The Infiniti Emerg-e at Geneva Motor Show

Published by in Car News on May 1st, 2012

The Geneva Motor Show saw some amazing cars this year with the Infiniti Emerg-e being one of them. The company have yet again made a great impact following the showcase of the Etherea and the Essence at the previous two Geneva Motor Shows.

For future development

Nissan’s luxury brand is currently going through a transitional period where the brand is going through a revamp. The Emerg-e was a great way of showcasing exactly what the company has to offer for the future. It is a concept vehicle being an environmentally friendly sports car. Not many are around at the minute, with a host of luxury brands developing such technology for the future.

Lithium ion batteries

The extended electric powertrain is based upon the Lotus Evora. The lithium ion batteries within are electrically charged through a plug which charges two electric motors which are capable of achieving 201 BHP each and 1000Nm or torque towards the rear wheels.

Acceleration

In just 30 seconds the car can reach 0 – 62 MPH and can hit the top speed of 130 MPH.

10 hours to charge

In 10 hours the car can be fully charged with a driving range of 300 miles.

Carbon emissions

Carbon emissions statistics of the vehicle are just 55g/km of C02 which is a very impressive figure.

Wheelbase

Compared to the Lotus Evora, the Emerg-e contains a wheelbase that is much longer, lower and wider.

Low weight

The car features of carbon fibre and aluminium ensure that the car reaches a kerbweight of just 1,598kg.

Inside the cabin

Sitting inside anyone would be able to tell that they are sitting amongst pure luxury and an expensive car. The dash board is made of carbon material with a panoramic sunroof enhancing the experience of driving the car.

Nissan want to target the younger market with their Infiniti brand. Their sense of style on delivering a great performance in their cars and a wonderful style will go a long way in doing so.

The concept car may go into production. Rumours claim that the Emerg-e is indeed production ready. Infiniti will put the car into production depending on the response that they received at the Geneva Motor Show. Interested? Prices may exceed the £150,000 if the car is eventually sold. We would certainly like to see the car hit the UK roads but it is very unlikely that the car will be produced in our opinion.

 

 

 

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A look back at the Geneva Motor Show – The Renault ZOE

Published by in Car News on April 30th, 2012

Renault made an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show with the Zoe model being displayed on their stand. It certainly helped people give a little more respect to the troubled car maker.

£13,650 after the £5,000 grant

The stunning electric vehicle will have a staggering range of 130 miles. After the Government EV grant of £5,000, the car will cost £13,650. Sales will start in October.

130 mile range

The fact the car has a range of 130 miles is in fact a new record for a production electric car. However that is only achieved when the car is being driven on the motorway in the most economical fashion possible. Driving around in the city means that the mileage will be cut down to 62 it has been estimated.

Quick charge

The battery can be charged all the way up to 80 per cent in only 30 minutes using a fast charger. It will take 9 hours to fully charge using a standard socket.

10 per cent of the market by 2020

Renault believe that the electric car market is about to take off as more motorists are being priced off the road. Fuel prices amongst road tax and other expenses are frustrating motorists with many looking to purchase something more economical in the future. Renault have predicted that by 2020 electric vehicles will count for 10 per cent of all car sales across the world with Nissan-Renault being the number one producer.

As successful as the Toyota Prius

Renault have very high hopes for the Zoe. A spokesman had spoken of the company’s desire to make it as successful as the Prius is for Toyota.

The electric motor

The Renault Zoe utilises a motor that able to produce 89 BHP and 220Nm of torque. The maximum speed when using the motor alone is just 84 MPH.

A more sophisticated driving experience

Renault aim to make the driving experience more sophisticated by introducing the new R-Link multimedia system. A number of apps can be downloaded with 50 standard ones being made available from the start.

Design

Renault’s designers made the decision to make the Zoe look like a normal road car rather than an electric one. From the looks of it the car has an unusual stature, having the makings of a supermini but being quite tall at the same time.

A Renault spokesman said that the car is fun to drive thanks to its low weight, likening the Zoe to a Go-Kart.

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A more detailed look at the Lamborghini Aventador J

Published by in Car Makes on April 27th, 2012

The Lamborghini Aventador J has been displayed at the Geneva Motor Show with it being one the fastest cars on show. The car has been praised by automotive fans and expert journalists. It created a wild buzz at the annual motor show leaving many excited.

