V-MAX Online

Awful Materials Found in Automobiles

2012-01-19T17:00:00.004Z

Brian Turner

With all the attention on the outside pollution that the vehicles of today placed into the atmosphere, one would think that the regulators in government and the private institutions that are overseeing the auto industry would've picked up on something else – the toxins that reside inside of each car that is slowly killing drivers under the radar.

Mostly in older vehicles, asbestos was used in different vehicle parts for fire-resistance like brake linings, gaskets, hood liners, clutch plates, etc. Exposure to this substance can lead an aggressive disease called mesothelioma. Hobbyists and mechanics need to take safety pre-cautions before performing on their cars.

The many substances that are used to create the plastics that go inside cars have been shown by many studies around the world to be completely toxic and unhealthy for people of any age, and the things that they cause inside of the body are often not curable and are completely long-term and even terminal in nature.

Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are acidic compounds that are used to increase the usability of plastic through increasing their longevity, flexibility, durability and transparency. They are usually used in PVCs, which is definitely not a group of products that is in favor with the Western world right now. There are many products that are being phased out because they contain these types of chemicals for the same health reasons that they should not be used in cars.

The other large form of chemicals that are used in cars and cause major health problems for drivers is known as PBDEs. This group of chemicals is similar to phthalate esters in that they cause definite long-term, completely incurable problems in all human beings, although they are not being fazed out of products at the same rate as phthalate esters are.

These awful materials usually find their way into the human body through inhalation of dust particles, which are contained on the inside of the vehicles. What this means for drivers is that the one way to keep as much of those toxic materials out of your body as possible is to keep the inside of your car as clean as possible. Along with that, another way to keep these substances out of your system is to wear a gas mask whenever you are dealing in close proximity to the car, including working under the car, pumping gas for the car and looking under the hood for any type of problem.

Citroen C1 facelifted

2012-01-10T16:29:00.000Z

This is the new, facelifted for 2012, Citroen C1. In addition to the more obvious physical changes, the new C1 will cost £700 less than the outgoing model when it arrives in April this year.

LED lights have been added to a body that will now come with a greater choice of colours for the outside and a greater choice of cloth materials for the inside.

The higher spec models will likely be a lot more expensive than the lowest VT trim level and so will not drop much in price, however the car in its most basic form is nonetheless a significant amount cheaper than it was, while looking better as a result.

Detroit Auto Show - Vauxhall reveals new Mokka

2012-01-10T15:46:00.000Z

Vauxhall has revealed a totally new car, the Mokka, set to compete with the Nissan Juke/Ford Kuga class of cars. To be sold in America as the Buick Encore, the Mokka will arrive in the UK in November this year.

The car measures 4.28m long x 1.645m tall, so although it looks a little like a tall Corsa, it is in fact a much larger car, differing greatly from the supermini. It will however use the Gamma II platform which the next generation Corsa will be based on.

There will be several engines available, both petrol and diesel. The petrols will include a 1.6-litre, 117bhp motor and a 1.4-litre turbo producing 142bhp. Customers will also be able to choose a 1.7-litre CDTi turbodiesel with 132bhp and 221lb ft of torque.

The standard car will be front-wheel-drive but the car will be available in 4x4 specification. All cars will come with start/stop technology and the turbos will be available in either six-speed manual or automatic configurations.

Although it will be related directly to the new Corsa, the Mokka boasts promising amounts of space - with the rear seats folded it provides 1372 litres of load space and 533 with them up.

The car will be fitted with 18-inch wheels and as well as the usual driver assists the Mokka will use hill start assist, hill descent control systems with adaptive forward lighting and even the option of a front-facing camera.

Detroit Auto Show - 9th Jan Gallery

2012-01-10T13:53:00.005Z

Due to the sheer number of cars that debuted yesterday, I'll only be able to update you with a gallery and brief details on every car so far.

