As the calendar clicked onto December with the end of the year now firmly on the horizon and the Christmas list being hastily written, the Southern Group kept up their productive pace in the run-up to the festive season.
Yes, there was the usual number of automotive-themed events, free calendars, some Christmas gifts from manufacturers, and the usual slew of holiday season cheer on social media. But regardless of the impending holiday season, the group continued to produce a vast amount of new content.
SGMW 2025 NEW YEAR HONOURS AND THE WINNERS ARE…
Welcome to the final SGMW Happenings of 2024; here are the highlights and lowlights of what group members got up to last month.
SGMW members celebrate double win at the 2024 Guild of Motoring Writers Awards
At the start of December, two of the group’s members saw off serious competition to record a double triumph at the 2024 Guild of Motoring Writers Awards.
First up was Maxine Ashford, who took home the BCA Feature Writer of the Year trophy for her EV work. While Trinity Francis was awarded the IVECO Commercial Vehicle Writer of the Year title for the second year in a row.
Car Launch Watch: Honda brings back fun for under £40k, Puma Gen-E arrives, and Renault has a crazy moment
In the act of what should be known as ‘let’s get it out there before the end of the year,’ car PR teams kept journos busy last month. Starting with Honda, who teased further details of the new Prelude that will get hybrid tech and simulated gear changes – all for a price of under £40k when it arrives later in 2025. Good job, Honda.
We also got our first look at the updated Skoda Enyaq, the all-new Toyota Urban Cruiser, and the refreshed Citroen C3 and e-C4, which both feature the brand’s new design language shared with the latest C3. Then there was Ford, which bolstered their EV lineup with the new Puma Gen-E, a fully electric version of the regular Puma that has a range of up to 244 miles. We are crossing our fingers in hope that it’s as good to drive as the petrol-powered models.
Finally, Renault gave us something that we all want for Christmas in the new 5 Turbo 3E. A 500bhp RWD hot hatch that you can buy. Yes, that is five hundred horsepower in a tiny electric city car – making it face-bendingly fast going from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds. It’ll be available in 2026, so remember to add it to your Christmas list then.
Test Drive Watch: The reborn Ford Capri defies the hate, while Skoda, Vauxhall and Volvo give the people what they want
After all the drama about its name, the Ford Capri is finally back, but is it any good? Yes. According to most automotive outlets, it is. With the reborn coupe-SUV winning over reviewers for its comfort, practicality, and build quality.
Other winners last month include the new Vauxhall Frontera, which is rather good according to road testers, although we mainly like that base model that gets white steel wheels, making it the one we’d pick. Also deemed to be rather good was the Skoda Elroq, a new, smaller EV that is the Czech brand’s second ground-up electric SUV model.
It was also second-time lucky for the Volvo EX90, with the model being described as flagship worthy after road testers finally got to drive it in the UK.
SGMW Print Watch:
Diesel & Eco Car – Issue 458 – January 2025
In the world of print, this month’s Diesel & EcoCar magazine helmed by SGMW Chairman Ian Robertson takes on a shocking hue for the January 2025 issue.
The cover of the January 2025 issue of Diesel & EcoCar may be shocking pink, but its contents will be familiar to anyone that is a regular reader of the magazine. We’ve got all of your favourite features and articles, including the news section that reports on the new Jaguar Type 00, and the controversial strategy to relaunch the brand. We’ve also got the first pictures of the interesting new DS No.8, the new Hyundai Ioniq 9 electric SUV and the curvaceous Audi Q5 Sportback. There’s the latest news on the Vauxhall Luton plant closure, as well as first pictures of the Ford Puma Gen-E. There are updates for the Mazda CX-60, Alfa Romeo Tonale, and Toyota Yaris, news of GT versions of the Kia EV6 and EV9, and a review of the Government’s ZEV mandate.
You can buy a copy of Diesel & Eco Car issue 458 here
SGMW Web Watch:
Dacia Duster Hybrid test drive – Trinity Francis
The third generation of the affordable Dacia Duster is here, and now there’s a full hybrid model for the first time. But is it a competitor in the fierce SUV market sector? Trinity Francis gets behind the wheel for the Car Expert.
Read the Car Expert review here
Ineos Highlights Customisation with One-Off Kaiju Quartermaster Build – Phil Huff
Ineos created a one-off version of its Grenadier Quartermaster pickup to showcase the truck’s rugged abilities and the vast array of customisation options available. Phil Huff runs through the details for Professional Pickup.
Read the Professional Pickup article here
Could The Dacia Spring Inspire The Mass EV Market Europe Needs? – Neil Winton
Could the Dacia Spring be the affordable EV to fire up consumer interest in electric cars? Neil Winton takes an in-depth look at why the European market desperately needs more affordable electric cars.
What You Need to Know About ULEZ Compliance and Car Tax – Phill Tromans
London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone has seen drastic change in the past couple of years; Phill Tromans runs through everything you need to know about ULEZ for Select Car Leasing.
Read the Select Car Leasing article here
Kalmar 9X9 review: Exclusive drive of new Porsche-based hypercar – Tim Pitt
Want a Porsche that also pays homage to the 959? Then the 911-based Kalmar 9X9 hypercar could be for you. Tim Pitt puts it to the test for City A.M.
SGMW Social Watch:
Stu Bird teases us with pictures of the new Vauxhall Frontera with white steel wheels. After a group-wide vote we all agree this is the spec to have.
In his end-of-year address to the nation, Shane Wilkinson breaks down his 2024 in one tweet.
In Christmas news Phil Huff teams up with Genesis to wish everyone a merry one.
Finally, Chris Rees brings you the latest ‘small’ car news from China.
