Victor Ivanov – Page 196 – Automobiles Review

Toyota iQ : Goodies for your favourity supermini

The iQ is probably the most interesting and nice small city car you can find on the market. It boasts unique style and personality. However, the manufacturer now offers even greater individuality with the introduction of colourful body and roof decals and a choice of vibrant leather upholstery options.

Customers can mix and match patterns and shades to suit their mood, and with a range of eight external paint colours, six leather combinations and six roof and body decals, there are hundreds of possible variations.

The exterior can be upgraded with decals that extends from a classic monochrome Check to a psychedelic multicolour Swirl. The other choices are Box, Bloom, Pulse and Aqua. Each decal design can be specified separately for the car’s roof and sides. Side decals cost £200 and roof decals – £180.

The interior offers six leather options match Nappa leather upholstery for all four seats with toning – or contrasting – stitching and fillet inserts around the shoulder area. The leathers are priced from £775.

The combinations are:

•   Black leather with platinum fillets and stitching
•   Platinum leather with black fillets and stitching
•   Red leather with platinum fillets and stitching
•   Black leather with Electric Blue fillets and stitching, plus iQ logo on headrest
•   Black leather with Burnt Orange fillets and stitching, plus iQ logo on headrest
•   Black leather with red fillets and stitching, plus iQ logo on headrest

Toyota iQ Customised - Clever Cars — Toyota iQ Customised – Clever Cars

Source: Toyota

January 20, 2012

2012 Renault Scenic UK Price – £18 325

Renault UK has priced the new 2012 Scenic and Grand Scenic. The family vehicles start at just £18 325 OTR for Scenic and £19 725 for Grand Scenic. The prices are highly competitive considering the nice standard equipment and the high versatility of the models.

The 2012 Grand Scenic is available only in one trim level – Dynamique TomTom. It includes 16” alloy wheels, auto lights and wipers, Bluetooth™, cruise control, Carminat TomTom Live satellite navigation, it now includes rear parking sensors and LED daytime running lights as standard.

Available as an option on all versions of the Dynamique TomTom (except the 1.6 VVT 110), a new Luxe Pack offers some impressive equipment worth considerably in excess of its £1 500 price tag. Included in it are 17” Sari alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, BOSE Energy Efficient sound system with nine speakers, digital amplifier, sliding centre console, electrically folding door mirrors and the Visio System.

The engine range includes two new power units – 1.2 TCe 115 petrol and 1.5 dCi 110 Stop & Start. Both boast impressive performance, economy and emission figures.

Scénic and Grand Scénic will also be the first models to feature the Visio System by Renault which assists the driver’s vigilance and night-time vision thanks to two key functions. This latest innovation by the French brand combines a lane departure warning system and an automatic high/low beam headlight function.

Prices for the Scenic start at £18 325 for the Dynamique TomTom 1.6 VVT 110 and go up to £21 325 for the top-of-the-range Dynamique TomTom 1.6 dCi 130 Stop & Start.

Seven-seat Grand Scenic prices start from £19 725 for the Dynamique TomTom 1.6 VVT 110, rising to £22,725 for the Dynamique TomTom 1.6 dCi 130 Stop & Start.

Source: Renault

January 20, 2012

2012 BMW 1-Series M-Sport Price – £22 510

BMW has introduced the 2012 1-Series M-Sport, which offers a number of modifications for the hatchback.

The exterior M Package includes restyled bumpers and side skirts. There is also a set of nice 18” Star-spoke light alloy wheels, a high-gloss shadowline restyled front kidney grille. The stance is further improved by lowering the ride with 10mm. All these enhancements give the new 1-Series better presence on the road and individual style.

The interior boasts an Anthracite headlining, Aluminum Hexagon interior trim, Estoril Blue styling accents and ///M badge door sills. There are also front sport seats finished in black cloth and Alcantara. The steering wheel is also a new one as well as the short-shift gear lever.

However, if you aren’t please with the M-Sport package, you can complete it with the Sport Plus Edition pack adding Dark Line rear lights and Black mirror casings, Boston leature upholstery lines and USB/ Bluetooth connectivity.

2012 BMW 1-Series M-Sport is priced at £22 510 for the 116i model and the prices go up to £27 820 for the 125d. The alternative 125i M Sport is priced from £26 030.

Source: BMW

January 19, 2012

MINI Baker Street and Bayswater

Two new interesting models from MINI – Baker Street and Bayswater will hit the market in spring 2012. Both cars feature expressive design highlights and nice equipment.