The Smart For-us - a zero emissions pick-up style concept

The new Mercedes SL - due to be released mid-2012

The electric version of Nissan's NV200 van

The new Nissan Pathfinder concept. The new car will be far less rugged than its predecessor using an entirely new platform

The Volvo XC60 plug-in-hybrid concept, boasting 325bhp

The upcoming Hyndai Genesis Coupe, rumoured to come with an eight-speed auto

The new Hyundai Veloster coupe, with 210bhp and three doors - literally

The Mini Roadster will compete with the Mazda MX-5 in late 2012

The all-new BMW 3-series made its first appearance in America

An all-new V8-powered Bentley Continental GT made its first appearance

The Scion FR-S - North America's take on the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota GT86 - also broke cover

The new European Ford Mondeo appeared under American Ford Fusion guise, to be sold as a saloon in North America but also as an estate and hatchback in Europe

Also making its first appearance was the new Dodge Dart, based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The soft-top convertible version of Ford's new 200+mph Shelby GT500 also made its debut

It was revealed that the North American BMW M5 will come with a six-speed manual, whereas the European M5 will use an automatic transmission

Following the release of the new 911 last year, the first 911 cabrio debuted at Detroit

Mercedes will be using its most powerful 2.1-litre engine in the new E300 BlueTec Hybrid

Cadillac's 3-series rival, the ATS, finally broke cover

Although only a concept, the Lexus LF-LC Hybrid Sports Coupe showcases the firm's new design styling

The new Audi A4 has been facelifted and given a new 1.8-litre 170bhp TFSI engine

Audi also showcased its new Q3, the Vail concept, supposedly inspired by a Colorado mountain resort

Chrysler showed off its new MPV, the 700C by showing a concept of what the styling could look like

Perhaps the biggest story of the show so far, Honda turned up with yet another NSX concept, although this time it is very likely that a successor will be made

A new 'sporty' VW Beetle appeared in the shape of the E-Bugster, a preview of the new Beetle cabrio and VW's electric technology that we may see in the near future

This Scion FR-S drift car with 600bhp and 500lb-ft of torque will compete next season

This completes most of the exhibits as of the 9th January, please return later for more.

Special Edition one-off 4x4 Fiat 500

2011-08-04T17:38:00.000+01:00

This new Fiat 500 will start life as a Fiat 500 coupe Zagato. It will then be taken in by the American company Scagliarini Motorsports and the finished product will be called the Scagliarini Fiat 504 Coupe Zagato Elaborata.

The company will replace its regular chassis with one from the Abarth 500, add a four-wheel drive system and Scagliarini's latest carbon fibre technology. The rear windows will be filled, the car will get Abarth 500 Alcantara front seats, Brembo brakes and a new Regazzon performance exhaust. The 1.4 litre 178bhp engine will remain unchanged.

Construction will take place in Italy using a standard Abarth 500 and the all-wheel drive system from a Fiat Panda. The car will be a one-off as a publicity exercise for Scagliarini Motorsports to establish the brand.

2012 Renault Clio Williams abandons old colour scheme

2011-08-03T18:28:00.000+01:00

In 2012 there will be a new version of the famous Renault Clio Williams - a hot hatchback that blended the Clio with Williams F1's engineering and technical knowledge to produce a truly brilliant car. The new version will arrive in 2012 as a celebration of the outgoing Renault Clio. This news follows the announcement that the Williams-Renault partnership will be revived for 2012 in Formula One, so it is likely that this was also a contributing factor.

Since the original car of 1993, the Subaru Impreza has become more noticeably associated with a blue body, gold wheels colour scheme, so it is possible that Renault will consider a new, more futuristic colour scheme while designing the new car.

It could feature subtle hints of the old colour scheme, or perhaps the red, white and blue of the current Williams livery and colour scheme of both the British and French national flags.

New Fiat 500C by Gucci

2011-08-03T18:06:00.000+01:00

The Fiat 500C by Gucci will come as a convertible in either glossy black with shiny chrome-plated trim or white with matt chrome-plated trim.

The soft-top roof will come with a Gucci themed green-red-green pattern and the body-coloured 16-inch alloy wheels will feature double G logos in the centre.

The car will be available from August onwards, costing £17,434.

Maserati GranTurismo gets new Sport Pack

2011-08-03T17:55:00.000+01:00

Maserati's new Sport Pack for the GranTurismo S Automatic will feature a revised exhaust system with a richer sound with a faster automatic gearbox thanks to new MC Auto Shift technology.

Visually the car will also differ from the standard car: Grigio Neptune-design alloy wheels; body-coloured side skirts; a new black grille featuring a red-highlighted Maserati logo and an integrated boot spoiler. The headlights will feature a 'black look' tint and the car will now have oval exhaust pipes.

