BMW 2012 7 Series unveiled

Publish Date: 05/25/2012

BMW have revealed the new 7-series luxury saloon ahead of its release in September this year. The car holds the same trademark BMW nose albeit with a few cosmetic tweaks and comes with a more fuel efficient set of engines. The BMW 7-Series will be available from £58,115. BMW have also changed the chassis to improve the ride and stability of the new saloon. Other changes include improved sound proofing for increased quality and comfort.

The exterior changes are subtle, but still effectively refine the looks of the car. Changes include a new front grill and updated styling of the head lights. Extra chrome trim has been added and new bumpers have been included on the car as standard too. Extras include optional LED lights. Self-leveling rear air suspension is also now standard across the range as well as other new suspension components aimed at improving the comfort and agility of the car.

The interior has also been updated as expected. There is a new multi-function instrument panel with a large screen that replaces the conventional dials. The colour of the display and information it shows vary depending on what drive mode the car is in.

The range of engines available for the new 7-series has also been updated to increase the fuel efficiency of the cars as well as increasing the power and performance of the range. The engines also emit less CO2 than the previous generation. All engines will be fitted with an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

The standard 7-series is the 730d model has an updated 3.0 liter six cylinder diesel engine that pumps out 254bhp. The average fuel economy for the engine is now 50.4mpg and the CO2 emissions have dropped by 30g/km.  The alternate diesel engine, the 740d now has 309bhp and averages 49.6mpg in fuel economy. There are 3 petrol engines available in the new range, the six cylinder 740i, eight cylinder 750i and twelve cylinder 760i.  

Prices for the range have gone up by just over 1% and range from £58,115 to £101,805. The car is to hit UK markets on 22^nd September 2012.

New Kia Cee’d Priced From £16,295

Publish Date: 05/22/2012

The new Kia Cee’d is due to go on sale in the UK in June and prices will start from £14,395. The Korean car manufacturer is aiming at competing with the likes of the Hyundai i30 and on a more ambitious scale, the Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus.

The Cee’d will come with a choice of four engines, two diesel and two petrol. The two petrol engines are a 1.4 liter 98bhp engine producing 47.1mpg and a 1.6 liter 133bhp alternative producing 52.3 mpg. The diesel engines are a 1.4 liter 89bhp option producing 68.9mpg or a 1.6 liter 126bhp engine giving out 76.3mpg. Either a six-speed manual or six-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox will be fitted across all models.

Kia have added a few luxuries as standard on the new Cee’d including air conditioning, front electric windows, electric mirrors, daytime running lights, cooled glove box, USB, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity. Hill start assist (HSA) is also fitted as standard.

Different model types include the Mid-spec ‘2’ cars which cost from £16,395 and feature 16-inch alloy wheels, all-round electric windows, cruise control, a speed limiter and reversing sensors. The ‘3’ models costing from £18,995 have tinted windows, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, a seven-inch touch-screen sat-nav system and a reverse parking camera as extras.

The upper-spec models include the ‘4’ costing from £20,595 and features 17-inch alloys, leather front seats,  heated steering wheel, electronic parking brake and stop-start functionality.  The top-spec  ‘4 Tech’ models add a panoramic sunroof, ‘Parallel Parking Assist System’ and Xenon adaptive front lights with prices starting from £22,495.

Car Finance Sales Increase by a Third in March

Publish Date: 05/18/2012

The vehicle finance industry was boosted in March by significant improvements in sales. New car finance sales were up 33% in terms of value, and up 22% by volume compared to March last year when the automotive industry looked a lot bleaker. These figures are according to the latest figures from the Finance & Leasing Association, the trade body for the motor finance industry.

The growth meant that people who brought new cars in dealer showrooms opted to choose to pay via finance more often than last year. 65.9% over the last 12 months, compared to 56.6% over the previous 12 months.

