News for August 2010
Volvo set to launch new, cleaner 1.6 litre petrol engines
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Volvo plans to add two new 1.6-litre engines to its S60 and V60 ranges later this year, according to an official press release.
The new T3 and T4 engines, available in late 2010, will feature variable valve timing, direct injection and turbocharging. The T3 will produce 148bhp compared to the T4's 178bhp, with both engines meeting Euro V emissions requirements.
The ...
Chinese man buys £9,500 van with loose change
Friday, 27 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
A Chinese man has paid for a new van with 100,000 Yuan (£9,500) of loose change that he amassed over a number of years.
Businessman 'Mr Zhao' went to a dealership in Jining, in northern Shandong province, and presented staff with a huge stack of notes – none worth more than one Yuan (10p).
Government incentives fail to impress drivers
Thursday, 26 August 2010 by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
More than two-thirds of Britain's car buyers admit the government incentives are not enough to persuade them to buy an electric car.
According to a recent survey of 500 people by Parkers.co.uk, 69 per cent said they wouldn't buy and electric car and 32 per cent of these respondents cited the main reason being the ...
Four cars awarded five-star Euro NCAP rating
Thursday, 26 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Four cars have been awarded maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings, according to crash test results published yesterday.
The Citroen C4, Honda CR-Z, Hyundai ix35 and Suzuki Swift all achieved the highest possible score in the latest round of Euro NCAP safety tests.
The news will no doubt be ...
Ferrari investigate mysterious 458 Italia accidents
Wednesday, 25 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Luxury carmaker Ferrari is investigating a number of incidents where its new 458 Italia has either crashed or mysteriously caught fire.
Several photos of burnt-out or crashed Ferrari 458s have surfaced on the internet over the past week. Some have questioned the £170,000 supercar's safety, which may force potential buyers thinking "I'm going to
British supercar prototype revealed
Wednesday, 25 August 2010 by Sarah Howard
With the demise of TVR, British sportscar production has been rather limited to say the least - well until now, as a fully functional prototype of an all-new 550bhp supercar has been released.
The Arash AF-10 first hit the design table in 2006, after Iranian-born entrepreneur Arash Farbound became disenchanted with the existing range of supercars. Taking four years to produce, ...
Honda Jazz gets Paris debut
Wednesday, 25 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Honda's Jazz hybrid will make its first public appearance next month, according to reports.
The petrol-electric crossover - the first of its kind to be available on the supermini market - will go on display at the Paris Motor Show, which kicks off in just over a month's time.
Auto Express say that the Jazz will feature the same petrol electric IMA ...
Peugeot's groundbreaking diesel hybrid set for 2011 release
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Peugeot's revolutionary 3008 Hybrid 4 will go on sale in Spring 2011, making it the world's first production vehicle with diesel hybrid technology.
Until now, hybrid cars produced by rivals such as Honda and Toyota have combined electric motors with petrol engines. The 3008 Hybrid 4, however, boasts a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine and a 37bhp electric motor.
What ...
Citroën slap £23,100 price tag on DS3 Racing
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
French manufacturer Citroën has revealed that prices for its DS3 Racing hot hatch will start at £23,100 when it hits showroom floors next year.
The DS3 has been developed by Citroën Racing, the team behind ...
Mercedes lift lid on revamped CLS
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Luxury manufacturer Mercedes has officially revealed its new four-door CLS, more than a month before the car's debut at the Paris Motor Show.
The original CLS was launched in 2003, and proved a big hit thanks in part to its sleek, distinctive good looks. Photos released this week show that the new model will retain the style of a four-door coupe, but with a longer front ...
Clamping on private land to be banned
Friday, 20 August 2010 by William Hobson
Motorists and car buyers will have one less thing to worry about in the near future, as the government has passed legislation which bans wheel clampers from operating on private land in England and Wales.
BBC News reports that legislation, to be brought into effect this November, will introduce steep penalties for ...
Lancia Stratos unveiled
Friday, 20 August 2010 by Sarah Howard
The first shots of the Lancia Stratos have been revealed to car fans, after the 1970's throwback was spotted cruising in Italy.
The Stratos is a remake of a cult classic supercar and to look at, it isn't vastly different from its older sibling. With strong lines and similar dimensions, the new model also uses a Ferrari engine. Its not more of the same however, as the new Stratos is ...
Jaguar set to launch blast-proof XJ Sentinel
Friday, 20 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Luxury carmaker Jaguar will unveil its heavily-armoured new XJ sentinel at the Moscow Motor Show next week, according to various reports.
ABC News say that the new Jaguar XJ Sentinel will feature a high-strength armoured inner cell, made from ultra-tough, Kevlar-backed steels. The car will offer both ballistic and blast protection, as well as an underfloor system to ...
Cricket star Pietersen shuns Jaguar in favour of 4x4
Thursday, 19 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
England cricket star Kevin Pietersen has caused a stir by refusing to drive a Jaguar while on international duty.
According to Mail Online, the flamboyant batsman's desire to be different from his team-mates is so strong that he was prepared to break the terms of an exclusive seven-figure supply contract with the luxury manufacturer.
The deal between the English ...
60mph human-powered car could go on sale next year
Thursday, 19 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
A human-powered car that can hit speeds of up to 60mph could go on sale as early as next year, according to reports.
Car buyers wishing to purchase the HumanCar Imagine PS may not have to wait much longer to get their hands on the human-electric hybrid. The vehicle will go into production when its creator receives 800 ...
Authorities clamp down on roadside car dealers
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
People thinking of selling a car on the roadside in Medway will need to seek permission from local authorities before putting their vehicles in lay-bys, it has been revealed.
