Geely buys Volvo from Ford

Known as one of the fastest growing car manufacturers in China, Geely Holding Group have completed the acquisition of Volvo Car Corporation from Ford Motor Company.

Latest Nissan X-Trail model revealed!

Nissan have released details on the upcoming X-Trail model expected to go on sale on the 16th of July 2010 in Japan, there are no details available on a local release date though.

The new Opel Astra Sports Tourer details released

Opel have released details on their new Astra Sports Tourer which will go on sale in November this year. The Astra Sports Tourer will make it's debut at the Paris Motor Show in October before hitting the dealerships in the following month. The goal of this Astra is obviously practicality but Opel have still made an effort to make the wagon look stylish. A few improvements have resulted in the Astra Sports Tourer having a load space of 1550 liters which will no doubt be its biggest draw card.

This increase is space is created by the new FlexFold rear seat system. This system allows the rear seats to be lowered by simply pressing a button located on the side walls of the cargo department. The seats will then automatically fold onto themselves, this feature is the first of it's kind in a compact wagon.

The new Opel Astra Sports Tourer will be available in 8 different diesel and petrol engines, with a top power of 132kW (180hp). Obviously the Astra will be available in both automatic and manual, with the manual option including a shift-up indicator. This indicator is intended to improve fuel economy in the manual option, also intended to improve fuel economy is a start/stop feature that will be introduced at a later stage.

Source: Opel

The new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta model released

VW have released their new 2011 Jetta and have made a strong focus on keeping the price affordable. The starting price is around $16 000, which is very cheap but obviously the price will change quite a bit once the vehicle is for sale in South Africa. The 2011 Jetta will be available in America this October, there is no date set for a South African release though.

Under the hood the US version of the Jetta will be released with 4 different engines, each available in automatic and manual, including a 2.0 turbo diesel. This engine will reach 0-100km/h in just 8.7s which is not too bad considering the price of the car. There will also be a 6 speed DSG transmission available on the 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TSI.

The exterior has been completely redesigned, including the wheelbase and car length which are now both bigger. The look has been sharpened to make the Jetta look more stylish and elegant. Regarding the interior, with the extended vehicle length, the new Jetta has a massive amount of legroom, and best-in-class rear legroom. The center drivers console is aligned towards the driver and controls car climate, radio and navigation.

Lastly safety has not been ignored with the new 2011 VW Jetta and features various crash safety improvements.

Source: Volkswagen

Porsche introduces efficient V6 Petrol and Diesel engines in the new Cayenne

Porsche's new Cayenne will be available in both efficient V6 petrol and diesel models. Even in the SUV market the focus on new cars has definitely been making them in-line with international emission standards and keeping their fuel efficiency as prominent as possible. The new Cayenne will consume just 9.9 liters/100km which is around 28.5 mpg. This makes the new Cayenne about 20% better than the previous model. The diesel version also shows impressive figures, with fuel consumption down by 20% as well.

Porsche note that the reduction in fuel consumption is largely due to the new Tiptronic S 8-speed automatic gearbox. The car features auto stop-start, wide spread of gear ratios and a general reduction in the cars weight. This has also added to the fact that the new Cayenne is more agile and has improved performance.

The petrol version of the new Porsche Cayenne is powered by a 300hp 220kW 3.6 liter V6 engine which gives it a top speed of 230km/h and a 0-100km/h in just 7.5s. The diesel version has a top speed of 218km/h and a 0-100km/h in just 7.8s. Both the petrol and diesel models of the new Cayenne come standard in 18-inch wheels.

The new Porsche Cayenne will go on sale in Europe for 59 596 Euros

Source: Porsche

New Nissan Juke Compact Sports Crossover released in Japan

The new Nissan Juke, which we revealed previously at the New York Auto show is now scheduled for release in Japan. This Compact Sports Crossover is aimed at being agile and quick, but at the same time having the toughness of a SUV. The term "Juke" is an American Football term an essentially means 'dodge' further reinforcing the idea that this car has an emphasis on being quick and nimble.

