Jessica My initial thoughts when I first got into this car were, what is the point? Surely driving something that looks like it is trying very hard to be flashy without the engine power to substantiate the bling is a hollow affair.

Why not buy a sports car that really is a sports car? Is this the equivalent to buying a fake Prada or Louis Vuitton bag? Is it good for the ego to look like a you are keeping up with the Jones’?

With these thoughts spinning through my head I set off on Saturday afternoon from London to find I needed to be athletic with the high set pedals to drive effectively in heavy traffic.

Trying to link in my phone via Bluetooth and understand the music controls linked to my iPod was a challenge – it was just as well the route the to M3 is a slow one, particularly with Beyonce as an attraction at Twickenham Stadium.  I’m not convinced that having to work in braille fashion to adjust volume and select tracks is conducive to a safe drive.

However, once I got in the car for a second sitting I began to enjoy it a little more, it can be pushed and if driven with determination it became more fun.  I still think the clutch needs refining to make the driving experience more sporty and less saloon.

I do like the aerodynamic dimple on the roof, a lovely touch. It’s just a shame the whole car is not thought through more effectively both ergonomically and aesthetically. Oh, and please say ‘no’ to the orange digital display – something less mundane would look so much better.