The fourth and final Kiltwalk of 2016 takes place on Sunday 18th September and is located in Scotland’s capital, following the same format as the previous Kiltwalks. With three distance options from which to choose, the Mighty Stride, the Big Stroll and the Wee Wander the main route loops around the city with stunning sea and mountain views along the way.

Murrayfield Stadium, the famous home of Scottish rugby, is the start and finish point for all three walks, including the most challenging of all – The Mighty Stride.

Most walkers will exit Murrayfield Stadium and go through Roseburn Public Park, where the route will follow the north edge of the park, then go along the Water of Leith to Roseburn Path, which is part of the National Cycle Network.

After this, you will cut through the grounds of St George’s School for Girls, which is set in 15 acres of landscaped parklands. The school was founded in 1888 – however, the purpose-built campus was constructed in 1914 and designed by renowned Edinburgh architect Arthur Foreman Balfour Paul.

The route continues along the National Cycle Network from Roseburn Path, following onto Blackhall Path towards Silverknowes Golf Club. This is where the route snakes around west of the course, heading towards the coast.

From here, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Forth Estuary and Forth bridges as you walk. Gypsy Brae Recreational Ground is the location of pit stop number one at mile 5.2 of the route, and is also the starting point of the shorter Wee Wander route – which is just 6 miles and starts at 1pm.

Walkers will continue along West Harbour Road through the town of Granton. where you will be able to see boats docked on Granton Harbour, which was once the proud home of larger commercial ships and shipbuilding yards.

If you’re doing The Big Stroll, you’ll start to head towards the finishing line at Murrayfield at this point of the route, around the outskirts of Trinity and towards Maidencraig.

Those taking part in The Mighty Stride, will soon see the welcoming sight of pit stop number two, which is in Victoria Park. This beautiful park has been a Green Flag award winner since 2011, so you can enjoy the flora and rolling parkland as you stroll through the grounds.

The route then briefly follows the Water of Leith, crossing it towards Leith, a unique and culturally diverse town with a fascinating history and a lively mix of bars and restaurants.

Then, you’ll arrive at the coastal pit stop number three at Portobello Promenade. This famous beach offers miles of sand and inspiring views as you walk along the edge of the Georgian town of Portobello.

Heading inland, you’ll follow the meandering Brunstane Burn towards Holyrood. As you pass Niddrie, you may catch a glimpse of the sparkling Duddingston Loch at the south of Holyrood Park.

The walk follows around the southern point of Holyrood Park where you’ll see Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano that sits 251 metres above sea level. You’ll also be delighted to come across pit stop number five! It’s in the 640 acre Holyrood Park, which sits next to the Palace of Holyrood House and the Scottish Parliament Building. You might also catch a glimpse of Holyrood Palace as you tackle this part of the walk.

The route continues through Royal Terrace Gardens and King George V Park, a quiet, leafy area that was opened in 1950 by the Duke of Buccleuch as a memorial to its namesake following his death in 1936.

Easter Drylaw Park is next up, a small community park that is also home to pit stop six, just less than three miles from the finishing line. Don’t worry - you’re nearly there!

The final Kiltwalk of 2016 finishes up at Murrayfield Stadium where the route began. Your feet might be aching by this point, but you can be satisfied that you’ve done a great walk – and now you can celebrate your achievement!

And if you haven’t had chance to take part in one of this year’s walks but would like to make a difference to the children of Scotland you can still donate online.

From 9th–26th September, you can enjoy an extra £1000 off a new Clio, Captur, KADJAR, or all-new Mégane when you purchase following a test drive.

How does it work?

All you need to do is book a test drive of any of the above models before 26th September 2016. If you decide to buy, we’ll take £1000 off the price.

You can scoop up this offer on all versions of the above models if you order your new car before 26th September and register it by the end of September 2016.

Terms and conditions: Offer for £1000 off is available to retail customers only. Offer can be used in conjunction with all other offers and is available on the Clio, Captur, All-New KADJAR and All-New Mégane models when ordered between 9th–26th September 2016 and registered before 30 September 2016.