As with seemingly all new cars these days, there was an emphasis put on fuel economy as well as environmental impact. The Juke features well in these departments as well, with a 19km/liter fuel consumption and 75% lower emissions than the 2005 standard. Which qualifies the Juke into the environmentally friendly bracket and means that drivers are exempt from the additional tax, assuming there is such a law in your country.

The Juke is aimed at larger families who do a lot of driving around and need sufficient space for all the passengers. But still maintains the feeling of driving a quick light car and not a minivan. Coupled with the Jukes aim at being environmentally friendly and light on fuel, it should do well and find it's place in the market competing against the Audi Q5 and BMW X1.

Source: Nissan

New car sales keep on improving with impressive May stats for many manufacturers

New car sales throughout the US for many of the major manufacturers are all on the rise and showing strong sales figures.

Citroen reveals details on their impressive new C4

Citroen have just announced the details on their new C4 model, expected to be released in early 2011 and making its debut at the Paris Motor show in September this year. The style of the new C4 has been purposely made to be aerodynamic as well as obviously just looking good with regard to the upgraded front end and rear spoiler. One of the key points of the new C4 is the 408 liter boot, which is currently the biggest in it's class.

Citroen have included an interactive dashboard display in the new C4, the driver can adjust the colour of the instrument display as well as control the aircon and choose which sounds to use for the alerts. Also on the list of new features in the C4 is a blind-spot monitoring system, a corning light function, cruise-control and speed limiter.

Another great feature is the eTouch system. This system provides the driver with emergency assistance and also lets the driver monitor their driving patterns. The driver is then able to analyze the fuel consumption and the eTouch system will provide advice on how to improve fuel economy. I'm guessing it will keep reminding the driver to drive slower but it could provide more in-depth advice. The system will also let the driver monitor the technical status of the car, which will let the driver know which parts are in need of repair or service.

Source: Citroen

Audi working on Travolution technology to further reduce fuel consumption

Audi's main focus with this technology and development is to lower CO2 emissions an increase fuel economy. For a change though its not entirely directed at just their vehicles.

Opel Astra takes home multiple awards as Opel is named Most innovative brand

The new Opel Astra along with the new Opel Meriva took home multiple awards in this years Plus X Award 2010.

Bismarck du Plessis sponsored with a new Ford Ranger

Ford have decided to give South African rugby star Bismarck du Plessis one of their new Ford Ranger bakkies as part of a new sponsorship deal.

The Mini BeachComber concept could start production

The Mini Beachcomber concept debuted at this years Detroit Auto show and caused a massive amount of buzz. So much so in fact that BMW are seriously considering putting the Beachcomber into production. Don't hold your breather just yet though, as it is still just a rumour and if it was given the go-ahead it would only be ready in the next few years.

There could definitely be an audience for the Mini Beachcomber though, as it draws some elements from the Toyota Rav4 and combines them with the Mini look to create a fun and funky car that doesn't necessarily need to stay on the road. The doors of the concept were left off, as well as the boot to give on-lookers a better view of what the Beachcomber has to offer and the response seems good enough to justify its production. Now we just wait and see what BMW decide.

Source: AutoExpress

World Cup supporter stickers on your Opel Corsa

Opel Corsa owners in Europe can now kit out their Corsa's with the designs of their favourite team.

Kelley Blue Book names its coolest cars under $18k

Kelley Blue Book, or just KBB for short, has long been the trusted source for book values for new and used cars. They have no recently released their list of what they believe are the coolest cars for under $18k which works out to around R144 000. Although you cant take that at face value, as the actual cost of the car once it has reached our shores it a lot more than that, but anyway, back to the list!

What exactly makes a car cool according to KBB? They take into consideration that x-factor, with emphasis on cool to own as well as cool to drive. This is obviously a very subjective list but they tried to not just consider the normal safety issues and the like but rather which cars are the most fun. While the list consisted of their top 10, here are the top 5, as no one really bothers with anything worse than 5th on a list anyway.

