Ferrari always unveils something new and show-stopping each year at the Geneva motor show and this year it is the 488 Pista – its most powerful V8 yet.
Succeeding the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale that formed Ferrari’s V8-engined special series, the 488 Pista is described as a “significant step forward” in both its handling and its technology.
Ferrari says the latter is carried over directly from the brand’s racing programmes and the Pista name is a direct homage to Ferrari’s motorsports heritage. The car has been developed using experience from Ferrari’s involvement in the FIA World Endurance Championship – winning five Manufacturers’ titles and 29 of 50 races in the GTE class in the six years since the series’ inception, and 25 years’ experience running the Ferrari Challenge one-make series.
The Pista weighs 90kg less than its 488 GTB base model and combines this with the biggest power boost ever applied to a special series car. The 50hp increase, taking peak power to 720hp, makes this the most powerful V8 Ferrari road car ever produced – it passes 62mph from rest in 2.85 seconds, and 124mph in 7.6 seconds, going on to a terminal speed of 211mph.
Measures directly adopted from motorsport include powertrain lightening – extending to the exhaust manifolds, crankshaft and flywheel, while also adding titanium con rods and carbon-fibre intake plenums. The air intakes have been moved to the car’s rear spoiler to smooth out the airflow, while the turbochargers come from the 488 Challenge and are fitted with integrated rev sensors.
Downforce increase
Aerodynamic advances on the Pista include a duct on the car’s front derived directly from F1 racing, a bespoke angle for the front diffusers, redesigned vortex generators, a double-kinked rear diffuser and a longer, higher and optimised rear spoiler. Ferrari quotes a 20% increase in downforce.
Meanwhile, the car’s mechanical and electronic controls have been enhanced and combined to particularly improve the Pista’s on-the limit performance, making the car’s full potential easier to both reach and control.
Among much new technology a world first is claimed for the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer – this uses software to adjust the brake pressure at the callipers, improving performance through and when powering out of corners.
Ferrari is not yet quoting a price for the 488 Pista, but industry observers expect it to cost from around £215,000.
Volvo is to launch the XC40, its entry into the compact SUV segment, with the brand’s first three-cylinder engine, with prices starting at under £28,000.
The all-new 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection petrol engine was developed in-house using the same modular design as Volvo’s four-cylinder Drive-E engines. The three-cylinder powertrain (badged T3) comes with a six-speed manual transmission, with an eight-speed automatic option to follow next year.
The new unit has also been designed for integration into plug-in hybrid cars. Hybrid and fully-electric models of the XC40 will be added to the range in due course.
Volvo Drive-E three-cylinder petrol engine
Volvo’s current D3 150hp diesel and T4 190hp petrol engines are also added to broaden the XC40 engine offer.
XC40 customers have a choice of trim levels, including entry-level Momentum and dynamic R-Design versions, plus the luxurious new Inscription trim level.
Inscription trim offers exterior styling choices with a range of 18-inch to 21-inch wheel options, unique skid plates, side window and grille mesh chrome, plus model-specific paint colours.
Inside, Inscription adds a crystal gear knob on automatic models and Driftwood decorative inlays, which Volvo previously introduced in the latest-generation XC60 mid-size SUV.
XC40 customers can further express themselves with accessories such as the new exterior styling kit that offers brushed stainless steel skid plates, lower door trim mouldings and integrated dual tailpipes, and the new accessory roof spoiler.
UK prices for the XC40 T3 range from £27,905 on the road, with Inscription versions available from £30,405. First customer deliveries are expected this summer.
The Fiat500X has been refreshed for 2018 to include upgraded infotainment technology and a simplified line-up, with prices starting under £16,000.
The 500X now offers Fiat’s latest Uconnect system, with a seven-inch touchscreen from the Pop Star trim level up, and offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The system offers Bluetooth interface with hands-free controls, audio streaming, text message reader and voice recognition.
Apple CarPlay allows your iPhone to integrate with the display and native controls of the car, allowing the driver to make calls, play music, send and receive messages, get directions optimised for traffic conditions using Apple Maps and much more.
Android Auto offers access to navigation via Google Maps, with real-time traffic information and lane guidance, as well as Google Play Music and other music services.
Drivers can also stay in touch with Uconnect LIVE services. Users who download the free Uconnect LIVE app from the App Store or Google Play Store to their smartphone can enjoy music streaming with Deezer and TuneIn, news from Reuters, connected navigation with TomTom LIVE and can stay in touch with friends via Facebook and Twitter.
The simplified 500X range is now available in three trim levels, combined with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines.
Fiat is also offering a number of options packs to boost the standard specifications. These include the Cold Weather pack, which comes with a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and heated wiper area, or the City pack to add electrically folding and heated door mirrors and rear parking camera. Marching Green paint is now available exclusively on Cross Plus models.
The Fiat 500X is available to order now priced from £15,550 on-road for the 500X Pop 1.6-litre 110hp petrol, rising to £25,250 for the 500X Cross Plus 2.0-litre 140bhp with all-wheel drive.
BMWis offering the latest in high-tech luxury open-top motoring – if you have a spare £80,000 to spend and are quick off the mark.
The special limited edition BMW M4 Convertible Edition 30 Jahre open-top four-seater has a maximum output of 450hp, a sports exhaust system, adaptive suspension with specific sport mode, and a sports configuration of the stability control system DSC and the Active M differential. Only 30 have been allocated to the UK, at a price of £76,675 on-road.
There is a choice of two body colours: Macao Blue metallic pays tribute to the original high-performance M3 Convertible’s debut over three decades ago; and Frozen Dark Grey Metallic, which is available exclusively in the UK.
Standard features include BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line trims for the twin kidney grille surrounds, the M side gills, the model lettering and the forged M light alloys boasting a star-spoke design. The 20-inch wheels come in a matt Orbit Grey finish offered exclusively for this model.
The Merino leather trim, the colour scheme of which matches the desired vehicle body paintwork, characterises the interior of the BMW M4 Convertible Edition 30 Jahre. In conjunction with the exterior colours Macao Blue or Frozen Dark Grey Metallic, there is a choice of the two-tone colour combinations Black/Fjord Blue and Black/Silverstone.
Other interior features include contrast stitching on the headrests as well as M floor mats with piping in the respective contrasting colour. The interior trim is finished in carbon fibre, which comes as standard.
The logo ‘30 Jahre Edition’ is imprinted both on the door sills and headrests. Additionally, the wording ‘30 Jahre Edition 1/300’ on the passenger side dashboard to give an indication of the exclusiveness of the model.