What does the J mean in title?

It stands for Jota which was again another one off car made in the 1970’s.

Already sold

The Lamborghini Aventador J is an exclusive car and a one off available only to the rich as you had probably guessed already. The CEO of Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann spoke to Auto Express saying that it has already been sold! “A number of high-profile clients were interested in this car, in the end we picked one of our most loyal customers who bought it for €2.1million plus VAT. After Geneva and some other promotional activity, he will have it delivered to him.”

Is the car really road legal?

After looking at the car and hearing of its speed attributes many would assume that the Aventador J is destined for the race track rather than the road. However the car is fully road legal.

How is the vehicle road legal when it does not have a roof or even a windscreen! Those are two typical features that you would expect any car to have. The interior of the car is very basic and stripped out as it is wholly based on delivering a super performance. This means there is no air conditioning (would you really need it?) no satellite navigation and no stereo. This was done as a weight saving measure. Although it may sound like plenty of the vehicle’s fun has been stripped out, we can ensure that the engine more than makes up for it.
6.5 litre V12

The bonnet has a 6.5 litre V12 engine capable of producing 690 BHP. It has a four wheel drive system with an F1 style pushrod suspension. In just 2.9 seconds the car can reach 0 – 62 MPH. The top speed of the vehicle can hit 210 MPH.

Carbon fibre

Carbon fibre plays a major part in the car’s exterior. The rear diffuser, extended sills and front spoiler are all made of this material. In order to cool the brakes down there are carbon inserts within the aluminium made wheels. The seats are also made of Carboskin, a completely new material.

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Volvo V50 Estate Review

Published by in Car Servicing on April 26th, 2012

The Volvo V50 is one of the most stylish estates in its particular class. Today we take a look at exactly why the V50 has proven to be one of the best estate vehicles on the UK market.

The drive

The drive of the Volvo V50 is one of its best assets in our opinion. The car’s body control is second to none, even at high speeds. You will not experience awkward body roll, a situation that may occur when driving rival cars. The steering upon the car is extremely well weighted and highly responsive too.

On the motorway, the V50 provides a great deal of comfort and satisfaction. In general the wind noise is quite low.

Safety

Volvo is well known for the safety that provides in almost every vehicle that it produces. The V50 scored 5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests which is a commendable achievement for any car. Every model has curtain airbags, front and side airbags too. Stability control is also standard on all models. From a security perspective, deadlocks are included.

Equipment

The Volvo V50 comes with a great range of equipment, including climate control, MP3 connectivity and a full set of electric windows.

Upgrading to the SE models will give owners higher quality seats as well as cruise control. The SE Lux models will contain heated front seats which are also leather. Optional extras will contain satellite navigation as well as Bluetooth connectivity ability.

Volvo V50 variants

  • Estate 2.0 ES 5dr – £19,745
  • Estate 2.0 SE 5dr – £21,260
  • Estate 1.6 D2 ES 5dr – £21,745
  • Estate 2.0 R-Design 5dr – £21,760
  • Estate 1.6D DRIVe ES Start/Stop 5dr – £22,245
  • Estate 2.0 SE Lux 5dr – £22,260
  • Estate 2.0 D3 ES 5dr – £23,200
  • Estate 1.6 D2 R-Design 5dr – £23,745
  • Estate 1.6D DRIVe SE Start/Stop 5dr – £23,745
  • Estate 1.6D DRIVe SE Lux Start/Stop 5dr -£24,745
  • Estate 2.0 D3 SE 5dr – £24,950
  • Estate 2.0 D3 R-Design 5dr – £25,450
  • Estate 2.0 D4 SE 5dr – £25,700
  • Estate 2.0 D3 SE Lux 5dr – £25,950
  • Estate 2.0 D4 R-Design 5dr – £26,200
  • Estate 2.5 T5 R-Design Auto 5dr – £26,240
  • Estate 2.0 D4 SE Lux 5dr – £26,700

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Toyota in major recall in North America

Published by in Car Servicing on April 25th, 2012

Toyota is set to recall 681,500 in North America. These recalled cars include the Toyota Camry, the Toyota Venza and the Toyota Tacoma. There have been two defects reported.