• 1 2011 Ford Fiesta
• 2 2010 Honda Civic
• 3 2010 Honda Fit
• 4 2010 Hyundai Elentra Touring
• 5 Kia Soul

Once again the 2011 Ford Fiesta comes up tops. Its great price tag along with its sporty and fun looks seem to be make it a favourite the world over. That added to its great fuel economy and style and you have an extremely well made car.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG voted most attractive car

The readers of Germany's popular AUTO BILD magazine were asked to vote on what they thought was Germany's most attractive car, and in first place was the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

BMWs new energy and environmental test center

BMW have constructed a specialty environmental test center in order to ensure all of their vehicles can operate properly under numerous different conditions. In previous times many of these tests had to be conducted in different areas that had varying temperatures and weather conditions but now they can all be conducted within the test center. The tests are to ensure that rain does not inhibit full breaking power, snow must not adversely effect the engine and extreme heat should not overtax the cooling system.

The test center can simulate all the necessary environmental conditions that the cars need to be tested against. Including, precipitation, head, cold, humidity, atmospheric pressure and wind. The test center is made up of 3 wind tunnels and 2 chambers. The wind tunnels include a climatic wind tunnel, a thermal wind tunnel and a environmental wind tunnel. The chambers include an altitude test chamber and a cold test chamber.

Previously there was always a decision to be made whether to test the car with a test drive or test facility. Now BMW can combine the best of both worlds and have their cars drive through the test facility and under all the varying different conditions in just 8 hours.

Source: BMW

The Ford Focus TDCI breaks previous fuel efficiency run

The Ford Focus TDCI Powershift set a new fuel economy run record driving for an impressive 1432km on a single tank of fuel.

Land Rover to make 2wd and hybrid models in the future

The call for lighter, more economical and more environmentally friendly cars has been heard by all manufacturers and now even Land Rover are developing a lineup of cars to cater to this need. A future Range Rover model will be made with a 2wd option, as well as the standard 4wd. The car will go on sale in 2011 and has a CO2 emission level of just 130g/km. It aims to be the lightest and most fuel efficient Land Rover that has ever been made.

The idea is to give their customers more options, the company has always been a 4wd company but giving the buyer the option to get a 2wd with reduced weight and improved fuel efficiency simply opens up their vehicles to a larger market. Adding to this, Land Rover are working on their first ever Diesel Hybrid model which they are looking to make for 2012 and have on the road in 2013. This first prototype diesel hybrid will be called the "Range_e".

Source: Land Rover.

2011 Ford Fiesta is the most economical car in its class

In an era that is dominated by being green and saving money, the 2011 Ford Fiesta has stepped up to the plate and has been named the most fuel efficient car in it's class. The Ford Fiesta has been given a rating of 40mpg (miles per gallon), which translates into around 17km per liter. This rating is given by the 'Environment Protection Agency' or EPA.

This rating of 40mpg puts the 2011 Ford Fiesta ahead of it's competitors regarding highway driving. At 40mpg it is 5mpg less than the Honda Fit and 4mpg less than the Toyota Yaris. The Fiesta is able to achieve this impressive fuel economy thanks to a number of fuel saving features. The engine is a 1.6 liter Duratec with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, a deceleration fuel shutoff and a system that reduces the power needed to run the aircon and alternator.

To further add to this mpg rating, the car is aerodynamically designed to reduce drag and has electric-power assisted steering. The transmission is a 6 speed automatic.

Source: Ford.

The new BMW M3 GTS Cleared for market launch

The BMW M3 range is massively popular in South Africa, albeit quite rare due largely to its hefty price tag. That said any new models in the M range will surely receive a warm welcome to South African car buyers. It's popularity is obviously down to the incredible performance the M-series can produce as well the cars aggressive looks and sporting design.

