Tesla Model 3, the future of family transport?

Over the years, the fight to make cars increasingly clever to improve safety, efficiency and practicality has been raging. For the most, it seemed to be ruled by the Germans with BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Volkswagen on top. However, with the recent boom of electric car technology, a small American company founded in 2008 called Tesla came into their own.

Initially, they created the roadster which was good for an electric car, but at that time it was not relevant in the same way as it would be today and they didn't have the technology or money to make it a real world beater. However, the release of their incredibly quick Model S  (from £57,400) took the market by storm as it was a very easy on the eye, fast saloon (sedan if you are from the US) that had a respectable range and some very quirky and futuristic interior features. By 2015, this had the highest sales of electric cars in the world. It was then followed up a couple of years later by the more expensive, yet more practical Model X (from £79,000) that had even more cutting edge technology and modern features that launched Tesla not just head and shoulders, but a full body's length above the rest. However, they were targeting a rather niche market and one that would not grow very quickly due to the expense of their cars and the low demand for this sort of electrical technology. So, Tesla decided to take a step back on the price enabling them to reach out to a wider audience and hopefully continue to make their mark in the market. And what did they name this car? The Model 3.

To start off with, the so called "budget" electric car does not feel like a budget car in any sense of the word, as it filled with more of Tesla's technology that never fails to enrich the experience. With its infotainment screen that looks like something from Star-Trek and a space-age looking steering wheel, it certainly feels like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise! With regard to the passengers, the Model 3 would happily fit 3 adults in the back and even though it has a panoramic sunroof, still has enough headroom to seat Shaquille O'Neal comfortably!

On the interior, it is surprisingly simplistic, but this works as it keeps the car looking fresh and sharp. There are multiple choices for trim but I do like the contrast of the dark wood and the light aluminium. It boasts the largest infotainment screen in its class, measuring in at a whopping 15"! There is that ergonomic steering wheel that I mentioned earlier which looks absolutely brilliant without an instrument cluster in front of it and some exquisite aluminium lining. The windows are very large and offer optimal
 visibility for the driver out of the front and sides but also has a rather sizeable rear window for a saloon. The seats in the front are electric for adjustment and for heating and the fact that they are leather bucket seats also makes them very comfortable!

Driveability and performance are key when it comes to which car to buy and the Model 3 doesn't hold back! For starters, the basic model has a range of about 215 miles but spec the motor up and you'll get all of 340 miles from it. The long range however, doesn't limit it's output and actually even the smaller motor will power you to 60 in under 6 seconds; equal to that of a BMW 330d! Apparently, the handling is good, with the rear wheel drive or optional 4 wheel drive systems laying down power in a smooth and linear fashion and the front wheels steering the car comfortably through the corners without any under-steer.

However, arguably the most important thing one looks for when buying a car is what it looks like... and this car looks excellent! It has sharp lines to contrast with a smooth, rounded body which give it a really modern and fresh look. The headlights are bold and bright to provide an excellent finish on the front, alongside the aggressive looking grilles. The Model 3 also houses Tesla's signature 10 spoke alloys which look great on all of their models. Around the back, it doesn't look dissimilar to the Model S which I always thought looked good, albeit a bit boring.

So, back to the original question, will this car represent the 'family transport of the future'? And my answer is a "yes", it is a large leap in the right direction with its range, tech and performance being so far in front of any competitors. However, it is still a long way off overtaking the fossil- fuel car market, purely because of the inconvenience of charging it; a petrol/diesel car takes about 2-3 minutes to fill up and (taking the statistic for the BMW 320d) can drive for anywhere around 800 miles before another refill! Comparatively, the Model 3 charges in about half an hour and will go for just over 200 miles.


The verdict then, it has its problems but hindrances aside, I like it. The performance is outstanding in a straight line and through corners, it looks excellent both inside and out and it has some fantastic features that really put its competition to shame! This is a very practical car that feels at home both in the city or on the motorway and really has legs to strive in the automotive world. However, there is just one more point i'd like to make... if you want an American car, for the same price, get a Mustang; the Model 3 just doesn't sound as good.



Specs: (base model)

Price: £30,000
0-60mph: 5.6 seconds
Range: 215 miles
Top Speed: 140 mph


pisTEENhead rating: 8/10

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifogilio, M3 killer?

If you were to think of a performance saloon for under £60k, I expect that the first car you think of is the BMW M3... who wouldn't? Personally, I have respected every M3 model, from the first in 1985 and continue to love them even more with every face-lift. I would have gone so far as to say, that it was undoubtedly the best in class and would happily have bought one if I could... that is, until now. 

At the beginning of this year, a new kid arrived on the block to fight for the crown held by the M3 and its name, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifogilio. This aggressive-looking saloon certainly challenges the bold lines and flared wheel arches of the M3, with its handsome, shield-shaped grille and dynamic looking headlights. No matter where you stand to admire this Alfa, you will be able to see true design excellence in every curve and every detail. Standing to the side, you will appreciate the classic 5 spoke design of the wheels and the perfectly carved, aerodynamics of the bodywork and from behind, you will be met by four gaping exhaust pipes, encased in a huge, chrome-lined diffuser, with a small but effective carbon-fibre rear spoiler. But the real question is this; would you go for the tried and tested, class-reigning M3, or take a punt with the less-established but just as potent Alfa?

