But as other motoring journals repeated the test and came up with the same results, more orders dried up.

ECONOMIST: Car safety

So far, BMW has carried out the biggest test of electric motoring.

ECONOMIST: Electric cars

Wine touring solo is always a test if you are self-motoring and not the best of a spitter.

FORBES: Driven to Drink of McLaren Vale

Andrew Howard, of the motoring organisation the AA, welcomed the measure as a "valuable test for the future of road safety".

BBC: Learner drivers face new test

One problem with test-driving prototypes and mule cars is that rival manufacturers, and the motoring press, can more easily get wind of new models.

ECONOMIST: Car design