The power, weight, torque and straight line performance of the car will not change and will be the same as the standard GranTurismo S, but the Sport Pack will add £3,840 to the price.

Ford to reveal 4 new cars at Frankfurt Show

2011-08-03T16:58:00.000+01:00

Ford is set to reveal four new cars for its global market at the Frankfurt Show this September. The only information we know about these models is that at least one will be a 'major new design concept' and another will be the next performance version of the Focus, probably the ST.

The cars will be revealed on Ford's predictably enormous stand at the Frankfurt Show, next to its 2800 square-metre test track where customers will be able to see Ford technology including Active City Stop and Active Park Assist in action.

The new concept(s) will likely reveal the way future Fords will be designed, especially if there happens to be more than one concept on display.

Nissan To Build MX-5 Rival

2011-08-02T12:32:00.000+01:00

Nissan has decided to go ahead with its car to rival Mazda's legendary MX-5. Crucially, though, its car will be electric.

Nissan tried to revive the 200SX in the past but had to give up in 2008. This car would have used the 370Z's platform with a 1.6 litre turbo producing 188bhp that the Juke now uses. The plan has changed however, and the car will now have a completely different name along with its own chassis. This will likely originate from Daimler who agreed to supply Mazda with mid-size chassis that could accommodate anything from four-cylinder engines to V8s.

This chassis will then be used for the new 370Z, GT-R, Infiniti G and a new Infiniti sports car. There are no confirmed details on what engine will power this new car, although it is rumoured that it could use a tuned version of the Leaf's electric motor or a hybrid engine.

The car will definitely be rear-wheel drive though. Mazda have also recruited engineers from Lotus Engineering to help with the chassis, to ensure that the car handles well.

The new car will arrive in 2013 and cost around £20,000

New Mazda CX-5

2011-08-02T12:14:00.000+01:00

The Mazda CX-5 will sit below the CX-7 in Mazda's model range as their entry-level SUV, rivalling the Land Rover Freelander. It will be the first of Mazda's cars to use its SkyActiv eco technologies, giving it CO2 figures of 120g/km. These technologies include a brand new chassis, engine and transmission and it will also be the first of Mazda's cars to use their Kodo design.

The car will be powered by a new 2.2 litre turbodiesel unit that will produce 173bhp and 310lb/ft. This new engine, coupled with the also new six-speed manual transmission give the car its remarkable CO2 figure. Mazda have optimised the compression ratio to 14:1 to make the car 20% more economical than the 2.2 diesel that this engine will replace, but this engine will also come in a higher power format too, along with a range of SkyActiv petrol engines.

The car should arrive in the UK in Spring 2012.

Ford Plans £14k Entry-Level Focus

2011-08-02T11:54:00.000+01:00

Until September of this year, Ford had been selling the Focus Sport (previous generation) alongside its new Focus, but the new entry-level Focus Studio, costing just £13,995 will replace this.

The car will still come with 16-inch sports-style alloy wheels; a body coloured rear spoiler; CD player and radio with USB connectivity; air con; electrically-operated body-coloured mirrors with indicators built in; electric front windows; ESP and capless refuelling.

You will only be able to buy the Studio as a five-door hatchback with a 1.6 litre petrol engine developing 84bhp. It will be available in Panther Black, Moondust Silver and Frozen White.

New Mercedes B-Class Interior Pics Released

2011-08-01T17:43:00.000+01:00

Mercedes' new B-Class will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month as Mercedes' new mini-MPV.

Unsurprisingly the interior borrows features from the rest of the Mercedes range, including the C-Class and E-Class switchgear, the CLS' steering wheel and air vents taken straight from the SLS and SLK.

The overall effect is an interior that makes the car stand out from the others in its class, absolutely reeking of quality and refinement as soon as you enter the cabin. The comfort does not stop there either, as the sheer space inside the car is also said to be class-leading.

The car is based on Mercedes' MFA platform, also used on the new A-Class, GLC and CLC.

The interior can be specced with a leather-stitched dashboard and a touchscreen centre module that will control most of the interior controls.

BMW Reveals 2011 1-Series Prices

2011-08-01T17:28:00.000+01:00

The new 1-Series, due this September, will be available from £19,375. The car will have a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines, ranging from the base 136bhp 116i costing £19,375 to the range topping 184bhp 120d, from £23,490.