Introducing the BMW M3 GTS, a car designed for the racetrack but is also at home on the road. The BMW M3 GTS is the most powerful offering in the M3 coupe range. Sporting a V8 331kW/450 bhp engine the M3 GTS accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 305km/h. The car has been optimized for the race track, but quite importantly, it is still road-legal.

The gearbox is a 7-speed and the transmission of power is effected by the M Dual Clutch Drivelogic. Being developed for racing, the transmission is able to shift through gears without interruption of traction. Inside the car, are bucket racing-seats, carbon-interior trims, an Alcantara M steering wheel. Again focusing on the racing aspect, the car is fitted with a roll-bar and 6-point seat belts as well as a fire extinguisher.

Source: BMW

New Porsche 911 GT2 RS details released

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS is only making it's world debut at the Moscow motor show in August the 25th but here are some advanced details about the car to whet your appetite.

Audi A1 pre orders have begun, price is reasonable

Advanced sales of the new Audi A1 have begun, unfortunately the pre-orders are only open to European buyers at the moment. The good news though is the price seems very reasonable, with the price starting at just 15 800 Euros, roughly R151 600. Which for an Audi is not too bad at all. There will no doubt be import costs and the like, so it will likely be more expensive in South Africa but thats something we have come to expect.

The aim of the A1 is to target a completely new Audi audience, as this is Audi's first venture into the compact car segment. It remains to be seen just how successful the A1 will be, but there definitely seems to be a trend around the world focusing on smaller, cheaper and more economical cars. As seen by the popularity of the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta. Audi notes that of the initial 100 000 or so people that signed up to be notified of the advanced sales, 90% of them have never owned an Audi. So their plan in theory is working.

The Audi A1 officially goes into production on the 11th May and 50 000 units are expected to be produced by the end of the year.

Source: Audi.

Mercedes-Benz develops new V6 and V8 engines

Mercedes-Benz have developed entirely new engines with world class fuel efficiency, these V-series engines plan to be the best in segment. Mercedes new V6 and V8 engines hope to lead the way in efficiency and advanced technology in an attempt to produce more power with reduced consumption.

The new V8 engine displaces 4663cc with an output of 320kW (435hp). This is around 12% more than the previous engine and yet still 0.8 litres less displacement. More impressive stats show that the torque has increased from 530Nm to 700Nm and yet the fuel consumption has dropped by 22%.

The V6 engine provides similarly impressive stats, within the S 350 the fuel consumption is an impressive 7.6 litres per 100km. This was achieved by the use of start/stop technology, which has become somewhat common place in most new cars that are being developed. Adding to this technology is third generation direct petrol injection with spray-guided combustion, multi-injection and multi-spark ignition.

Mercedes Benz direction when designing these engines was to increase the output and still reduce the fuel efficiency, instead of just producing newer power-house engines capable of massive output but at massive fuel consumption. This is a particular impressive feat for Mercedes and shows just how much life the combustion engine still has while still being economical and more friendly to the environment.

Source: Mercedes-Benz.

The new Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet details released

The ever-popular Renault Megane is back but this time in a Coupe' Cabriolet 2010 version that is bound to be a hit with anyone looking for a styling ride with the top down. With over 170 000 units sold of the previous Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet it's already a very popular car, and the 2010 model is sure to pick up where the previous model left off.

There have obviously been styling changes with the 2010 model, for starters it is 13cm longer than it's predecessor as well as having a longer wheel-base. There are some subtle changes to the headlights, rear and front but they are nothing to write home about. Regarding the drop-down roof, one of the praises for the previous model was the amount of light that was let in, this remains the same and has now become the segments largest folding glass roof.



Unlike some cabriolet car, the Megane is actually designed to carry 4 passengers as well as their luggage. As to just how comfortable they will be, space wise and just how much luggage they can bring with them is another story. With the roof down, the boot can carry 3 luggage cases, which is probably fair enough.