In 2017, motorists will face a six-point penalty and £200 fine for using their mobile phone while driving, the UK government has announced.

The new rules include everything from speaking on your mobile without a hands-free kit, texting, making phone calls and checking your social media accounts.

If you’ve recently passed your driving test, you could face having your licence revoked completely and have to retake your test.

If you repeat the offence, you will automatically face court, your fine will rise to £1,000 and you could face a driving ban of at least six months.

The driving force behind the new regulations was an RAC report showing that a record number of drivers were using their mobile phone at the wheel.

The report revealed that 11 million motorists admitted to making a phone call while driving, while a further five million admitted to taking photos or videos behind the wheel.

Phone use was found to be the highest among drivers aged 17–24.

The new rules are expected to come into force in the first half of 2017 in England, Scotland and Wales.

Arnold Clark Service centres across the UK are running an exciting competition called Buy a Tyre, Win £1000. Customers will be entered into a draw to win £1,000 when they buy a Hankook tyre during the months of September, October and November.

There will be six winners over the course of the promotion, amounting to a total of £6,000 that is up for grabs.

Need more than one tyre? Don’t worry – Arnold Clark will give you an entry for every single tyre you purchase.

Winners will be announced on the following dates:

• 15th September
• 29th September
• 13th October
• 27th October
• 10th November
• 1st December

If you think that the British car industry is in decline, think again. It seems that 2016 is an outstanding year for UK automotive manufacturing.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) 443,581 cars were built between January and March this year, up 10.3% from 2015. If the rate keeps up, Britain will produce one new car every 16 seconds in 2016.

So we think it’s time to celebrate the cars coming off UK production lines. From classic home-grown companies to the international brands that manufacture in the UK, Britain’s got it made.

TVR

British eccentricity has always been top of the agenda at TVR, the much-loved Blackpool-based company run by the late Peter Wheeler (who once counted his dog as part of the design team!) In 2017, they’ll be launching a thrilling new collaboration between McLaren engineering genius Gordon Murray and Cosworth engines. The new TVR will be manufactured in Wales, will cost £50,000 and is set to be an instant, very British classic.

Morgan

Fancy a spin in a hand-built, British-made Morgan? These sports cars have been manufactured in the UK since 1903, and represent British craftsmanship at its best. If you’ve got a spare £32,000, they’ve just debuted their innovative, all-electric Morgan EV3 at the Geneva Motor Show, which goes from 0–62mph in less than nine seconds.

Bentley

Bentley still bases its operations in Crewe, Cheshire, where they’ve been making hand-crafted luxury cars for 95 years. They’re so iconic that James Bond drove one in Ian Fleming’s books (before the film version put him in the equally iconic Aston Martin). Now, on average, 25 Bentley Continentals and four Mulsanne limousines are manufactured here every day.

Nissan

When Nissan opened a factory in the North-East of England in 1986 it was a gamble, but now its Sunderland plant is a shining example of British manufacturing, employing 6700 workers and making over 500,000 cars a year, including the Jazz, Juke and Qashqai.

Toyota

Derbyshire is the unlikely home of the Toyota Avensis and Auris, both produced at their Burnaston plant. It was also the first factory in Europe to create a full hybrid vehicle, the Auris Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) putting Britain at the leading edge of innovative car design.

It has recently come to the attention of one of our branches that we have a customer with a rare BMW 2000CS. What’s more, it has just 1,964 miles on the clock. Yes, you heard. One thousand, nine hundred and sixty-four miles. This car has been kept in totally original condition in a barn, having passed its MOT just a few days ago after its renovation.

Double headlights, kidney grilles and a shark-like nose pay tribute to an unforgettable BMW era.

Designed to tap the obvious potential in the 2000CS chassis, only 13,691 CSs were ever built between 1965 and 1969 – each one receiving the special attention of the German coachbuilder Karmann who was responsible for producing their body. At the time, the new car was penned in-house by BMW's legendary designer Wilhelm Hofmeister, who is famous for the Hofmeister Kink, the distinctive upwards kink on the lower window line of the C-Pillar found on most BMWs to date.

