Automobiles Review

Category: Auto News

Auto news – automobile industry news. Articles about all the latest car models and concepts. Breaking news, uncovered secrets.

  • Corsavan – Small Van Of The Year 2008

    Small vans with low running costs have never been more popular – and according to leading light commercial vehicle magazine What Van?, the Vauxhall Corsavan is the best of the lot.

    The prestigious publication awarded Corsavan the title of ‘Small Van of the Year 2008’ – the second year in succession that it has taken the accolade – citing its road manners, fuel economy and modern, streamlined styling as the key features that made it more attractive than rivals.

    What Van? Editor Neil McIntee said that Corsavan’s car-derived origins gave it extra appeal in a heavily competitive sector.

    “On the face of it the latest breed of small vans ought to spell the end for commercials based on hatchback cars,” he said, “but from the viewpoint of status-conscious customers Corsavan is a far more acceptable sight on the typical suburban driveway.

    “What’s more, Corsavan comes with all of the virtues of the car on which it is based. As a consequence, it comfortably outclasses similar products so far as driveability is concerned”

    Corsavan - What Van? small van of the year 2008

    Corsavan’s popularity is reflected in its sales figures – By the end of November, Vauxhall had sold 2,253 Corsavans in 2008, 169 more than in the whole of 2007.

    “The small van market is growing more and more important as businesses look to keep their costs under control,” said Steve Bryant, Vauxhall Commercial Vehicle Brand Manager. “The fact that Corsavan shares so much with the multi-award winning Corsa car means we have a van that offers class-leading levels of quality, dynamics and roadside appeal, all of which are increasingly important to commercial vehicle customers.”

    Vauxhall sold over 53,000 vans in the UK in 2007, and is Britain’s biggest manufacturer of light commercial vehicles. By the end of 2008, the company will have constructed over 100,000 vans in the UK at plants in Luton, Bedfordshire and Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

  • New Opel Antara with Front-Wheel Drive: Loads of Space at Lower Cost

    Opel now offers the Antara with front-wheel drive for active people and families who seek space and high seating and prefer the look of a crossover. By opting for a 4X2, buyers have a cost savings on a car that already offers high value for money. (more…)

  • Pagani Zonda R

    A Pagani Zonda is never shy of a drive at the racetrack, a fact that was undermined numerous times in the past with records for production vehicles at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. (more…)

  • 2009 Saab 9-3 SportCombi Named “Top 5 Wagon”

    The editors at NADAguides.com, a leading vehicle pricing and information website based in Costa Mesa, California, have named the Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi a “Top 5 Wagon”. An important contributor to the award was the availability of Saab’s “Cross-Wheel Drive” (XWD) system, new for the 2009 model year as standard equipment in the 9-3 Aero SportSedan and SportCombi and available on 2.0T models.

    “When they say engineered from jets, they mean it,” said Don Christy, president and CEO of NADAguides.com. “The 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi is a great looking wagon with a laundry list of standard equipment. In this category, this is something special.”

    Developed in Sweden with Haldex of Stockholm, Saab’s “Cross-Wheel Drive” is a pre-emptive, active-on-demand system that is activated only when required, limiting the impact on fuel economy while giving the car a surefooted, dynamic feel that enthusiasts embrace. Saab’s Cross-Wheel Drive system is designed to optimize vehicle handling and stability in all driving conditions.

    “True to its Scandinavian origins, Saab has built a large part of its reputation on excellent road manners under demanding driving conditions like rain, sleet and snow,” said Steve Shannon, executive director product and brand at Saab Automobile USA. “Our new Cross-Wheel Drive technology, which delivers unprecedented levels of driver involvement and dynamic chassis control, further illustrates Saab’s commitment to offering active safety in sporty, efficient and driver-focused vehicles.”

    2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi
    2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi
    2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi
    2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi
    2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi
    2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi
    2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi

    Saab Cross-Wheel Drive is a fully automatic, on-demand system capable of sending up to 100 percent of engine torque to the front or rear wheels whenever necessary. While offering drivers sure-footed handling in low-grip conditions, its sophisticated operation also adds a further sporty dimension to the driving experience in all road conditions.

    This state-of-the-art, all-wheel drive system includes two innovative features: pre-emptive engagement of the rear wheels to optimize traction at take-off; and an electronically controlled rear limited-slip differential (eLSD) that allows variable torque transfer between the rear wheels. While the eLSD is standard on Aero models; it is not available on the 9-3 2.0T.

    Saab is a division of General Motors Corporation. Saab Automobile USA is the importer and/or distributor of the Saab 9-3, 9-5 and 9-7X for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden. For the 2009 model year, Saab offers 7 different models that deliver 27 mpg or better according to EPA Highway fuel economy standards.

