Alex Grant
@alexgrantuk.bsky.social
Freelance motoring/tech journalist, car geek and dad of three. Enthusiast of boxy old performance cars. Owner of a Polo G40 and e-Rifter.
A real privilege for the G40 to get a spot on Pall Mall with Volkswagen UK marking 50 years of the Polo at the St James Motoring Spectacular. It’s a huge event, too. Something like 10,000 visitors.
November 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
A real privilege for the G40 to get a spot on Pall Mall with Volkswagen UK marking 50 years of the Polo at the St James Motoring Spectacular. It’s a huge event, too. Something like 10,000 visitors.
Fresh MoT, and a photo opportunity.
September 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Fresh MoT, and a photo opportunity.
Thanks! Had a good look around yours too - my passenger hadn’t seen one in the metal before, but has a Hot Wheels version. Was it you riding around on the Motocompo?
August 24, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Thanks! Had a good look around yours too - my passenger hadn’t seen one in the metal before, but has a Hot Wheels version. Was it you riding around on the Motocompo?
The Revolutions are staying too. Need a refurb, which I can now sort in my own time, but I adore those wheels (Quattro vibes) so I’m not selling them. I fancied having two different options and they’re both keepers.
August 23, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The Revolutions are staying too. Need a refurb, which I can now sort in my own time, but I adore those wheels (Quattro vibes) so I’m not selling them. I fancied having two different options and they’re both keepers.
I think 15s are a great size for these, despite the tiny arches. Ride quality is slightly firmer than the 14s but I’ve been careful to avoid turning it into a track car so it’s still a fairly comfortable machine for long trips. My record is 4,000 miles in a month (!)
August 23, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I think 15s are a great size for these, despite the tiny arches. Ride quality is slightly firmer than the 14s but I’ve been careful to avoid turning it into a track car so it’s still a fairly comfortable machine for long trips. My record is 4,000 miles in a month (!)
Looking back at pics of the old wheels it wasn’t much higher at the front at that point. But a few mm can make a big difference. Pic below is a photo of a photo from 2006.
August 23, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Looking back at pics of the old wheels it wasn’t much higher at the front at that point. But a few mm can make a big difference. Pic below is a photo of a photo from 2006.
Gave the car its first fitment test today - 330 miles from Cardiff to Swansea to Bicester for Radwood and then home again. The wheels suit it perfectly and, despite concerns about scrubbing, they don’t rub. Happy!
August 23, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Gave the car its first fitment test today - 330 miles from Cardiff to Swansea to Bicester for Radwood and then home again. The wheels suit it perfectly and, despite concerns about scrubbing, they don’t rub. Happy!
Sometimes the obvious choice is the right one.
Treated myself to some 15in BBS RAs from a late Mk2 16V - 2in larger versions of the G40’s factory wheels.
Huge thanks to MK2 Spares UK for the wheels, now with Falken tyres and centre caps from OEM Car Stickers. All the details in a future PVW mag.
Treated myself to some 15in BBS RAs from a late Mk2 16V - 2in larger versions of the G40’s factory wheels.
Huge thanks to MK2 Spares UK for the wheels, now with Falken tyres and centre caps from OEM Car Stickers. All the details in a future PVW mag.
August 15, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Sometimes the obvious choice is the right one.
Treated myself to some 15in BBS RAs from a late Mk2 16V - 2in larger versions of the G40’s factory wheels.
Huge thanks to MK2 Spares UK for the wheels, now with Falken tyres and centre caps from OEM Car Stickers. All the details in a future PVW mag.
Treated myself to some 15in BBS RAs from a late Mk2 16V - 2in larger versions of the G40’s factory wheels.
Huge thanks to MK2 Spares UK for the wheels, now with Falken tyres and centre caps from OEM Car Stickers. All the details in a future PVW mag.
Feeling very lucky to have had a great music week. I saw Phil Hartnoll of Orbital DJing in Bedford (in a small venue, and met him afterwards) then Pixies as one of 5,000 in Cardiff a few days later. Very different experiences, both amazing.
May 25, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Feeling very lucky to have had a great music week. I saw Phil Hartnoll of Orbital DJing in Bedford (in a small venue, and met him afterwards) then Pixies as one of 5,000 in Cardiff a few days later. Very different experiences, both amazing.
Bought myself another EV on GTA Online. On trend here I think.
March 22, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Bought myself another EV on GTA Online. On trend here I think.
A very, very cool newcomer in GTA Online. 10/10 to Rockstar on this one.
February 26, 2025 at 11:55 PM
A very, very cool newcomer in GTA Online. 10/10 to Rockstar on this one.
Also this (pic) announced in October 2023 (but presumably not acted on) by the previous gov:
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
February 25, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Also this (pic) announced in October 2023 (but presumably not acted on) by the previous gov:
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
There’s one near us that’s disappearing under greenery too. 2008, 2016, 2023:
February 12, 2025 at 11:59 AM
There’s one near us that’s disappearing under greenery too. 2008, 2016, 2023:
Yeah, exactly.
