Automobiles Review

Author: Georgi Boychev

Hyundai TUCSON won the Best Car for Long Distances award by Auto Trader

New Hyundai TUCSON has been named the Best Car for Long Distances at the Auto Trader New Car Awards, as voted for by more than 148,000 vehicle owners.

People were asked to rate their vehicles across 16 different criteria and were also asked to share their overall satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the vehicle.

As it comes to the vehicle, some of its notable features are the fully customizable digital experience. The advanced setup includes a fully digital and configurable dual cockpit, with a new 10.25-inch open digital cluster and a revised 10.25-inch AVN-touch screen. This is also the first Hyundai model to feature a full touchscreen console. It is also equipped with the latest version of Hyundai’s Bluelink® connected car services.

Some of the comfort-enhancing technologies include Multi-Air Mode with direct and indirect air vents, three-zone climate control and ventilated and heated seats.

SEE ALSO: Mountune presents new performance upgrades for Puma ST and Mk8 Fiesta

Also, the new TUCSON range can be specified in four trim levels: SE Connect, Premium, Ultimate, and sporty N-Line. The SE Connect comes with a 1.6-liter T-GDi 150ps 6MT, and is also available with a 1.6-liter T-GDi 150ps 48-volt Mild Hybrid powertrain with 6iMT or 7DCT, or a 1.6-liter T-GDi 230ps Hybrid powertrain with 6AT. A Plug-in Hybrid version is also available.

Ashley Andrew, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor UK said: Ultimately it’s the opinions of our customers that we must judge our success on, so it’s always enormously reassuring to see real-life evidence of our owners not only enjoying our cars, but also enthusing about them. TUCSON is packed with innovations and technologies designed to provide drivers with one of the most comprehensive packages in the SUV segment; stylish, practical, efficient, comfortable and fun to drive.

June 4, 2021
Mountune presents new performance upgrades for Puma ST and Mk8 Fiesta

Fans of the Puma ST are now capable of getting more out of the vehicle, thanks to the new performance upgrade packs – the m235 and m260. Also, fans of the Mk8 Fiesta ST can take advantage of the m260 kit, taking both vehicles to the next level of power and performance capabilities.

The m235 kit can be easily installed and boosts the torque and power output by 35hp and 30Nm for a total of 235hp and 350Nm of torque.

As it comes to the m260 upgrade, it provides an induction kit, charge pipe kit, and intercooler. In terms of performance, it can boost the performance to a total of 260hp and 365Nm, which is a significant boost for the 1.5-liter 3-cylinder power unit.

Both upgrade packs have undergone tons of tests and include a host of boosted functionality via the enhanced exhaust output noise, more aggressive launch control, optimized no-lift shift, and an anti-theft mode. Also, just like the previous releases, customers can benefit from the mTune SMARTflash phone app, which allows them to install the latest calibration from anywhere they want.

SEE ALSO: Toyota is about to unveil the new bZ4X Concept

Customers who wish to install the upgrade packs should also benefit from the mountune induction kit, mountune charge pipe kit, and mountune intercooler, as these gadgets further enhance the capabilities of the pack and contribute to even better and more refined performance rates.

June 4, 2021
Toyota is about to unveil the new bZ4X Concept

Toyota bZ4X Concept is about to make its North American debut. The automobile will mark the brand’s next major step into the electrified technologies for the automotive industry.

Developed in collaboration with Subaru, the Toyota bZ4X SUV Concept comes with the new e-TNGA BEV-dedicated platform. This means that the bZ4X benefits from enhanced quality, durability, and long-term reliability. The AWD capabilities further enhance the driving experience and allow for a comfortable and safe drive.

Design and drivetrain system

The bZ4X SUV Concept features a long wheelbase with short overhangs, which contributes to both excellent performance rates and ample interior space. The vehicle showcases elegant and yet aggressive styling, a cozy interior with a functional instrument panel and tons of utility and safety gadgets.

Toyota’s future plans

The Toyota team plans to achieve full carbon neutrality in the near future and present even more models with advanced and alternative-fuel and zero-emission capabilities. The team plans to expand to about 70 electrified models by 2025 and bring some electrification to its pickup truck lineup.

SEE ALSO: Mecum Tulsa 2021 will feature 600 unique vehicles at a special event

Roughly the size of a RAV4, with the versatility to stand apart from other BEVs, it will be well-positioned in the sweet spot of the market, said Lisa Materazzo, group vice president of Toyota Marketing, And the best part is, it’s a Toyota – with the legendary quality, durability and reliability our customers expect.

June 3, 2021
Mecum Tulsa 2021 will feature 600 unique vehicles at a special event

Mecum Auctions, one of the largest collector-car auctions, will showcase 600 American muscle vehicles, classics, Corvettes, Trucks, Hot Rods, and numerous more at a special event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 11-12 June at the River Spirit Expo.

