Sorry, and thank you. Some days at work are certainly better than others.

Enjoying the podcast, as ever – keep up the good work!

I did work experience at MiniWorld magazine when I was 15 years old, so it’s only taken 31 years to get my first feature published.

Read my review of the unique Callum x Wood & Pickett Mini restomod in the latest issue. ⬇️

Slightly in love with this Alfa Romeo 75 fire safety car on standby at Verano circuit.

Just 9,000km from new – although almost all of them driven on-track…

Taking part in the first official Alfa Romeo Driving Academy track day.

Classic Alfas lined up behind the pits: 75 3.0 V6, SZ, GTV V6 3.0, 156 GTA Sportwagon, Brera, 8C Competizione and a 4C.

Heading out on-track at Verano in the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

My driving coach is Giampiero Simoni, who raced a works Alfa Romeo 155 alongside Gabriele Tarquini in the BTCC.

Today: at Verano circuit near Milan to sample the new Alfa Romeo Driving Academy.

Cars available for track drives range from the Junior Elettrica Veloce to the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

‘Some say the Golf R makes it too easy. You simply point and shoot, rather than regularly having to adjust your aim. But this is a very particular type of performance car – and owners love it for that.’

Read my second long-term VW Golf R report – now live: www.motoringresearch.com/car-reviews/...

Inside the Bentley Bentayga Speed.

This car combines Imperial Blue leather with Mandarin accents.

‘Wellness’ front seats contain air pockets to regularly adjust your posture for long-distance comfort.

The seats are heated or cooled according to your body temperature, too.

Just delivered: Bentley Bentayga Speed.

No hybrid tech on this one: just a 650hp 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8.

Zero to 62mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 193mph make it quicker than the old, W12-powered Speed.

The classic ‘supercar in an abandoned fuel station’ shot.

The embargo for Aston Martin DB12 S reviews lifts on 6 May.

You can read my words in Magneto and City AM, and online on MSN Cars and our Motoring Research website.

Styling changes for the DB12 S include a new front splitter and bonnet louvres, gloss black side skirts, a redesigned diffuser and a fixed rear spoiler.

You can read my review of the similarly enhanced Aston Martin DBX S on Motoring Research here: www.motoringresearch.com/car-reviews/...

New Aston Martin DB12 S is easily recognised by its stacked quad tailpipes, which have been tuned ‘for added depth and potency’.

An optional titanium exhaust turns up the volume by 1.5dB and saves 11.7kg in weight.

Aston Martin DB12 S has carbon-ceramic brakes as standard, saving 27kg of unsprung mass.

Sharper throttle response, revised suspension settings and a recalibrated e-diff are among the dynamic tweaks.

Inside, the rotary drive mode controller now has a red anodised finish.

Today: driving the Aston Martin DB12 S.

Its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 develops 700hp – positioning it between the ‘standard’ 680hp DB12 and the 835hp Vanquish. Peak torque remains at 590lb ft.

Buyers can choose coupe or open-top Volante body styles. Prices start from £205,000.

Driving the new Aston Martin DB12 S tomorrow. Here’s a first look.

Paint colour is Lava Orange with gloss black details.

Definitely more Marvel superhero than MI6 secret agent in this spec.

Inside the Chery Tiggo 4 CSH.

Dashboard has two 10.25-inch screens. Standard kit includes dual-zone air-con and a reversing camera.

For £2,000 extra (i.e. £21,995) this Summit version adds eco leather seats, 360-degree parking cameras, an upgraded audio system and more.

Ha ha – you might be right.

New Chery Tiggo 4 is the smallest SUV in the Tiggo range, which stretches up to the seven-seat, £43,105 Tiggo 9 (my review here: www.motoringresearch.com/car-reviews/...)

Chery is the parent company for the Jaecoo and Omoda brands. UK-market cars come with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

‘Styling inspiration comes from Rolls-Royce’s high-speed experimental EX models from the 1920s.’

@engagesportmode.bsky.social previews the Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale – a decadent drop-top powered by the electric drivetrain from the Spectre.

New on MR: www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/rol...

Today: driving the new Chery Tiggo 4 CSH.

Its non-plug-in ‘super hybrid’ system combines a 1.5-litre engine, 1.83kWh battery and single electric motor. Outputs are 204hp and 229lb ft.

Prices will start from £19,995 – fully £7,135 less than the cheapest Ford Puma.

That’s the one!

Two very different takes on the sporting German car…

My long-term Golf R has been fun on the Oxfordshire lanes. You can definitely feel the torque vectoring do its thing in the corners.

It does seem like a ‘let’s race’ red rag to other hot hatch drivers, though.

Inside Theon Design’s new ‘MEX001’ Porsche 911 restomod.

Recaro CS seats are trimmed in the same retro Pepita cloth as the 991 Sport Classic.

The switches are milled from billet aluminium, while green-numbered dials are a nod to the early (pre-1967) 911.

Theon Designs offers three air-cooled engine options:

– 3.6 litres = 300hp
– 3.8 litres = 407hp
– 4.0 litres = 421hp

This is the middling 3.8, with a 997 GT3 plenum and switchable exhaust system.

An optional drive-by-wire throttle can enable rev-matching on downshifts.

Theon Design’s new spoiler is an exact replica of a 911 Carrera 2.7 RS ducktail, but in carbon fibre rather than GRP.

Dished Fuchs-style wheels are made by Fikse, here with a ‘champagne’ finish.

Each Theon 911 takes around 18 months and 6,000 man-hours to complete.

Driving the latest 911 restomod from Oxfordshire-based Theon Design.

All body panels are carbon fibre (except the steel door skins), helping to save 325kg versus the 964 C4 donor car.

Paint colour is a blend of two classic Porsche hues: Nato Olive Green and Underberg.

‘It will give my tired Mk5 GTI a break from daily duties. And it allows an opportunity to really live with this Mk8.5 R, discover all its driving modes and figure out its foibles.’

Read my first report on my long-term Volkswagen Golf R.

Now live on MR: www.motoringresearch.com/car-reviews/...

Under the bonnet of the Mk8.5 Golf R.

It doesn’t look anything special, but this latest ‘Evo’ version of the long-serving EA888 engine serves up 333hp, plus 310lb ft from 2,100-5,500rpm.

Drive goes to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG ’box and torque vectoring rear diff.

(2/2)

– Special mode (tuned for the Nürburgring, with max-attack powertrain but more supple damping, is best for B-roads)

– No, I haven’t tried the Drift mode yet

– Even with the £3,480 Akrapovic exhaust, it doesn’t sound spicy enough (clearly needs a pop-and-bang map 😉)

Putting miles on my long-term Golf R this weekend.

A few thoughts so far (1/2):

– As easy to live with as any Golf

– Still blindingly quick, but a bit mute at anything less than 80 percent

– The screen is much improved. Just need to ditch the steering wheel haptics now…