Car finance was not the only financial product to see growth with regard to new cars. Compared to March last year, car leasing was up by 50%, hire purchase was up by 37% and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) was up by 30% marking a great month for the new car industry. There was also growth in the used car finance market of 6% compared to March last year.

Paul Harrison, head of motor finance at the Finance & Leasing Association, said: “The strong new and used car finance growth figures in the important month of March are good news for the UK motor industry.

“This year the number of new cars sold is 22% higher than last year, which shows that forecourt finance continues to be extremely popular. Motor finance allows customers to negotiate a flexible finance package to suit their budget. Personal contract purchase (PCP) remains the most popular with new car buyers. Encouragingly, used car finance has also performed well, with the number of financed cars sold up by 9% in the first quarter of this year.”

Vauxhall Confirm Next Astra to be Built at Ellesmere Port

Publish Date: 05/17/2012

Vauxhall today confirmed that the next generation of Astra will be built at the General Motors owned car manufacturers plant in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. The news will mean that 2100 people’s jobs are secured at the plant which will help boost confidence in the current economic climate. This also means that northeast jobs will be secured until the early 2020’s.

Ellesmere Port will be the lead plant of two in Europe building the new Astra. Production of the car is due to start in 2015. The plant will also create 700 new jobs in the area to add to the existing staff working there.  

The decision comes are Vauxhall secured a new labour agreement with their workforce yesterday. The agreement which will have staff working more flexible hours in a 3 shift pattern, spanning 24 hours, rather than the current 2 shift pattern. The new pattern will come into force in 2013 and run through the entire lifespan of the new Astra.

Operating on the new three-shift pattern, the plant is expected to run at full capacity. This means the plant should produce a minimum of 160,000 vehicles each year. To backup the plans, Vauxhall plans on investing £125 Million to revamp and upgrade the plant to achieve its goal.

Potentially the most beneficial factor in terms of economy is that up to 3000 new jobs could be created in the supply chain with Vauxhall committing to add 25% to the local suppliers.

The future of the Cheshire plant has been under threat for some time. This is due to General Motors (GM) delicate financial position. Since 1999 Opel, the European arm of GM which Vauxhall are a part of, has lost £7 billion. Despite being Vauxhall’s most efficient plant, Ellesmere Port has been suspected to close because it is cheaper and easier to get rid of workers in the UK than it is in the rest of Europe. However, due to the good news of the Cheshire plant remaining open, it brings the future of Bochum, Germany into jeopardy.

Vauxhall Chairman and Managing Director, Duncan Aldred, said: “This is great news for the Ellesmere Port plant, our employees, the local community, our suppliers and the Vauxhall brand and the UK. We have been able to develop a responsible labour agreement that secures the plant’s future. With Ellesmere Port’s proven build quality and a new agreement that ensures excellent cost competitiveness, this facility will provide additional employment and, as the lead plant for the next-generation Astra, will be one of the cornerstones of our European manufacturing footprint.”

Fastest Ever Production Mini Revealed

Publish Date: 05/14/2012

Mini has revealed its fastest ever road-legal production car, the Mini John Cooper Works GP at the Mini United festival in France. The new Mini will go into limited production later this year and be built in Oxford.

With the 3^rd generation Mini current being developed, the Works GP will be built using the existing 2^nd generation model. Mini has yet to reveal the specific performance details on the car, it went round the world famous Nürburgring Nordschleife in 8min 23sec during its development beating its predecessor and the current Fastest Mini, which is a Mini Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit, by 18 seconds.

The old car had 210 BHP in order to achieve the total time around the Nürburgring of 8 minutes 41 seconds. The new production Works GP is expected to have between 220-230 BHP. And feature a range of different design improves in order to be able to produce a time 18 seconds better than its predecessor.

Jorg Weidinger, head of chassis and suspension development on the Mini John Cooper Works GP: “This is a track car, but it is also developed for everyday use. It is not a car you put on a trailer to take to the race track; you drive it there.”

