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Performance Car of the Year - Honda Civic Type R

Honda Civic Type R named as UK Car of the Year in the Performance Car Category...

THE HONDA CIVIC TYPE R has once again reaffirmed its dominance in the automotive world by clinching the prestigious UK Car of the Year award in the Performance Car category. Celebrated for its outstanding driving dynamics and unparalleled performance for price point, the Civic Type R emerged as the champion in a fiercely competitive field.

Renowned for its exhilarating driving experience, the Type R captivates enthusiasts with its exceptional handling, precision engineering, and cutting-edge technology, and sets a new standard for usable performance cars on the road today.

Tom Sharpe, a member of the UKCotY judging panel, said: "The most powerful Civic Type R is also the fastest, but not at the expense of fun and drivability. The excellent snickety gearbox is an absolute joy and the tractability of the two-litre turbocharged engine addictive. What a car!"

While Mark Nichol, another UKCotY judge, summed up Honda's Civic Type R as: "One of the most outright fun cars ever made. The sort of thing that makes every drive feel like an event = and every driver feel like a pro."

The £49,995 Civic Type R represents the pinnacle of performance engineering at Honda Automobiles, combining a thrilling driving experience with everyday usability.

Read MotorBar's in-depth review of the Type R
| Find out more at Honda.


Walt Disney’s Wish out on Blu-ray Steelbook, Blu-ray, and DVD on 25th March...

A HEARTFELT CELEBRATION of the magic of Disney, and a joyful new entry to the studio's animated film legacy, Walt Disney Animation Studios' Wish will shortly be available for families to enjoy at home.

When the film becomes available on 25th March on Blu-ray Steelbook, Blu-ray, and DVD from distributor Elevation Sales, fans can enjoy a sing-along movie version and never-before-seen bonus features and deleted scenes.



In this animated musical-comedy, Asha, a sharp-witted idealist in the kingdom of Rosas, makes a powerful wish that's answered by Star, a ball of boundless energy. Soon, Asha and Star must face a formidable foe — the ruler of Rosas — to save her community and prove that when one brave human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things happen.

Featuring the voices of Academy Award-winning actor Ariana DeBose as Asha, Chris Pine as Magnifico, and Alan Tudyk as Asha's favourite goat, Valentino, Wish is helmed by Oscar-winning director Chris Buck (Frozen, Frozen 2) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (Raya and the Last Dragon), and produced by Peter Del Vecho (Frozen, Frozen 2) and Juan Pablo Reyes (Encanto). With original songs by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/musician Benjamin Rice, plus score by composer Dave Metzger.

Blu-ray Exclusive Bonus Features:

Sing Along With The Movie — Sing along with your favourite songs while watching the movie with on-screen lyrics.

Featurette: Once Upon A Studio — Beloved characters from Disney Animation's 100 years come together for an unforgettable reunion.

Featurette: Wish D-Classified Wish is filled with references and nods to other Disney films from the studio's 100-year legacy. From hidden Mickeys to more subtle tributes, you may have caught many of them, but check out this "D-Classified" piece for ones you may have missed.

100 Years In The Making
The Inside story on the making of Wish.

What Makes Disney, Disney
Learn what makes a Disney film and its characters so distinct, memorable and beloved. Discover how Asha and Wish are quintessentially Disney - from the extraordinary challenges Asha must overcome, to the magical, Kingdom of Rosa

The Wish Equation
— What is a wish? Join the filmmakers for a surprising conversation as they break down the "Wish Equation," discuss the "rules of magic," and describe the role music plays in Disney films. Then hear Julia Michaels' own original demo of "This Wish."

Looking Backward To Go Forward — Walk the aisles of the Walt Disney Animation Research Library as the filmmakers "draw" inspiration from 100 years of animation. Learn about the "Pinocchio test," and how Wish's design blends new technology with classic techniques.

