Evening Chronicle

Inside This Week [ ... ]

INSIDE THIS WEEK 8 EVOLVED: Mitsubishi's best Lancer by far 16 ALTERNATIVE: Suzuki's Alto takes on the family market 17

The Best Get Even Greener

THE dramatic advances in cutting-edge technologies that enable new cars to achieve remarkable levels of economy and ultra-low emissions have been showcased in the latest green car awards. A host of everyday cars are being hailed as future saviours of the planet for their impressive green credentials, which can result in economy of more than 70mpg and emissions of less than 90g/km.

Journey Into Value

IF you're the sort of person who loathes Big Macs, never listens to Motown tunes and thinks Disney is daft, maybe the Dodge Journey isn't for you. The Journey is just about as American as American cars come - it's big, a bit brash and most definitely good value. It looks like a cross between a hulking SUV and a practical people carrier, which is more or less exactly what it is. Except that despite the tall stance and chunky, macho styling, it is two-wheel drive rather than four. There are, ho...

Back with More Style

STRANGELY for a company that invented the off-roader, the Jeep Patriot started life as a family estate rather than an SUV. That was the plan anyway, until Jeep decided it was best sticking with a winning formula and turning out something a bit more in line with customer expectations. Interestingly the Patriot does feel a little like a regular family estate, it doesn't sit too high off the road for one thing, but looks-wise it is straight out of the tough, rugged go-anywhere 4x4 design manual.

Best Lancer by Miles

MITSUBISHI'S all-new Lancer, just like its smaller sibling the Colt, is battling it out in a hugely competitive market. In this case, it's up against the likes of the formidable Ford Focus, the Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf. But you wouldn't think this was the case as the Lancer looks a lot bigger and is in fact larger than the previous incarnation.

Time to Go Topless

THERE'S no doubt about it, summer's here. Which brings with it one of modern life"s great dilemmas, one that arises every time there's the whiff of a heatwave. Is it time to go topless or will modesty prevail? The top I am talking about removing is the electrically powered roof of the brand new Peugeot 308 Coupe Cabriolet, the latest convertible to be unveiled by the French car maker. I had the SE HDi 140 automatic version to drive recently and was fortunate enough to be faced with the dilemm...

Rag-Top Is a Winner

EVERY cloud may have a silver lining but journalists struck gold when they agreed to travel to the south of France to drive the new MINI Convertible ahead of its UK launch. Standing on the UK airstrip were two private jets that now have to justify their existence in these difficult times rather than being for the exclusive preserve of BMW's top brass.

Suzuki in Pole Position

AT ONE time the focus used to be on performance and specification in family motoring, but these days the goalposts have moved into the areas of low emissions and fuel economy. The old days of the hefty 1.8 or 2.0-litre family saloons are giving way to a new generation of small hatches and mini MPVs which are big on space and low on costs.

Transfer Adds Up to a Totally New Career for Dedicated David

ADEDICATED employee is fulfilling a long-held career ambition and it's all thanks to Jennings Ford. David Henderson, 24, from New Herrington, has transferred from the group's service department at the Riverside Road dealership, just off Wessington Way in Sunderland, to embark on a completely new career in accountancy. When David left school he was keen to start an accountancy course at college, but the course was cancelled and David was left in a dilemma about his career. At the age of 17, he...

New Manager Is No Stranger to Ford Direct Site

A SENIOR manager at JenningsFord has transferred to take over the reins at another dealership in the region. David Walker, 51, from Ingleby Barwick, has transferred from the group's Riverside Road dealership in Sunderland, to take over as general sales manager at the FordDirect site in South Shields, a branch he was responsible for launching five years ago. No stranger to the FordDirect site, the people or the products, David will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the branch, overs...

Grog On the Tyne ; Lindisfarne's Local Wins Pub of the Year Award

IT'S the perfect place for a pint if you fancy a chat with Geordie rockers Lindisfarne at the bar. And now Newcastle pub Bacchus has been crowned king of cask ales on Tyneside.

Vehicle Team Wins Award

VEHICLE safety has put a council on the road to success. Gateshead Council has clinched the national Safe Vehicles Award at the annual Fleet Safety Forum awards for excellence.

Tiny City Car? That'll Be an Aston Martin!

ASTON Martin is planning to go from one extreme to the other - with the introduction of a tiny city car. The luxury sports car maker has joined forces with Japanese giant Toyota to produce the world's smallest four-seater luxury car. To be known as the Aston Martin Cygnet, the miniscule newcomer should be on sale before the end of next year. Based on the Toyota iQ, it is likely to continue to use the current petrol engines of 1.0 and 1.33 litres rather than the 5.9- litre V12 of the 190mph Vo...

Police Act On Crime Concern

A HARD-HITTING police operation is being launched next week to tackle crime and disorder. Officers in North Shields will run Operation Iron in New York, Silverlink and Chirton Grange from July 6 to 12. Sgt Adrian Smiles said: "This latest operation is a direct result from talking to the community and listening to what issues they are concerned about.

Summer Fun for Young

YOUNGSTERS are in line for a fun-packed holiday this summer. Teams of 'play rangers' from North Tyneside Council will be working in parks and play sites across the borough on weekends until September.

Now You See It ... ; Structure Will Be Cut Down After 100 Years On Skyline

IT HAS been a landmark on the skyline of North Shields for more than a century. But work is under way to dismantle this huge gas holder near the Tyne.

Your Stars with Claire Petulengro

TODAY is all about bringing the unexpected into your life, as close ones reveal how they really feel about a recent change of yours. Don't get mad though, it's good to get it out in the open. CALL MY ARIES LINE TO HEAR MORE 0904 470 0721

Don't Brake the Rules with Your Car Safety

CARRYING out regular checks on their cars is a habit that many drivers adhere to on a daily basis, but how many of us check the brake fluid? Failure to check on brake fluid levels can lead to serious car safety problems, with the risk of complete brake failure an all-too-real possibility. But how many drivers really understand this most basic of safety features? Most drivers are aware of the dangers of oil and water shortages, and check these regularly along with tyre pressures and coolant.

A Flipping Liberty Here

WELL, I emailed Doug and he hasn't come back to me. On reflection, I think my window of 18 hours to reply was generous, given that we are in twitter-based rolling news 24/7 society and I have a read receipt on my email, so there's no excuse. Doug is Doug Henderson and he might be your MP. He is definitely the MP of some people reading this.

Suspicions Run Deep

Doubt (Cert 15, 99 mins, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Drama, also available to buy DVD pounds 17.99/Blu-ray pounds 23.99) Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis, Joseph Foster II. IN the hermetically-sealed world of a 1960s Catholic school, Sister Aloysius (Streep) rules with an iron fist. Trouble erupts when painfully naive Sister James (Adams) confides to her ferocious superior that resident holy man Father Flynn (Hoffman) appears to have "taken an...