The Hofmeister Kink (area between rear windows and glass) subtly highlighted rear-wheel drive BMW cars. The 2000CS was one of them.

Among the many things that make the 2000CS feel special is its brilliant two-litre, overhead-cam engine with a dual-carburettor system that is capable of delivering 120 hp. With its lack of insulation from the outside world, it feels a heck of a lot faster than the numbers may suggest.

The last of BMW’s pushrod-valved motors and one that’s only too happy to rev.

In case you’re wondering, sales of the 2000CS were only hampered by its premium price; this car would eventually serve as the basis for the legendary BMW E9 Coupé, which followed the next year.

The truth is that the new coupés have the potency and tech to rock our world, but the pure driving experience offered by the simple 2002CS is a little harder to find.

Once upon a time leather and wood were enough to fall in love at first sight. GPS navigation you say? Nope! Before 1978 this was initially only used for military purposes.

We’re currently lucky enough to be taking enquiries on behalf of the customer who is selling this extremely rare car.

Enquire today by emailing social.media@arnoldclark.com

The special edition small capacity turbo petrol engine is the focus of the Hyundai i20 GDi Turbo Edition; it’s what makes it stand out from the other i20 models in the range.

According to Hyundai, the model ‘combines the best of a World Rally Car with the style and functionality of a city car.’ Turbocharged petrol engines have featured in rally cars since the 1980s, providing a responsive and dynamic drive.

Turbo Edition

The 1.0-litre, three cylinder turbocharged petrol engine boasts an output of 99bhp while maintaining impressively low CO2 emissions of 140g/k, meaning that VED is a reasonable £20 per year. It’s a great combination of admirable power and efficiency.

The turbo boost ensures the model goes from 0–62ph in 10.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 116mph. All this gives you a responsive drive, designed for the road.

What’s on?

Now in its 37th year running (pun intended), Scotland’s largest mass-participation marathon will get underway this weekend. Starting off at George Square, this year’s event includes a 10k run and a half marathon. Warm-up kicks off at 9.30am and the 10k run starts at 10am wave-by-wave, before the half-marathon starts at 11.30am.

The course runs from George Square through the Kingston Bridge, down to Pollok Park before coming up through Finnieston and finishing at Glasgow Green. A full map of the route can be found here.

If you’re running, keep your eyes peeled for the water stations at the 3rd, 7th, 9th and 12th miles. There will also be Bands on the Run to boost your running spirit with their music, and charity cheering points, where everyone will be motivating you to keep on going!

If you’re being driven to the event or planning on driving, please be mindful of closed roads and streets.Full information can be found here.

Our take

At Arnold Clark, we’re passionate about supporting events like the Great Scottish Run. Apart from being the official vehicle sponsor, we will also be giving away free goodies at the finish line on Glasgow Green and ‘well done’ tokens. Just look out for our street team.

On our Instagram, @arnoldclark_ltd, we will be sharing exclusive content from the marathon this Sunday. We’ll also be sharing exciting photos on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Running the extra mile

Each of the expected 30,000 runners has their own motivation for participating in the marathon. We asked one of the athletes we support, 2014 Commonwealth Games boxing gold medalist Charlie Flynn, to tell us his.

‘There is always such a vibrant atmosphere and positive buzz at this event! It’s very inspiring to see ordinary people who have decided to challenge themselves and run this marathon for a good cause. I also like meeting fellow athletes and having a bit of a laugh while we run. But most of all, I think that the most noble reason to take part is to support the charity you believe in the most.’

There are some truly inspirational stories of people representing incredible causes at the Great Scottish Run, which make us very proud to support the event.

Are you running for charity? Tell us who you’re helping by sharing a photo with #ImRunningFor and let’s spread the word!

The 2016 Paris Motor Show, the most highly attended event of its kind, is now open to the public. The world’s car manufacturers spent the last two days revealing more than 100 cars, from the outrageously long Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 to the astonishing Renault Trezor concept car, which can only be described as eye candy.

So whether or not you’re headed to the City of Lights to take it all in, do yourself a favour and lose yourself in our pick of the coolest rides from this year’s show.