Where Dreams And Reality Collide — Discover the times and places that were the inspiration for Rosas and helped build the world of this original fairy tale.

Asha Means Wish
Learn all about Asha, from her inspired design to her boundless determination and generosity. Uncover the subtle symbolism in her jewellery, and dive into her dancing skills. See how she's imperfectly perfect and what makes her a memorable Disney hero.

The Return Of The Disney Villain — You'll love to hate King Magnifico when you uncover his secrets. Find out what makes him the classic Disney villain — and why he doesn't wear a crown.

Star Is Born — Uncover early concept drawings to see how Star evolved into Asha's lovable wish facilitator. Learn about Star's sparkles, and why Star can communicate with Asha and the other characters.

Those Who Stand Beside Me — Learn more about Asha's closest allies, Dahlia and Valentino. Find out which of Snow White's seven companions served as inspiration for Dahlia, and how Valentino breaks one of the rules of Disney animals.

When Wishes Come True — Get to know the kids inside the filmmakers as the creators of Wish reflect on what Disney movies meant to them growing up, and what it's like being part of the Disney legacy today.

Featurette: Deleted Song "A Wish Worth Making" — Directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn introduce this poignant song sung by Saba Sabino (voiced by Victor Garber) expressing what it's like to be reunited with your one true wish.

Deleted Scenes: Check out some scenes that didn't make the Final Cut — Magnifico's Secret | The Wishing Tree | To Rosas | Finding Flazino | Valentino Is A Star.

Song Selection: Jump to your favourite musical moments with on-screen lyrics
At All Costs | This Wish | I'm A Star | This Is The Thanks I Get?! | Knowing What I Know Now | This Wish (Reprise).

Featurette: Outtakes — Step inside the recording booth with the brilliant and talented actors of Wish for some creative fun as they bring their characters to life.

Wish has a runtime of approximately 95 minutes and is rated U.

Wish is available to buy from Planet of Entertainment, HMV, Amazon, Zavvi, Asda, and Morrisons.


All-New Dacia Spring

The All-New Dacia Spring is the most affordable new electric car in the UK, priced from just £14,995 on-the-road...


THE ALL-NEW DACIA SPRING will have a launch price from just £14,995 on-the-road, making it the UK's most affordable new electric car by a margin of thousands of pounds.

Available to pre-order now by placing just a £99 deposit via Dacia's website, the All-New Dacia Spring continues its Europe-wide legacy of quashing the traditionally high purchase price that many UK drivers say stops them from making the switch to an EV.

Rewriting the EV rulebook, the price also places Dacia's all-electric supermini comfortably inside the UK's top 10 most affordable new cars, regardless of how they are powered.

The five-door Dacia Spring supermini debuts in the UK with a choice of mid-range Expression or top-of-the-range Extreme trim levels and offers a range of up to 137 miles (WLTP mixed cycle) or 186 miles (WLTP urban cycle).

With demand for the All-New Spring expected to be high, those who pre-order guarantee to be amongst the first to get behind the wheel.

As well as locking-in the £14,995 on-the-road launch price, pre-order customers get an extra helping of value with a complimentary £250 towards accessories, public charging, or a contribution for a home charger through Mobilize Power Solutions. This choice recognises that everyone has different requirements. For added simplicity, customers can select from the trio of extras at the point of pre-ordering.

Spring comes with a choice of a 45hp, or a more powerful 65hp, 48 kW motor — which coupled with a lightweight design that makes it the only fully electric car in Europe under one tonne — ensures good performance around town and on the open road. Using its 7kW charger, the compact 26.8 kWh battery can be charged from 20% to 100% on a suitable domestic outlet in less than 11 hours — or in just four hours on a 7kW wall box.

Starting from Expression trim, available with the Electric 45 or 65 powertrain, standard equipment includes a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, height-adjustable 3-spoke steering wheel, Media Control system with USB port, speed limiter, cruise control, steering wheel-mounted controls, central locking with remote control, electric front windows, rear parking sensors, 12V socket, manual AirCon, and 15-inch wheels (only on the Electric 65).