Power is delivered by a straight six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol engine, which when matched to the optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and the Active M differential gives performance figures of 62mph in 4.3 seconds, a limited top speed of 155mph, emissions at 203 g/km and 32.5 miles to the gallon.
To mark 25 years since it was launched in the UK – and boost falling sales – Vauxhall is offering its Corsa supermini with an attractive headline finance offer from £149 per month, with a £149 initial rental.
The offer is on a personal contract hire (PCH) agreement, for the Corsa Energy 1.4-litre three-door hatch. There are some important terms and conditions to this offer; for all the details, check our analysis of the fine print below.
Despite there being a quarter of a century between the original and current Corsa, the retail price on entry-level models has only increased by £3,850. The first Corsa in 1993 was supplied with a cassette player while the current model offers Apple CarPlay. Its most popular engines have almost doubled in power over the last 25 years, and its interior dimensions have grown significantly.
As Vauxhall’s best-selling model, over two million have been sold in the UK – the equivalent of nine purchases an hour. However, the Corsa has suffered a sales slump in 2017, and 2018 hasn’t started too well either. Vauxhall will be hoping that this and other Corsa offers will help sales pick up against some very tough opposition in the supermini sector.
What’s the fine print on this offer?
This offer is for a specific Vauxhall Corsa model and is not guaranteed to be available on any other specification.
The offer listed on Vauxhall’s website is only an example, and you are entitled to adjust the initial rental, term and mileage to suit your needs (within limits).
Cars have to be ordered and delivered by 31 March 2018.
The annual mileage on the advertised offer is only 5,000 miles. This is well below the average mileage of UK drivers, so make sure your quote reflects your intended usage of the car.
Excess mileage will be charged at 5p/mile, which is £50 per 1,000 miles that you exceed your allowance over the term of the agreement.
A personal contract hire agreement is a rental agreement – you will never own the car or have the option to own the car.
The finance offer is provided by ALD Automotive, trading as Vauxhall Leasing. If a dealer offers you a finance deal from another lender, it is not part of this offer.
As with any car purchase, work out your budget before you visit the showroom and don’t be persuaded to go beyond it – regardless of what the smiling sales executive suggests. They don’t have your best interests at heart, but The Car Expert does!
Porsche has become the first big-name European car company to announce that it is withdrawing all diesel models from sale.
In fact, Porsche has already ceased production of diesel cars, with the last Macan SUV diesels rolling down production lines last week. Diesel-powered models of the Cayenne SUV and Panamera saloon had already been discontinued as part of their last model-year updates.
In a statement to several car enthusiast websites, Porsche cited a “cultural shift” away from diesels, although the company also pointed out: “Diesel engines traditionally play a subordinate role at Porsche.” It is believed that diesel models made up only 15% of all Porsche sales in 2017, with that number likely to keep falling if the manufacturer persisted with a diesel offering.
The very idea of a diesel Porsche has been controversial since the brand first introduced a diesel Cayenne in 2009, with the qualities of a diesel engine seeming to be at odds with Porsche’s sporting ethos.
Tainted by the Volkswagen Dieselgate disgrace
However, it’s not quite as simple as Porsche deciding that there isn’t enough demand to keep offering diesel models. Along with its fellow Volkswagen family brands, Porshce has been locked in battle with German regulators (KBA) for months over emissions-cheating Dieselgate software in its diesel models.
Unlike Porsche’s trademark flat-six engines used in its sports cars, the diesel engines for its SUVs and saloons were simply taken from its Volkswagen parent with minimal tweaking to differentiate them from the same units found in common old Audis and Volkswagens. And this is how Porsche got caught up in Dieselgate.
Porsche has been severely embarrassed by its involvement in the Volkswagen Group’s Dieselgate scandal, with both Macan and Cayenne SUV models caught up in controversy over emissions cheating. The Porsche statement pointedly noted that: “Porsche does not develop or build diesel engines itself,” suggesting that Dieselgate is still a touchy subject in Stuttgart.
The company has had to issue a recall on Cayenne diesel models, and the KBA has refused to approve Audi’s proposed “fix” for the Macan diesel engine, meaning Porsche cannot sell that car and may have to buy back every diesel Macan it has ever built. In the face of these troubles, killing its diesel models altogether was perhaps the easiest solution.
It is believed that Porsche sued sister brand Audi for €200 million in damages last year over manipulated diesel engines supplied by Audi for the Macan and Cayenne. Porsche was also forced to axe its successful Le Mans-winning sportscar racing programme as part of Volkswagen’s show of penance for its Dieselgate disgrace, although it has announced it will enter the all-electric Formula E series in 2019.
In stark contrast to its lack of unique diesel powerplants, the company has been investing heavily in its electrification programme, with the first fully-electric production Porsche model set to be unveiled in the next year or so.
It seems likely that other niche and luxury brands will consider following Porsche’s example in ditching diesel fairly soon. Brands like Maserati and fellow Volkswagen family brand Bentley have only recently started offering diesel models, and may be fairly pragmatic about killing off diesel models as soon as sales start to slide.
The Renault ZOE, Europe’s best-selling electric car, is gaining a power boost thanks to a new motor.
2018 model year ZOEs will be the first Renault to use a new 80kW electric motor, the R110. Adding 12kW, equivalent to 16hp, to the car’s output, it is also described as more versatile than its predecessor – the ZOE is now two seconds quicker between 50 and 75mph.
Renault adds that the R110 motor retains the same 225Nm of peak torque as the existing R90 unit. It will not replace it but be an additional option for ZOE buyers, Renault now offering 44, 57, 60, 68 and 80kW motor options across its electric range. Alongside the ZOE this range includes the Kangoo Z.E. and Master Z.E vans.
Also added to new versions of the ZOE is Android Auto smartphone compatibility through Renault’s R-Link Evolution infotainment system.
A new dark metallic purple body colour joins the range, dubbed Aconite. This will be available for ZOEs specified in Dynamique Nav trim upwards. A new Purple Interior Pack can also be specified – this includes a violet satin finish for the dashboard trim strip and air vent, gear lever base, loudspeaker surrounds, top stitching along with black and violet fabric upholstery.
Renault dealers will start taking orders for the new ZOE variants in the spring, with first deliveries in late summer. Prices have yet to be announced.
What is it?
The Toyota Auris is the latest, revamped version of the brand’s British-built family hatch.Key features
Revised styling, only petrol or hybrid engines, Strong safety spec.
Our view
The Toyota Auris is a competent, ultra-dependable entrant in the family hatch market, and the latest package of updates improves the car in many areas. But this is a competitive sector with some now very high-quality cars in it.