KIA Rio

Now on its fourth generation, the new Kia Rio not only looks different but is differently proportioned as well. Longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, it will only be available in a five-door variant, which according to Kia’s official claims, has been requested by popular demand. .

Making use of the extra chassis length, the mechanics have redesigned both the rear and front suspension, giving the car greater driving appeal with more agile handling, while improving ride comfort.

Inside, it’s even better: a 7-inch touchscreen offers great connectivity while the upgraded soft-touch materials and interior surfaces give a high-end feeling, especially given the model’s affordable price tag.

Honda Civic

This is a completely new car from the ground up. And as you may have correctly guessed, its styling remains as interesting as the prototype version, originally revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in spring.

Yes, it sounds interesting, and the reality doesn’t disappoint.. Amongst its new features, its rigid bodyshell stands out, as well as the lower centre of gravity and the new multi-link independent suspension, all of which offer better handling and increased comfort.

Finally, when it launches in the UK, there will be two petrol VTEC Turbo units: a 1.0-litre three-cylinder putting out 128bhp and a 1.5-litre four-pot, capable of 181bhp. Although it will be still available as a Type-R variant, nothing has been confirmed yet regarding the power figures. However, don’t expect anything less than 340bhp from a 2.0-litre 4cl turbo engine.

Renault Zoe 2017

One of the best small city cars now gets even better. Don’t be fooled by the Zoe’s unchanged bodywork. The biggest change here is under the vehicle’s skin, with Renault fitting the new ZE 40 battery.

Zoe offers a 250-mile claimed range, although it might be more reasonable to expect around 186 miles of emission-free driving in real life. However, it’s still a huge leap forward, especially compared to the 106 mile range in today’s electric cars. The longer-range car goes on sale in the UK during November, so watch this space!

Family hatchbacks

Renault Mégane Dynamique S Nav – from £19,488

A family hatchback with style, the Renault Mégane is now in its fourth generation, and has been given a new lease of life with its latest update.

One of the biggest gains in this new iteration is the new range of fuel-efficient engines. Our pick of the bunch is the 1.5-litre dCi unit found here, which offers exceptionally good economy.

• MPG (combined): 76.4
• Engine: 1.5-litre dCi
• CO2 emissions: 96g/km
• Equipment: 8.7-inch touchscreen multimedia system, rear parking camera, tinted rear and tailgate windows, lane departure warning, Tom Tom sat nav and more.

Ford Mondeo ECOnetic Titanium – from £22,995

The latest Ford Mondeo is the most luxurious it has ever been, with more upmarket upholstery and high tech additions.

A practical family car with plenty of room for luggage, the Mondeo will also allow you to keep running costs low with impressive mpg figures.

The most economical engine option is the 1.5-litre TDCi which offers 118bhp.

• MPG (combined): 78.5
• Engine: 1.5-litre TDCi
• CO2 emissions: 94g/km
• Equipment: Bluetooth connectivity with voice control, front and rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, SYNC emergency assistance and more.

Volvo V40 D2 SE– from £21,195

The Volvo V40 combines comfort, high performance and efficiency beautifully. It has also been voted the safest small family car you can buy when Euro NCAP tested it in 2012, and it has consistently scored a near-perfect result since.

While this D2 is incredibly efficient, there’s no compromising performance. 0–62mph is covered in an easy 10.5 seconds by this 2.0-litre 118bhp engine.

• MPG (combined): 83.1
• Engine: 1.5-litre
• CO2 emissions: 88g/km
• Equipment: DAB digital radio, safety kit, daytime running lights, climate control, leather steering wheel and gear knob and more.

SUVs/crossovers

Renault Captur Dynamique S MediaNav Energy – from £18,775

This mini crossover is extremely classy, practical and well equipped. The raised ride height makes for an enjoyable drive and the two-toned paintwork gives a trendy touch.

The 1.5-litre dCi 90 is the most efficient of the engine range, and comes in both 88bhp and 108bhp form.

• MPG (combined): 78.5
• Engine: 1.5-litre dCi
• CO2 emissions: 95g/km
• Equipment: Start stop technology, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and USB, daytime running lights, trip computer, cruise control and more.
  

