I love this rear-engined, air-cooled, ultra-exclusive restomod - because it's not what you think...
(If it starts doing Hillman Imps, our respective garages will look even more alike.)
Unsurprisingly, the TBug looks somewhat nicer than my Baja Bug, because Twisted are people who are used to doing things properly. The interior looks trimmed beautifully, the stance is just so (I'm tempted to have a word with the front end of mine and a grinder) and there's a reinforced chassis, a new engine, new electrics and LED lights that don't look daft.
The power output has been about doubled over the original, but it's still making less than 80bhp, so it isn't a fast car – but that doesn't matter a bit. 'What makes the TBug special is that it makes you smile every time you slide behind the wheel,' says Twisted founder Charles Fawcett.
'In a world of increasingly serious and complex vehicles, there's something wonderfully refreshing about that.' As they might have said in the 1970s, I can dig that.
Unlike Twisted Defenders and Suzuki Jimnys, this car exists in the 'special projects' bit of the company's offerings. Lots of personalisation and customisation is on offer and it's the sort of thing you could get lost for days in with the designers – although Twisted has made three for sale already to its thinking, in grey, green and yellow. You can spend around £95,000.
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Times
42 minutes ago
- Times
‘We spend £9k a year on petrol driving our daughter around'
When Jo Mitchelhill and her husband, Graham, chose a private school in Canterbury for their daughter Jessica, 11, the cost of getting to school didn't cross their minds. Yet the decision would end up costing them more than £9,000 a Mitchelhills, from Sittingbourne, Kent, picked a school in Canterbury, 22 miles away, committing to seven years of 44-mile commutes, twice a day, five days a week. They also drive their daughter to clubs and competitions, meaning that their 'mum and dad taxi service' could rack up as much as 800 miles a week. It's a story many can relate to. Parents spend an average of 176 hours a year driving their children round, adding up to an astonishing 3,000 miles, according to Motorway, an online car marketplace. • Read more money advice and tips on investing from our experts The government's advisory fuel rates, which it provides for employees using company cars, suggest that the average cost of petrol is between 12p and 22p a mile and diesel between 11p and 17p a mile. So ferrying children to school and back, and to clubs and activities, can make a significant dent in household budgets. We look at the real cost to parents of providing a taxi service for their children. Jo Mitchelhill, 49, a parenting coach, and Graham, 58, a mortgage broker, struggled to find a school close to home which they felt was suitable for their daughter. 'The local schools didn't seem like a good fit — the grammar was too academic, and we wanted her to have equal focus on sport and art. 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Top Gear
an hour ago
- Top Gear
BMW M3 Touring Review 2025
The first ever BMW M3 Touring: the really fast version of BMW's class-leading 3 Series, now with an estate bodyshell. To give it its full name, it's the BMW M3 Touring Competition xDrive: in English that means the estate is only available with BMW's superb all-wheel drive system. 'Competition' is just a trim level, and all M3s in the UK of any shape are Comps. It means you get over 500bhp and an automatic gearbox as standard. On top of that there's the newly arrived hardcore CS version – if you want to spend an extra £35k-odd. Advertisement - Page continues below Why has this car created such a fuss? There's a coolness about fast estate cars. Even though they are at heart a bit of an odd concoction: if you've got a dog or a lawnmower or bags of garden waste in the big 500-litre boot, you tend not to drive very quickly. And if it's empty and the road looks inviting, you're in an estate car, which is naturally heavier and less stiff than a coupe. Like, say, a BMW M4. 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At the front, the M3's 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six delivers just over 500 horsepower to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. At the back, you get a smidge over 500 litres of boot space. That's it. That's the recipe. Party at the front and in the rear. And what about the CS? More power again? The CS pushes power up to 542bhp, dropping a couple of tenths from the 0-62mph time (claimed at 3.5s, likely not much over 3.0s flat in reality), and the 174mph limiter is raised to 186mph. The CS recipe has already been applied to the saloon and coupe, and is largely repeated here, although it does without the carbon fibre roof panel the shorter-roofed cars get. It's not a limited edition model, but it is more specialised, gaining a carbon fibre bonnet, titanium exhaust, plus retuned electronics for the gearbox, 4WD system and stability control. There's a load more carbon around the place, forged wheels, and an aluminium strut brace and more robust engine mounts as part of extra chassis strengthening measures. You still don't get carbon ceramic brakes as standard though. Come on then, how much is all this? Ah yes. Price. It's not cheap to own more car than anyone could ever possibly want or need. M3 Tourings start at £91,865 (they've gone up six grand since they first arrived two years ago) and it's terrifyingly easy to propel that beyond six figures if you lob some carbon fibre-laced option packs at yours. And if you do that, well, you're hardly likely to be filling it with unsheared sheep or bags of cement. Meanwhile the CS Touring weighs in at a whopping £126,275. An extra £35,000 give or take, and about £10k more than a hybrid 717bhp M5 Touring. Not saying that would be our choice, just pointing out the potential profit margin BMW enjoys with its CS cars. 