The MINI Baker Street embodies the youthful, fresh and innovative trend-setting style of the brand, while the MINI Bayswater focuses primarily on the sporting verve and agile handling for which MINI is renowned.

The MINI Baker Street is available in MINI One, MINI Cooper, MINI One D and MINI Cooper D guise, while the MINI Bayswater is available as a MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper S, MINI Cooper D and MINI Cooper SD.

The Bayswater model features Kite Blue metallic exterior paintwork, 17” light-alloy Sandblast wheels with high-gloss black surfaces and bright machined rim and spoke edges. There are also black contrasting roof and the likewise newly created Sport Stripes for the bonnet.

“Bayswater” lettering adorns the side indicator surrounds, door sills and seat tags. The Punch Leather seats come in the exclusive colour variant Rocklite Anthracite and include side bolsters sporting a metallic sheen and blue and grey contrast stitching. Two-tone contrast stitching also adorns the gearshift/selector lever and handbrake gaiters.

Other innovative design features in the interior include Piano Black cockpit trim strips, which continue the path set by the Sport Stripes over the bonnet, and the leather Colour Line elements in Rocklite Anthracite, whose classy character is emphasised by black stitching. The same leather variant is also used for the armrests, while the model-specific floor mats have anthracite-coloured edging and blue contrast stitching.

The MINI Bayswater also comes with stainless steel pedals and the Chrome Line Interior package, and includes the Pepper Pack in its range of equipment. Plus, the new special edition can likewise be specified with a wide variety of items from the optional equipment list if further individual touches are desired.

You can order Bayswater with Cooper – 122PS, Cooper S – 184PS, Cooper D – 112PS and Cooper SD – 143PS. The special-edition model is also delivered with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, while a 6-speed automatic features in the options range.

The Baker Street boasts Rooftop Grey metallic exterior paint combined with special bonnet stripes. It rides on 16” 6-Star twin-spoke alloys finished in high-gloss black matching the black mirror caps.

In the interior a fresh interpretation of the cloth/leather seats available for the standard MINI teams up with exclusive interior surfaces to create an unmistakable ambience. In traditional British style, the surfaces of the new seat variant in Cross Check Rooftop Grey light feature a diamond pattern. Light grey contrast stitching for the floor mats, gearshift/selector lever as well as the handbrake gaiters and seat tags which, like the door sills, bear “Baker Street” lettering, round off the array of bespoke interior features. The Chrome Line Interior package adds further lustre.

The Baker Street also includes the Pepper Pack, which brings with it air conditioning, an on-board computer, a leather steering wheel, the Chrome Line Exterior package, front foglamps, a lighting package and height adjustment for the front passenger seat.

It is offered with four engine variants – One with 98PS, Cooper with 122PS, One D with 90PS and Cooper D with 112PS. All the engines are mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard or an optional 6-speed automatic.

Source: MINI

January 19, 2012

2012 Renault Twingo Price – £10 350

Renault UK has announced the new 2012 Twingo, which starts at just £10 350 OTR.

The small city car is completely restyled and features new bold design, new revised bumper, tailgate and new rear lights.

“We have heightened New Twingo’s sensuous styling and seductive appeal, marking a return to Twingo’s original personality. We have also given the front end the brand’s new design identity which will be seen on all our new models.”, commented Renault’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Design, Laurens van den Acker.

2012 Twingo is available in Fuchsia and Bermuda Blue added to the seven existing body colours.

The interior boasts Luxe Carbon seats, cruise control and a speed limiter as standard. Ideal around town and especially in speed camera-monitored roadworks, the speed limiter will not allow the car to exceed a pre-selected speed, whilst on a longer run, cruise control will maintain a selected speed. Therefore, New Twingo is as at home on the motorway as it is in the city.

The engine is a 1.2 liter 16V petrol with 75PS boasting impressive 55.4 mpg in the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 119g/km.

The options list boasts climate control, electric panoramic sunroof, two Option Packs and long list of exterior customisation accessories such as Renaultsport rear spoiler, and a series of decals.

New Twingo is on sale in the UK now.

Source: Renault

January 19, 2012

Sportec Audi RS3 Sportback

Audi RS3 Sportback is a real hot hatchback. It comes with a powerful 2.5 liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine, stiffened suspension, big wheels, big brakes and some interior upgrades. Still, Sportec decide to give it a little more performance.