A limited production of 2000 vehicles will be produced later this year after the car has ended its final stages of testing. It has yet to gain a price tag, however with limited production cars, they usually require a premium price in order to drive them away.

Kia Rio named Diesel Car Magazine’s Best Small Car 2012

Publish Date: 05/11/2012

Diesel Car Magazine has named the Kia Rio as their best small car of the year for 2012 during their annual car of the year issue. This award makes it the 3^rd B-segment award the Rio has claimed in less than a year.

Diesel praised the car for its practicality and style and the fact that the interior was very roomy and well equipped for a small car. Other features that were highlighted include the Rio’s seven year warranty and that the Kia "proves you don't have to compromise if you downsize".

The Rio, which was launched in August 2011, other awards are Business Car Manager's "Best sub 100g/km business car" award and WhatCar? "Ultra-low carbon" award. Which was picked up earlier this year.

Diesel Car magazine's editor, Ian Robertson comments "Small size, big talent, the Kia Rio shows how good a modestly sized car can be. It's a downsizer's dream." "It looks good, drives with panache, and proves unarguably that a low price does not have to mean bargain basement." He added.

Michael Cole, Managing Director, Kia Motors UK Limited said: "It's a great honour to win yet another Diesel Car award, and I am particularly pleased that our all-new Rio has been recognised for its excellent value and great advantage in the all-important B-segment. Rio is winning lots of new friends, particularly in the retail market, and this award will strengthen its appeal amongst diesel fans."

The Kia Rio is available with four engine options - 1.25 litre and 1.4 litre petrol and 1.1 CRDI and 1.4 CRDI. Leasing on the Rio starts from around £125 and can come with a variety of different features.

Nissan to put Juke-R into Production

Publish Date: 05/08/2012

The Juke-R was originally considered a concept car that was very unlikely to be released. However Nissan has surprised the motoring industry by confirming that they are putting the car into “very limited production”.

Nissan has made this decision because of the positive reception the car has received during viral marketing campaigns. The Juke-R has more power output than a Ferrari California with 545 BHP coming from its engine.  

It does more than just have a lot of horse power too, it was filmed in Dubai in January beating  a Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Ferrari 458 Italia in a race down a closed road. With that video alone prompting 3 orders of the car which is likely to cost buyers a hefty 6 figure sum.

It is the cars performance in the videos that has generated interest in the car. The Juke’s marketing manager, Gareth Dunsmore, said “people were making offers for the original on the street”.

“With such a strong reaction, and with three genuine offers on the table, we decided we had to make the concept a reality,” he added.

The Juke-R is powered from a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 engine that will quickly send the car to a top speed of 160 MPH which is actually even faster than the Juke-R seen in the video which only had 480 bhp. Nissan have not set a price for this supercar beating car, but are taking orders for the next 4 weeks, after which the production will stop.

The BMW X1 Gets a Facelift

Publish Date: 05/03/2012

BMW have announced that the X1 is to undergo a facelift as part of a mid-lifecycle refresh on the current model. The facelift version will start production in July 2012 at BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany. The European introduction of the new BMW X1 will take place at the 21^st Auto Mobil International show in Leipzig on 2^nd June.

The new X1 will have enhanced standard equipment for all ranges with the SE models getting features such as Bluetooth hands free facilities with USB audio interface, Drive Performance Control and Roof Rails. Whereas the M Sports models will get all of the SE features plus 18” M light alloy wheels and Nevada leather upholstery in Beige, Black or Coral Red as standard. All the new equipment will be available without any price increase on the SE model, however the M Sport model will see a modest increase of only £650-£1,005.

The exterior of the X1 has of course been updated to bring a fresher design to the facelift. There is a greater use of body-colour around the front and rear bumpers, the front foglights have been moved, as have the side indicators which are now in the side mirrors. The rear lights now also feature LED light bars as standard.

