Autocar Online - News |
- First drive review: Fiat Panda 4x4 TwinAir
- Latest Lexus IS spied testing
- Vauxhall Cascada: full details revealed
- Dacia Sandero to cost £5995
- First drive review: McLaren MP4-12C Spider
- Skoda Fabia Super 2000 Rally Car review
- New Renault Clio Cup racer for 2013
- Facelifted Lamborghini Gallardo shown
- New Nissan concept for Sao Paulo
- Nissan Juke R ready for delivery; Nismo edition on the way
- Ford C-Max gets 1.0-litre engine and new Titanium X trim
First drive review: Fiat Panda 4x4 TwinAir Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:27 AM PDT ![]() |
Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT ![]() The third-generation Lexus IS has been testing on the streets of America for the first time. Our spy shots show a heavily camouflaged prototype of what appears to be an almost production ready car. The Japanese BMW 3-series rival will likely share the new company face and L-finesse design language, recently introduced by the new GS and LS models. The Lexus LF-CC concept shown at last months Paris motor show is the best clue to how the next IS will look. The concept's boot is raised above the shoulder line similar to the previous BMW 6-series; a design feature the disguised IS seems to share. A production IS will likely be unveilednext spring. An all-new 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain is rumoured to feature in the new IS alongside a six-cylinder petrol and four-cylinder diesel common to the current range. |
Vauxhall Cascada: full details revealed Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:00 PM PDT ![]() Vauxhall's new car blitz has continued with the unveiling of its fourth all-new model in new market segments in less than 12 months. The Vauxhall Cascada is a full-size four-seat convertible that's bigger than an Audi A5 cabriolet. The new Cascada will reach UK showrooms in March 2013, where it will join the other new Vauxhall nameplates - Adam, Ampera and Mokka - in the firm's expanded line-up. Despite being almost 71mm longer than an A5 cabriolet at 4626mm in length, the Cascada is set to significantly undercut the £29,455 A5 cabriolet by costing from around an estimated £25,000 in its entry-level form. Indeed, the Cascada will be the cheapest full-size convertible in the marketplace; it's a class bigger than the Peugeot 308 CC, Volkswagen Eos and VW Golf cabriolet, and slightly larger still and set to be significantly less expensive than the Volvo C70. The Cascada will become the flagship model of Vauxhall's expanding range, offering a premium interior with even higher quality materials than Vauxhall's current range-topper, the Insignia. The two-door departs from Vauxhall's previous convertible offering, the Astra TwinTop, by ditching a retractable hard-top roof in favour of a soft-top. The fabric top can be opened and closed in 17secs at speeds of up to 30mph. It is controlled using an interior button or a key fob. Underpinning the Cascada is a platform that incorporates elements from both the Astra and Insignia. The front suspension is Vauxhall's torque steer-reducing HiPer strut system, first seen on the Insignia VXR. The rear suspension is of compound crank beam axle design. The Cascada can be equipped with Vauxhall's FlexRide adaptive chassis technology, which features three selectable driving modes. Vauxhall says the Cascada is 43 per cent stiffer torsionally and 10 per cent more resistant to bending forces than the smaller Astra TwinTop. NVH levels are also said to have been improved significantly thanks to extra underbody reinforcements. As well as being 221mm longer than the Astra TwinTop, the wheelbase is also 71mm longer at 2700mm. It is 1840mm wide, and the front track is 56mm wider and the rear 70mm wider than Vauxhall's previous convertible. Wheels of between 18 and 20inches in size can be fitted. The front brake discs are 326mm in diameter, the rear's 325mm. The engine range includes the first of the engines to come from Vauxhall's MGE (Mid-Size Gasoline Engine) range. The turbocharged 1.6 SIDI ECOTEC petrol unit gets 168bhp at 1650-3200rpm and 206lb ft of torque in its initial application, but Autocar understands a higher-powered version of the engine with 197bhp and a lower-powered version with around 148bhp will be added to the Cascada line-up in due course. This engine will initially only be offered with a new six-speed auto' gearbox. Other launch engines include a base turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol with 138bhp and 162lb ft, and a 163bhp, 280lb ft 2.0-litre CDTi diesel. Vauxhall's new 192bhp, 295lb ft 2.0-litre BiTurbo diesel engine is also tipped to be added to the line-up. Styling inspiration comes from "luxury touring cars of a bygone age". Familiar Vauxhall design features include 'blades' on the doors, the wing-shaped rear lights and the signature chrome grille. The bonnet features a distinctive power dome, and a new headlight design features LED daytime running lights. The fabric roof can be chosen in one of three colours; 10 exterior colour choices are offered. The Cascada's basic interior design is recognisable from the Insignia, but it features higher quality materials and more premium options, including Nappa-leather trimmed seats. Vauxhall claims the cabin is spacious enough for four adults.The boot capacity is 280 litres with the roof down and 350 litres with it up. The split rear seats can be folded 50:50 to increase loading capacity. In the event of a roll-over accident, spring-loaded bars automatically spring up from behind the rear seats. |
Posted: 16 Oct 2012 04:01 PM PDT ![]() The £5995 Dacia Sandero will be Britain's cheapest car when it is launched in the UK in January. The cut-price Ford Fiesta rival will join the £8995 Duster SUV in Dacia's UK launch line-up. Despite the low pricing, the Sandero will not skimp on technology or equipment. Engines, for example, come from the new Renault Clio range and include the latest 0.9-litre three-cylinder petrol. The base £5995 Sandero Access model is only available with a normally aspirated 74bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine. Kit includes 15-inch steel wheels and black bumpers. An extra £800 upgrades to Ambiance trim. This adds, among other features, body-coloured bumpers, remote central locking, electric front windows and Bluetooth connectivity. The Clio 4's 89bhp 0.9-litre petrol engine is also available with Ambiance trim, as is the latest 89bhp 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine, costing £7595 and £8595 respectively. Top-of-the range Laureate trim costs £1100 more than Ambiance and can be had with all three engine options. Extra kit includes air-con, cruise control and front fog lights. Metallic paint is a £475 option on Ambiance and Laureate models, along with 15-inch alloy wheels for an extra £425. Rear parking sensors (£175), sat-nav (£175), leather seats (£600) and a front centre armrest (£90) are available on Laureate models. A top-of-the-range Sandero Laureate with a 1.5 dCi engine and every option ticked costs £11,630, compared to £11,795 for an entry-level 69bhp 1.4 diesel Fiesta in Studio trim. |
