Car review: The Volvo XC90 is still one of the best March 23, 2015 Around 15 years ago Volvo hit the jackpot with its first full-size premium SUV, prompting a stampede of “active” families to dealerships seeking seven seats, upmarket looks and a lofty driving position. The XC90 combined thoughtful detailing with the usual Volvo attributes of rock solid build and impeccable safety. It sold so well that the [...]
Wasps close to replacing Varndell as Gopperth heads to Ricoh Arena January 7, 2015 WASPS are hoping to further bolster their attacking options with a replacement for departing wing Tom Varndell after announcing a deal for Leinster fly-half Jimmy Gopperth. Director of rugby Dai Young yesterday confirmed Wasps are close to sealing a deal for a new wideman after former England wing Varndell agreed to join Championship title favourites [...]
Watch: Ed Balls forgot Labour business leader Bill Thomas’s name. Here are the Newsnight interviews that were even worse February 4, 2015 Labour's attempt to woo the business community appears to be going from bad to worse. On Tuesday, business leaders took the media to lambast Ed Miliband's attack on Boots boss Stefano Pessina and Labour's rhetoric on markets. To counter the charge that his party was anti-business Ed Balls was booked into Newsnight to defend his [...]
Photography review: Guy Bourdin: Image-Maker November 28, 2014 Somerset House | ★★★★☆ Guy Bourdin: Image-Maker at Somerset House begins with a largely unpublished series of surreal fashion images charting a road trip from London to Brighton with a car-load of Charles Jourdan shoes and a pair of mannequin legs. The legs strut across the frames, both a presence and an absence, suggesting [...]
FA Cup: Team spirit key for Van Gaal after United survive Preston cup scare February 16, 2015 PRESTON NORTH END 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 RELIEVED Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal highlighted his side’s resilience after they recovered their poise to banish fears of an FA Cup upset against League One promotion-chasers Preston North End at Deepdale last night. Second-half strikes from Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and a Wayne Rooney penalty sealed [...]
Ghost in the machine: Rolls-Royce’s new Ghost hits the almost imperceptible sweet spot between manufacturing and art June 4, 2015 Automobiles are no strangers to art galleries. Among the MoMA’s permanent collection in New York is a pristine multi-story car park that includes a scarlet 1946 Cisitalia 202 GT, a matt olive ‘52 VW Beetle, and a blue metallic 1961 Jaguar E-type roadster. For three days in London last Christmas, though, there was a marque [...]
Car review: The Audi RS Q3 is turbo-charged evolution in motion January 12, 2015 Most people were mightily surprised when Audi decided to squeeze its turbocharged five-cylinder engine into its smallest SUV. They were even more shocked when they drove it and found that it was a winning formula, so Audi has kept the updates to a minimum this year. Among these are the new grey surround for the [...]
George Osborne takes a swipe at Vince Cable on Twitter January 2, 2015 As we approach the general election expect the rift between the Conservatives and their Lib Dem coalition partners to widen ever further as they prepare to tear each other to shreds over the coming months. Rarely a week goes by without a Lib Dem MP or minister warning the nation of the dire prospect of [...]
Hedge funds hit back at Labour over tax row after Ed Miliband queries stamp duty avoidance February 4, 2015 Hedge funds have hit back at Labour’s proposals to impose a new tax on them, after Ed Miliband called for a change in current stamp duty arrangements. During Prime Minster’s questions yesterday, Miliband repeatedly asked Prime Minister David Cameron about “hedge funds avoiding stamp duty on their share transactions”, prompting an angry response from the [...]
Google Glass: Four cool things the explorer programme did (other than create the Glasshole) January 16, 2015 Google Glass' "explorers" did more than just invent the Glasshole. Early adopters testing out Google’s smart glasses may have been given that less-than-kind label, but many of those involved in the programme were actually working on some pretty cool things. Will these beta ideas ever become mainstream? According to reports, Glass in its current form [...]