The car is quite different from its predecessor - 30 litres more luggage space in the boot; 17mm wider; 85mm longer and a cabin with 21mm extra legroom.

As a BMW, all models are rear-wheel drive and come with either a 6-speed manual or 8 speed automatic gearbox.

Mini Launches Soho Editions

2011-08-01T17:04:00.003+01:00

Mini is launching special Soho editions of its three door Cooper and Cooper D models, following the Soho Clubman edition of 2010.

They will come with White Silver metallic paint, 17-inch Black Star Bullet alloys, Xenon headlights, black interior reflectors and white indicators.

The cars will come with a 3-spoke sports leather steering wheel, Anthracite headlining and Piano Black surfaces on the interior.

Available until March 2012, both models will be priced differently depending on their body style. The 1.6 litre Cooper will cost £16,765 in hatchback form or £19,060 as a convertible. The 1.6-litre Cooper D will cost £18,045 and £20,135 respectively.

2012 Jaguar XE

2011-08-01T16:44:00.001+01:00

Image courtesy of Autocar

This 2012 model will be Jaguar's first new sports car since the E-Type, a full 36 years ago. It is being targeted specifically at the Porsche Boxster, so that in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show it will upstage Porsche's new 911. An ambitious target, but Jaguar is on a bit of a roll at the moment.

The car has been styled so that its appearance reflects the fact that it is made entirely of aluminium. Jaguar has created the car with a lightweight theme, much like the XK, only smaller. The styling has apparently been inspired by the E-Type, rather than being a modern interpretation of it.

An entirely new roadster platform has been created for the XE, as it is shorter than the XK by 450mm, but about as wide. Most of the length has been cut from behind the seats and behind the rear wheels, giving the XE a look distinctly similar to the E-Type that has proved very popular over time - the long bonnet, short boot layout.

To ensure that the convertible is structurally sound and handles very well, Jaguar has riveted and pressed together the aluminium panels and added aluminium extrusions in the centre section of the car, between the bonnet and the boot where convertibles are at their weakest. Relatively the car is still not that lightweight, though - at 1.5 tonnes it is 50kg heavier than the Boxster and for a car this size that is fairly hefty.

Jaguar has not yet revealed whether it will sell a coupe version, as the concept will be a convertible, but cars like the Nissan 370Z have sold well, so the reasoning is there for Jaguar to make one.

The car will use V6 engines, either naturally aspirated or supercharged, although a four-cylinder petrol turbocharged engine could be added as well. The car will have an 8 speed automatic gearbox with start/stop technology, so its range should be impressive. So far there has been no word on a diesel unit.

A high performance model will be added, presumably called the XE-R in keeping with Jaguar's past models, with a V8 engine. However, Jaguar will be revising its model naming so the car may not even be called the XE, it is simply the codename for now.

Jackson Strong's Front Flip

2011-08-01T15:55:00.001+01:00

This is the first ever front flip seen in a motocross competition, courtesy of Jackson Strong. Needless to say he won a gold medal at the X Games for this.

Feature: What is it like to ride in a Le Mans car?

2011-07-30T18:14:00.001+01:00

Unless you're an F1 driver or a Le Mans car driver, a ride in a Palmer Jaguar JP1 is probably the closest you will ever get to experiencing an F1 or Le Mans car. At Brands Hatch you can have the opportunity to see what this is like. I strongly recommend this.

As I waited in the pit lane area at Brands Hatch, I had a look at the machine that would shortly take me around the undulating, twisty circuit that surrounds the pits area. Someone else was having a go before me, and it soon became clear that getting into one of these cars is a bit of a faff - with no doors and the car designed for speed rather than practicality, it is a bit of a squeeze.

You must lower yourself in, suspending yourself above the car with your hands while you swing your legs in and get your lower half into a small gap below the 'dashboard'. I have fairly long legs but when I later had my turn there seemed like an endless amount of room stretching beyond my feet once they were in, which was very surprising - racing cars are generally made to fit short drivers. Ken Block was recently turned away from his first F1 test because he was simply too large to fit into the car.

Still, the passenger was in, and after a fiddly 4 point safety harness had been adjusted for him, the driver dropped the clutch, spun the wheels and left some rubber down on the garage floor where the car had been. Make no mistake, racing cars are very loud, especially in garages. It's brilliant.