The Auris has to fight harder to be visible against its competitors and having failed to address a totally innocuous image, it doesn’t come up to traditional rivals such as the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra – at a time when they are facing severe competition from new challengers, especially from Korea.
The Toyota Auris is built in the UK.Similar carsFord Focus, Vauxhall Astra, Volkswagen Golf
There is a new Toyota Auris in showrooms – well, sort of.
Toyota’s family hatch has undergone a ‘focusing and streamlining’ in a bid to keep on competing in a family hatch market that remains highly competitive despite the rise of the SUV. However, as this car goes on sale, the rumours grow that this will be the last Auris.
For years its predecessor, the Corolla, was the butt of motoring jokes – especially on TV programmes such as Top Gear. It was derided, not for doing anything particularly badly, just for being so dull. So back in 2007 Toyota decided to launch an all-new car with a new name – Auris.
Now we hear that the next Auris will be – a Corolla. This will happen basically because sales of the Auris are steadily declining and something has to be done to turn them around.
That slide has already seen diesel versions of the car ditched – they didn’t sell even before the politicians endowed diesel engines with pariah status. Now you have a simple two-way choice of a 1.2-litre petrol unit, or the 1.8-litre hybrid – and around three-quarters of Auris buyers choose the latter.
The 1.2 was added to the range in 2015 when the Auris underwent a major revamp. This was much more than a facelift, the new engines joined by body changes including a lower roofline and sharper nose – in the process providing the Auris with a degree of visual style it badly needed. The latest update refines these visuals, again trying to pitch the car more upmarket while adding such niceties as LED daytime running lights.
So why is the Auris – one of just three British-built family hatches on the market today – so unappreciated? To try and find out we are testing the most ‘normal’ version, the 1.2 petrol, eschewing the hybrid. That unit no doubt attracts many motorists for which the electric part is an important buying consideration, and it is only supplied with a less than impressive CVT transmission.
The 1.2-litre engine was added to the range in 2015 when the Auris underwent a major revamp.
Buying and owning a Toyota Auris
The Auris continues to be offered in hatch and estate ‘Touring Sports’ versions, both body styles available with the petrol and hybrid powertrains, and all also offered in all four trim levels – Icon, Icon Tech, Design and Excel.
Standard equipment even on the entry-level Icon grade is impressive. Alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, electric windows all round, leather on the steering wheel and gear knob are included, as is Toyota’s Touch 2 touchscreen, with a six-speaker audio, DAB digital radio, and Bluetooth.
It’s not many entry-level cars that include a reversing camera as standard, and this is just part of a comprehensive safety package that helped earn the Auris a top five-star Euro NCAP safety rating when it was last crash tested, way back in 2013.
Toyota groups its systems under the ‘Safety Sense’ banner and every car includes Lane Departure Alert and the Pre-Collision system – autonomous emergency braking. At speeds between 6 and 49mph, the driver is alerted both visually and audibly if the system detects the likelihood of a collision. If the driver fails to react in time, the system brakes the car.
The Icon Tech grade applied to our test car adds just £150 to the £20,155 price of the entry-level hatch. For this, the specification gains cruise control, navigation and smartphone connectivity.
All of this makes the Toyota Auris competitive against its major rivals, the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, though all three struggle to stay ahead of their now comparable quality rivals from Korea, Kia’s Ceed and the Hyundai i30.
Inside the Toyota Auris
The interior is an improvement on the outgoing model, but rivals do a better job
The Auris revamp has included more work to the interior, building on a major redesign that was part of the 2015 facelift. Again, the aim is to make the surroundings appear more upmarket and sophisticated, and measures taken have included ‘a reduction in the visual mass of the dashboard design’ – i.e. it’s less in your face.
In truth this is a bit of a reversal – the original Auris of 2007 had a rather attractive curvy dash setup but the 2015 replacement was much more slab-like and less attractive.
Other measures in a bid to emphasise the quality includes more consistent illumination of the instruments, and crisper finishes to the detailing.
Leaving aside the driver’s surroundings, the Auris offers a reasonably spacious interior, both in front and back, despite being one of the shortest cars in the class. Boot space is reasonable too, at 350 litres, is comparable with Ford and Vauxhall. Others in the class offer a lot more, however – the Hyundai i30 has 395 litres, the Honda Civic a cavernous 477 litres.
Overall, the interior of the new Auris is an improvement over the outgoing model, but it still doesn’t match up to many of its rivals – the finish is dull, the perceived quality still average. The market is moving quickly in this area and the Auris is not keeping up.
Driving the Toyota Auris
The Auris is a highly competent, if unremarkable, performer on the road.
When the 1.2-litre turbo petrol unit arrived with the 2015 revamp, we were praiseworthy, describing it as “very smooth, whether ticking over or accelerating strongly – so long as one does not ask too much of the lower end of the rev range.”
That opinion holds today – it is a remarkably refined powerplant and, when first moving away, one could almost imagine one is driving the hybrid in full electric mode.
Yet the engine also has some pull – its 10.1 second 0-62mph time is well up at the sharp end when compared to rivals. In terms of economy and emissions the 1.2-litre Auris is in the ball park at 58.9mpg and 112g/km respectively, but whereas just three years ago the new engine endowed the car with a reputation for frugality, rivals have caught up and moved (just) ahead.
The latest revamp has seen work to the suspension, to both improve ride comfort and keep the car more upright in the corners. The power steering has been modified for better feel and feedback, and a swathe of extra soundproofing added – this definitely works, the cabin a very quiet place in which to travel.
All of which adds up to a highly competent performance on the road, if unremarkable. The steering is too light and doesn’t provide the confidence to attack challenging bends with gusto, though body roll is not as pronounced as in former versions while in a straight line the ride quality is very compliant.
Overall, this is not an exciting car to drive at all – but it is very easy to get accustomed to, comfortable to travel in and undemanding to live with.
Summary
The Toyota Auris is a competent package that, for a whole host of buyers, will offer all they need – comfort, reasonable quality, unflustered progress and dependable reliability, day after day after day.
In 2017, however, Toyota sold a mere 14,487 examples of the Auris, of which more than 10,000 were hybrids. In comparison, Ford Focus sales were just shy of 70,000, while Vauxhall sold almost 50,000 Astras. Why?
The problem for the Auris is while it is competent, it is just so devoid of personality. Yes, it is ultra-dependable, but to the point where five minutes after getting out of the car one forgets everything to do with the drive.
