Author: autoview

  • Fabia sport gets sportier

    Skoda FabiaŠkoda has raised the stakes against its competitors by lowering the Fabia Sport by 15mm and giving it a sportier poise.

    The modification will see a marginal price increase of no more than £290 per vehicle with the following new prices applicable to orders placed from 1 October: (more…)

  • Caterham RS Levante – Sold Out

    Caterham RS LevanteDespite the recent decline in car sales and consumer spending, all of the £115,000 plus Caterham-based Levante supercars scheduled for production have been sold.

    Launched in Spring 2008, the Levante is the most powerful production Caterham ever, with only eight being hand-built by Hertfordshire-based RS Performance in association with Caterham Cars. (more…)

  • HUMMER H3 – The ultimate wagon wheel

    Hummer H3 Ultimate Wagon WheelParking wardens take note – it’s not a car, it’s art…
    Artist Matthew Harrison today unveils his latest project entitled ‘Hummer’ at the fifth Zoo Art Fair (17-20 October) – a HUMMER H3 complete with wooden wagon wheels, the iconic installation will be parked on Old Burlington Road, opposite the Royal Academy of Arts for the duration of the fair.
    (more…)

  • GKN Driveline’s innovative AWD coupling debuts on new Infiniti FX series

    Infiniti FXAt the heart of the new Infiniti FX’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system is a new generation AWD coupling from GKN Driveline Torque Technology.  GKN Driveline’s ElectroMagnetic Control Device (EMCD) controls the power flow in the driveline to provide optimum AWD performance when needed and Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) performance when it is not. (more…)

  • Special edition Fabia is a Headturner

    Skoda Fabia BlueLineŠkoda has just released a funky special edition Fabia BlueLine, guaranteed to turn heads in the street and bring a smile to drivers who are in for a £750 treat of additional equipment at a price of just £160. (more…)

  • MINI Aldridge Special makes public debut at Design Museum

    MINI Aldridge SpecialA unique MINI featuring a visually stunning exterior designed by legendary artist, illustrator and graphic designer Alan Aldridge, is now on show at the Design Museum in London. (more…)

  • Toyota announces prices and specifications for new iQ

    Order books are open for Toyota’s revolutionary new iQ, with first deliveries to customers in January. An instant icon for modern urban motoring, iQ matches its advanced engineering and design with highly desirable equipment specifications: it’s proof that thinking small no longer means thinking modest. (more…)

  • Eco-driving brings huge benefits, proves Chevrolet

    Eco-driving brings huge benefits, proves ChevroletCost-conscious motorists can save over £300 a year by adopting a more economical approach to their driving, a study by Chevrolet proves.

    The company entered two identical Aveo 1.4 LT 5-dr hatchbacks in the annual Fleetworld/ALD Automotive MPG Marathon to compare the fuel economy of a car driven normally, and one driven with an environmentally aware approach. (more…)

  • Honda Civic Hybrid awarded T3 readers’ seal of approval

    Honda Civic HybridHonda’s Civic Hybrid scooped Green Gadget of the Year at T3 magazine’s annual awards ceremony last night.

    Voted by T3 readers themselves, it was the Civic Hybrid’s low emissions and excellent fuel economy that won them over. (more…)

  • Dodge to Arm Police Officers with Best-in-Class Power and Even Better Fuel Economy

    Dodge Charger police vehicleThe new 2009 Dodge Charger police car is ready to patrol the streets with the ultimate in pursuit power – the new-generation 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 engine. The new engine will give the good guys more horses under the hood and even better fuel economy.

    “With rear-wheel drive and HEMI power at the pavement, our new 2009 Dodge Charger provides optimum police car pursuit performance,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand Marketing. “Dodge has a strong police car heritage, and we are proud to offer a vehicle armed with modern muscle and cutting-edge technology to help law enforcement agencies perform their duties.”

    With the new 5.7-liter HEMI, the 2009 Dodge Charger is the most powerful production police vehicle on the road, producing 368 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2009 Dodge Charger is the only police vehicle that offers best-in-class performance in four key pursuit categories: available power, acceleration, top speed and vehicle dynamics.

    With a fuel economy rating of 16 city/25 highway, the new HEMI engine also gets up to 20 percent better fuel economy with the addition of fuel-saving Multi-Displacement System (MDS) technology, which deactivates four of the eight cylinders when less power is needed while cruising.

    “Our fuel-saving MDS technology functions so smoothly that officers won’t notice when four of the eight cylinders are deactivated, but they’ll always have the power of the V8 when they need it,” said Roxie Thomas, Senior Manager — Government Sales.

    The 2009 Dodge Charger police car comes standard with a five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick® mated to a powerful, 3.5-liter High-Output V-6 engine that provides 250 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque, offering an outstanding blend of performance and fuel economy (16 city/25 highway).