The engine is boosted to whopping 408PS (300 kW) and 550Nm (406 lb-ft) , which is a serious increase of 68PS (50 kW) and 100Nm (74 lb-ft) over the factory power. However, there will be a five hundred horsepower package. Nice!

Sportec RS3 also comes with a loud stainless steel sports exhaust system, a fully adjustable coilover suspension, which can reduce the ride height by 20 to 40mm.

The brutal stance is finished by a set of 20” light alloy wheels fitted with performance tires. Last, but not least, you’ll get a high-performance Movit brake system.

The price list is not announced yet, but you have to prepare yourself for serious dissipation, because just the bace price of RS3 Sportback is €49 900.

Source: Sportec

January 18, 2012

FAB Design Mercedes E-Class Convertible

FAB Design has announced their tuning package for Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible.

The wide body kit includes new front and rear bumper, a pair of side skirts and extended fenders and quarter panels. The whole package gives superb stance of the beautiful drop-top. The front bumper also comes with LED daylight running lights and exposed carbon fiber sections. Last, but not least, the exterior received a carbon fiber extendable trunk lid spoiler.

FAB E-Class Convertible stands on forged three-piece 9J x 20” at the front and 10J x 20” at the rear alloy wheels fitted with ultra-low profile tires.

The stance is also improved by a tuned sports suspension.

The final touch are the two oval tailpipes, which are part of the sports exhaust system with sound control.

Source: FAB Design

January 18, 2012

2012 Citroen DS3 Ultra Prestige Price – £20 700

Citroen has announced a new special version of the small and sexy hatchback – DS3. The Ultra Prestige model is added to the UK range just months after the model premiered at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show to celebrate DS3’s ongoing sales success.

The engine range includes only two engines – a 1.6 liter turbocharged petrol (THP 155) with 157PS (115 kW) at 6000RPM and 240Nm (177 lb-ft) at just 1400RPM. From 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 214 km/h (133 mph).

The other is 1.6 turbocharged diesel (e-HDi 110) with 110PS (81 kW) at 4000RPM and 270Nm (199 lb-ft) at 2000RPM. From 0 to 100 km/h in 9.8 seconds and a top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph). It returns up to 74.4 mpg on combined cycle with emission of just 99 g/km of CO2.

The DS3 Ultra Prestige is based on DSport trim level and adds Club leather for the front seats, Alpine white leather for the dashboard strip with DS signature, ultra-thick protective mats, braided with double top-stitching in contrasting colours, leather trim is also fitted to the door panels and central armrest.

The exterior can be finished in Polar White and Thorium Grey. It also boasts a sports spoiler, dark-tinted side and rear windows and 17” charcoal-grey alloy wheels. The ‘Ultra Prestige’ graphic that covers the model’s black roof with the DS insignia, provides a range of subtle contrasts, shifting from matt to gloss as the light changes. There is also a ‘Dark Chrome Signature’ option, including black door mirrors with dark chrome base, dark chrome side rubbing strips, front grille surround, front fog light surrounds and an insert on the rear number plate moulding.

The equipment also benefits from MyWay SAT NAV, rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers, electrically heated and folding door mirrors and an electrochrome rear view mirror.

VERSION	CO2 EMISSIONS (g/km)	COMBINED (mpg)	ON THE ROAD – M.R.R.P.
DS3 THP 155 6-speed manual	139	47.1	£20 700
DS3 e-HDi 110 Airdream 6-speed manual	99	74.4	£20 900

Source: Citroen

January 18, 2012

2012 Toyota Prius Price – £21 350

The new 2012 Toyota Prius is priced from £21 350 and it will be available in the UK showrooms from March. Later in the year Prius will grow, with the introduction of the ultra-efficient Prius Plug-in Hybrid and Prius+, the world’s first seven-seat full hybrid MPV.

The new model continues to emit just 89g/km CO2 emissions – the lowest level in its class – and combined cycle fuel economy of 72.4mpg.

The advanced Toyota Touch & Go Plus multimedia and navigation system is a standard feature on Prius T Spirit and an option onT3 & T4. This brings with it Bluetooth, a rear-view camera, USB port and an on-board connectivity feature that allows access to a raft of on-line information services sourced through Google Local Search using a compatible mobile phone.

