John Redfern
@engagesportmode.bsky.social
Freelance motoring writer
Woodie wagon fan
One of those BMW drivers
Sighthound aficionado
Twitter escapee
Woodie wagon fan
One of those BMW drivers
Sighthound aficionado
Twitter escapee
This week is all about the Volvo XC90 Ultra T8 PHEV.
Same 455hp hybrid powertrain as the XC60, but with room for seven inside. This range-topping model comes in just shy of £85,000.
Onyx Black wouldn’t be my first choice of paint colour, but the Cardamom nappa leather interior looks superb.
Same 455hp hybrid powertrain as the XC60, but with room for seven inside. This range-topping model comes in just shy of £85,000.
Onyx Black wouldn’t be my first choice of paint colour, but the Cardamom nappa leather interior looks superb.
October 29, 2025 at 3:18 PM
This week is all about the Volvo XC90 Ultra T8 PHEV.
Same 455hp hybrid powertrain as the XC60, but with room for seven inside. This range-topping model comes in just shy of £85,000.
Onyx Black wouldn’t be my first choice of paint colour, but the Cardamom nappa leather interior looks superb.
Same 455hp hybrid powertrain as the XC60, but with room for seven inside. This range-topping model comes in just shy of £85,000.
Onyx Black wouldn’t be my first choice of paint colour, but the Cardamom nappa leather interior looks superb.
Spending this week with the 2025 Volvo XC60 Ultra T8 PHEV.
This one costs £69,555, and the hybrid system’s combined output of 455hp means 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds.
Mulberry Red is a fitting paint option for autumn, although blonde leather always seems like a brave choice for a family SUV…
This one costs £69,555, and the hybrid system’s combined output of 455hp means 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds.
Mulberry Red is a fitting paint option for autumn, although blonde leather always seems like a brave choice for a family SUV…
October 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Spending this week with the 2025 Volvo XC60 Ultra T8 PHEV.
This one costs £69,555, and the hybrid system’s combined output of 455hp means 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds.
Mulberry Red is a fitting paint option for autumn, although blonde leather always seems like a brave choice for a family SUV…
This one costs £69,555, and the hybrid system’s combined output of 455hp means 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds.
Mulberry Red is a fitting paint option for autumn, although blonde leather always seems like a brave choice for a family SUV…
The Hyundai Elantra N TCR Edition has just gone on sale in Canada.
Huge carbon fibre swan neck rear spoiler from the TCR touring car, forged wheels, bigger brakes, and 276hp 2.0-litre turbo. Oh, and it comes with a six-speed manual.
Priced from CAD $47,599 - equivalent to just £25,800 in the UK. 🤯
Huge carbon fibre swan neck rear spoiler from the TCR touring car, forged wheels, bigger brakes, and 276hp 2.0-litre turbo. Oh, and it comes with a six-speed manual.
Priced from CAD $47,599 - equivalent to just £25,800 in the UK. 🤯
July 25, 2025 at 8:50 AM
The Hyundai Elantra N TCR Edition has just gone on sale in Canada.
Huge carbon fibre swan neck rear spoiler from the TCR touring car, forged wheels, bigger brakes, and 276hp 2.0-litre turbo. Oh, and it comes with a six-speed manual.
Priced from CAD $47,599 - equivalent to just £25,800 in the UK. 🤯
Huge carbon fibre swan neck rear spoiler from the TCR touring car, forged wheels, bigger brakes, and 276hp 2.0-litre turbo. Oh, and it comes with a six-speed manual.
Priced from CAD $47,599 - equivalent to just £25,800 in the UK. 🤯
When was the last time you saw a BMW Z8 on the road, or an even rarer Alpina Roadster V8?
Seems to be a convention on the Isle of Skye, as we saw 20-30 of them yesterday.
Brilliant noise, but very questionable overtaking by some…
Seems to be a convention on the Isle of Skye, as we saw 20-30 of them yesterday.
Brilliant noise, but very questionable overtaking by some…
June 25, 2025 at 9:43 AM
When was the last time you saw a BMW Z8 on the road, or an even rarer Alpina Roadster V8?
Seems to be a convention on the Isle of Skye, as we saw 20-30 of them yesterday.
Brilliant noise, but very questionable overtaking by some…
Seems to be a convention on the Isle of Skye, as we saw 20-30 of them yesterday.
Brilliant noise, but very questionable overtaking by some…
Isn’t EV charging fun?
Three-quarters of the InstaVolt chargers near me were offline earlier today (all of them are now).
The one working site gave a charging speed of 20kW on CCS, all for a ‘bargain’ price of 87p/kWh.
Three-quarters of the InstaVolt chargers near me were offline earlier today (all of them are now).
The one working site gave a charging speed of 20kW on CCS, all for a ‘bargain’ price of 87p/kWh.
June 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Isn’t EV charging fun?
Three-quarters of the InstaVolt chargers near me were offline earlier today (all of them are now).
The one working site gave a charging speed of 20kW on CCS, all for a ‘bargain’ price of 87p/kWh.
Three-quarters of the InstaVolt chargers near me were offline earlier today (all of them are now).
The one working site gave a charging speed of 20kW on CCS, all for a ‘bargain’ price of 87p/kWh.
A beautiful pastoral scene, following a Jaguar E-Type 4.2 coupe winding its way along the roads of rural Somerset.
A few minutes later, blue smoke began billowing from one exhaust pipe, and it made a hasty exit into a petrol station.
A few minutes later, blue smoke began billowing from one exhaust pipe, and it made a hasty exit into a petrol station.
June 11, 2025 at 5:49 PM
A beautiful pastoral scene, following a Jaguar E-Type 4.2 coupe winding its way along the roads of rural Somerset.
