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Martin Ward

Position: Manufacturer Relationship Manager

Number: 07740 157 580

A popular figure in the automotive industry, celebrated in the Business Car Power list Top 10. An unrivalled understanding of the entire automotive manufacturing process. Providing independent and tailored advice to help automotive and related businesses identify and achieve their goals.

21/01/2014

Bentley Flying Spur

The Flying Spur was originally known as the Continental Flying Spur, but the Continental element of the name has now been dropped with the arrival of this all new model in 2013. I thought if it’s good enough for the Royal Family, then it’s good enough for me. Even the young Royals are now seen driving or being driven in a Bentley, and why not, it is an outstanding car. The last time we drove a...

15/01/2014

Lexus CT200h

The CT200h was launched in early 2011 and three years later Lexus decided it was due some improvements and modifications. It is under the skin where the majority of these have been made, such as the adoption of laser screw welding and higher strength adhesive bonds which result in a stiffer body and reduced NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). Lexus had just one car in the country for the first...

07/01/2014

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 e-HDI 115 Airdream Exclusive

The all new Grand C4 Picasso has improved over the previous car beyond recognition; it is such a nice car to drive. It looks pretty for such a large people carrier. The French have certainly added style to practicality. It was news to me to learn that this Picasso has ‘Airdream’ in its title, a word that seems to have passed me by, and probably many others too, so I had to ask Citroen UK what it...

02/01/2014

Audi R8 V10 S Tronic

The R8 has many negatives, such as only having two seats, a large engine, poor fuel consumption, sky-high Co2 emissions and accompanying high VED rate, combined with a relatively high list price. But other than that, it is fantastic and absolutely brilliant. The R8 has been available with an automatic gearbox since launch, but putting it bluntly, it wasn’t very good. The old 6 speed R Tronic...

19/12/2013

Honda Civic Tourer

European Press Launch, Rome Honda transported many Civic Tourers from the plant in Swindon, where they are to be built, to the City of Rome where we had chance to see and drive this latest addition to the Civic family. We also had chance to test, at length, the recently launched 1.6 diesel engine. We have driven the latest Civic hatchback many times before and also the new diesel engine. But it...

11/12/2013

Hyundai i10

This is not the first time we have seen or driven the all new i10. We saw it very briefly in Frankfurt, a few weeks ago. But in Turkey we drove the first right hand drive cars that were fresh off the production line. We were given some background information on the home of the new i10. The Hyundai plant in Turkey was completed in 1997 and can produce up to 200,000 units per year. Turkey has a...

04/12/2013

Subaru Outback SX

Since 1996 Subaru UK have sold over 11,000 Outbacks in the UK, which is quite a high number from this relatively small importer and you would be forgiven for admitting you have never seen one. This Subaru is fairly anonymous and if you did see one, you would probably not know what it was anyway. Subaru, like most other Japanese manufacturers and importers, have suffered in the recent past with...

28/11/2013

Renault Captur

Renault Captur Dynamique MediaNav 90ps with Stop/Start Renault get so many things right and very few things wrong when it comes to small cars and people carriers. But when they step out of their comfort zone, it can all go a little downhill for them, especially in the UK. The Europeans especially the French are more forgiving. The all-new Captur (and no it is not a spelling mistake with the ‘e’...

20/11/2013

Audi A3 Cabriolet / S3 Saloon

International Press Launch, Monaco Is Monaco in Monte Carlo or is Monte Carlo in Monaco, or is it in France? Monte Carlo is a principality governed under a form of constitutional monarchy with Prince Albert the second as Head of State. Monaco is bordered on three sides by France, and the other by the Mediterranean Sea. It is the second smallest and the most densely populated country in the world...

13/11/2013

Renault Clio 1.5 dCi 90 Dynamique MediaNav Hatchback

My, my, how the Clio has changed over the years, not an evolution but very much a revolution. Some cars just evolve, car such as the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf and BMW 3 Series. You can tell what it is, whatever age, whichever model; you instinctively know what it is. But not the all new Clio, as it is just so different from any other Clio we have seen before and the change is for the better...