Of course, for most motorists, dependability in their daily driver will be all they require – but the sales figures suggest they still look for just a bit more when buying…
The Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUV models can now both be ordered in a new GT Line Premium trim, which adds a bundle of extras over the existing GT Line specification for a discounted price.
On both models, GT Line Premium specification adds keyless entry-and-start functionality and a foot-operated smart electric tailgate. There are also driver seat multi-point massage function, driver and front passenger seat heating and a panoramic sunroof, plus 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.
Customers opting for the new trim grade have the choice of a total of five engines available to specify on the two models.
Peugeot 5008 GT Line Premium
Prices start with the entry-level 1.2-litre 130hp petrol engine, on-the-road at £28,590 for the 3008 and £30,565 for the 5008.
The extra equipment on the new trim level would normally be valued at £2,720 if ordered individually. GT Line Premium prices are £2,125 and £1,850 over the equivalent 3008 and 5008 models in standard GT Line specification, representing theoretical savings of £575 and £870 respectively if you actually wanted all those particular bits.
The new specifications are available to order online and from Peugeot dealers now.
A pledge from Highways England to install additional emergency refuge areas at smart motorway locations where drivers are most likely to stop in live lanes has prompted road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist to encourage drivers to put safety first on motorway journeys.
GEM road safety officer Neil Worth comments: “Motorways may be the fastest roads we use, but they are statistically also the safest; there are fewer collisions on motorways than on other roads.
“However, the high speeds used on motorways mean that when there is a crash, it is likely to be more serious. That’s why on average around one in 50 motorway collisions is fatal, compared with one in 70 on all other roads.
“We are also advising drivers to ensure they know the rules and signs relating to smart motorways, which are becoming more commonplace,” added Neil, who says that understanding how a smart motorway works, and knowing what to do if you break down in a stretch of smart motorway, could well prove a lifesaver.
“A serious danger is when there is insufficient time and space between vehicles travelling at high speed. As well as this, distracted drivers – using a mobile phone or device, re-setting the satnav or attempting to eat and drink at the wheel – pose a risk to themselves and those around them.
“Poor lane discipline brings risks – for example, driving in the middle lane when the left-hand lane is empty, or changing lanes without proper observations or signalling. This also applies around junctions when drivers are leaving or joining the motorway. Too often drivers make last-minute decisions, either deliberately or unintentionally, and end up cutting across lanes of traffic to get off the motorway or into the correct lane if the carriageway is about to split.
“Busy urban stretches of motorway are particularly risky, as there are often several junctions and intersections across short distances.
“It’s also important to remember that there are risks when traffic is light. In these situations, there is little or nothing to engage the attention of a driver on a long journey. As a result, alertness can drop and concentration can dip, making it easy to miss a developing hazard.
GEM’s 10 tips for safer motorway driving
Plan your journey so you know when to join and leave the motorway. You’re far less likely to be taken by surprise when it comes to choosing the correct lane at junctions and intersections.
Choose a safe speed and use the left-hand lane of the motorway unless you are overtaking.
Check your following distance by the ‘two-second rule’. Watch the vehicle in front go past a signpost, under a bridge or past some other reference point. Then speak out: “Only a fool breaks the two-second rule.” If you pass the same point before you have finished the sentence, then you are too close.
Double your following distance in wet weather.
Scan the road a long way ahead so that you have early sight of developing hazards.
Make regular mirror checks. If you observe a fast-approaching vehicle, then take steps to move out of its way. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors and blind spots, and indicate your intention to move either left or right. Only commence the manoeuvre when you know you can complete it safely.
Avoid any sort of distraction. No mobile device, no interfering with stereo or satnav, no eating or drinking. Give 100% of your attention to driving.
If you are about to miss your motorway exit, don’t make last-minute risky manoeuvres to leave the motorway. Continue to the next junction and turn around, or follow the revised satnav instructions.
Familiarise yourself with the rules and signs that apply to smart motorways, so that you stay safe and avoid a ticket for speeding or using a closed lane.
Know what to do if you break down in a stretch of smart motorway is a big help for road safety. Then you will know what to do if you experience a breakdown yourself, and will also understand what’s happening if another vehicle breaks down.
SsangYong has announced new 0% finance packages on two of its SUV models, the Tivoli and Korando.
The interest-free offers are on a conditional sale agreement (very similar to a hire purchase) and requires a 30% deposit.
The offer applies to all Tivoli and Tivoli XLV (the extended model), and to Korando SE models. Cars have to be ordered and delivered by the end of March, so you can pick up a 67-plate car this month or an 18-plate version of the same car in March.
What about the fine print?
These offers are for selected new SsangYong models only.
The offers listed on the SsangYong website are only examples, and you are entitled to adjust the deposit and term to suit your own needs (within limits).
Cars have to be ordered and delivered by 31 March 2018.
The finance offer is provided through SsangYong dealers by GMAC. If a dealer offers you a finance deal that does not match these details or from another lender, it is not part of this offer.
A 0% APR offer means that you should pay absolutely no interest or fees over the course of the agreement (although penalty fees may still apply). The monthly payment should be easy to work out, as it should simply be the total amount borrowed divided by the number of months in the agreement.
The finance offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer, although you are still free to negotiate the best possible price for the car with your dealer.
As with any car purchase, work out your budget before you visit the showroom and don’t be persuaded to go beyond it – regardless of what the smiling sales executive suggests. They don’t have your best interests at heart, but The Car Expert does!
The rising threat of criminals using GPS/GSM jamming technology to block systems designed to track stolen cars has become an issue for car owners when making security system choices.
Tracker has launched the new S5 Plus, a recovery system that’s resilient to jamming. The system combines VHF with GPS and GSM technology, which makes it resilient to jamming.
Vehicles fitted with a Tracker S5 Plus unit also benefit from Tracker’s Mesh network. This patented network technology enables an activated device (as a result of theft) to be silently located by using other passing vehicles fitted with a Tracker device, helping police quickly trace and recover more vehicles than ever.
The new system is accredited by independent safety and security experts Thatcham and meets the insurance requirements of the new Thatcham S5 standard, which means the S5 Plus could potentially see users benefit from lower car insurance premiums.
The Tracker S5 Plus includes Europe-wide coverage with unauthorised driver alerts, using driver ID tags, as well as notifications of a low or disconnected battery. A 24/7 alert monitoring centre ensures a rapid response to any report of vehicle theft.
The S5 Plus also comes with the dedicated Tracker Touch app, bringing a number of features to the owner’s fingertips, including ‘find my car’, theft reporting and crime rating for an area before parking.