The Toyota Camry and the Toyota Venza

There will be 70,500 Toyota Camry’s recalled, which were the 2009 models. The 2009 – 2011 Toyota Venza will see 116,000 units called back. These two vehicles have the problem of their brake lights potentially becoming non-functional.

An official Toyota statement read “During installation of the contact-type stop lamp switch on one of the North American assembly lines, silicon grease may have reached the inside of the switch and caused an increase in electrical resistance. If this occurs, warning lamps on the instrument panel may be illuminated, the vehicle may not start, or the shift lever may not shift from the Park position. In some cases, the vehicle stop lamps may become inoperative.”

The Toyota Tacoma

There will be 495,000 Toyota Tacoma units recalled due to a problem with the driver’s airbag. This may not be deployed due to errors within the steering wheel spiral cable assembly.

An official Toyota statement read “Due to the combination of steering wheel spiral cable design and characteristics unique to the Tacoma chassis, friction between the spiral cable and the retainer in the steering wheel spiral cable assembly may occur in some vehicles. Friction over time may result in loss of connectivity to the driver’s airbag module. If connectivity is lost, the airbag warning lamp on the instrument panel will remain illuminated after starting the vehicle and the driver’s airbag may be deactivated, preventing deployment in the event of a crash.”

No date set

There has been no date set for the recall as of yet. Toyota is still in the process of gathering the correct parts needed for the recall. Sources say that the recall will occur at the beginning of April.

Early stages

The breaking news is at such early stages that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (otherwise known as the NHTSA) have not yet published any news on their website. The NHTSA are responsible for all recalls within the company. There have been no reported injuries or accidents as a result of the problems mentioned above.

As you may know this is not the first high profile recall in North America for Toyota vehicles. They are attempting to rebuild their reputation after a disappointing 2011 and previous recalls. Today’s news will do anyone involved with Toyota any favours.

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What is next for Fiat?

Published by in Car Servicing on April 24th, 2012

Fiat is currently experiencing troubles in Italy following a strike by lorry drivers. Although the strike is directed towards the Government, it appears that Fiat is the ones who are suffering from their action.

Car production in trouble

The strike involves the rising cost of fuel which many are finding hard to keep up with. In effect Fiat are finding it very difficult to deliver cars to their customers. Production has also been slowed down with part shortages making it difficult for the continuation of car production.

Fiat to take a stand

Fiat has decided to take a stand and involve themselves in the argument. Sergio Marchionne, Fiat’s Chief Executive along with Fiat’s Chairman John Elkann have arranged to meet the newly installed Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in order to discuss Fiat’s future.  Fiat is clearly looking to retaliate against Union bosses to find a solution that suits them and stop the strike.

Local production could be shifted

The Italian economy is not in the best shape at present. The current strike is affecting exports in the country which has in effect damaged the business of many car manufacturers. Fiat want to continue their business in their homeland of Italy by producing cars locally. This is not possible if the company has obstacles to overcome regarding the export market.

The United States an option

The Italian economy would be in more trouble if Fiat were to move car production to other countries. Already Fiat have moved some production to Poland. They are promising to shift it back to Italy if various labour agreements can met with the Government. If production was to be moved, it has been suggested that Canada and the United States are the countries of choice. Fiat is in partnership with American car brand Chrysler. Chrysler has plenty of spare space in their factories for production which has been well documented. This would seem like the logical choice if production was to be shifted to another country.

Following these statements from Fiat, the company have faced backlash from the Italian Government, who see the company’s statements as a threat.

Fiat know that they are about to face a very difficult period as the European car market is currently is in decline. Sergio Marchionne has recognised that the Euro Zone crisis means that mass car producers must find an export market outside of the region.

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Toyota Avensis Review

Published by in Car Servicing on April 23rd, 2012

The Toyota Avensis is a very reliable and practical family vehicle. The running costs are very cheap too. If you want a car that does the job and simply doesn’t let you down, the Avensis is for you.

Safety

The Safety provided within the Toyota Avensis is something to be greatly admired from any perspective. As standard the vehicle comes with stability control and active front head restraints. Within the vehicle comes front, curtain and side airbags on every model, keeping everyone as safe possible in the event of an accident.