Some of the notable vehicles at the event include a 2005 Ford GT with all four available options, two 1970 Chevy Chevelles, one convertible, and three classic Ford Broncos.

Additional offerings include 24 vehicles from the Rick Holland Collection – Dusk Pearl 1957 Chevrolet 210 in Bel Air trim finish, a pink 1957 Ford Thunderbird, a 1973 Ford Bronco Sport, and a 1959 Willys Utility Wagon with a 226 CI Super Hurricane 6-cylinder engine and a 3-speed manual transmission.

Then there’s the York Collection with 14 exclusive vehicles dating from 1931 to 1955. The first one is a 1931 Austin American Coupe, a 1955 Chevrolet Custom Pickup, and 13 vehicles from the Dicky Ray Estate Collection, some of which are a 1921 Ford Model T Pickup and a 1933 Chevrolet Master Sedan (Lot S82), a 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS, and a 1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe.

SEE ALSO: Volkswagen Mk 8 Golf GTI and Golf R come with an updated digital interior

Also present at the Tulsa block will be a 1970 Plymouth Cuda with a V-Code 440 6-BBL engine and automatic gearbox that was ordered by the dealer as a demonstrator and exists today as one of the most highly optioned V-Code 1970 Cudas. The audience will also have the chance to take a look at a 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-Code, one of 196 produced and that has undergone a four-year nut-and-bolt restoration using original and NOS parts.

June 3, 2021
Volkswagen Mk 8 Golf GTI and Golf R come with an updated digital interior

Mk 8 Golf GTI and Golf R come with an entirely new electronic designed, exclusively designed for this particular model in order to enable an advanced digital network of displays and controls within the cabin.

Driver and passengers enter the digital world once the Mk 8 doors are opened. The start button pulses in red until the engine is started and the VW Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster and infotainment system screens awake. Talking about the screens, the large 10.25-inch Cockpit Pro system integrates with the infotainment system in order to allow drivers to create a customized display of relevant information – vehicle status, driving data, phone info, driver assistance, and more.

Digitalization continues with the improvement of all the buttons across the cabin and the heads-up display projects onto the windshield relevant information and virtually floats in front of the driver.

The steering wheel has also received tons of upgrades and changes. It is fully capable of operating the Digital Cockpit and has touchpads for volume and audio selection. At the same time, the Travel Assist button engages the partially automated hands-on driving system and the capacitive sensors monitor in order to ensure that the driver has their hands on it. On the Golf R lineup, the R button takes the driver to the Driving Mode Selection where they can enable the selectable driving modes.

SEE ALSO: Bentley is about to present the new Bentayga Hybrid to the EU audience

Also, the vehicle’s interior features ambient lighting – there are a total of 30 selectable colors and customizable lighting patterns that add a touch of customization within the cabin.

June 3, 2021
SKODA announces an all-new customer sevice and payment plan for old vehicles

SKODA ensures even greater peace of mind to brand enthusiasts with the introduction of the All-In SKODA aftercare pack. It is created for vehicles aged between 3 and 6 years and is specially tailored to enhance the customer support possibilities for SKODA owners and their vehicles.

The pack is available for all 3-6 old SKODA vehicles, not just the ones bought through the brand’s approved channels, and gives the chance for a free initial inspection by a trained SKODA technician and covers the cost of two services, and two annual MOT tests, as some additional service procedures.

The package takes away the need to plan ahead for the main future serving costs and allows customers to budget more precisely their payment method. This approach highlights the brand’s dedication to delivering stress-free ownership possibilities.

The program is valid for SKODA vehicles aged between 3 and 6 years with a 2.0-liter power unit or under 100,000 miles at activation.

SEE ALSO: Mecum Tulsa 2021 will feature 600 unique vehicles at a special event

As it seems, the SKODA team not only focuses its attention on delivering us advanced vehicles but also enhancing its customer support services. Taking care of both old and new vehicles, and especially with such appealing offerings, the Czech manufacturer really draws attention both from brand enthusiasts and critics.

June 3, 2021
Bentley is about to present the new Bentayga Hybrid to the EU audience

The new Bentayga Hybrid is already available for order. Following the debut in the USA and China, the new Bentley Hybrid vehicle is now available for customers in UK and EU.

Following the launch of the Bentayga V8 and Bentayga Speed last year, the new Bentayga Hybrid not only adopts the successful formula that made the lineup a bestseller but also showcases some neat new and advanced technologies and technical approaches.

Exterior and interior design

The exterior of the vehicle fully resembles the brand’s design philosophy of elegance and balance. The vehicle is instantly recognizable and showcases some classic Bentley style approaches, as well as some contemporary changes.