Sandero Stepway – from £9795

Another Dacia with a low purchase price, the Sandero Stepway is the Sandero hatch’s off-road-ready sibling.

The raised ride height and spacious cabin make this a much more affordable alternative to other crossovers such as the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.

The punchy diesel engine is a real joy to drive, and the jacked-up suspension makes for a comfortable ride.

Again our pick of the lineup is the Ambiance trim, with its extra equipment and economical 1.5-litre dCi engine.

• MPG (combined): 74.3
• Engine: 1.5-litre dCi
• CO2 emissions: 98g/km
• Equipment: Bluetooth, Eco mode function, front fog lights, USB port, Electric front windows, radio CD player with finger tip controls.
  

Our Service Centre, located on Girdleness Road in Aberdeen, is now back up and running following refurbishment after a fire in December 2015.

The centre, which has been fully refurbished, now features a kids’ indoor play area, WiFi bar, MOT viewing area, workshop and sales facilities.

After a fire broke out in December last year, the building was severely damaged and a number of residents of nearby properties had to evacuate their homes while the fire brigade tackled the blaze.

Stewart MacAulay, Arnold Clark Aftersales Director, said:

‘I can’t thank the local community enough for their understanding and helpfulness throughout this incident. The fire brigade also deserves a special mention for their swift action and commitment to controlling the fire and getting people to safety. I would also like to thank Tesco for providing food for residents at the time of the fire. Our doors are open again and we can’t wait to welcome members of the local community back to the centre where we can thank them in person.’

The Arnold Clark Service Centre on Girdleness Road is a Class 4 and 7 MOT site and also offers a specialist Ford Commercial Workshop.

The centre is now fully operational once again at the same location.

PHEV stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle and is simply pronounced as it’s written, by pronouncing the individual letters P-H-E-V.

The new Optima PHEV is designed to help Kia in its mission to lower the average CO2 emissions of its range by 25% before the end of 2020, along with other EVs and hybrid vehicles from the manufacturer.

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle uses an electric motor or a petrol engine for power, the electric motor is plugged into mains electricity to charge. Once the 33-mile, electric-only range is exceeded you can avoid range anxiety by relying on the petrol engine to continue your journey.

This new Hybrid release comes soon after the launch of the Niro, Kia’s first dedicated hybrid platform and joins the Soul EV as the third alternative powertrain vehicle in the UK. Each model is attractive to various audiences; the Niro’s sizes means it’s ideal for families, the Soul EV is perfect for city drivers and the Optima is suitable for business use thanks to its low running costs and benefit in kind rating.

The Optima PHEV has a 33-mile range in all-electric mode and driven in hybrid mode it emits just 37g/km of CO2.

Bespoke interior

The battery is situated underneath the rear seats and in the spare wheel well so a tyre repair kit is supplied as standard. Boot space is still generous at 307 litres despite holding the battery.

As standard this model is fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, a central 8-inch touchscreen with menus showing the EV range, nearby charging stations and energy usage based on driving style. The touchscreen controls a number of functions thereby streamlining the minimalist dashboard.

Luxury materials have been used within the interior such as black cloth, black leather, satin chrome and black faux-leather. The energy saving heating system ensures driver comfort is maintained without compromising on efficiency. The HVAC system, also used in the Soul EV, implements a ‘driver only’ ventilation option to save energy consumption when the driver is the only person in the vehicle.

Drive

The Optima PHEV is driven by a 154bhp, 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engine combined with a 50kw (67bhp) electric motor situated in a six-speed automatic gearbox that is powered by a 9.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. It’s the first Optima in the UK with a petrol engine and the first Kia plug-in hybrid.

The Kia Optima PHEV can reach a top speed of 119mph (75mph in all-electric mode) and reaches 0–60 in 9.1 seconds in hybrid mode.

The driver can choose from Eco and Normal drive mode settings to switch between driving optimised for performance or energy efficiency.

The Kia Optima PHEV is available now from your nearest Arnold Clark Kia branch on Personal Contract Hire.