The noise of a high revving, screaming V6 announced the Jaguar's arrival at Paddock Hill Bend, which is out of sight from the pit lane, and an instant later a flash of red appeared amongst the greenery at Druids, taking a tight line in and a wide one out of the corner, the driver using all the road to his advantage. What followed was a series of very fast-looking laps from the Jaguar and its clearly terrified passenger, the car finding grip and speed where the fleet of customer driven BMW M3s simply could not. I had never seen an M3 look slow before that day, especially on a track.

The car came into the pit lane at great speed, only slowing down at the last minute to turn into the garage, seemingly expecting the small crowd there to move out of its way - luckily for everyone involved, the crowd dispersed quickly.

It was my turn.

Awkward strapping in sequence out of the way, my driver introduced himself as Mr Tony Trimmer, he then told me to lower my visor as we exited the garage and off we went. As soon as the light was green at the end of the pit lane, we were off. And I mean OFF. The acceleration is immense - not frightening, just very surprising. Enough to make you notice the grab handle and the barriers a bit more than usual, anyway.

Mr Trimmer launched the car into the blind and downhill Paddock Hill Bend - that is when you get scared. You simply have to trust that the driver knows what he's doing, and luckily, he did. What surprises you most as you lap a circuit in one of these cars is the sheer level of grip these things have. I have no idea how fast we were going, there was no speedometer that I was aware of, but as we entered the corners at frankly silly speeds, it just seemed inevitable to me that the car would fail to slow down enough, understeer and skid off into the tyre wall.

But it didn't - it hunkered down and seemed to lower itself like a tiger does before it pounces, gripping effortlessly to the track and launching itself at the next section of the track. It did this over and over again, the g-force moving me around significantly inside the cramped little cabin.

On a faster speed track I think the forces involved would be far too much for anyone who wasn't a racing driver, but the speeds are low enough at Brands Hatch that you notice the force without suffering. It's not painful, but it's certainly noticeable.

If you imagine the fastest, twistiest roller coaster you've ever been on, take that and multiply the experience tenfold and you will have something similar to the experience. If you ever get the chance to ride in something similar, take it, these machines are incredible. Just make sure you're not driving, because the chances are you'll end up in a wall. But before that, it'll be the most exciting and enjoyable crash you'll ever have.

BMW i3 Revealed

2011-07-29T15:53:00.000+01:00

As well as the i8, BMW will launch the i3 in 2013 - an all electric BMW 1-Series sized car. Where the i8 is very low and wide, the i3 is a much more passenger-oriented car, opting for a taller, narrower body for greater practicality - its boot has a 200 litre capacity.

The i3 will have an aluminium chassis with carbon fibre-reinforced plastic as its body shell, much like the i8. For such a small car it is relatively heavy at 1270kg, even with the weight saving body. It will be the smallest model that BMW make, even if you include the Mini, as it only measures 3845mm in length, 2011mm in length and 1537mm in width.

A lithium ion battery will be mounted in the central section of the floor and liquid cooled, giving the car a lower centre of gravity than any other BMW model along with 'agile' handling at city speeds. The electric engine will be mounted over the rear wheels, powering them with a single speed transmission. The electric motor drives the wheels, while a small petrol engine will be packaged alongside it to power a generator that will maintain the charge in the batteries.

Although clearly designed as a city car, the i3's performance is far from lethargic: 0-37mph in just 3.9 seconds, 0-62mph in a respectable 7.9 seconds. Clearly this is a car geared for the city though - its top speed is limited to just 93mph to protect the charge of the battery, despite boasting fairly promising acceleration below this speed.

The i3 does however take far longer to recharge its battery than the larger i8. A full charge will take 6 hours, although it is possible to charge the batteries to 80% in a one hour fast charge. Like the i8 the car does feature brake-energy harvesting technology quite heavily as well as a 'coast mode' which cuts the engine for certain periods of time.

The car's range also suits a city better than a long motorway haul: 80-100 miles is expected on most models, but later an REx model will be added that will use a longer range power-train.

BMW i8 Revealed

2011-07-29T12:39:00.000+01:00

BMW has launched its 'i' sub-brand with two brand new models - the i3 and the i8. The i8 has been designed as a 2+2 coupe: as fast as an M3; more economical than even the best hatchbacks. It will use a four-wheel drive system with its plug-in hybrid engine.