BBC News report that one motorist from Chatham was shocked to hear that he needed permission to stick a 'for sale' sign on the windscreen of his ...
Mel Gibson crashes luxury sports car
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Hollywood actor Mel Gibson faces a hefty bill to repair his luxury sports car after being involved in a crash on Sunday.
The Braveheart actor was driving on a tricky stretch of California road on Sunday evening when he smashed his 2008 Maserati Quattroporte into a rocky hillside. Gibson was unhurt in the crash, but Mail Online report that he may have ...
Scottish scientists develop whisky biofuel
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Scientists from a university in Scotland have developed a biofuel made from whisky by-products, according to reports.
Experts from the biofuel research centre at Edinburgh Napier University spent two years working on the new fuel. The project was backed by Scottish Enterprise's Proof of Concept programme, which provided £260,000 of funding.
BBC ...
Lotus Evora S to debut at Paris Motor Show
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
A new high-performance version of the Lotus Evora will make an appearance at this year's Paris Motor Show, according to a leaked internal email.
While some analysts suspect that the memo was deliberately leaked, it nonetheless confirms that the Lotus Evora S will be at the Paris show, along with a host of other concepts and all-new models.
Few details of the Evora S were ...
Dealers urged to sell older used cars
Monday, 16 August 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Franchised car dealers have been urged to start selling older vehicles in a bid to avoid a predicted shortage of stock for used car buyers.
Traditionally, franchised dealers have largely avoided older vehicles, preferring to take on used cars from more recent years. However, used car valuation experts Glass's have strongly advised such dealers to start ...
Buying a car is cheaper than renting in the long term
Monday, 16 August 2010 by Laura Nineham
A motoring column in The Telegraph has advised motorists that buying a car is actually cheaper than leasing one in the long run.
Writing for The Telegraph Mike Rutherford takes Vauxhall as an example. He explains that leasing an unused Corsa 1.3 diesel, complete with alloy wheels and air-conditioning, would cost consumers three month's rental in advance, which is ...
Councils should go easy on motoring fines, says transport minister
Friday, 13 August 2010 by Laura Nineham
Ministers have told councils to go easier on motoring fines, which will be welcome news for the many motorists who have fallen victim to harsh fines recently.
Ministers said parking wardens, wheel clampers and council bureaucrats should stop treating drivers as cash cows, claims The Daily Mail.
Transport minister Norman Baker said that motorists should be treated ...
Honda Civic Type R cancelled
Thursday, 12 August 2010 by Sarah Howard
Fans of the hot hatch will be sad to hear that the high-performance Honda Civic Type R is to be axed, as its emissions don't comply with upcoming strict European standards.
From December, sales of the 197bhp 2 litre VTEC-powered car will cease, meaning the car will only be available to used car buyers. Rather than deciding ...
McLaren to open flagship London dealership
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 by Sarah Howard
Automotive supremo's McLaren are set to open one of their biggest dealerships at One Hyde Park in London, it has been reported.
Replacing the old Park Lane site, the new store will house the new MP4-12C supercar and undoubtedly draw in the glitterati or those with money to burn. McLaren anticipate that the dealership will be one of the most successful in the world due to its ...
Do diesels offer better value for money?
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 by William Hobson
For the first time ever in the UK, more new and used car buyers are choosing to go for diesel engines than petrol.
Figures published last week by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) seem to indicate that increasingly, car buyers are looking at fuel efficiency rather than high performance. Last month sales of diesel cars accounted for 50.6% of the market, an occasion ...
10,000th VW Scirocco built
Monday, 9 August 2010 by Sarah Howard
Two years after its initial launch, the new Scirocco has reached a production figure of 10,000, marking the successful re-introduction of the iconic coupe.
Holding a small party, the Portuguese plant where the car is manufactured declared the Scirocco as ''one of the most important cars that produce.''
According to Auto Express, the 10,000th model is the ...
Methane gas powered 'Dung Beetle' car spotted in Bristol
Thursday, 5 August 2010 by Sarah Howard
A VW Beetle powered by methane gas has been created by engineers from Wessex Water and has been cruising the streets of Bristol to promote eco friendly driving.
The 'Bio-Bug' or 'Dung-Beetle' as the media have dubbed it, is powered by processed methane gas from the sewerage treatment process. According to the BBC, waste from 70 households could power the car for up to 10,000 ...
New Lotus models to be unveiled in Paris
Wednesday, 4 August 2010 by Sarah Howard
According to motoring commentators, British car manufacturer Lotus is to unveil four new concept models, in a bid to expand its remit by producing a more varied range of models.
Using the Paris Motor Show in October for a grand premiere, Lotus will announce their plans for the future. According to Auto Express, concepts based on the Lotus Seven and Esprit will be shown-off ...
£4m Diana Dors car to be auctioned
Tuesday, 3 August 2010 by Sarah Howard
A convertible Delahaye Type 175 Roadster once owned by screen star Diana Dors is to be sold by auction and is expected to reach a sum in excess of £4 million.
One of only 51 made, the curvaceous car was bought for Miss Dors in 1949 by Sir John Gaul, an acquaintance of Monaco's Prince Rainier. Dors was only 17 at the time and didn't have a driving licence according to ...
Lamborghini and Koenigsegg clamped
Monday, 2 August 2010 by Sarah Howard
The traffic warden has no mercy, even for supercars, as two impeccably crafted models were subject to a yellow incarceration in London.
The electric blue Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce and matching coloured Koenigsigg CCXR were parked outside Harrods luxury department store in Knightsbridge when they caught the beady eyes of a central London ...
Archives
Nicki Stafford, Grimsby, VW Bora
Francis Monger, Thatcham, FORD MONDEO ESTATE