An optional visibility pack featuring Xenon headlights also includes white LED corona rings (daytime driving lights) and a white LED eyebrow strip above the headlights gives the car even more visual appeal.

The interior sees the centre console given an update with a better focus on driver-orientation and a new level of refinement. Other features such a black gloss around the audio equipment offer a top quality ambiance to the interior. The X1 also makes greater use of chrome throughout, including on the leather steering wheel.

The pricing will start around £25,000 for entry level models and go up to around £32,000 for the top M Sport model. However if it’s speed you’re after the M Sport models are worth the money with a 0-62 mph speed of 6.8 seconds. The new BMW X1 is available to order today.

All-new flagship K9 saloon launched by Kia

Publish Date: 05/03/2012

Kia have launched their all-new flagship car, the K9 in Korea, and are expected to start exporting later in 2012. The K9 introduces Kia to a new sector of the global automotive market with the car being Kia’s first luxury saloon.

The car has been built with space and luxury at the forefront of its style. The K9 being 5,090mm in overall length and has a 3,045mm wheelbase. The cabin, which has an overall width of  1,900mm and height of 1,490mm making it incredibly spacious.

Once the car is launched overseas, it is likely to be powered by an upgraded 290 ps Lambda V6 3.8-liter MPI engine.  However, next year, Kia are expected to add a 334 ps 3.8-litre GDI engine to the global engine line-up next year.

The all-new K9 will feature a range of new features and advanced technologies , including adaptive all-LED headlamps, Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Blind-Spot Detection (BSD), a  Lexicon (by Harman) sound system, Smart Cruise Control (SCC) and an Around-View Monitor (AVM) with four cameras. All in all, this new advanced technology is could easily put the K9 in a competitive position in the luxury saloon market. The K9 comes with Kia's all-new eight-speed automatic transmission.

"K9 is all about elegant simplicity, balanced proportions and simple surfaces," says Kia's Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. "The class-leading long wheelbase, the prestige distance, large wheels, sharply upright short overhangs and a long sweeping shoulder line all work together in a harmony to give K9 a sporty, athletic proportion and a confident stance quintessential to a premium large rear-wheel drive vehicle." He added.

"K9 is a clear signal of our intention and determination to compete head-to-head with the European luxury brands. And for Kia, our customers, and for me - this car is like a dream come true," concludes Schreyer.

Currently there are no plans to bring the K9 to the UK. However, Kia plan to launch the car in key overseas markets in quarter four 2012 so we will find out then whether the K9 will grace the UK.

2013 Audi Q5

Publish Date: 05/01/2012

The facelift version of the Q5 has been announced and will go on sale this summer according to Audi. The facelift extends Audi’s attempt to update their model range with fresher looks. The Q5 is a top end SUV originally released in 2008.

The Audi Q5 is spacious, comfortable, multifunctional as well as sporty. The car has a unique character about it making is a successful car in Audi’s range. The facelift makes the Q5 even more attractive and easy on the eye, not to mention being more fuel efficient while maintaining its sporty influence. Audi have added new solutions in design, infotainment, chassis and engines. The Q5 hybrid quattro, the brand's first production hybrid model, unites the power of a V6 engine with the fuel economy of a four cylinder engine.

Keys changes from the existing Q5 include a newly designed set of head lights. The new lights have not only been restyled, but  bi-xenon lights can be specified, in which the car will also get a curved band of stylish LED daytime running lights around the headlights.

The Audi Q5 will continue to have a choice of six engines - three TDI Diesel engines and three TSFI Petrol. However, Audi say that all of these engines will be more fuel-efficient and economical than the previous versions. CO2 emissions will be cut across the range, largely thanks to the electromechanical steering as standard being added. The introduction of start-stop technology on all engines and transmissions also has a profound effect to fuel efficiency.

Many engines' power outputs will increase but these improvements won't compromise their fuel economy, with fuel consumption cut across the range by up to 15 per cent. The power output for the 6 new engines will range from 143 BHP to 272 BHP.