A rare DVLA number plate ‘TAX 1′ is expected to fetch up to £100,000 when it is auctioned next week – but drivers thinking about buying a personalised plate are being urged to consider the insurance implications.
The plate, which may appeal to tax experts or taxi firms, is likely to be one of the most expensive ever sold. And while a registration plate costing tens of thousands of pounds will be beyond most people’s finances, personal plates are growing in popularity.
Personalised registration numbers from the DVLA start at £250 and, in 2016-17 the DVLA reportedly sold about 375,000 personalised plates.
The perfect private plate for a 4×4?
Is your private plate covered by your car insurance?
But, GoCompare car insurance is warning drivers thinking about buying a personalised plate that if their vehicle is stolen or written off, the private plate may be at risk.
The company analysed 302 comprehensive car insurance policies, which revealed only 19 specifically cover the loss of a personalised plate if the car was lost or stolen. Of those providing cover, the sum insured varied widely from £200 to unlimited. 16 insurers cover a financial loss of £5,000 or more.
When an insurance claim is made for the cost of a car, the insurer owns both the vehicle and the registration number assigned to it. This also applies to personalised plates.
The claimant can repurchase the registration number from the insurer, if it still owns it, for no more than the settlement price. But, if the vehicle has already been disposed of by the insurer, then all rights to the registration plate go with the vehicle.
If a car with a personalised plate is stolen and not recovered, its owner will have to wait 12 months to get the number plate back. To reclaim the personalised plate, they will also have to prove that the car had a valid MOT and tax at the time of theft.
Similarly, motorists who’ve had a car with a personalised number plate written off have to arrange for the number to be transferred to another vehicle or retained on a certificate in sufficient time before the claim is settled.
Registration numbers move with the vehicle, not the owner
Registration numbers move with the vehicle they are assigned to, not the person who bought it. So, if the vehicle is written off and the car scrapped – the number plate can disappear with it.
The policyholder will need to contact the DVLA and their insurer to let them know that they want to keep the plate. The insurer will then write a letter of non-interest and send it to the DVLA.
The registered keeper will have to pay a retention fee to keep the plate if they don’t have another vehicle to transfer it to.
Matt Oliver from GoCompare commented: “When you register a personalised plate to a vehicle, you need to tell your insurer immediately, otherwise your policy could be invalidated. And if you’ve paid a lot for a registration number, you should consider whether it’s properly insured.”
The new Kia Ceed has been revealed ahead of its public debut at the Geneva motor show on 6th March, the Korean brand describing it as ‘one of the most innovative cars in its class.’
Kia aims to move the Ceed upmarket and to take a larger slice of the family hatch market, targeting top sellers the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. Efforts to make its car more recognisable include changing the name, Ceed replacing the previous and often mis-spelt cee’d.
Two of the three planned Ceed body styles will be unveiled at the Geneva show, the five-door hatch and an as-yet unnamed model which is expected to be the estate. A range-topping shooting brake variant is likely to join the range in 2019 and is expected to be based on the Proceed concept displayed at the Frankfurt show in September 2017.
Kia is heavily promoting the European credentials of the new Ceed, the car having been designed at the brand’s European design centre in Frankfurt, Germany and engineered exclusively using European roads as the benchmark.
The car is built on Kia’s new ‘K2’ platform, and is 2cm wider and 2cm lower than the outgoing model. Its wheelbase remains at 2.6m, the front overhang shortened by 2cm and rear overhang extended by 2cm. The boot is larger at 395 litres and Kia promises more front headroom, a lower driving position and an increase in shoulder room for rear passengers.
Describing the launch of the original cee’d in 2006 as a watershed moment for the brand, Kia Motors Europe CEO Michael Cole says that the all-new Ceed offers a truly contemporary and recognisable design, and advanced technologies to enhance comfort, convenience and safety.
“Its new engines and suspension will make it more enjoyable and engaging to drive, and will continue to offer the same high quality that customers expect from Kia,” Cole adds.
The Ceed will be the first Kia to offer ‘level two autonomy’ through its ‘Lane Following Assist’ technology and Kia adds that a comprehensive range of advanced driver assistance systems will be available for the car.
The engine line-up will also be new, and will include a 140hp 1.4-litre petrol engine and an efficient new 1.6-litre diesel.
The new Ceed will go on sale first in left-hand drive European markets, in the second quarter of the year. Kia is yet to announce when the first right-hand-drive versions will arrive in showrooms.
Thousands of motorists up and down the country will be visiting car showrooms in the coming weeks to make sure they are one of the first on the road with the new 18-plate registrations that start in March.
To ensure that buyers get the best deal and don’t make any obvious mistakes when selecting a new purchase, automotive dispute resolution provider, The Motor Ombudsman has a simple “ABC” formula to follow.
The main purpose of the formula is to encourage consumers to look at, and work through, the key considerations when deciding on a purchase, as there are many factors to take into account when doing so. These range from how to choose a retailer, to confirming that the right documentation is available with the vehicle when it arrives.
The Motor Ombudsman’s ABC formula:
Always make sure that the independent garage or franchised dealer is accredited to The Motor Ombudsman’s Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)-approved Motor Industry Vehicle Sales Code of Practice.
This will give you the peace of mind that the seller of the car is meeting the highest of standards of service, and that they are signed up to an impartial Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider, such as The Motor Ombudsman, should something go wrong.
All businesses adhering to the Code can be found at the click of a button on The Motor Ombudsman’s online Garage Finder.
Budgeting is key when selecting a make, model and fuel type. Take time to do the necessary research and keep to what you can afford in terms of the deposit, any long-term repayment plans, and the running and maintenance costs.
Check the pricing and specification of the vehicle carefully upon ordering and receiving the car, and that all paperwork is present and accurate. This includes finance and servicing agreements, invoices, receipts, warranty and insurance policies, as well as relevant registration documents.
Bill Fennell, managing director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “A car is often a significant financial commitment for many, and there’s a lot of different pieces of information to digest for consumers throughout the entire purchase process.
“Therefore, to steer motorists in the right direction as we approach the new registration, we have introduced a simple formula for motorists to follow as a quick reference guide. This is so as to create a buying and subsequent ownership experience which is as straightforward as possible.”
Three out of four motorists buying a new car on finance are not convinced they are getting the best deal; almost all of them admit that they don’t fully understand the small print, and two-thirds end the experience dissatisfied.
These and other results from a survey by online car finance broker FairSquare echo the message that The Car Expert has been spreading for years – that car buyers do not understand car finance and they do not trust car dealers to give them a fair deal.