Alfa Romeo Giulia

BMW M3

When looking for a 'performance' car, the first thing one naturally considers is 'performance'...and when it comes to measuring performance, the Alfa doesn't hang about. Whilst the M3 can achieve an 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph (created by a 3.0 twin-turbo 6 cylinder engine producing 450 bhp and 405 ft-lb of torque), the Quadrifogilio storms away with a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds and an astounding top speed of 191 mph (powered by the Italian grunt of the 2.9 litre twin turbo V6 pumping out 505 bhp and 443 ft-lb of torque). This, therefore, means that the young Alfa really starts to put the M3 to shame.

In terms of practicality, the two cars have exactly the same boot space at 480 litres which is very reasonable and therefore you would have no problem using it as a daily commuter as there is nothing to split the two in terms of practicality so there is not a lot to write here, sadly.

However, one of the biggest factors that define whether a car is worthy of your purchase are the interior features and quality and when it comes down to this, the Alfa wins hands down, sporting enormous aluminium gear paddles, beautiful carbon fibre finishes and pleasingly minimal buttons and switches. I will admit that the M3 is very refined. The overall quality is good and I like it a lot, but put against the Alfa, it is not quite as new and 'fresh'. The Alfa also features a really stylish, sloping-shaped infotainment screen which, compared to the BMW's standard square shape, just gives it that spark of brilliance. This then brings me on to the infotainment and we all know how well made and intuitive the idrive on the BMW is, so it will be hard to beat... but it does come close. The Giulia can be bought with an 8.8 inch display that is simple to use with the rotary dial (similar to idrive) and offers an accurate and intelligent sat-nav. Therefore, in terms of infotainment, the BMW's idrive still reigns victorious but the Alfa's system is perfectly fine for daily use by anyone.

Alfa Romeo interior

So, the verdict. In my opinion, they are both outstanding cars and I would happily buy either as they are both very fast, very comfortable and surprisingly practical daily cars that would be happy enough on a track day. However, if you put the two in front of me to choose one, I feel that I would take the Alfa. It's a bit less common than the M3 on British roads but can keep discreet to the untrained eye... that is until you put your foot down!

BMW interior

PisTEENhead rating:

BMW M3: 7/10
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifogilio: 8/10


Specs :


BMW M3:

Price: £59,000 

Engine: 3.0tt 6cyl

Horsepower: 450bhp @ 5500rpm

Torque: 405ftlb @ 1850rpm

Gearbox: 8 speed auto

MPG: 34

0-60: 4.1

Top Speed: 155

Alfa Romeo Giulia:

Price: £57,000

Engine: 2.9tt V6 

Horsepower: 505hp @6500rpm

Torque: 443ftlb @2500rpm

Gearbox: 8 speed auto

MPG:20

0-60: 3.9

Top Speed: 191

Jaguar F-type 4 cylinder; why?

2018 Jaguar F-Type 2.0 


When I learned that Jaguar motor company was releasing a new F-type for 2018, I was quite excited and after reading into it, I saw that there is going to be a 2 litre, 4 cylinder model. My initial reaction was that the new styling was similar to the original V6 model but had a few positive, minor changes. Equally, I thought that maybe Jaguar would have tried to make an economical, yet powerful engine for the new model.

Unfortunately, it was neither. Jaguar claim that it will return a combined mpg of 39.2 (only 6.4 mpg more than the V6) even after being 52kg lighter. Admittedly, the fastest 2 litre model is only 0.4 seconds slower to 62mph than the base V6 model. But lets face it, what sounds better when you drop the hammer; 6 cylinders or 4? If you like, it's similar to comparing a Subaru WRX Sti to a Nissan GTR, in the sense that they both make loud noises. The GTR is clean, raw and natural, whereas, the Subaru is just artificial noise.

Then comes the price. In my opinion, the minimum of £49,500 is just not worth it, especially when for much less money and much more power you could buy a new BMW M235i, a new Honda Civic type R or a Ford Mustang GT. However, it would be unfair to forget that this is still a Jag and the interior and exterior build quality is still first class with cutting edge technology and well thought out features to improve both drive-ability and comfort.

So, to sum up; if you are wanting an affordable performance car then this particular Jaguar might not be for you. In my opinion, I would advise buying the much cheaper and arguably more fun MX5 Miata or the more powerful BMW M235i which is still £15000 cheaper but just as luxurious. If, however,  you are still willing to fork out around 50k, why wouldn't you save up and spend a mere £2365 more on the more powerful, better sounding and more fun V6 coupe model which I personally love.


Tech specs

Price: From £49,500
Power:  296hp @ 5500rpm and 295 ft-lb of torque @ 1500rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
0-62mph: 5.4 seconds
Top speed: 155mph


pisTEENhead rating:
  
6.5/10