The Audi S3 is now not only available with five doors, but also with seven speeds courtesy of the much lauded S tronic twin-clutch transmission, which not only quickens shifts compared with the continuing manual version, but also slows down fuel consumption. (more…)
Author: autoview
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Audi S3 boxes clever with new s tronic transmission option
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Ford Mondeo takes Caravan Club Towcar honours for second year
Ford’s latest generation Mondeo has won a Caravan Club Towcar Award for the second year in a row.
The Mondeo Titanium X Estate triumphed against tough competition in the £25,000 to £32,000 category at the Caravan Club’s ceremony, the UK’s longest running towing vehicle competition.
Caravan Club Chairman, Grenville Chamberlain, said: “The returning champion, Ford Mondeo, had a lot to live up to, but it triumphed again. The estate model’s huge load space makes it a very practical caravanning car. The five-cylinder turbo petrol engine has tremendous pulling power, the gearbox ratios (six-speed manual) are just right and both brakes and steering inspire confidence. The icing on the cake is great build quality.”
Roelant de Waard, chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain, commented: “We are delighted the Ford Mondeo’s outstanding practicality, versatility and quality have once again been acknowledged and rewarded by the Caravan Club. This is a hugely prestigious award which pitched us against some tough competition. The independent judges’ decision confirmed what the growing number of Ford Mondeo owners already know about this exceptional family car.”
The Caravan Club is the largest touring organisation of its kind in Europe and claims over half the UK caravanning population as members. The Towcar of the Year Awards were launched 26 years ago.
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NICE MyCar is electric vehicle of the year
NICE Car Company (No Internal Combustion Engine) has won electric vehicle of the year at the 2008 GreenFleet Awards. It picked up the accolade for MyCar, an Italian-designed two-seater which was launched at the London Motor Show in July.
“We are obviously delighted to have won the award,” said NICE co-founder Julian Wilford. “Since launching NICE in 2006, our aim has been to bring clean, affordable and convenient transport to private and corporate customers alike. MyCar is the latest in a growing portfolio which already features the largest range of all-electric cars, vans and motorcycles on sale in the UK today.”
MyCar owners are set to benefit from motoring costs of around 2p per mile, no road tax and no congestion charge in London – and, of course, zero emissions. Starting from £8,995, the first MyCar’s will arrive in the UK next month.
In awarding MyCar its electric vehicle of the year award, GreenFleet said the stylish and functional design, along with low running costs, would go a long way to increase the appeal of electric cars for city drivers.
NICE was also commended in GreenFleet’s Green Marketing category for its 2008 motor show campaign. NICE was the only all-electric vehicle company to invest in a stand alongside mainstream car makers, showing its entire model range, as well as hosting cars in the show’s electric vehicle village. Nearly half a million visitors came to the show.
This year’s GreenFleet awards, which recognise pioneers of environmental fleet management, were presented at a ceremony on Thursday 25th September in Twickenham.
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Fiat 500 “F1TM Limited Edition” on the Singapore Grand Prix circuit
On 28 September, Singapore will host the first ever night-time Grand Prix event in the history of Formula 1. As a taster to the exceptional event, a “500 Drive” will take place on 27 September, before the GP qualifying rounds. This will involve 12 Fiat 500 “F1TM Limited Edition” cars being driven round the same track by celebrities. (more…) -
Hyundai i800 pulls in its first award
Going out on the pull? The Hyundai i800 could be the perfect car for you according to expert judges – and you can bring eight friends in tow!This type of pulling is more likely to take place on a campsite than in a disco though, as the i800 has won the The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year for the £16,000 to £20,000 category. (more…)
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Volvo’s pedal power at the 2008 Cycle Show
There are plenty of reasons to visit the Volvo stand at the 2008 Cycle Show which takes place at Earls Court between 10-12 October. Volvo will once again co-sponsor the very popular Mountain Bike Test Track and alongside displaying a selection of new Volvo models, there will also be a guest appearance from an Olympic Gold medallist sailor and the chance to win a weekend in the new Volvo XC60. (more…) -
Success for Volvo at the caravan club towcar of the year awards 2009
Volvo’s extensive experience of designing and developing cars suitable for drivers that tow has again been acknowledged in this year’s Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Competition results, announced yesterday. (more…) -
Citroen’s Berlingo multispace is a tow-away success
Vacationing families looking to beat the credit crunch with a budget-break in Blighty should consider the new Citroën Berlingo Multispace as their new caravan companion.
The cheeky MPV has just been voted the UK’s best value Towcar. In a gruelling competition that saw more than 38 cars competing in five different categories, the Berlingo Multispace 1.6HDi XTR model beat off competition from Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot and Skoda to win in the sub-£16000 category at the 2009 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Awards.
Six expert drivers assessed each car’s towing performance, acceleration, braking and the ability to cope with demanding hill starts. A team of four ‘caravanability’ judges carefully assessed each model’s usability in terms of every day caravanning.
The Caravan Club judges heaped praise on the Multispace’s behaviour under tow, highlighting its lively response, great turning performance on the hill route, excellent visibility and unbeatable storage space and versatility in the cabin thanks to the removable rear seats, sliding doors, large glass area and interior roof bars.
With the current gloomy economic outlook, caravanning holidays in the UK are fast becoming a cool and inexpensive alternative to pricey trips abroad. The Multispace’s excellent value for money, good fuel economy and heaps of storage space make it the smart choice for families looking to caravan on a budget – but still travel in comfort.
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Hanover CV show: F-A-B – Nissan NV200 is go!
Nissan’s NV200 concept van was one of the undoubted stars of the Hanover Show – and designer Ryoichi Kuraoka found an unlikely inspiration for its innovative demountable pod system. “It’s based on Thunderbird 2, the one with the pod,” he said. (more…) -
Hanover CV show: green is the theme
From the lightest vans to the heaviest trucks and buses, ‘green’ thinking was, inevitably, one of the main themes of just about every manufacturer’s display at Hanover. (more…) -
Hanover CV show: vw takes on japanese in the pick-up sector
Volkswagen will next year become the first European automaker to enter the 1-tonne pick-up market with an original design. The pick-up was presented at IAA as a concept called SAR (Search and Rescue). It’s a smart crew-cab 4×4 pick-up, giving a clear indication of what a ‘lifestyle’ VW pick-up will look like. More basic single-cab versions are expected to be part of the range. (more…)
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Hanover CV show: a new niche – 4×4 panel vans
As the van market fragments, manufacturers are looking for new niches. And an emerging niche at Hanover seems to be all-wheel drive versions of panel vans, with a number of manufacturers showing 4×4 vans.