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' The bottom line is this: the M3 Touring is eye-wateringly, cheek-pufflingly good to drive fast ' Folks who've yearned for BMW to build an M3 Touring for years – to be all the car they could ever want – might be dismayed to learn the result isn't in fact perfect. It's flawed. The fuel tank is on the small side. The gearbox still has moments in which it behaves like it's a regular automatic transmission that accidentally stowed away in an M car. And there's no getting away from the fact that if you can afford to buy one, you are certainly not in the position where you need one car to cover all bases. You probably have a couple of sporty toys for the weekend already, and a more humdrum shopping car. But don't get hung up on the semantics. The bottom line is this: the M3 Touring is eye-wateringly, cheek-pufflingly good to drive fast, and because it shares a body with the excellent 3 Series Touring, it's also an incredibly competent, well-made family car. No, it's not going to cause an overnight collapse in BMW X3 or Audi Q5 sales. It isn't supposed to. You get the feeling BMW will be happy with a few steady sales, while basking in the reflected glow of appreciation for having built a small fast estate at last. Ok, not small exactly, but definitely a more versatile size then the cruise liner than is the M5 Touring. It doesn't dilute the M3 lineage and it does bring something new and fresh to this little niche of the car world. Life for the next Audi RS4 Avant and the hybrid-powered AMG C63 is tricky right now. We'd have this over either of them any day of the week.
Auto Blog
2 hours ago
- Auto Blog
The Coolest Porsche 911s For Sale This Week
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The 1st-gen Porsche Cayenne GTS is legendary not for its power but for its manual transmission. Here's why it was so great, and why we want it to return. View post: The Porsche Cayenne GTS Manual Transmission is the SUV We Want to Come Back Despite the Lexus UX 300h being a hybrid, Acura's webpage for the ADX says its compact SUV is better. Is it? In a packed segment, Ford and Hyundai have some compelling offerings. But which one is the right fit for you? If you've got even a passing interest in cars, the Porsche 911 has probably crossed your mind. Doesn't matter if you lean vintage or modern, air-cooled or twin-turbo—the 911 is always a good idea. It's one of the few sports cars that's been cool since the '60s and somehow still gets better every decade. There are some especially tempting 911s up for grabs on Exotic Car Trader, and they're all different flavors of cool. If you're in the market—or just like to daydream—here are five of the best 911s listed right now. 0:09 / 0:09 2025 Audi S3: 4 reasons to love it, 2 reasons to think twice Watch More Source: Exotic Car Trader 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4 If you're stuck between a coupe and a convertible, the Targa is your answer. While this Python Green one is already gone, it will give you some idea of what's possible. You get the black leather interior with heated and ventilated Sport Seats Plus, a Bose surround system, ambient lighting, and Porsche's intuitive infotainment setup sitting front and center. There's surround view, Lane Change Assist, and all the comfort and tech that Porsche does best. Even the Sport Chrono dial and tach are done in Lizard Green, and the Porsche crests are stamped into the headrests. It's not subtle, but it's not meant to be. On the outside, the Targa bar is finished in black to match the SportDesign package accents. The RS Spyder Design wheels (20s up front, 21s in the back) fit tight in those flared rear arches, and the silver sport exhaust tips look just right peeking out from beneath. Out back, Porsche's 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six makes a reported 444 horsepower, paired to an 8-speed PDK and all-wheel drive. With the Sport Chrono package on board, it'll do 0–60 in under four seconds, making it fast enough to outpace most competitors at the track, while still blasting tunes and soaking in the cold air from the ventilated seats. View the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4 listing. Source: Exotic Car Trader Thinking about selling your car? Get a value estimate and list it online with Exotic Car Trader. Click here to learn more. 2024 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS This 2024 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS S is finished in Arctic Grey with a Slate Grey interior, and it comes with a proper 7-speed manual transmission—not a paddle in sight. Rear-wheel drive, twin-turbo flat-six, and a Sport Chrono Package? You're already halfway there. