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So now it can be said: the new BMW 3-Series, due in showrooms at the beginning of March, is one of the finest drives I have experienced in a long time.Whether I was in the driving seat or my co-pilot, Eddie Cunningham, was throwing it around corners during two days of tests in southern Portugal, the car felt totally confident, safe but exhilarating.It was what driving should be about when roads are empty, cars are finely tuned and the dynamics are superb. The adrenalin rushed, the spirit soared and it was good to be alive.Not everything is perfect about the car – many people do not like the over-chunky steering wheel, voice-recognition control system or some of the looks and a price that starts at €43,570 – but just get into the driving seat of this superbly balanced car and thoughts of SUVs and sensible plodders are thrown out of the window. Enough said.At a time when the traditional saloon is under threat across Europe, the BMW 3-Series gives a real kickback. It’s pretty clean, so go for petrol cars although the diesels do give a lot of fun too.While we were out testing the 3-Series, we had an exciting drive over the mountains to the Autodromo Internacional Algarve racetrack at Portimao. It is a very plush site which has hosted Formula One and we had the opportunity to go for a few stomach-churning laps in the very fast camouflaged prototypes of the BMW M340i xDrive.If that sort of thing appeals to you or someone you know and love, you can do much the same at Ireland’s own racetrack at Mondello with the ultimate driving experience people never forget.A gift voucher for the BMW and Mini Driving Experience offers a chance to unleash the power on Ireland’s only international racing circuit.It gives customers the chance to experience BMW’s iconic M2 and M4 cars and all courses include training laps behind the wheel of a Mini Cooper S with a professional instructor alongside you at all times to help you make the most of your experience.You then progress into the BMW M2 and M4 models in the ultimate BMW experience package. Participants must be over 18 and hold a full Irish driving licence or equivalent. Vouchers begin at €169. For more information, go to www.mondellopark.ie/bmw-driving-experience

One thing that consistently gets up my nose is the abuse of words to describe the status of a car. Urban myths have sprung up around unchallenged claims. So forgive me if I devote a little minute to three indiscretions that take serious liberty with words.

When all is said and done, there is only one real question to be asked of the new BMW 3 series. Is it a better-handling car than the previous one and its rivals (Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, Jaguar XE)?

Small cars have a big future, according to Skoda’s top executive.

And so it is goodbye to the Toyota Avensis.Yes, the car that carried so many families, taxi passengers and God knows who/what else for so long has passed into the history books.I asked distributors here how many new cars were left for sale and was told: “We have no more Avensis at all.”The spokeswoman was quick to point out, however, that they have a range of alternatives – including the new Camry and Corolla Saloon Sol – to replace it.The Avensis was built from October 1997 to last August. Remember the Carina E (with the Leanburn engine)? Well, it was a direct successor to that and came as a saloon, hatch and estate.Over its period on the Irish market, the number of new Avensis models sold, to the end of last month, came to the tidy total of 91,746, according to official Toyota figures the distributors provided me with.That’s a lot of cars, and a good proportion are still on the go, judging by the volume you see on the road.Toyota is now looking to the future and continuing its hybrid push with a look, for the likes of myself, at the new Corolla range, as well as the new RAV4 and Camry, in Dublin tomorrow.