  • Toyota Announces Prices For 2009 Highlander Equipped With New Four-Cylinder Engine

    Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the 2009 Highlander Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) equipped with an all-new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. With improved fuel efficiency and performance, and an array of standard convenience and safety features, the new four-cylinder model will carry the lowest MSRP in the Highlander lineup at $25,705, offering buyers an excellent value. (more…)

  • Mazda Launches Freshened Roadster in Japan

    Mazda Motor Corporation today announced the launch of the freshened Mazda Roadster (known as the MX-5 overseas) into the Japanese market. Mazda’s updated iconic lightweight, open-top sports car goes on sale today (December 9, 2008) at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealers throughout Japan. (more…)

  • Hyundai’s New Tau V8 Engine Named To Ward’s “10 Best Engines” List

    Hyundai’s all-new 4.6-liter Tau V8 engine, which debuted in the premium Genesis sedan this year, has been named one of the “Ward’s 10 Best Engines” for 2009 by Ward’s Auto World. This marks the first time a Hyundai engine has appeared on the prestigious “Ward’s 10 Best Engines” list. (more…)

  • KTM Takes Triple Honours In Topgear.com Awards

    KTM X-Bow

    KTM, one of the newest car manufacturers in Europe, celebrated triple honours at the TopGear.com 2008 awards last night.The stunning ‘Ready to Race’ KTM X-Bow is Top Gear’s ‘Sports Car of the Year’, while KTM’s CEO Stefan Pierer, and X-Bow Chief Chassis Engineer, Loris Bicocchi, are both recognised among Top Gear’s ‘Men of the Year’.

    Made in Austria, the KTM X-Bow (pronounced crossbow) is a minimalist two-seater mid-engined sports car – featuring a state-of-the-art carbon fibre monocoque – that delivers a pure and exhilarating driving experience.  Its 2-litre TFSI Audi engine develops 240 ps (177 kW) and catapults the X-Bow to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds.

    The team at Top Gear magazine – the most widely read motoring publication in the UK – and TopGear.com – which boasts over two million unique users each month – reports in this month’s ‘Car of the Year Awards’ issue that the X-Bow they drove in New York “…cuts enough of a dash to stop traffic on its own… beautiful carbon and a great engine courtesy of Audi combine to make it one the greatest things we’ve been in all year.”

    Top Gear enthuses that Stefan Pierer will “… chat for hours about racing. We like it that he donated KTM’s DNA to a machine with four wheels.”

    And in crediting Loris Bicocchi with the X-Bow’s dynamics, Top Gear observes that the X-Bow “… turned out delicious. That’s the mark of Bicocchi.”

    KTM X-Bow
    KTM X-Bow
    KTM X-Bow
    KTM X-Bow
    KTM X-Bow

  • Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro: breathtaking performance

    Audi is launching the next variant of its top-of-the-line model. With the R8, the brand has established itself at the forefront of high-end sports cars from the very start – and now comes the R8 V10. Its 5.2-liter, ten-cylinder engine churns out 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque, which makes for breathtaking performance. (more…)

  • Updated Nissan Gt-R For Europe

    As production of the European specification Nissan GT-R begins in its Tochigi plant in Japan this month, a raft of small but significant changes have been made to the car as part of its kaizen – continuous improvement – philosophy.

    The GT-R’s hand-built 3.8-litre V6 twin-turbo engine has gained 5PS thanks to some fine tuning of its electronics, taking power output to 485PS, while torque remains unchanged at 588Nm. Additionally, Dunlop SP Sport 600 DSST tyres will be fitted as standard. The tyre was developed specifically for the GT-R and it combines grip and durability, as demonstrated during its ‘time-attack’ lap of the Nurburgring, which yielded a time of 7 minutes 29 seconds. And, just to improve the ride performance even further a modification has been carried out to the suspension spring rate settings. (more…)

  • Ford Hits Vital Co2 Targets

    Ford’s latest C-MAX MPV delivers the lowest CO2 emissions in its segment.  Engineering developments to Ford C-MAX 1.6 TDCi models have resulted in emissions of just 119g/km of CO2.

    As a result vehicle excise duty (VED) for these models reduces immediately from £120 to £35.  There will be a further reduction to £30 from April 2009, when new VED bands come into force.  The official European Drive Cycle combined fuel consumption figure for these models is improved to 62.8mpg*. (more…)

  • Mazda to Showcase Eco-Tech at ‘Eco-Products 2008’ Exhibition in Japan

    Mazda Motor Corporation will exhibit its latest eco-friendly technologies aimed to reduce CO2 emissions even further at the Eco-Products 2008 exhibition over the period December 11 -13, 2008. Taking place at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center, the exhibition is one of the largest environmental events in Japan. (more…)