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Audi releases details of the A1 ahead of Geneva debut
Move over Mini (and parent company BMW), details of the new Audi A1 has just been released ahead of its 2010 Geneva unveiling. The company makes no qualms about its target market as this can be seen from the exterior stylings very different from its previous artist renderings. I hope this butch sporty look has been reserved for the S-line range as the ‘roof contrast line’ makes it look very A2-ish.
It can be seen that exterior styling is very much taken from the A3 and is a premium option in the super-mini market. One of the Engine options available in the UK will be the 1.2 TFSI petrol engine that produces 84 hp and 160Nm of torque and manages to return 55.4mpg while only releasing 119g/km of CO2.
If that’s not enough there will be the 1.4 TFSI that puts out 120 hp and 200Nm of torque and is available with option of the seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission. It will produce a top speed of 122 mph and delivers 55.4mpg with CO2 output of about 119g/km.
Click below for more pictures and details Read the rest of this entry.
Jaguar XF: Additions to the 2010 range
Good news for XF fans! Jaguar has announced that they will cut back the price of its XF 3.0 litre petrol engine to £29 900 in the UK. Mind you the drop in price is about £100 which buys you next to nothing in the Jaguar options list, but good on them for bringing their prices down.
If you’ve been living under a rock, the XF is the latest masterpiece by Jaguar and has been collecting awards since its first outing in 2008. Not to mention the BMW M5 rivalling XFR, which is known to be an altogether better car, plus its a few thousand pounds cheaper. Read the rest of this entry.
Get hit by the new Golf and you’ll live to tell the tale
Though it sounds morbid, you’d be pleased to know the new Volkswagen Golf has achieved the maximum Euro NCAP 5 star rating. This isn’t the same Euro NCAP test that was used since 1997, that didn’t pay much attention to pedestrian and child safety; but the stricter regime that takes into account electronic safety equipment available in many modern day cars.
The boys (and girls) at EuroNCAP Institute in Brussels compiled a list of cars that have gone through the more stringent test and out of all of them the Golf came out on top scoring 103 points gaining the title of ‘Safest Car of 2009’.
This was accomplished with standard equipment in most Golf models such as ESP with counter-steer assist, ABS with braking assistance, anti-slip regulation (ASR), electronic differential lock (EDS), engine drag torque control (MSR), trailer stabilisation, Isofix mounting brackets for two child seats on the rear bench as well as airbags for driver and front passenger with passenger-side deactivation, including knee airbag for the driver and a head airbag system for front and rear passengers with side airbags.
It also picked up the “Top Safety Pick” – awarded by the independent US safety institute “Insurance Institute for Highway Safety” (IIHS) in 2008
Proton developing hybrid drive for Exora MPV with Lotus
According to a published report by Malaysian news agency Bernama, Proton is developing a hybrid drive system for the the Exora MPV with Lotus. The prototype cars are currently being tested in the UK and Proton’s managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Syed Mohamad Tahir has tried them out. These hybrid Exoras are expected to arrive in Malaysia for further testing by the end of this month or latest by early next year.
The hybrid Exora is scheduled to be introduced into the market sometime in 2011. The word of Proton developing a hybrid system for its vehicles isn’t actually new. The automaker showcased a Proton GEN2 EVE Hybrid Concept back in 2007 in which the 1.6 liter Campro was paired with a 40hp electric motor. The concept featured a CVT transmission. Total power output was rated at 141hp and torque was figured at 233Nm from as low as 1,500 revs.
Earlier this year Proton gave us a glimpse of a range-extending hybrid system. It basically uses an electric motor as the main drive and a 1.2 liter 3-cylinder engine is used solely as a generator.
2011 Mazda2 launched for the US market
The 2011 Mazda2 hatchback has been officially unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show for the North American market. The Japanese hatch will be introduced into the market in late summer next year and unfortunately, juicier details pertaining to powertrain options for the region have not been released by the automaker.
Mazda revealed only the following statements regarding the subject: “a sense of linear acceleration and deceleration that responds crisply to how far the accelerator pedal is depressed, allowing the driver to control car speed as desired” and “a sense of liveliness through immediate response to the accelerator for quick off-the-line acceleration and overtaking. The development team targeted a performance feel reflecting enhancement of both of these key attributes without adversely impacting on the Mazda2’s superior fuel economy as a subcompact car” – obviously nothing we can use.
The Mazda2 features MacPherson struts up front while the rear is treated to a torsion-beam axle. Mazda claims that the 2’s handling and ride draws much from the sweet MX-5. More information will be revealed regarding the hatchback that achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP at a later date. Meanwhile, continue reading to view an image gallery. Read the rest of this entry.
Mazda RX8 Hydrogen RE- one step closer to a cleaner future
Zoom zoom with the power of hydrogen. Yes a very exciting step taken by Mazda in cooperation with the Norwegian government with the introduction of its hydrogen refilling station infrastructure.
The 2 new hydrogen filling stations that were opened on the route between Oslo and Stavanger was unveiled today by Norwegian Minister of Transportation, Ms. Liv Signe Navarsete. The Mazda RX8 Hydrogen RE was used to travel between Oslo and Drammen station on just hydrogen, releasing no CO2.
Norway is backing the technology heavily by encouraging the buildup of the hydrogen infrastructure and after delivery of this Mazda RX8, a more Norwegian-friendly spec vehicle will be leased to commercial contracts starting this summer.
Mazda will also be leasing the RX8 in Japan, but it has been modified to meet European standards along with left hand drive and manual transmission. The vehicle uses a dual-fuel approach, switching to petrol when hydrogen is not available.
Vauxhall Trixx – Fully electric town car
The Trixx was introduced to the world some years ago as a concept car, now AutoExpress UK has confirmed that the 2 + 1 car, that would rival the Toyota iQ, will go into production. In Vauxhall guise, the Trixx will feature the same powertrain that will be housed in the first Ampera.
Due to space constraints and weight saving measures the 1.4-liter engine used to expand the Ampera’s mileage will be ditched for a full blown electric powertrain. This will mean that it will run only 90 miles till the next charge up, as opposed to the Ampera which can go for 300 miles.
The problems being faced with the Trixx at the moment is its cost for production as according to AE, the lithium ion Batteries alone will cost £8000. This will bring up the total price of the car, which can see people being put off by the overall price.
Vauxhall might opt to lease the engines when it does come into production, which would mean you would buy everything apart from the engine which will still be owned by Vauxhall. Read the rest of this entry.
Click below for two pictures
Lotus Esprit and Elise moving full speed ahead
News from Autocar has announced that Lotus will be going ahead with the production of the new Elise and Esprit models hwihc are expected to hit the showrooms around the 2010 and 2011 mark.
The Elise itself is said to be a modification of the current model and not a reworking of the current Evora, which is heavier due to the alloy chassis. Lotus is hoping for help from investors and their takings from the current Evora to help with the complete redesign of the new Esprit.
A mid-mounted V8 along with a chassis longer and wider than the current Evora, will be the main features of the new Esprit. Production dates are said to be around 2012, but because of the flexibility within the company, Lotus can hold off the release of the Esprit till the economy picks up and launch the cheaper Evora soft top.
The Evora Soft top according to AutoCar will be released in 2012, but under a different name badge.
Lotus has had to put numerous plans on hold since the credit crunch including the cooperation with Aabrath in the production of a sports car and the Europa-based Dodge Circuit electric car.
