Monday 30 March 2009

BMW Z4 pricing announced (U.S)


BMW has announced prices for their new Z4. Prices will start at $46,575 for the entry level sDrive30i and $52,475 for the high-performance sDrive35i.

Both models receive a new folding-metal retractable roof and noticeable gains in performance but these enhancements come at steep price of $9,875 price increase compared to the 2008 Z4 3.0i, while the 2009 sDrive35i features a $8,400 increase compared to the 2008 Z4 3.0si.

A lengthy options list is available like a $1,000 cold weather package features heated steering wheel and heated seats and the premium package boasts auto-dimming rear-view mirror and door mirrors, electric seats, ambient lighting and BMW assist. For $2,300, owners can specif their new Z4 with a sports package that comes with 18" light alloy wheels, adaptive M sports suspension, sports seats and a higher top speed. Another notable option is the $1,525 7 speed double clutch transmission which is only available on the Z4 sDrive35i.

Power for the sDrive30i comes from a naturally aspirated 3.0 litre V6 engine which produces 255bhp and 200 lb-ft of torque while the sDrive35i uses a turbocharged 3.0 litre engine that pumps out 300bhp and 300 lb-ft of torque.

Motorshow: 2009 AMI Leipzig






























































































































































































































The Leipzig motorshow is popular, but not as it's Frankfurt autoshow counterpart. Volkswagen unveiled their Golf GTD which has been in development since 2006. This produces 170bhp and returns 53mpg combined with CO2 emissions of 139g/km. German prices start at €27,470 with the vehicle on sale now. UK will receive the Golf GTD in July.

Ford revealed the all-new Mondeo LPG and Audi showed the TT RS roadster.


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Friday 27 March 2009

FIAT 500C pricing announced (UK)


Fiat UK has released prices for the 500C. The entry-level 500C 1.2 litre Pop will cost £11,300 with the flagship 1.3 litre MultiJet Lounge hitting the showrooms with a price tag of £14,100 – both of which come at a £3,200 premium over the comparable hatch.

Fiat has also said that the UK will be the first country to get the new 500C when it goes on sale in the Summer. Pop and Lounge versions of the 500C will be available from launch. All models get an electrically operated hood, air-conditioning, 7 airbags, remote central locking, CD player and electric door mirrors. Lounge trim adds stability control, climate control, rear parking sensors and front foglights. Fiat's hands-free entertainment and communications system, Blue&Me, along with its eco:Drive technology, which helps owners drive more economically, is also standard on all Lounge models.

The 500C will be available in 11 colours, with three for the roof: red, ivory, or black. Pop interiors can be specified with either ivory or black finish, and red or grey cloth seats, while Lounge offers an ivory or black interior, with black or brown cloth seats. Leather seats are also an option. Engine choices are the same as in the hatchback: a 75bhp 1.3 litre diesel, 69bhp 1.2 litre and a 100bhp 1.4 petrol engines. The engines all have Fiat's fuel-saving Start&Stop system as standard.

Fiat 500C price list in full:

1.2 Pop - £11,300

1.4 Pop - £12,500

1.3 MultiJet Pop - £12,700

1.2 Lounge - £12,700

1.4 Lounge - £13,900

1.3 MultiJet Lounge - £14,100

Press Release:

FIAT REVEALS PRICES FOR 500 C

Fiat has just announced prices for the eagerly awaited convertible version of its iconic 500 city car, some 15 months after the widely acclaimed supermini's UK launch.

Starting at just £11,300 OTR, the new Fiat 500 C, which goes on sale here in the summer, represents notable value for lovers of soft-top motoring, and positions the new car comfortably below its benchmark rivals.

Topping the top-down range, a highly specified Lounge version with a larger engine costs £14,100 - an OTR price that includes automatic climate control, rear parking sensors and alloy wheels as standard equipment.

"The sophisticated new 500 C is a faithful yet thoroughly modern ‘take' on the rich heritage of our sought-after 500, which highlights its strong, attractive personality," says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. "It is a car for people who want to express themselves and demonstrate their own personality. I am sure 500 C will make a host of enthusiastic new friends!"

In recognition of British drivers' enjoyment of convertibles, the UK is the first country in Europe to receive the new 500 C - the car arrives here even before it goes on sale in Italy.

Pop and Lounge versions of the new 500 C will be available at launch. An electrically operated hood, air conditioning, remote central locking, radio/CD/MP3 player, seven airbags and electric door mirrors are standard on all cars, while climate control, ESP stability control, foglights and rear parking sensors are among the principal features incorporated in Lounge models.