This month, Arnold Clark acquired the MG franchise, which became the 24th manufacturer to join the company.

The franchise will be sold from our Rutherglen branch in Scotland, at the same plot as the Volkswagen branch. There will, however, be a dedicated MG building that will be headed up by the same branch staff as our customers have come to know at the Rutherglen site.

Gavin Mackenzie, Arnold Clark MG Franchise Manager, said:

‘We’re really excited about taking on the MG franchise in Scotland. This will give drivers the chance to enjoy this great brand, which is seeing a welcome resurgence in the market. From the MG3 supermini to the family-friendly MG GS SUV, we can’t wait to display the latest models in our showroom.’

The branch will retail two MG models, the MG3 supermini and MG GS.

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, commented:

‘As one of the UK’s leading car retailers, we’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Arnold Clark to our national dealer network.

‘Our partnership with Arnold Clark, who are one of the biggest and most well-managed dealer groups in the country, is a significant move for MG, as it provides a strong retail platform for future growth and shows the MG brand and product range can attract even the largest retailers.’

Prices correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.

In winter, driving conditions can be significantly worse than at any other time of the year due to the unpredictable weather. Rain, snow, ice and cold wind all contribute to tougher driving conditions. On top of that, the days are much shorter, which means more driving in the dark.

But fear not! We have compiled a driving checklist for the winter months, with some of the most important things you need to consider before winter arrives.

When is it?

Renault Van Week will run from 31st October to 6th November.

What vans are included?

All new and used Renault vans are included in the week’s offers.

The offers

• Fantastic deals on all new and used Renault vans
• 10% off all accessories if you decide to buy
• A chance to win £250 Love2shop vouchers

What branches are taking part?

You can take advantage of this fantastic offers at the following Arnold Clark branches:

• Bishopbriggs
• Dundee
• Hillington, Glasgow
• Inverness
• Perth
• Preston
• St Helens
• Stirling
• Warrington
• Wigan

There really has never been a better time to buy a Renault van. But hurry, these offers are available for a limited time only.

Arnold Clark Motorstore has now opened at Lenton Industrial Estate, Nottingham. This branch is the twenty-second Motorstore to open in the UK.

The branch has 400 nearly-new and used cars on site, with access to over 18,000 vehicles on the Arnold Clark database. The branch also has car and van rental facilities, a fully equipped valeting area and a service department, as well as Wi-Fi access and a kid’s play area.

The general manager at the branch is David Lee, who has a wealth of automotive knowledge after working in the industry for eight years, seven of which have been spent with Arnold Clark.

Brian Webster, Arnold Clark Motorstore Franchise Manager, said:

‘We’re very excited about the opportunity to bring both the Arnold Clark and the Motorstore brand to Nottingham and the rest of the East Midlands area. As a company, we’ve been looking for the opportunity to invest in such a vibrant city for many years and it’s fantastic to see those hopes become reality.’

The opening of the new site will bring with it employment opportunities for the area, as Arnold Clark welcomes applications across all departments including Sales, Servicing and Car & Van Rental. More information about the available positions can be found on our careers page.

Get in touch today

Lenton Industrial Estate

Redfield Road

Nottingham

NG7 2UJ

Tel: 01159017400

New psychological research from Hyundai suggests that female drivers get even more furious than their male counterparts when they’re behind the wheel.

Behavioural psychologist Dr Patrick Fagan at Goldsmiths University studied 1,000 drivers of both genders, paying particular attention to how sound, sight, smell, touch and taste influenced their responses.

The study found that women were 12% angrier when driving, 14% more incensed at backseat drivers, and 13% more likely to react angrily when a road user failed to indicate.

Hyundai commissioned the research as part of their unique Driver Emotion Test, the first experiment of its kind to study driver’s emotions using a combination of eye tracking analysis, facial coding, skin and heart rate monitoring.

So what could be causing this boiling cauldron of irrationality? Well, it seems that apparently the reason women get road rage is a biological hangover from our early days as hunter-gatherers.

‘Psychologically, women score higher than men on emotional and verbal intelligence, and on the personality trait of neuroticism’ Dr Fagan explains.

