Brake Magazine Attend SMMT Test Day North

We were thrilled to attend SMMT’s Test Day North at York Racecourse this week, and as such, tested a number of different vehicles from several different marques. The UK automotive sector generates nearly £70 billion in turnover every year and productivity is at record levels, as demonstrated at York.

A diverse range, on offer, was 60 different vehicles from 27 brands including luxury and saloon cars and off-road vehicles. The key cars that stood out for us, included the Maserati Ghibli, Ford Mustang, Lexus GS F, DS3 Performance and the Honda Civic Type R.

The Maserati Ghibli, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel, sits beneath the Quattroporte in the Maserati range boasting no less than 275hp. Having said that, the Ghibli’s defined styling and low snout offers a mean look. The Ghibli also comes with added interior quality as expected from the Italian manufacturers.

Perhaps our personal favourite, though, was the stunning Lexus GS F- a fine blend of enhanced performance and incredible overall quality. The GS F is fantastically noisy, and with bags of comfort and incredible balance, is possibly just what customers want from their super-saloon.

We also thoroughly enjoyed the Honda Civic Type R- which we firmly believe has probably the best gearbox in any car, ever. The Type R also boasts a firm ride and comfortable and inviting bucket seats for further comfort. Essentially, the Civic still shines as one of the best hot hatches available on the market today.

Full-length reviews coming soon to Brake magazine.