Running costs

Keeping the Toyota Avensis on the road will not prove to be difficult financially when compared to close rivals. In terms of depreciation, the Avensis holds it value extremely well. Fuel consumption is excellent especially on the D-4D manual model which has been quoted to return a brilliant 62.8 MPG.

Engines

The 1.8 litre engine produces 145 BHP which will prove satisfactory to most. The 2.0 litre diesel produces 124 BHP with the 2.2 being quicker but is probably not worth the upgrade.

The drive

The Toyota Avensis offers a satisfying performance all round. The car is comfortable on most road surfaces. The car is not noisy at all with offers a pleasurable drive, even on the motorway. For a family car, we believe the car offers all the attributes you need.

Practicality

The Toyota Avensis offers a lot of practicality. There is a lot of head and legroom with the rear floor being wholly flat, meaning that the central passenger sits in a more comfortable position. The boot does have a generous amount of room, enough to contain a large amount of family shopping and more.

Toyota Avensis Saloon variants

  • Saloon 1.8 V-matic T2 4dr – £18,450
  • Saloon 2.0 D-4D T2 4dr – £19,445
  • Saloon 1.8 V-matic TR 4dr – £20,545
  • Saloon 2.0 D-4D TR 4dr – £21,525
  • Saloon 1.8 V-matic T4 4dr – £22,320
  • Saloon 2.2 D-4D 150 TR 4dr – £22,485
  • Saloon 2.0 D-4D T4 4dr – £23,300
  • Saloon 2.2 D-CAT 150 TR auto 4dr – £23,875
  • Saloon 2.2 D-4D 150 T4 4dr – £24,260
  • Saloon 2.0 D-4D T-Spirit 4dr – £25,145
  • Saloon 2.2 D-CAT 150 T4 auto 4dr – £25,365
  • Saloon 2.2 D-4D 150 T Spirit 4dr – £26,105
  • Saloon 2.2 D-CAT 150 T Spirit auto 4dr – £27,210

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The Kia Cee’d at Geneva Motors Show

Published by in Car Servicing on April 20th, 2012

The brand new Kia Cee’d have made its worldwide debut at the 82nd annual Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. Both variants of the 5 doors and Wagon body styles were displayed at the event.

Designed for Europe

The new Cee’d is purely manufactured for the European market being built and designed in the region. The new model is larger in stature in terms of size being longer. The model also sits lower to help the vehicle’s aerodynamics and makes the car look sportier. The new Cee’d is influenced by the Optima with the same chrome grille design. Kia has now positioned their badge here too.

Engine line-up

The engine line up will consist of two petrol engines, the 1.4 litre MPI and the 1.6 GDI (Gasoline direct injection). The diesel engine choices will be the 1.4 WGT and the 1.6 VGT.

The 1.6 GDI is able to produce 135 BHP with maximum torque of 165 Nm. The car comes with Kia’s Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). This brings about a better driving experience with the gear changes being smoother. It is also naturally more economical than the previous automatic gear transmission giving lower emissions.

The 1.6 litre VGT diesel delivers 128 BHP with a peak torque of 260 Nm. Kia are strong on economical components helping to reduce carbon emissions and lower the costs for owners of running their vehicles. The technology in question named Kia’s EcoDynamics includes ISG (otherwise known as Start/Stop), low rolling resistance tyres, AMS (Alternator Management System). This helps the diesel VGT achieve 76 MPG and C02 emissions of 97g/km. This is expected to be the Kia C’eed’s best seller.

The 1.4 BHP variant is capable of producing 99 BHP and the 1.4 WGT is capable of producing 89 BHP.

Building on from success

Thomas Oh, the Senior Executive of Kia spoke how much of an improvement the new generation Kia will be. He said “The original Cee’d been a major landmark car for Kia in Europe, enabling us to compete in the hotly contested C-segment for the first time. The second-generation model is, once again, a game-changing car with enhanced design, quality and powertrains.”

The Wagon version of the Kia Cee’d was a very closely guarded secret by the company and came as a surprise. More details on this variant are expected later on in the year.