The survey of more than 2,000 car owners found a distinct lack of understanding, trust and appeal when it comes to approaching car finance products and the car buying experience.
89% of car buyers don’t fully understand the ‘small print’ of their car finance deal
Buyers financing cars with no idea of how finance works
Last year, more than three-quarters of all cars bought in the UK were purchased with finance products. However, 89% of buyers did not fully understand the ‘small print’ of their car finance deal – such as what happens if the stipulated mileage is exceeded – and 60% admitted signing up without knowing what the consequences may be.
Some 32% were not aware that multiple applications for credit can adversely affect personal credit scores; 73% of buyers felt unsure as to whether they were being offered fair deals or not; 66% were dissatisfied after completing a car purchase and 37% said they would consider buying their next car online – up from 25% in 2016.
Asked to rate the stress of buying a car most people put it above experiences such as a visit to the dentist, a visit to the doctor, Christmas shopping, using public transport during commuter peak times, visiting in-laws and watching a horror movie.
The least favourite elements of car buying were:
visiting dealerships and forecourts
filling out lengthy requests for personal information, and having to repeat the process with each different provider
comparing prices of the same vehicle and finance offers from different retailers
feeling pressurised into a sale without time to properly consider
feeling that the finance offered may not be the best but one that pays the supplier the greatest commission
inspecting used vehicles
Paul Bartley, CEO of FairSquare, says: “These results paint a pretty disappointing and unsatisfactory picture of the car buying and financing landscape in the UK.
“Even if consumers feel they are paying the right price for the car, there is clearly a lack of understanding of the finance products available to them, together with the benefits and risks associated with those products. Access to like-for-like comparisons is very challenging and time-consuming.”
Ford has announced a limited run of 50 Heritage Edition Focus RS models, priced at £39,895 and exclusive to the UK market, before production stops altogether in April this year.
Each will be finished in a unique Tief Orange body colour, along with grey brake callipers behind black forged alloy wheels and the RS Edition’s trademark contrasting black door mirrors and rear spoiler. They also come equipped with partial leather Recaro seats, privacy glass, a sunroof, rear parking sensors, power-fold door mirrors, cruise control with speed limiter and heated steering wheel.
All Focus RS Edition models feature a front mechanical Quaife limited-slip differential (LSD) while the Heritage Edition also gains the dealer-fitted FPM375 Mountune upgrade, increasing overboost power from 350hp to 375hp and torque from 470Nm to 510Nm, thanks to a high-flow induction kit, uprated turbo re-circulating valve and calibration.
The mechanical LSD limits engine torque delivered to a wheel that has reduced traction on the road surface and redistributes torque to the wheel with more traction to counteract the wheelspin that can hamper acceleration and stability.
By controlling the torque delivered to each front wheel, the Focus RS Edition’s Quaife LSD enables drivers to exploit the power delivered by its 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine in high-performance driving situations.
Other specification includes variable all-wheel drive, which adjusts the front-to-rear torque distribution to suit the current driving situation, dynamic torque vectoring – which uses electronically-controlled clutch packs on the rear axle to send up to 100% of the available torque to either rear wheel and torque vectoring control (TVC) – which automatically applies small amounts of brake force to limit wheelspin at the front axle.
Andy Barratt, chairman and managing director, Ford of Britain, said: “The RS brand is hugely important to Ford and is recognised across the globe; however it has a special place in the hearts of UK Ford fans.
“This latest model is the best RS we’ve ever produced, so it seems a fitting tribute as we approach its 50th anniversary.”
The 2017 Mini Cooper hatch (petrol manual), with an average retail price of £16,112, was the fastest-selling used car in January according to data from Auto Trader, taking an average of just 17 days to leave forecourts.
Second and third place on the national top 10 list were taken by the 2016 Fiat 500X (diesel manual – £11,143) and 2015 Nissan Qashqai (diesel manual – £14,944), both of which took on average an extra 10 days (27) to sell over the MINI.
The Auto Trader data showed that hatchbacks dominated the used car market in the first month of the year; not only did seven make an appearance on the national top 10 list, but out of the 13 regions and countries tracked, nine featured a hatchback as their respective fastest selling.
Despite the disappointing performance recorded in the new car market last month, in terms of regional desirability, used diesels got this year off to a solid start.
As well as four making their way on to the national top 10 list, seven topped the regional tables as the fastest selling used car in January:
East Midlands: 2014 BMW 5 Series; diesel automatic
According to Auto Trader’s pricing research, used diesel cars are holding their value and are, in fact, growing. On average, a second-hand diesel cost £14,405 in January, which was a £777 increase on the same period in 2017. On a like-for-like basis, this represents a respectable 3% year-on-year growth. This ties in with the latest used car sales data published this week, which showed that used diesel sales had increased by 3% during 2017.
Completing the top ten were: the 2016 Vauxhall Corsa (diesel automatic – £7,370), 2016 Ford Ka (petrol manual – £6,530), 2017 Skoda Kodiaq (petrol automatic – £28,694), 2015 Peugeot 3008 (diesel automatic – £11,725), 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco (petrol manual – £8,369), 2016 Nissan Micra (petrol automatic – £8920) and the Toyota Auris (electric hybrid automatic – £12,238).
The Fiat 500X was also in high demand in showrooms across the country during January
The second-generation BMW X4 will debut at the Geneva show in March – just four years after the original went on sale.
The launch of a new version of the X3 has provided BMW with the opportunity to reinvent its coupé SUV – what the brand calls a ‘Sports Activity Coupé’. The X3 and X4 are built together at the brand’s SUV plant in Spartanburg, USA.
Dealers are already opening order books for the new car, at prices starting from £42,900, and hope it will take sales from a growing number of rivals including the Porsche Macan, Mercedes-Benz GLC and particularly the Range Rover Evoque.
The Mk2 X4 promises a better on-road performance, thanks to an extensively upgraded and lighter all-wheel-drive chassis. This has been made possible by using BMW’s latest platform, also employed under the X3.
It is a larger car than its predecessor – 8cm longer, 3cm wider and with the wheelbase stretched by 5cm. It is also lower, but only by 3mm, but with the swept-back body design emphasising the car’s coupé pretentions. BMW adds that the X4 boasts a perfect 50:50 weight distribution for handling prowess.
Initially, the X4 will be offered with four engine options, including two new M Performance models. These will be combined with bolder body styling to present a more performance-pitched image.
Three of the engines are diesels – 190hp 20d, 265hp 30d and the M40d with 326hp. The currently sole petrol option is also the most powerful, the M40i with 360hp and a 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds.However, two more mainstream units are expected to join the range with 186 and 255hp respectively.