Extreme trim, exclusively paired to the Electric 65 powertrain, adds copper interior and exterior finishes, electric mirrors and rear windows, the Media Nav Live multimedia system with 10-inch centre screen, two USB ports, wireless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a bi-directional charger allowing you to use the All-New Spring as a power source for external appliances.

The standard spec is further bolstered by the addition of new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems which meet the latest European Global Safety Regulation 2 (GSR2) safety standards. These include an advanced emergency braking system (with vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcycle detection), traffic sign recognition with speed alert, rear park assist, emergency stop signal, lane change alert, lane keep assist, driver attention warning, and emergency call (eCall). To make life even easier for drivers, Dacia has included a clever 'My Safety' button for rapid access to their preferred and personalised ADAS settings.

The Spring also offers the best storage volume in its class, and betters the segment standard. In fact, such is its luggage carrying capability — up to 1,004 litres with the rear seats folded down — it offers space on par with many vehicles from the segment above. Nearly 31 litres of storage space throughout the cabin, combined with Dacia's clever YouClip system that allows various dedicated accessories to be attached practically and robustly, makes the All-New Spring perfect for fun-packed family adventures.

Luke Broad, Dacia Brand Director for the UK, says: "Spring has played a key part in widespread adoption of EVs across Europe and, with a price that is even lower than speculated, we're confident it will continue the success story in the UK. We have listened to the concerns of UK drivers regarding accessing EVs, ensuring it not only has an unprecedented price but affordability that doesn't come at the expense of durability, equipment, or usability. Quite simply, there's no other new EV currently on sale that offers so much for so little."

All-New Spring will arrive in the UK in October. Pre-orders are open now, from 12 March 2024. For further information on the Spring please visit dacia.co.uk.


Wanted Man available on Digital Platforms on 1 April (really!)...

ACTION THRILLER Wanted Man, directed by and starring legendary action icon Dolph Lundgren arrives shortly.



Starring Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV) as Johansen, an ageing detective whose outdated policing methods have given the department a recent public relations problem. To save his job, he is sent to Mexico to extradite a female witness to the murders of two DEA agents.

Once there, he finds not only his old opinions challenged, but that bad guys on both sides of the border are now gunning for him and his witness.

Also starring Christina Villa (River), Kelsey Grammer (Frasier), and Michael Paré (The Lincoln Lawyer).

Wanted Man is directed by Dolph Lundgren from a script he co-wrote with Michael Worth (Killing Cupid) and Hank Hugues and is distributed by Signature Entertainment.


New Renault Clio

Renault Clio recognised as the best new small car at the UK Car of the Year Awards...


THE WIN REAFFIRMS the Clio as the benchmark in its sector, continuing the model's multi-award-winning success since it was first introduced in 1990.

Launched last year, the latest generation Clio impressed the judging panel of 30 UK motoring journalists with its unrivalled combination of style, value, comfort and practicality. Its electrified hybrid drivetrain was another standout attribute that convinced the experienced panel to name the Clio as the best new small car on sale in the UK.

Judges not only said that the Renault Clio is the perfect small car for today's needs thanks to its impressive long range, trendy style and relatively affordable price tag, but also that it was such a brilliant small car all-round, with big car refinement and quality, plenty of space, loads of fun to drive and cheap to both buy and run. And it looks great too!

And as someone also rightly pointed out, even at a time of increasing electrification there remains a place for Internal Combustion Engine cars, especially in this sector of the market.

Offered with a choice of powertrains, including an innovative full hybrid, the new Renault Clio offers bold, fresh styling and a cutting-edge digital experience. The generously equipped three-model line-up, crowned by a new range-topping esprit Alpine trim, starts at £17,795 OTR.

More about the New Renault Clio E-Tech full hybrid 5-door city car.
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