‘Evolutionary theory suggests our early female ancestors had to develop an acute sense of danger for anything that threatened them and their young if their cave was undefended while men were out hunting. That ‘early warning system’ instinct is still relevant today, and women drivers tend to be more sensitive to negative stimuli, so get angry and frustrated quicker.’

However, if you’re one of the 50 percent of the population who is currently screaming at the screen in frustration as science tells you to ‘calm down, dear,’ don’t worry.

The good news is that, apart from anger, the most dominant feeling for both genders when driving was happiness. Freedom and independence were high on the list of feel-good factors, as well as driving in the countryside or near the sea. And the thing that lifts us most is music, with 8 out of 10 drivers saying that they liked to listen to tunes in the car. So blast out ‘Resentment’ by Beyoncé and take to the open road. Ahh, that’s better…

Bonnie and Clyde

Arguably one of the most famous and romanticised couples; Bonnie and Clyde were two young Texans with a penchant for robberies during the Great Depression era. They started off small, raiding petrol stations and convenience stores and were amateurish in their approach. However, it wasn’t long before they graduated to holding up banks and committing violent crimes against anyone who stood in their way.

What you’ll need

A relatively simple one to pull off, so it’s perfect if you’ve not given much thought to Halloween. For Bonnie, you will need a tweed pencil skirt, camel coloured jumper, silk necktie and a beret-style hat. Clyde is depicted as wearing a black pinstripe suit, shirt, tie and a brown hat. Both of them carry toy pistols. Alternatively, you could go for a more modern approach and channel some Jay-Z and Beyoncé. See their 2003 Bonnie and Clyde video and their short film Run for inspiration.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Set in dystopian desert wasteland following a nuclear holocaust, Tom Hardy stars as Max Rockantansky, a survivor who is captured by a gang and used as a blood donor for one of the ill members. Battles ensue and you can expect lots of high intensity desert car chases.

What you’ll need

With this movie, the possibilities are endless. If you’d like to be a War Boy, douse yourself in some white chalk and wear distressed combat trousers. You don’t even need a top (although this is highly recommended in late October). You could also be one of the Wives – just fashion some garments out of cheesecloth. To be one of The Vulvani, you’ll need scarves, rags and goggles. Layer up and cover yourself in dirty-looking body paint. If you’re game for a bit of a challenge, you could be Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron. She wears combat trousers, a top and boots but it’s all in the accessories. You’ll need several belts, a chain and you’ll also need to fashion a bionic arm. Half of your face also needs to be painted black, from the head down horizontally. Just want to be the star of the show? Go as Max himself. It’s surprisingly easy but it’s all in the tiny details. You’ll need a filthy shirt, trousers and leather jacket but the key pieces are his leg brace, friendship bracelet and mask.

SUVs are the perfect option for families wanting plenty of space and equipment to keep the little ones safe. These cars continue to grow in popularity, but there are some that stand out from the crowd when it comes to answering family needs.

Best family crossover

Best small SUV for families

Best mid-size SUV for families

Best large SUV for families

Best hybrid SUV for families

Best premium SUV for families

Best luxury SUV for families

Best small SUV for families

SEAT Ateca

SEATs first foray into the SUV world has proven to be an immediate hit. The Ateca is stunning to look at, but it’s also incredibly practical. SEAT proves that the school run needn’t be dull, with these sharp looks and quality interior.

The four-wheel-drive option is cheaper than rivals such as the Volkswagen Tiguan, and it stands up to the competition with excellent performance and handling. And don’t just take our word for it; WhatCar? labelled the Ateca ‘the best handling small SUV on the market’.

Incredibly spacious, with plenty of head and legroom, the Ateca also has a wide and comfortable middle rear seat, meaning there’s easily enough space for five, and a sizeable boot as well.

If it’s flexibility you’re after with seating, we’d advise you opt for the SE model, which has handy release levers to drop the rear seats.

• Mpg (combined): Up to 65.7 mpg

• Safety: Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, seven airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, ISOFIX child seat fixings on the outer rear seats, front collision warning, emergency city braking with pedestrian protection and more.