BMW has also gone to the X3 for the X4’s interior, the two being virtually identical. Redesigned sports seats offer a slightly higher driving position as part of a bid to take the car upmarket. The new X4 is being pitched as a more premium car, the starting price increased by some £4,000-plus over the outgoing model.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has reported that used car sales slipped by just over 1% for 2017 compared to the record levels of 2016.
More than 8.1 million used cars changed hands in 2017, which includes everything from cars being swapped with families (parents to kids, husbands to wives and so on), through cheap private sale £250 bangers all the way to dealer demonstrators and pre-registered cars that are maybe only weeks old.
This still makes 2017 the second-highest year on record for used car sales, but looking at the results across the course of the year, it’s clear that the patterns have been following new car sales.
The year in review – a fast start, flagging middle, faded at the end
The year started very strongly for used car sales, with the first three months seeing more than 3% growth on the previous year’s record levels. However, like new cars, that was then followed by three consecutive quarters of falling sales. The second quarter(April-June) saw used car sales fall by under 1%, then a 2% drop in the third quarter (July-September), and finally a 5% slide in the last three months (October-December).
Looking ahead to 2018, this slowdown is likely to continue, although the used car market is expected to continue pulling sales from new cars as appears to have been happening for the last nine months. With road tax for most new diesel cars set to increase in April, we may see an even greater shift of diesel customers moving away from new cars and into used cars.
Dealer financing of used cars was at record levels in 2017, with more than £15 billion borrowed by used car buyers through dealer-sourced car finance. As personal contract purchase (PCP) offers continue to become more popular for used car finance, this is expected to keep on growing.
Petrol and diesel still make up 99% of used car sales
Within the overall figures, petrol remains the most popular fuel, despite a 4% decline in sales, with 58% of the market. Diesel sales increased by 3% over the course of the year, holding just under 41% of the market. This suggests that a significant number of potential new diesel sales have shifted to used diesel cars instead, as buyers steer away from investing big money in new diesel cars.
It was a year of strong growth (albeit based on tiny overall numbers) for alternatively-fueled vehicles (AFVs). Petrol-electric hybrid sales increased by 22% and pure electric vehicles increased by 77% as more of these cars hit the used car market. Between them, however, AFVs make up less than 1% of the overall used car market, with the other 99% being petrol and diesel cars. With new car registrations now regularly showing more than 5% market share for AFVs, this will trickle down to the used car market soon enough.
To absolutely no-one’s surprise, given that it’s been the most popular new car for about a million years, the Ford Fiesta was the top-selling used car of 2017. In second place was its larger sister, the Ford Focus, with the Vauxhall Corsa third.
Inevitably, the SMMT couldn’t resist taking a shot at the government over new car registrations, even though it was a used car press release. Unfortunately, the car industry’s lobby group sounds increasingly out of touch with what consumers actually want from their cars, and apparently has no plans to start listening anytime soon.
British sports car manufacturer Aston Martin has completed the first phase of the new factory it is building in south Wales.
Work began in late 2016 to convert three ‘super hangars’ at the former RAF St Athan, close to Cardiff, into a production facility for Aston Martin’s new SUV, the DBX.
Now the first phase, which has seen the creation of the customer and staff reception areas, administration and management offices and the employee restaurant, is finished.
The major conversion on the 90-acre site – significantly larger than Aston Martin’s existing plant at Gaydon in the Midlands – started in April 2017. Under phase two, the three enormous hangars are being redeveloped into the new manufacturing facility ahead of production of the SUV, which is planned to start in 2019.
Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer is excited by progress at the brand’s new Welsh facility. Photo: Andrew Charman
Doubling the company
Production numbers of the DBX are predicted at between 4,000 and 5,000 a year which will effectively double the brand’s annual output and make the car one of the most significant introductions in Aston Martin’s history. The St Athan facility will have an annual production capacity of 7,000 and other models are known to be under consideration for the site, possibly including a revival of the Lagonda badge.
Aston Martin chose St Athan for its third plant after viewing and analysing 20 potential global locations. The Gaydon headquarters will remain as the home of the brand’s sports cars, while its historic home of Newport Pagnell has returned to manufacture with the track-only DB4 GT Continuation,
The brand’s arrival at St Athan is creating up to 750 new jobs – a series of recruitment events in the region resulted in more than 3,000 applications.
According to Aston Martin president and CEO Andy Palmer, the St Athan facility is really starting to take shape. “With the completion of this first phase, it is another milestone on our journey in Wales, and an important part of Aston Martin’s Second Century Plan – work is also well underway on phase II, the rest of the Aston Martin team and I are excited for when St Athan joins our Gaydon and Newport Pagnell facilities as a centre of hand-crafted manufacturing excellence,” Palmer said.
The super hangars dominate the new home of Aston Martin in Wales.
MG has announced a seven-year/80,000-mile warranty on its new ZS compact SUV model, along with finance offers for the rest of the first quarter of the year.
The new car warranty on the ZS has increased from the previous five years/60,000 miles. The new offer does not apply to MG’s other models, the MG3 hatch and GS SUV.
In addition, MG is offering both personal contract purchase (PCP) and conditional sale (CS) deals on the ZS range.
The PCP offer is based on a 5.9% APR representative rate, and comes with a £750 deposit contribution. The CS offer is set at 0%APR, which means zero interest and zero fees.
What about the fine print?
These offers are for selected new MG models only.
The offers listed on the MG website are only examples, and you are entitled to adjust the deposit and term to suit your own needs (within limits).
Cars have to be ordered and delivered by 31 March 2018.
The finance offer is provided through MG dealers by MG Financial Services, which is a trading name for Vauxhall Finance. If a dealer offers you a finance deal that does not match these details or from another lender, it is not part of this offer.
A 0% APR offer means that you should pay absolutely no interest or fees over the course of the agreement (although penalty fees may still apply). The monthly payment should be easy to work out, as it should simply be the total amount borrowed divided by the number of months in the agreement.
The 5.9% APR advertised rate for the PCP offer is a representative rate. That basically means you may not be offered finance at that rate based on your personal circumstances, but at last half of all customers must be offered that rate.
The PCP examples on the MG website are based on an annual mileage of 8,000. Make sure you set an annual mileage that is suitable for you.
The finance offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer, although you are still free to negotiate the best possible price for the car with your dealer.
As with any car purchase, work out your budget before you visit the showroom and don’t be persuaded to go beyond it – regardless of what the smiling sales executive suggests. They don’t have your best interests at heart, but The Car Expert does!