The exterior comes with new front bumper, a larger lower grille, new clear-lens headlights and the LED daytime running lights have been relocated in the bumper beneath the turn indicators, while the foglights move to within the lower grille.

The styling changes add an extra 20mm the car’s length, but Prius’s wheelbase and its highly efficient aerodynamic performance (Cd 0.25) are unchanged.

The 2012 Prius is available in eight exterior colours, including new Dark Blue and Cabernet Red metallic.

The interior is also revised by adding new darker materials used for the dashboard and T4 and T Spirit models gains a new black seat trim. The front seats are new and offer wider adjustment, both fore and aft and in height range, making it easier for the most comfortable driving position to be achieved.

The model line-up includes – T3, T4 and T Spirit. The options list includes black leather upholstery, a Protection Pack, a Style Pack and the Technology Pack for T Spirit.

There is no doubt that the new Prius is better than the outgoing model and it will have huge success.

Source: Toyota

January 18, 2012

Skoda Octavia Green E-Line

Skoda has begun testing ten electrically powered Octavia Green E Line. The aim of the test is to gain practical experience with electric propulsion.
The Octavia Green E Line is powered by an electric motor with 116PS (85 kW) and 270Nm (199 kW). The performance is not very good, but it is excellent for everyday driving in the city – from 0 to 100 km/h in 12 seconds and a top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). The overall range is around 150km, which will satisfy the demands of most European commuters.

The battery holds 26.5 kW/h energy and weighs about 315 kilograms. The battery block is mounted under the middle and rear floor panel and in part in the boot. The car will seat five.
“The Octavia Green E Line shows our technological expertise in the field of electric mobility. It is a milestone in our comprehensive sustainability strategy. Our development work in this field is in close cooperation with Volkswagen Group.” commented ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland

Octavia Green E Line technical features at a glance:
•   Rated power output: 60 kW
•   Maximum power: 85 kW over 60 seconds
•   Torque: 270 Nm
•   Maximum speed: 135 kph
•   Acceleration 0-100 kph: 12 secs.
•   Range: 150 km
•   Battery: lithium-ion battery
•   Battery weight: approx. 315 kg
•   Battery capacity: 26,5 kWh
•   Charging time:
o 8 hours at 230 V (single-phase AC)
o 2 hours at 400 V (three-phase AC)

Source: Skoda

January 17, 2012

MR Car Design Volkswagen Caddy

Need more stance! Obviously the Volkswagen Caddy is not the best eye-catcher in its factory version. That’s why, the company MR Car Design from Erftstadt has virtually transformed the high roof combi into something unique and low… very low!

The tuned Caddy is fitted with air suspension on the front and rear axle, which can be adjusted either remotely or automatically. Each axle can be height adjusted separately, so if you want you can lower only the front end or the rear one. The result is really impressive and the Caddy III has unique stance.

In addition, this version is made for craftsmen with extreme load because of the leveling. To get the Caddy a little from the truck corner, the Erftstadt have sensibly used Rotiform-alloy wheels in dimensions 8.5J x 19” fitted with 225/35 R19 tires.

This Caddy associated with the current VW face since a facelift for summer 2010 – at least as it now stands in front of the inclined viewer thanks to MR Car Design – wants more, especially because a number of engine variants is available , depending on the intended replacement option.

Source: MR Car Design

January 17, 2012

Citroen Berlingo Airdream e-HDI

Citroen will fit the Berlingo model with e-HDi micro-hybrid Stop & Start technology. It will enable drivers to automatically comply with Transport for London’s (TfL’s) latest advice to improve air quality in the Capital.

The drivetrain includes a turbo-diesel engine with 90PS (66 kW) and 215Nm (159 lb-ft). The fuel consumption is just at 4.7 liters per 100 km (50 mpg) on combined cycle with emissions of 123 g/km of CO2. This is an improvement up to 19% in fuel efficiency.

“Citroën has a track record of producing low emitting LCVs and we are now offering van buyers even lower emission alternatives, while minimising or eliminating altogether the cost penalty usually associated with new clean fuel-efficient technology. With lower emissions and lower running costs too, it’s a win-win deal for van owners and the environment.”, said Scott Michael, Citroën’s Commercial Vehicle Operations Manager.

In addition, all Berlingo vans are specified with Citroën’s unique Trafficmaster telematics package. This further reduces urban fuel consumption and emissions by offering the fastest congestion avoidance routing direct to the driver.

Source: Citroen

January 17, 2012

Author: Victor Ivanov