The main engine will be a 1.5 litre petrol engine with direct injection that develops 220bhp and 221lb ft of torque. This will be twinned with the 129bhp, 184lb ft electric engine to produce 349bhp and 491lb ft of torque overall. The car will run on its electric power alone or a combination of the petrol engine and the electric engine based on the state of charge and driving conditions.

The car will be traditionally BMW in that it will use a rear-wheel drive system, but the engine will mounted in the rear, connected to a dual-clutch gearbox. Where the petrol engine powers the rear wheels, the electric engine will be mounted more traditionally in the front of the car, powering the front wheels using a twin-speed transmission.

To give the car its incredible efficiency, BMW has ensured that the motors work very intelligently. In stop/start traffic situations the car will run entirely on its electric motor - pick up speed, or deplete the battery and the petrol engine will engage, enabling four-wheel drive and much more performance.

And this performance? 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds. 50-75mph takes just 4 seconds flat and the car will easily reach its electronically limited top speed of 155mph. The car is not simply quick due to its power alone, though: it is fairly lightweight due to its carobfibre-reinforced plastic body at 1480kg, giving it a power-to-weight ration of 236bhp per tonne.

The electric motor, light weight and lack of aerodynamic drag thanks to its swoopy design give the very fast car very good economy. BMW claims the car will get 104mpg on a combined cycle and 66g/km, and that these figures could get even better in optimal running conditions and an even more improved car by the time the i8 goes on sale in 2013.

The biggest problem with electric motors has always been their recharge rate. However, if all goes to plan at BMW, the i8 will be fully recharged in just 105mins on a standard household socket - leaps and bounds ahead of any other hybird technology on the market.

The estimated range is around 400 miles because the BMW uses a start/stop system along with a multi-stage brake recuperation system.

It should handle well too, as the i8will come with double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension in a car with 50:50 weight distribution and a lower centre of gravity than any other BMW model.

In size it is most comparable to the 3-Series coupe at 4623mm in length, 1955mm in width and 1280mm in height, and with a convertible planned, will the faster and much more economical i8 be a shot in the arm for BMW or the first car in an entirely new sector?

2013 Mercedes CLC Spied

2011-07-29T00:10:00.000+01:00

All photos courtesy of Worldcarfans

Based on the upcoming new Mercedes B-Class, the CLC has taken inspiration from its bigger brother, the CLS. The name certainly isn't definite and Mercedes are still deciding whether to call it the CLA, BLS or stick to the CLC.

The CLC will use Mercedes' new compact platform (codenamed MFA) that will appear in the new B-Class as well as the upcoming GLC. The platform will also be used in short wheelbase form in the new, swoopier A-Class.

Models will come with front-wheel drive, although more highly specced ones including the AMG (yes, that has been confirmed) will have all-wheel drive to better accommodate the inevitably conspicuous amounts of power these models will possess.

A 2.0 litre 207bhp petrol engine with a 145mph top speed and 0-62mph time of 7 seconds will be offered as the first top of the range petrol. There will also be two turbo petrol engines, a 1.6 litre unit appearing in 121bhp and 154bhp forms.

There are two different diesel engines with two different power options available. The base diesel is a 1.8 litre unit that can pump out either 108bhp or 134bhp, whereas the 2.1 litre engine can produce either 168bhp or 201bhp.

The previously mentioned AMG model will be aimed squarely at the VW Golf R, using a twin-turbo 2.0 litre petrol engine developing 296bhp - 29 more than the R. Normal CLC models will have a 6 speed manual gearbox as standard, but the AMG will have a dual-clutch gearbox.

New Renault Twingo

2011-07-28T23:02:00.000+01:00

So far only one picture has been released of the new Renault Twingo, due in January 2012, but it's more than just a good look at the new Twingo - it's Renault's new design language, due to appear on all new models from the new Twingo onwards.

The new Twingo gets curvier, more elegant new bumpers than its predecessor along with sharper looking headlights and a larger Renault badge. The rear light clusters have also been moved slightly higher up the rear of the car and a pair of Juke-style fog lamps have been added.

The car will get the same 1.2 litre TCe engine that was used in the old Twingo, but there will be a RenaultSport version with a larger 1.6 litre engine. The smallest engine on offer will be Renault's new 0.9 litre 3 cylinder petrol.

More details and a full set of pictures will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.