DS Automobiles has announced yet another latest limited edition version of its ageing DS 3 hatchback, called the Black Lézard.
Costing £19,545 on-road, the DS 3 Black Lézard is distinguished by a hand-finished roof effect inspired by reptile skin and 17-inch black diamond-cut alloy wheels, and also comes with an exclusive leather and Black Lézard-style clutch bag/wallet.
The Lézard custom texture used on the roof panel also appears on the top edges of the doors and rear spoiler. The choice of body colours includes Perla Nera Black, Platinum Grey, Ink Blue and Whisper Purple.
Specification includes LED headlights, electrically heated and folding door mirrors, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic headlights and wipers, gloss-black A-pillars, while the inside is adorned with Basalt Black leather upholstery, leather steering wheel and gear knob and a gloss black dashboard.
The DS 3 Black Lézard is available only with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, driven through a five-speed manual gearbox.
Infiniti has upgraded the specifications of both the Q30 and QX30 for 2018 along with the introduction of a new cross product global grading structure, featuring the trim names of Pure, Luxe and Sport.
Prices start at £20,600 for the Q30 1.6t petrol version with the Sport repositioned to offer even better value than before from £26,060.
The entry grade Pure (previously SE) comes equipped with standard features such as forward collision avoidance, automatic headlamps, LED running lamps, Bluetooth audio streaming and multi-function leather steering wheel.
Customers who want to choose a more complete package can either go in the comfort direction, called Luxe or into sporty models, dubbed Sport. Both grades offer more engine choices, along with InTouch navigation, 18-inch (Luxe) and 19-inch (Sport) alloy wheels, dual rectangular chrome exhaust finishers and lane departure warning as standard features.
Specification on both includes DAB radio, intelligent cruise control and blind spot warning. Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection helps make it very easy to park, and if that is not enough, auto park uses twelve sensors to measure the dimensions of the parking spot and help steer the vehicle into it; the driver only needs to apply the accelerator and brakes.
The Q30 Sport and Sport tech versions feature specific design elements such as sports bumpers with a diffuser at the back. A 2cm lower ride height features on the 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engine versions.
The QX30 will only feature in Luxe and Luxe Tech grades but offers design updates, with optional 19-inch alloy wheels attributing to a more commanding look.
Both Q30 and QX30 offer a set of connected services, such as “InTouch Tracking” to track the car in case it was stolen, and “My Car Finder” to see the whereabouts of the car on a map and provide a route back to its location.
The new Q30 and QX30 are available to order now and will be in showrooms as of March 2018.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan will arrive on UK roads some time in 2018 – but its makers are refusing to call the newcomer an SUV.
Rolls-Royce has officially confirmed the name of the new model, but nowhere in the press release does the phrase SUV appear, the new model described instead as an “all-new, high-bodied car.” Already several observers have pointed out that this sounds like the kind of vehicle that is banned from bridges in strong winds…
Expected to be a direct rival to the Bentley Bentayga, the new Rolls-Royce will be built in Britain at the brand’s plant in Goodwood, Sussex.
It is named after the Cullinan Diamond, extracted from a mine deep in South Africa’s Magaliesberg Mountains in 1905. At 3,106 carats, this was the largest flawless diamond ever discovered. It was split into nine stones and two of them were incorporated into the UK crown jewels.
According to Rolls-Royce CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, the name emphasises many aspects of the car, including endurance, solidity, rarity and absolute luxury.
Rolls-Royce first announced its intention to build the car three years ago, almost immediately dubbing it ‘Project Cullinan’ but insisted at the time that the name might not be the final choice.
On view – to a degree
In December 2016 a camouflaged version of the car began public testing, which included a cold-weather traction and durability programme inside the Arctic Circle, followed by a hot-weather equivalent in the Middle East. The car has also been seen testing on the Nurburgring circuit in Germany.
The Cullinan is predicted to be powered by an updated version of the 6.8-litre petrol engine used in the Rolls-Royce Phantom. A plug-in hybrid powertrain is also thought to be in future plans for the car, but not a diesel.
However its makers decide to describe it, the Cullinan is expected to become the most expensive SUV on the market, industry observers predicting that prices will start at around £300,000.
Measures directly adopted from motorsport include powertrain lightening – extending to the exhaust manifolds, crankshaft and flywheel, while also adding titanium con rods and carbon-fibre intake plenums. The air intakes have been moved to the car’s rear spoiler to smooth out the airflow, while the turbochargers come from the 488 Challenge and are fitted with integrated rev sensors.
Describing the launch of the original cee’d in 2006 as a watershed moment for the brand, Kia Motors Europe CEO Michael Cole says that the all-new Ceed offers a truly contemporary and recognisable design, and advanced technologies to enhance comfort, convenience and safety.
“Its new engines and suspension will make it more enjoyable and engaging to drive, and will continue to offer the same high quality that customers expect from Kia,” Cole adds.
The Ceed will be the first Kia to offer ‘level two autonomy’ through its ‘Lane Following Assist’ technology and Kia adds that a comprehensive range of advanced driver assistance systems will be available for the car.
The engine line-up will also be new, and will include a 140hp 1.4-litre petrol engine and an efficient new 1.6-litre diesel.
The new Ceed will go on sale first in left-hand drive European markets, in the second quarter of the year. Kia is yet to announce when the first right-hand-drive versions will arrive in showrooms.
It is a larger car than its predecessor – 8cm longer, 3cm wider and with the wheelbase stretched by 5cm. It is also lower, but only by 3mm, but with the swept-back body design emphasising the car’s coupé pretentions. BMW adds that the X4 boasts a perfect 50:50 weight distribution for handling prowess.
Initially, the X4 will be offered with four engine options, including two new M Performance models. These will be combined with bolder body styling to present a more performance-pitched image.
Three of the engines are diesels – 190hp 20d, 265hp 30d and the M40d with 326hp. The currently sole petrol option is also the most powerful, the M40i with 360hp and a 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds.However, two more mainstream units are expected to join the range with 186 and 255hp respectively.
BMW has also gone to the X3 for the X4’s interior, the two being virtually identical. Redesigned sports seats offer a slightly higher driving position as part of a bid to take the car upmarket. The new X4 is being pitched as a more premium car, the starting price increased by some £4,000-plus over the outgoing model.
According to Rolls-Royce CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, the name emphasises many aspects of the car, including endurance, solidity, rarity and absolute luxury.
Rolls-Royce first announced its intention to build the car three years ago, almost immediately dubbing it ‘Project Cullinan’ but insisted at the time that the name might not be the final choice.