• Seats: 5

• Boot space: 510 litres (FWD), 485 litres (AWD)

• Engine range: Diesel – 1.6-litre, 2.0-litre (148bhp or 187bhp). Petrol – 1.4-litre TSI, 1.0-litre.

• Towing capacity: 640 kg unbraked, 1,500 kg braked.

• Equipment: Driving modes including off-road, sport and eco, air conditioning, 16-inch alloys, five-inch touchscreen, driver drowsiness detection, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and more as standard.

• Price: From £16,995

Best large SUV for families

Kia Sorento

With a spacious interior, cavernous boot and seven seats, the Sorento is an ideal choice for larger families.

In fact, it is arguably the most practical of all the large MPVs. This is mainly down to its flexibility. This seven-seater has enough room to accommodate the whole brood comfortably, but you’ve also got the option of folding the rear seats away to create a similar load capacity to a commercial van.

And with four-wheel-drive as standard, you won’t need to worry about grip and off-road capability.

Scoring ‘excellent’ for both parent and child protection in the Euro NCAP crash tests, the Sorento also boasts several useful safety features.

• Mpg (combined): Up to 49.6 mpg

• Safety: Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, rear ISOFIX child seat anchors, six airbags, Vehicle Stability Management, Electronic Stability Control and electric power steering.

• Seats: 7

• Boot space: 142 litres with all seats in place, 605 litres with third row folded, 1,662 litres with second row folded.

• Engine range: 2.4-litre, 2.0-litre turbocharged, 3.3-litre V6 (all diesel)

• Towing capacity: 750 kg unbraked, 2500 kg braked.

• Equipment: Alloy wheels, roof rails, rear spoiler, fog lights with integrated cornering lights, power-folding heated door mirrors, full electric windows, cruise control and reversing sensors as standard.

• Price: From £25,995

Best premium SUV for families

Mercedes-Benz GLC

The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a smaller family SUV that’s both comfortable and fun to drive.

The GLC is by no means the cheapest in this list, but its features and luxurious cabin quality make it worth every penny.

Storage space inside is plentiful, with handy cubbies and nets in the boot.

The real joy the GLC brings, however, is the drive. The power in the 255 bhp diesel engine option is remarkable, allowing you to soar through 0–62 mph in just 6.2 seconds.

• Mpg (combined): Up to 56.5 mpg

• Safety: Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, multiple airbags, attention assist (drowsiness detection), autonomous braking and more.

• Seats: 5

• Boot space: 550 litres

• Engine range: Petrol – 3.0-litre V6. Diesel – 2.1-litre (170 hp or 204 hp).

• Towing capacity: 750 kg unbraked, 2500 kg braked.

• Equipment: Automatic tailgate, reversing camera, privacy glass, DAB radio, keyless go as standard.

• Price: From £39,070

As Halloween approaches, we all prepare to dress up, children go out trick-or-treating, and suddenly everything is about Halloween spooks and scary stories. But it’s not just buildings that can be haunted – some roads can also be a source of reported paranormal activity. So, to give yourself a terrifying thrill that’ll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, jump in your car and hit these roads to see what awaits…

2. B3212 Dartmoor, Devon

Haunted by the infamous spirit, also known as ‘The Hairy Hands’, the history of accidents on this road is united by a common theme. Survivors of crashes have all reported the sensation that their steering wheel had been pulled from their control, causing an accident. This particular spirit reportedly also terrorised a camper in a field nearby, pinning her to the floor before vanishing. Local Devon filmmaker Ashley Thorpe has even made a short film about the myth of ‘The Hairy Hands’. You might want to wait until after your Halloween road trip to watch this!

4. Oldnall Road, West Midlands

This road is particularly straight with no obvious dangers, so the question remains; why are there so many reports of accidents here? This has long been a source of mystery, with a history of ghostly figures emerging from the roadside shrubs, causing motorists to divert their attention and often swerve. Paranormal sightings have become increasingly frequent and it is locally rumoured that the spirits of the drivers and passengers who have passed away on this road are now haunting new drivers.