In terms of interior, the vehicle can be specified with a four or five-seat configuration and can be further personalized with a large choice of optional features like Blackline and Styling packs.

Drivetrain system

In terms of drivetrain and performance, the new Bentayga Hybrid ensures a smooth and rewarding driving experience with neat performance rates and advanced systems that ensure comfort in both urban environments and in touring situations. The vehicle can cover up to 25 miles of electric-only range and a total combined range of 430 miles.

SEE ALSO: Salon Privé will host the premiere of the Arese RH95 95th Anniversary vehicle

Bentayga Hybrid is the first of two new Bentley cars to enter production this year, with the next model to be unveiled this summer.

Stick with us for further details.

June 2, 2021
Salon Privé will host the premiere of the Arese RH95 95th Anniversary vehicle

The legendary Italian styling house Touring Superleggera is celebrating its 95^th anniversary and marks the occasion with a showcase of an elegant two-seat coupe, named Arese RH95.

The vehicle will premiere during the Salon Privé week.

During the years, the company has enjoyed numerous highlights at Salon Privé, having displayed the Bentley Flying Star and the award-winning Disco Volante, and back in 2014, was given the Best Concept Car of the Year for its MINI Superleggera Vision. Also, last year, Touring Superleggera used the elegant backdrop of Blenheim Palace to introduce the Aero 3, based on the Alfa 8C 2900 Le Mans Berlinetta.

The exclusive design will share many elements with the Touring predecessors and will showcase elegant curves and balanced proportions. Furthermore, the vehicle expresses a touch of dramatism with its scissor-hinged doors, bright aluminum side-slash, elegant waistline inspired by the Disco Volante.

SEE ALSO: Czinger unveils a groundbreaking hypercar

All units of the Touring Arese RH95 will be built around the drivetrain of a well-known exotic car, whose active dynamic has been engineered to handle the new body and specifications, to ensure performance and efficiency.0

Based in Milan, Touring Superleggera specializes in exclusive projects, and over the past decade, it has created everything from the Tornante supercar for Gumpert to the four-seater Maserati-based Sciàdipersia Coupé. It also has a restoration department that ensures Touring-bodied cars are rebuilt to exacting standards of authenticity.

June 2, 2021
Czinger unveils a groundbreaking hypercar
Czinger, the trailblazing brand that uses an in-house Human-AI production system to build an advanced high-performance vehicle, unveils today the final variant of the 21C hypercar.

This is the first vehicle in a series of custom vehicles and their production will be limited to merely 80 vehicles. And all of them feature exclusive manufacturing technologies like computationally engineered AI, optimized for weight and performance, and elegantly finished by hand.

The hybrid vehicle showcases numerous updates since its first public introduction back in March 2020 and now proudly presents 1250 hp and a dry weight under 1240 kg, the 21C achieves a true 1:1 power-to-weight ratio. It also features all-wheel drive with a strong hybrid powertrain with:
- An in-house developed 2.88-liter, flat crank V8 with twin turbos located mid-vehicle
- Two high output electric motors, each powering a front wheel with torque vectoring
- An ultra-light, sequential seven-speed automated manual transmission gearbox
The 21C’s drivetrain system uses the world’s most powerful and dense production IC power unit. The 2.88-liter flat-plane crank V8 is placed at the center of the vehicle. The e-motor drives each front wheel and the batteries recharge during operation both via regenerative braking and a Motor Generator Unit, using a gear drive with an attached IC power unit. This setup allows a total output of 1250hp.

SEE ALSO: MANHART team presents MH3 600 beast. Check it out!

The hypercar has a top speed of 281mph and sprints a quarter-mile in 8.1 seconds, and it sprints from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph) in 1.9 seconds; 0 to 186 mph (300 kph) in 13.8 seconds, and 0 to 248 mph (400 kph) in 27.1 seconds; 0 to 186 mph (300 kph) in 8.5 seconds; and 0 to 248 mph (400 kph) in 21.3 seconds.

The 21C is a highly customizable unit and will be first presented with two fully homologated specs, a lightweight high downforce configuration, and a low drag configuration.
June 2, 2021
Vauxhall are nominated for winners in 7 categories at the Fleet News Awards 2021 event
Vauxhall’s commercial lineup is nominated for seven Fleet Awards this year, including the advanced Corsa, Mokka, Insignia, Vivaro-e, Vivaro, and Combo model lineups.

The Corsa model family has been nominated in the Best Small Car category and the all-new Mokka and new Insignia are nominated for the Best Compact SUV and Best Upper Medium Car categories.

