a brand new Twizy to accompany their new MPV. The promotional electric quadricycle is being given away in Spain as a response to the cash-strapped country’s dwindling car market. Indeed, Renault are also having problems selling the four-wheeled electric scooter which retails in Spain at just over £5,000. UK drivers will not benefit from Renault’s marketing ..read more

Summary The Renault Clio has been one of the UK’s favourite superminis for decades, but does it still have what it takes to topple the best in this class? Let’s take a look.  Pros  Fantastic interior Stylish design Hybrid model available Cons  Firm ride on high-spec models Some rivals have more rear seat space Competitors are more fun to drive Introduction Time flies, and it’s been 3 decades since the Renault Clio first arrived as a stylish, frugal and affordable take on the supermini formula. Ever since, it’s been battling it out with the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Vol ..read more

Having your first child is a hugely exciting time, and one that comes with a lot of decisions to make. One of these is whether your current car is fit for purpose. With any child, you want your car to be as safe, comfortable and practical as possible. That doesn’t mean you suddenly need a large seven-seat MPV or SUV, though.  There are plenty of smaller cars that are safe and useful that will fit the bill for your young family. Here are 5 used options worth considering, and to save us repeating ourselves, all come with Isofix points for car seats. Volkswagen Polo  Superminis have gr ..read more

If you’re buying an affordable car, you don’t want to spend a fortune to keep it running.  Whether it’s a city car, MPV or convertible that you’re interested in, it can be important to keep costs down. Here’s 7 great options for a budget of £5,000 or less, along with a few tips on what to look out for when viewing and test driving models. Audi A3  Although it’s a premium model, the Audi A3 is on this list for good reason. It’s brilliantly built, with a sturdy interior that doesn’t look outdated even 16 years after this second-generation A3 went on sale.  For efficiency, you w ..read more

If your current car is too big, or you need something cheaper to run, it’s probably time to think about downsizing your car. Whether you have a large hatchback or a mid-size SUV, there are plenty of smaller and less expensive options available. Here’s our pick of 5 most practical cars to downsize into..  Renault Clio Superminis are popular, and you don’t always have to compromise on space. If you currently have a family-sized hatchback (a Ford Focus, for example) and are looking to downsize without losing much room, take a look at the latest Renault Clio.  Despite its small size, th ..read more

With governments and city councils becoming more concerned about higher levels of pollution, drivers are being charged for adding to emissions. As a result, low emission zones are becoming more common, with some cars listed as releasing more emissions than others. That means newer models that produce less emissions can usually avoid being charged daily fees in these areas. London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, for example, has an entry charge of £12.50 for all petrol cars built before September 2009 and diesel cars built before September 2015. That covers a lot of cars currently on UK roads. But ..read more