First drive review: McLaren MP4-12C Spider Posted: 16 Oct 2012 04:01 PM PDT ![]() |
Skoda Fabia Super 2000 Rally Car review Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:48 AM PDT |
New Renault Clio Cup racer for 2013 Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:41 AM PDT ![]() Renault has announced the introduction of the fourth-generation Renault Clio Cup racer. The new car will first compete in the 2013 Clio EuroCup, with British racers sticking with the third-generation Clio for one more season. Our domestic Clio Cup series will see the new car introduced for the 2014 season. Testing began in August, Renaultsport having so far covered 3500km at a variety of French circuits. Renault claims the car produces 220hp and 199lb-ft of torque and laps most circuits one second quicker than its predecessor. Like its road-going counterpart, the Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo, the new Cup uses a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, in place of the earlier 2.0-litre naturally aspirated unit. The gearbox remains a six-speed sequential but with shift paddles now available as an option. Other additions include a new design of rear spoiler – producing 40kg of downforce at 125mph – and a roof scoop, alongside 17in Speedline Corse alloys and 320mm AP racing brakes. One-way adjustable dampers, a full roll cage and race seat also feature. Over 700 third-generation Clio Cup cars were sold, forming a sizeable percentage of Renaultsport's output, and it is expected most teams will choose to upgrade to the new model. The new Clio Cup is set to cost 37,800 euros plus VAT, with deliveries to the UK commencing in September 2013. Josh Woodcock
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Facelifted Lamborghini Gallardo shown Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:27 AM PDT ![]() The refreshed Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder has been announced. The raft of cosmetic changes mirror those made to the Gallardo LP 560-4 coupé at the Paris motor show last month. The Gallardo Spyder has a more angular, aggressive look by creating a number of sharp, triangular shapes in the front bumper. The design is echoed more overtly at the rear. Other changes include large air intakes ahead of the front wheels and a new design of standard-fit alloys. The 19-inch 'Apollo' wheels are offered in black and polished metal finishes. Like the Coupé, the Spyder can be ordered with a Style Package, as seen in our photos. This sees the front and rear grilles, underside of the front spoiler and parts of the rear trim painted in gloss black. Further personalisation will be available through the 'Ad Personam' programme. The updated Gallardo Spyder will arrive in UK showrooms from late November, shortly after the Coupé. Josh Woodcock |
New Nissan concept for Sao Paulo Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:20 AM PDT ![]() Nissan has released teaser images of a new concept car that the firm is going to debut at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show later this month. Nissan has created the car especially for the Brazilian motor show, which runs from 24 October to the 4 November. The pictures appear to depict a two-door coupé similar in style to Honda's CR-Z, although Nissan is yet to release any technical or design specifications. Nissan has said that the "high-character concept will introduce a unique new genre to the automotive world". Dan Cogger |
Nissan Juke R ready for delivery; Nismo edition on the way Posted: 16 Oct 2012 03:49 AM PDT ![]() Nissan has announced that the first production Juke R is ready for delivery. The concept was first seen in Dubai in January 2012 and has been in development since. Initially a one-off technical exercise, Nissan received three genuine expressions of interest for versions of the car, which is built to order in a limited edition run. Each car will be tailored to customer requirements at a starting price of £400,000. The Juke R borrows heavily from the Nissan GT-R, using its 545bhp 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 and suspension system. Nissan has also fitted an FIA-specification roll-cage to the Juke R in light of its 3.0-second 0-60mph time and top speed of 170mph. Preparation for the Juke Nismo is underway for its launch in early 2013. The Juke will be the first Nissan to carry the Nissan Motorsport badge in the European range and will be powered by a 197bhp version of the company's 1.6-litre DIG-T petrol engine. No prices or features are yet confirmed, but it is said to be "superbly equipped". Dan Cogger |
Ford C-Max gets 1.0-litre engine and new Titanium X trim Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:23 AM PDT ![]() Two versions of Ford's 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine will be available in both the C-Max and Grand C-Max models later this month. Customers will be able to specify either the 99bhp or 123bhp engine with the C-Max returning 55.4mpg and 117g/km CO2 and the Grand C-Max achieving 54.3mpg and 119g/km CO2. The engine, which received the 2012 International Engine of the Year award, already makes up 25 per cent of Ford's new car orders. The 1.0 EcoBoost C-Max and Grand C-Max models will cost from £17,695 and £19,795 respectively. To coincide with the new engine, Ford is also introducing the Titanium X model trim to the C-Max models with many extras, such as part-leather seats, new style 17-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof as standard. Prices for the Titanium X range start from £22,195 for the C-Max and £23,595 for the Grand C-Max. Dan Cogger |
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