The event, Best Fleet Manufacturer has also nominated two of Vauxhall’s van lineups – Movano-e and Movano. In fact, Vauxhall is now one of the few LCV automobile manufacturers to be able to offer fleets of fully electric Light Commercial Vehicle models across its entire lineup and helping businesses optimize their costs and vehicle taxes.

The fully electric Vivaro-e has also been nominated for the Best Zero Emission Van title, having already won International Van of the Year and van of the year titles from What Car?, DrivingElectric, and Van Fleet World Awards.

Vauxhall has received nominations in the following categories:

Cars
- Best Small Car – Vauxhall Corsa
- Best Upper Medium Car – Vauxhall Insignia
- Best Compact SUV – Vauxhall Mokka
Vans
- Fleet Manufacturer of the Year (Van) – Vauxhall
- Best Small Van – Vauxhall Combo
- Best Medium Van – Vauxhall Vivaro
- Best Zero Emission Van – Vauxhall Vivaro-e
James Taylor, Sales and Marketing Director, Vauxhall, said: The Fleet News Awards are one of the industry highlights of the year and we are very pleased to be nominated in seven categories by Fleet News. The new models nominated, including Corsa, Mokka, Insignia, Vivaro-e, Vivaro and Combo, have received great feedback from our business customers and we hope this is recognised by the Fleet News judging panel.
June 2, 2021
MANHART team presents MH3 600 beast. Check it out!

MANHART tuning team presents the MH3 600: an M3 Competition with whooping 635hp and 780Nm of torque via a 3.0-liter Biturbo in-line six-cylinder engine.

With such an upgrade, the vehicle is capable of going from 0 to 200km/h in less than 10 seconds and can reach the 250km/h limit in under 17 seconds. The 100 to 200km/h sprint is measured at 6.42seconds.

Some of the neat additions and changes include stainless steel rear silencer with valve control function, large tailpipes, and carbon or ceramic coating, depending on customers own preferences. Optionally, the team offers MANHART Race downpipes without catalytic converters and MANHART OPF-Delete replacement pipes with 200-cell HJS catalytic converters – both without TÜV approval and thus only for export.

SEE ALSO: Kia team reveals first teaser pictures for the new Sportage lineup

Furthermore, the MANHART team offers additional customization by offering customers the choice of MANHART fine-tuned H&R springs that lower the front axle by 30mm and the rear by 10mm, or the MANHART Variant 4 Coilover suspension kit by KW Suspensions with a set-up that guides the wheels perfectly over the tarmac even at forced speeds.

Exterior design

The MH3 600 is fully presented in the traditional MANHART fashion with gold accents and glossy black background. Some of the optional goodies include a carbon outfit with a front spoiler, a rear spoiler, side skirts, and aero flicks from the M Performance range. Furthermore, the wheels in the MH3 600 are all in a 21-inch format. At the front axle, forged MANHART Concave One rims are placed – optionally in satin black with gold rim decoration or completely in gold – rotate in 9×21 inch with 255/30ZR21 tires, at the rear 295/25ZR21 tires are mounted on 10.5×21 inch rims.

June 1, 2021
Auto Trader awards Kia Soul EV with Best Value Electric Car

New Kia Soul EV has won the Best Value Electric Car award at the Auto Trader New Car Awards 2021. The vehicle stood out from the crowd because of its advanced EV system, numerous utility features, and overall fun-to-drive character.

Auto Trader’s New Car Awards is an annual consumer-led vote and winners are rated by the vehicle owners – they rate vehicles on 16 categories, including stability, reliability, safety, and features.

Praised for its power, range, durability, and ease of use, the Soul EV blends zero emissions and an elegant design. Also, the vehicle offers numerous possibilities for customization.

The Kia Niro, Sportage, and all-new Sorento models also received some attention and were shortlisted for awards in various other categories. Kia as a brand was also shortlisted for the ‘Car Brand with the best new tech’ award. 2021 is the third consecutive year in which Kia has won an Auto Trader New Car Award.

SEE ALSO: Kia team reveals first teaser pictures for the new Sportage lineup

Erin Baker, Editorial Director of Auto Trader, said: The Kia Soul EV came top of the class for space that was easy to make use of, and also scored high marks for its power, durability, ease to drive, and easy to park. Owners described the Kia Soul EV as, ‘great value for money, roomy, efficient, small on the outside and big on the inside. Well done, Kia.

Commenting on the Soul EV’s win, Paul Philpott, President & CEO for Kia UK Limited, remarked: To see the Soul EV win this award is a truly impressive feat, and one which means a lot to us as a company. Value is important to anyone looking to make the transition to fully electric ownership, and the Soul EV demonstrates that there is no need to sacrifice range, equipment or performance when buying and running an electric vehicle. We are delighted that, via our dealer partners, we’re able to exceed expectations with the Soul EV year-on-year.

June 1, 2021