    The Dodge Charger police vehicle was designed from the ground up in order to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies. Police-specific features include greater stability and improved handling achieved through a “wheels-to-the-corners” design; performance-tuned steering and suspension; convenient shifter mounted on the instrument panel to make room for police equipment in the center console area; police interior lighting shines white to illuminate the interior and red for use with night vision equipment; heavy-duty seats accommodate fully equipped officers; and a spacious trunk.

    The Dodge Charger police vehicle comes equipped with Electronic Stability Program (ESP), a segment exclusive that includes Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), All-speed traction control, Yaw Sensor and Steering Angle Sensor. ESP electronically detects and automatically assists drivers in critical driving situations, including adverse conditions. ESP works by constantly comparing the driver’s intended course with the vehicle’s actual course, detecting differences, applying the brakes to individual wheels and controlling engine power in order to help keep the vehicle on its intended path. Dodge Charger is also equipped with Brake Assist, which helps apply maximum braking power in emergency situations.

    Dodge Charger police vehicle

    Both passive and active safety features are incorporated into the 2009 Dodge Charger police vehicle. These features include unibody steel construction; standard advanced multi-stage driver and front-passenger air bags; available supplemental side-curtain airbags and seat-mounted air bags; best-in-class braking from 60 mph to zero in 135 feet*; and mid-vehicle-mounted saddlebag gas tank.

    Standard Features

    Standard features on the 2009 Dodge Charger police vehicle include the following items of particular importance to law enforcement customers:

    • 3.5-liter High-Output V6 engine with 250 hp and 250 lb.-ft. of torque
    • 160-amp high-output alternator
    • 160-mph or 260–km/h(certified) calibrated speedometer
    • 18 x 7.5-inch steel wheels
    • 800 CCA battery
    • AM/FM radio with CD player, changer controls, four speakers and clock with auxiliary audio input jack
    • Bright hubcaps
    • Easy Path Wiring Grommet between underhood and passenger compartments
    • External oil coolers
    • Four-wheel disc heavy-duty antilock brakes with all-speed traction control
    • Four-wheel independent performance suspension
    • Heavy-duty cloth front bucket seats with manual lumbar and a cloth rear bench seat
    • Column-mounted shift lever
    • Load-leveling, height-control shock absorbers
    • P225/60R18 BSW V-rated performance tires
    • Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Brake Assist and all-speed traction control
    • Police performance-tuned steering
    • Trunk-lid key lock cylinder
    • Separate key and key fob
    • Severe-duty cooling system
    • Independently switched red/white LED dome lamp

    Additional standard features and optional equipment are available on the 2009 Dodge Charger police vehicle in order to provide law enforcement customers an affordable vehicle with industry-leading innovations that make upfitting the vehicle faster and safer.

    Police Car Heritage

    The former Chrysler Corporation dominated the police car business throughout the 1960s, ‘70s and early ‘80s, with U.S. market shares ranging from 45-60 percent. Police vehicles manufactured by the former Chrysler Corporation included the Dodge Monaco, Dodge Royal Monaco, Dodge Coronet, Dodge Diplomat, Dodge Dart, Dodge St. Regis, Plymouth Fury, Plymouth Gran Fury, Plymouth Volare and Chrysler Newport.

    After a 12-year hiatus, Dodge returned to the police car market with the 2002 Dodge Intrepid. The front-wheel-drive Dodge Intrepid earned a 4 percent share of the approximately 70,000 unit U.S. market. That vehicle was phased out of production in 2003.

    In the fall of 2004, Dodge previewed the 2006 Dodge Magnum as a police vehicle, offering enhanced rear-wheel-drive performance and handling with a spacious, flexible interior for police special service uses. In 2005, the Dodge Charger joined the ranks, offering law enforcement agencies a four-door sedan option.

    The Dodge Charger continues to gain momentum in the marketplace as the preferred vehicle for law enforcement.  Sales of the Dodge Charger police car have increased 17 percent over 2007.

  • GM Holden Showcases Chevrolet Volt In Australia

    GM Holden Showcases Chevrolet Volt In AustraliaThe much-anticipated Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle has made one of its first global appearances at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

    Volt, to be launched in the US in 2010, uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds in a significant advance from conventional hybrids. (more…)

  • Land Rover broadens offsetting and unveils new green technologies

    Freelander 2 TD4_eLand Rover today confirmed the extension of its industry leading CO2 offset initiative to the company’s fast growing Middle East market. The programme, which started on 1 October, will balance emissions from the first 72,000 km of customer use on vehicles sold in the Gulf and Levant region and the CO2 generated by Land Rover’s manufacturing operations in the UK. (more…)