Blue&Me, Fiat's hands-free entertainment, information and communications system, along with eco:Drive, the computer technology which monitors a driver's style and gives tips on how to save fuel and reduce emissions, is also standard on Lounge versions.

Available in 11 colours - including the newly-created Tech House Grey and Ragga Muffin Red - the 500 C comes with red, ivory or black roof colours. Pop interiors can be specified in either ivory or black finish with red or grey cloth seat colours. Lounge specification offers an ivory or black interior with black or brown cloth seats. Frau Leather is also available as an option.

The new Fiat 500 C is powered by the same frugal, ultra-low emissions and Euro 5 range of engines as are already available in the 500, including 69 bhp 1.2-litre and 100 bhp 1.4-litre petrol units, and the 75 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel.

Power is delivered through manual or Dualogic (automatic) transmissions while Fiat's fuel-saving Start&Stop system, which stops the engine automatically whenever traffic conditions bring the car to a complete halt, and restarts it when the driver wants to move off again, will also become available.

Full price list for the Fiat 500 C range is as follows:

1.2 Pop £11,300

1.4 Pop £12,500

1.3 Mjet Pop £12,700

1.2 Lounge £12,700

1.4 Lounge £13,900

1.3 Mjet Lounge £14,100

Wednesday 11 March 2009

Lotus Evora pricing announced (UK)


The new Lotus Evora 2+2 will dip below the expected £50k-plus asking price when the car goes on sale in Europe in May, Lotus has announced.

The Lotus Evora 2+2 coupe (the only mid-engined coupe on the market with such a configuration) comes in at £49,875. The Lotus Evora will also be available as a 2 seater with the extra room from the two absent seats given over to luggage space. The basic 2 seat version of the Evora, which Lotus calls the 2+0, will cost £47,500.

The first 450 cars sold will be a special Launch Edition; they come fitted with a series of options including a reversing camera and power folding door mirrors. Despite the fact that the first batch of highly specified cars will cost £59,995, Lotus says it has deposits from around 350 customers already.

The first of the Launch Edition Evoras roll off the production line the week starting Monday 23rd March.

Looking further ahead, Lotus has said that it is developing a convertible and an automatic version of the Evora. The soft-top is expected to reach showrooms by late 2011 but Lotus hasn’t confirmed when an auto version will be ready.

Ford Fiesta ST axed


Believe it or not, the hot version of Ford’s critically acclaimed Fiesta supermini has been delayed and may even never make production.

Ford was expected to have a Fiesta ST ready sometime this year but it has now confirmed that the car will have to wait until the European car market has recovered from its current slump.

“Now is not the right time for a Fiesta ST,” a company source said. “We may have a better opportunity to make the ST later on in the car’s life, when Ford’s direct-injection petrol engines are ready and the range would benefit more from the extra interest surrounding such a car but not until 2012 at the earliest.”

Gerald Scarfe designs Arsenal fans Citroën C4 (UK)






















Arsenal football club has teamed up with famous cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, in order to create a custom Citroën C4 VTR which will be raffled off for Arsenal's Charity of the Season event.

The car features a bold exterior design that was a result of a meeting between Scarfe, Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger and players, Gael Clichy, Robin Van Persie and new signing, Andrei Ashavin. It boasts Arsenal's team colours of red and white as well as several Arsenal logos and a unique rear hatch which has a self portrait of Scarfe and drawings of the 3 Arsenal members who helped establish the C4's design theme.

Fans will be able to view the car at several upcoming Arsenal games where they will be able to purchase raffle tickets for £2, all of the funds collected will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Honda Insight pricing announced (U.S)


Honda has announced prices for the new 2010 Insight hybrid for the U.S market. The car will retail for a minimum manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $19,800.

Sales start on Tuesday 24th March and trim-levels are badged LX, EX and EX with navi. The entry-level LX comes with equipment like ECO Assist, x6 airbags (twin front, side and curtain), steel-wheels, halogen headlamps, ABS w/ EBD, active front headrests, automatic climate control, tilt and telescope steering column, manual driver's seat height adjustment, x4 power windows;, 4 speaker AM/FM audio system with CD player and auxiliary audio input and a CVT transmission.

Mid-level EX amenities such as alloy wheels, cruise control, VSA (vehicle stability assist), steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, 6 speakers w/USB audio interface, front centre armrest and storage compartment, heated door mirrors with integrated turn signals. This starts at $21,300.