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Outside, it's wearing the full SportDesign treatment—revised front apron, side skirts, exclusive design taillights, and silver sport exhaust tips that sit clean beneath the bumper. It rides lower on a PASM sport suspension dropped 10mm, and the 20/21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels tuck into the arches just right. You also get the front axle lift, which is a must unless you love scraping nose-first into gas station entrances. And the Porsche crests on the wheel caps and headrests round it all out without being too shouty. Inside, the Slate Grey cabin maintains a cohesive look, featuring heated and ventilated Adaptive Sport Seats Plus and a heated steering wheel with Power Steering Plus. There's Ambient Lighting, a Porsche Design sub-second clock, and seatbelts in Silver Grey to match the rest of the build. The Premium and Storage Packages are here too, and include Surround View and Lane Change Assist to keep things easy when you're not out hammering corners. Under the rear deck is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six making a reported 443 horsepower. This isn't a base model—you only get the 7-speed manual in the S or GTS cars, and this one has the full Sport Chrono setup to sharpen everything up when the road opens up. Check out the 2024 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS. Source: Exotic Car Trader 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe This 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera is pure, old-school Stuttgart, right down to the air-cooled flat-six and that unmistakable teardrop shape. It's finished in Guards Red over a black interior, and with under 45,000 miles on the clock, it's stayed remarkably tight for a nearly 40-year-old car. The 3.2-liter naturally aspirated flat-six is out back, exactly where it should be, and it's paired with a 5-speed manual that sends power to the rear wheels. Bosch Motronic fuel injection keeps things running smoothly, and the torsion bar suspension does what it's always done best: keep things simple, responsive, and planted. It's not overdone. It's not messed with. It's just a proper 911. The car sits on original black Fuchs forged alloy wheels with silver lips — the right look, no substitutions. And out back, there's a big ducktail-style spoiler that adds just enough attitude without messing up the lines. It's clean, but it still catches eyes wherever it goes. Inside, it's a classic 2+2 Porsche with two solid black leather buckets up front and a couple of kid-sized jump seats in the back. The five-gauge cluster is exactly what you'd expect, with the center-mounted tach right where it belongs. There's a newer Pioneer head unit tucked in the dash—granted, it's not period correct, but honestly, it's hard to be mad at decent sound when you're carving through back roads. See the 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera listing. Source: Exotic Car Trader 1980 Porsche 911 SC If you're after a classic 911 that's built to be driven—not just parked under fluorescent lights—this 1980 Porsche 911 SC is the kind of weekend car worth looking at. It's finished in a head-turning red exterior with a black Porsche logo stripe down the side, and it still carries the lines that made these cars legends in the first place. The current owner reports just 25,000 original miles, and a quick look at the condition backs it up. Original bumpers? Check. Black Fuchs wheels? Also present and accounted for. Inside, the black leather cabin has been professionally redone, and it shows. The quilted pattern on the seats adds some extra flair without losing the feel of the original layout. It's got all the factory trim, plus matching Porsche carpets, and everything looks clean and correct. If you want that analog driving experience, this car sets you up right—low seating position, great visibility, and nothing distracting you from the road ahead. Under the rear lid, the flat-six has seen serious attention. The engine assembly has reportedly been replaced, and the seller notes that a full cleanup was done—parts were sandblasted, hoses and gaskets replaced, new wires and vacuum lines installed, and the valve covers were powder-coated. It's not just a tune-up; it's a proper refresh. Same story with the transmission—the assembly was removed, overhauled, and reinstalled in May 2023 as part of a documented service. View the 1980 Porsche 911 SC listing. Source: Exotic Car Trader 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S This 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S is finished in gray over gray leather and is reportedly all stock with original mileage. It's powered by a 3.6-liter flat-six engine and paired with a 5-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive sending power to all four corners. The 996 generation marked a major shift for the 911, as it was the first to move away from air-cooled engines in favor of water cooling. That change brought better emissions compliance and more performance potential without losing the soul of the rear-engined layout. In this car, the 3.6L flat-six uses water cooling and a dry-sump design, and it's factory rated at 320 horsepower at 6,800 rpm. It's good for a top speed north of 170 mph. This particular Carrera 4S comes equipped with a power sunroof, red-painted brake calipers, and drilled brake rotors. A paint protection film has been applied to the front half of the car. Inside, the gray leather interior features white auxiliary dials and the original stereo system with a CD player. According to the seller, the car has recently received a new ignition switch and new window motors. A recent service has been completed, and all servicing is reported to be up to date. Explore the 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S listing. Final thoughts From lifted rally-inspired specials to raw vintage classics and future collectibles, there's a 911 here for every kind of buyer. These cars don't last long when they're this clean. If one's calling your name, don't sit on it. About the Author Michelle Nati View Profile