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The Nissan Invitation at Geneva Motor show

Published by in Car News on April 19th, 2012

Nissan showcased their Invitation model at the 82nd annual Geneva Motor Show. The news is sure to be closely followed by Nissan staff at the Sunderland plant as they will be producing this car in the near future.

Sitting between the Juke and the Micra

As with every car that was on display at the motor show, the Invitation looks great. It is a compact hatchback with plenty to offer. Fans at the Geneva Motor Show only got to see a concept but the car is guaranteed to be produced. It is expected to sit between the likes of the Nissan Micra and the Nissan Juke Compact vehicle.

Will the invitation arrive in North America?

There have been some rumours around the automotive industry that Nissan may decide to release the car in North America. Currently there is no compact hatchback vehicle offered by the Japanese company across the Atlantic. These rumours have not been officially confirmed by Nissan themselves.

Plenty of character

The car seems to be inspired by the Nissan Leaf, containing the same front end design in relation to the headlights and front grille.  The car does have a lot of character with large features such the long panoramic looking windshield, the exciting alloy wheels and lengthy looking doors. By looking at the Nissan Invitation, it is easy to see what the next generation of Nissan cars will be designed like.

Inside the cabin

Inside the car there are some quite unique features too. This includes a dominant and shapely centre console. Upon it comes two huge air vents and oversized climate control knob. They do combine well to make a great design that is quite easy on the eye.

Around View Monitor

This concept Nissan Invitation at the Geneva Motor Show came with an Around View Monitor. This features four cameras within placed on each end of the car along with the side mirrors.

Fun to drive… according to Nissan themselves

As you would expect them to say, the car is very fun to drive and contains a great amount of agility – as said by Nissan themselves. There have been no test drives yet but expect some to come very soon as the vehicle nears production next year.

Nissan clearly have confidence in the European car market along with BMW, MINI and Jaguar Land Rover who have all invested hundreds of millions at their UK sites.

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The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta at Geneva Motorshow

Published by in Car News on April 18th, 2012

Exhibited this year at the 82nd annual Geneva Motor Show was the most powerful Ferrari road car ever, the F12 Berlinetta.

Superfast road car

The V12 6.3 litre engine is able to achieve an amazing 730 BHP. That is even faster than rival the Lamborghini Aventador which was also on display at the Geneva Motor Show. The Ferrari Berlinetta is up on BHP by 118 when compared to the 599 GTB.

More economical

Nowadays car brands cannot just introduce a car that is more powerful than the previous model to be successful, even companies like Ferrari. Newer models must be more economical and cheaper to run. Ferrari have kept with the trend in that respect. The new Berlinetta is a lot lighter, smaller in stature and more aerodynamic.

C02 emissions

The car’s C02 emissions reach 350g/km which is a significant improvement from 415g/km. The fuel efficiency of the vehicle now reaches 18.8 MPG which is a great improvement from 15.8 MPG. The vehicle’s lower weight, start stop technology and improved aerodynamics help the car achieve such a great rate of efficiency.

Lighter bodywork

The aluminium body and space frame chassis helps to bring down the overall weight of the car, which now comes in at 1,525kg. That is 70kg less than the previous version. The vehicle is also a lot smaller than the current version, being 4.62m long making it 47mm less in length. Being more aerodynamic the car is 63mm lower and 20mm more narrow.

Ferrari FF influence

The Ferrari’s front grille and headlights look very similar to the Ferrari FF with the car looking spectacular from almost every angle. The Ferrari FF has also had an influence inside the car in terms of the design. The cabin contains Frau leather which is a wonderful luxurious material to sit within. The air vents are made of carbon fibre and aluminium.

Carbon ceramic brakes

The car contains carbon ceramic brakes, the most powerful and effective type of braking system on any road car. These brakes are needed in order to control all of that tremendous power that the car can produce.  The Berlinetta’s Active Brake Cooling system helps to intelligently cool these Ceramic brakes.

Acceleration

The F12 will come with a seven speed twin clutch gearbox, the same as that within the Ferrari FF and California. In just 3.1 seconds the car can hit 0 – 62 MPH and 8.5 seconds when racing from 0 – 124 MPH. The top speed of the car reaches 211 MPH altogether.

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