Flagship EX with Navi models will sell for $23,100. This arrives with a built-in satellite navigation system and Bluetooth. Honda officially puts the Insight's range at 400 miles (644km) with EPA urban fuel economy of 40mpg, motorway of 43mpg and a combined fuel economy of 41mpg.

Chevrolet Cruze pricing announced (UK)


Chevrolet UK has announced pricing on their all-new Cruze sedan.

Prices will start at £11,545. The LS will costs £12,595 which undercuts the equivalent Ford Focus by around £4,000. Flagship LT models start from £13,595.

The Cruze, which is based on the next-generation Astra platform, will be offered with a choice of 4 engines: 1.6 litre 111bhp and 1.8 litre 139bhp petrols featuring variable valve timing (VVT) and 2 2.0 litre diesels with 123bhp or 148bhp. Automatic transmission will be offered on the petrol models.

The entry model is the 1.6 litre petrol S, which comes with remote central locking, follow-me-home lighting, CD/radio system, front electric windows, a fully-adjustable driver's seat and steering wheel, 6 airbags and stability control. The 1.6S A/C model adds air conditioning at £11,995.

LS models - expected to snap up most sales, start at £12,595 for the 1.6 litre petrol manual variant and includes air conditioning 16" alloy wheels, a chrome-edged radiator grille, front fog lights and reverse parking sensors.

Flagship LT models, which arrive in either a 1.8 litre petrol or 2.0 litre diesel guises, start at £13,595. Standard kit includes cruise control, climate control, auto-dipping rear view mirror, upgraded high-output stereo, electric rear windows, chrome detailing and 17" alloy wheels, plus the option of an integrated satellite navigation system. Sales start in July.

Press Release:

Price announced for Cruze, from £11,545 on-the-road

Exceptional spec levels even on entry-level car

On sale from July 2009

Keeping an eye on money has never been more topical, and the good news for Chevrolet customers is that the all-new Cruze will be true to the brand’s traditional value-for-money ethics despite its premium styling and build quality.

The newcomer, which has the stance of a four-door coupe, will start from just £11,545 on-the-road, and will arrive at UK Chevrolet retailers in July.

It will be offered with a choice of four engines – 1.6 (113PS) and 1.8-litre (141PS) petrols featuring variable valve timing for maximum performance and efficiency, plus two diesels, both 2.0-litres and with a choice of 125PS or 150PS power outputs. Automatic transmission will be offered on the petrol models.

The range will kick off with the 1.6 S, which enjoys a comprehensive list of standard equipment despite its value price tag. As well as remote central locking, the model features follow-me-home lighting, a feature normally reserved for premium cars, a quality CD-radio system, electric front windows, a fully-adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel, six airbags, ESC, upmarket soft-touch cabin materials, and premium blue-backlit dashboard dials. The 1.6S A/C model, at £11,995, also adds air conditioning.

The LS model, expected to be the best-seller in the range, starts at only £12,595 for the 1.6 manual variant and includes air conditioning as standard, plus other upmarket features such as 16-inch alloy wheels, a chrome edged radiator grille, front fog lights and reverse parking sensors.

Flagship of the range will be the LT, which comes in 1.8 petrol or 2.0-litre diesel guise, starting at £13,595. For that, you get a list of specification that’s truly befitting of a luxury car, including cruise control, climate control, an automatic anti-dazzle rear view mirror, an upgraded high-output stereo, electric rear windows, chrome detailing and 17-inch alloy wheels, plus the option of an integrated satellite navigation system.

The Cruze will also spearhead Chevrolet’s campaign in the 2009 World Touring Car Championship, which kicked off on March 8 in Curitiba, Brazil. The UK round of the WTCC takes place at Brands Hatch on July 19 – just in time to coincide with the car’s UK introduction.

A full list of prices follows below:

Model

On-the-road price

1.6 S

£11,545

1.6 S A/C

£11,995

2.0 VCDi S A/C 125PS

£13,495

1.6 LS

£12,595

1.6 LS auto

£13,695

2.0 VCDi LS 125PS

£14,095

1.8 LT

£13,595

1.8 LT auto

£14,695

2.0 VCDi LT 150PS

£15,195

Motorshow: 2009 Geneva Auto-Salon



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Geneva Auto-Salon is amongst one of Europes most popular car shows, so it's not surprising to see virtually every single car manufacture there.

Toyota debuted the iQ city-car with the firms 100bhp, 1.33 litre, Lexus revealed the all-new RX SUV, Renault unveiled the all-new Scenic MPV's, Megane Sports Tourer and Megane RS.


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