A few minutes later, blue smoke began billowing from one exhaust pipe, and it made a hasty exit into a petrol station.
A few minutes later, blue smoke began billowing from one exhaust pipe, and it made a hasty exit into a petrol station.
On test this week is the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, in rather eye-catching Biarritz Blue paint.
This is as fancy as it gets in the D-Max range, unless you plump for the mad AT35 model. Leather seats, reversing camera, and rear diff lock included.
Number plate inspired me to listen to some classic DMX.
This is as fancy as it gets in the D-Max range, unless you plump for the mad AT35 model. Leather seats, reversing camera, and rear diff lock included.
Number plate inspired me to listen to some classic DMX.
April 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
On test this week is the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, in rather eye-catching Biarritz Blue paint.
This is as fancy as it gets in the D-Max range, unless you plump for the mad AT35 model. Leather seats, reversing camera, and rear diff lock included.
Number plate inspired me to listen to some classic DMX.
This is as fancy as it gets in the D-Max range, unless you plump for the mad AT35 model. Leather seats, reversing camera, and rear diff lock included.
Number plate inspired me to listen to some classic DMX.
Well, the World Endurance Championship is at Imola this weekend, so these Ferrari-inspired coffee capsules seem fitting.
Just waiting on that BMW collab, now…
Just waiting on that BMW collab, now…
April 19, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Well, the World Endurance Championship is at Imola this weekend, so these Ferrari-inspired coffee capsules seem fitting.
Just waiting on that BMW collab, now…
Just waiting on that BMW collab, now…
Not a bad way to spend an hour on a sunny Saturday lunchtime. Sport Mode engaged 100% of the time.
March 8, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Not a bad way to spend an hour on a sunny Saturday lunchtime. Sport Mode engaged 100% of the time.
Delivered today: MINI Cooper SE
It’s the all-electric version of the latest fourth-gen MINI hatch, with a 215hp motor and 54.2kWh battery.
Makes for 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds, and I’ll admit ‘Go-Kart’ mode is good fun.
Base price starts from £34,620, but options mean this one would cost £39,920.
It’s the all-electric version of the latest fourth-gen MINI hatch, with a 215hp motor and 54.2kWh battery.
Makes for 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds, and I’ll admit ‘Go-Kart’ mode is good fun.
Base price starts from £34,620, but options mean this one would cost £39,920.
January 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Delivered today: MINI Cooper SE
It’s the all-electric version of the latest fourth-gen MINI hatch, with a 215hp motor and 54.2kWh battery.
Makes for 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds, and I’ll admit ‘Go-Kart’ mode is good fun.
Base price starts from £34,620, but options mean this one would cost £39,920.
It’s the all-electric version of the latest fourth-gen MINI hatch, with a 215hp motor and 54.2kWh battery.
Makes for 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds, and I’ll admit ‘Go-Kart’ mode is good fun.
Base price starts from £34,620, but options mean this one would cost £39,920.
Also, Skoda’s Simply Clever tradition continues unabated.
The touchscreen cleaning block is bloody effective at getting finger marks off the central display.
Should be required by law for any car that demands you use a touchscreen.
The touchscreen cleaning block is bloody effective at getting finger marks off the central display.
Should be required by law for any car that demands you use a touchscreen.
November 24, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Also, Skoda’s Simply Clever tradition continues unabated.
The touchscreen cleaning block is bloody effective at getting finger marks off the central display.
Should be required by law for any car that demands you use a touchscreen.
The touchscreen cleaning block is bloody effective at getting finger marks off the central display.
Should be required by law for any car that demands you use a touchscreen.
After a week with the Skoda Superb Estate, I’ve found it channels some classic woodie wagon vibes.
Two-spoke steering wheel, column-mounted shifter, and woodgrain trim (albeit inside, not out).
Setting the DCC suspension to max comfort adds to the effect, too. Just needs a big-block V8 now…
Two-spoke steering wheel, column-mounted shifter, and woodgrain trim (albeit inside, not out).
Setting the DCC suspension to max comfort adds to the effect, too. Just needs a big-block V8 now…
November 24, 2024 at 6:18 PM
After a week with the Skoda Superb Estate, I’ve found it channels some classic woodie wagon vibes.
Two-spoke steering wheel, column-mounted shifter, and woodgrain trim (albeit inside, not out).
Setting the DCC suspension to max comfort adds to the effect, too. Just needs a big-block V8 now…
Two-spoke steering wheel, column-mounted shifter, and woodgrain trim (albeit inside, not out).
Setting the DCC suspension to max comfort adds to the effect, too. Just needs a big-block V8 now…
First test car featured by me on Bluesky is, suitably, a Cobalt Blue Skoda Superb Estate.
204hp PHEV powertrain, and fancy Laurin & Klement spec, make this wagon £49,200.
Almost worth it for actual physical dials and buttons alone.
204hp PHEV powertrain, and fancy Laurin & Klement spec, make this wagon £49,200.
Almost worth it for actual physical dials and buttons alone.
November 18, 2024 at 9:35 AM
First test car featured by me on Bluesky is, suitably, a Cobalt Blue Skoda Superb Estate.
204hp PHEV powertrain, and fancy Laurin & Klement spec, make this wagon £49,200.
Almost worth it for actual physical dials and buttons alone.
204hp PHEV powertrain, and fancy Laurin & Klement spec, make this wagon £49,200.
Almost worth it for actual physical dials and buttons alone.
Not sure why it has taken me this long to actually own a car with a heated steering wheel. Especially one you can pre-configure to automatically turn on when the outside temp hits a certain level. Bliss.
November 18, 2024 at 8:11 AM
Not sure why it has taken me this long to actually own a car with a heated steering wheel. Especially one you can pre-configure to automatically turn on when the outside temp hits a certain level. Bliss.