It’s a bit like this one tracking rolling 12-month business and private EV registrations. Notice the latter flatlines in Q1 2022. All due to FUD and migration to salsac, nothing to do with energy prices and interest rates going through the roof at that point and hobbling retail.
It’s a bit like this one tracking rolling 12-month business and private EV registrations. Notice the latter flatlines in Q1 2022. All due to FUD and migration to salsac, nothing to do with energy prices and interest rates going through the roof at that point and hobbling retail.
February 10, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Yeah, exactly.
It’s a bit like this one tracking rolling 12-month business and private EV registrations. Notice the latter flatlines in Q1 2022. All due to FUD and migration to salsac, nothing to do with energy prices and interest rates going through the roof at that point and hobbling retail.
It’s a bit like this one tracking rolling 12-month business and private EV registrations. Notice the latter flatlines in Q1 2022. All due to FUD and migration to salsac, nothing to do with energy prices and interest rates going through the roof at that point and hobbling retail.
I need to update this but if you plot the EV share of the used car market (orange) over the EV share of the total vehicle parc 12 months ago (blue) you get this.
February 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
I need to update this but if you plot the EV share of the used car market (orange) over the EV share of the total vehicle parc 12 months ago (blue) you get this.
I reckon you could SUV-ise bits of this - the swage line, the way the arches wrap around the tailgate, and the flat back end. I believe ID.One is a crossover.
February 8, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I reckon you could SUV-ise bits of this - the swage line, the way the arches wrap around the tailgate, and the flat back end. I believe ID.One is a crossover.
Hmm. I can see a familiar “gaze” on the new ID.One concept.
February 8, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Hmm. I can see a familiar “gaze” on the new ID.One concept.
It’s £45,575 in this spec, which isn’t cheap (a base Model 3 undercuts it). I’d be tempted to pay a little extra for the GT-Line and its bigger wheels or fork out for the dual motor 320bhp version, but I think it’s a desirable all rounder even in this spec. It’d look great lowered on big wheels.
December 17, 2024 at 7:35 PM
It’s £45,575 in this spec, which isn’t cheap (a base Model 3 undercuts it). I’d be tempted to pay a little extra for the GT-Line and its bigger wheels or fork out for the dual motor 320bhp version, but I think it’s a desirable all rounder even in this spec. It’d look great lowered on big wheels.
It’s sharper and firmer than the Ioniq 5, but still a relaxed cruiser. Driver focused inside, and with just enough physical controls to avoid constantly checking touchscreens. Kia claims 361 miles of range and 10-80% in 18mins. That’s over 200miles from a 20min stop, after 5hrs driving in the UK.
December 17, 2024 at 7:33 PM
It’s sharper and firmer than the Ioniq 5, but still a relaxed cruiser. Driver focused inside, and with just enough physical controls to avoid constantly checking touchscreens. Kia claims 361 miles of range and 10-80% in 18mins. That’s over 200miles from a 20min stop, after 5hrs driving in the UK.
The top spec 577bhp GT can hit 62mph in 3.5 seconds, but this one is at the other end of the scale. It’s an entry level, single-motor Air - 225bhp, rear wheel drive and I’d imagine the sort of EV6 you’d get on a company car scheme. That’s all you really need, aside from a heat pump (GT-Line S only).
December 17, 2024 at 7:31 PM
The top spec 577bhp GT can hit 62mph in 3.5 seconds, but this one is at the other end of the scale. It’s an entry level, single-motor Air - 225bhp, rear wheel drive and I’d imagine the sort of EV6 you’d get on a company car scheme. That’s all you really need, aside from a heat pump (GT-Line S only).
I caught up on the refreshed Kia EV6 last week. A car that’s just about to be immortalised in Hot Wheels form.
With a hint of 4dr coupe in silhouette, it’s a more polarising design than the IONIQ 5 (with which it shares a platform) but I love how it looks. Dare I say Citroenesque from some angles?
With a hint of 4dr coupe in silhouette, it’s a more polarising design than the IONIQ 5 (with which it shares a platform) but I love how it looks. Dare I say Citroenesque from some angles?
December 17, 2024 at 7:29 PM
I caught up on the refreshed Kia EV6 last week. A car that’s just about to be immortalised in Hot Wheels form.
With a hint of 4dr coupe in silhouette, it’s a more polarising design than the IONIQ 5 (with which it shares a platform) but I love how it looks. Dare I say Citroenesque from some angles?
With a hint of 4dr coupe in silhouette, it’s a more polarising design than the IONIQ 5 (with which it shares a platform) but I love how it looks. Dare I say Citroenesque from some angles?
The only hole I’d pick is it makes the Niro EV look expensive - starting at £35,995 with the bigger battery, and with the best-selling GT-Line trim coming in under £40k (as long as you don’t add metallic paint). A good car.
December 13, 2024 at 7:03 PM
The only hole I’d pick is it makes the Niro EV look expensive - starting at £35,995 with the bigger battery, and with the best-selling GT-Line trim coming in under £40k (as long as you don’t add metallic paint). A good car.