As with most new cars, the Megane is available in a range of petrol and diesel engines as well some sport versions. The 2 sport versions available are the GT Line and GT. These sport versions come with slightly different styling on the exterior as well as different sport tires and performance engines.

When it comes to the safety features, the Megane seems quite loaded, including: Seatbelt warning lights, tire pressure warning system, automatic headlight and wiper activation. The 2010 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet is said to go on sale in Europe in 2010.

Source: Renault

Most expensive car ever has been sold for $30+ mil

The coveted and ultra-rare car has been auctioned off to an undisclosed buyer for an undisclosed amount. However the amount is said to be between $30 and $40 million, which makes the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC the most valuable car in the world. The car was auctioned off by Gooding and Company, the world-renowned auction house that was entrusted to the estate that formerly owned the Bugatti.

This "almost" one of a kind car was the winner of the Pebble beach Concours d'Elegance best in show car in 2003. The price-tag associated with this car is largely due to it's rarity. Only 4 models were ever made and each were made slightly different. This particular Bugatti was the first one made and is often described as the most beautiful car ever made (or at least pre-war). It is reported that only 2 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic cars are still in existence today, the other is owned by Ralph Lauren.

Source: Gooding and Company

Ford Fiesta reaches milestone as 6-millionth car is produced

The Ford Fiesta has long been a favourite among new car buyers and youngsters looking to purchase their first car. The Fiesta has always been a small, fun, nippy compact car that oozes personality and a zest for life.

The Niehl assembly plant in Cologne has just completed it's 6-millionth Ford Fiesta, a truly impressive milestone for such a well selling car. The plant produces an amazing 1885 models each day, including Ford Fiesta and Fusion models.

This milestone is a testament to how popular the car has remained all these years. The total number of Ford Fiesta models sold comes to a staggering 13 Million since the car went in to production in Europe all the way back in 1976.

Good news for American car buyers is that the new 2011 Ford Fiesta is slated for release in their country!

Source: Ford

Huge increase in April sales figures for 3 of the top car manufacturers

As seen in previous months, the trend of increasing car sales remains consistent. Many car manufactures are seeing massive increases in sales as compared to the same month in 2009.

Ford teams up with DUB to showcase their new Mustang

In partnership with DUB magazine, Ford have unveiled a limited special edition of the 2011 Mustang. This comes as no surprise as the Mustang is the most customized car in the world, so Ford took this opportunity to showcase the Mustang to a new generation.

Being based on the 305hp Mustang V6, the gearbox will come in either automatic or manual 6-speed. The engine remains the same though but the wheels are now 20 inch and fitted with Pirelli tires. Colour options include: Grabber blue, Black, Race Red and Ignot Silver.

Many areas of the interior have been styled by Roush as well as the front fascia and splitter. The limited edition Dub Ford Mustang will be available this fall and will be offered in either coupe', convertible and glass roof.

Source: Ford

The new Audi R8 Spyder, featured in Iron Man 2!

As in the first movie, Robert Downey Jr's character of Iron Man drives an Audi. This time around though he is in the sporting new Audi R8 Spyder.

Opel's new Ampera pre-production on schedule

The new Opel Ampera has been in production for a long time now and today marks an important day, as the first of the pre-production models has just rolled off the factory floor.

Ford's new Start Concept car revealed in Beijing

Ford chose the Beijing Auto Show to debut their new Ford Start concept car.

The World premier of Porsche's new Panamera 4

Porsche have chosen the Auto China Beijing 2010 motor show to debut their new Panamera 4. The Porsche Panamera 4 will be available this year in May. The Panamera 4 has been designed to be a cross-over between sportiness and practical every day driving.

It comes with a 3.6 litre V6 direct fuel injection engine capable of 300 hp. The Panamera 4 has active all-wheel drive and are somewhat economical at just 10 litres of fuel per 100km. It comes with many new advancements and technologies, including an auto start-stop function which will further reduce emissions and increase its economical running.

Source: Porsche

Recent Toyota Land Cruiser recall wont effect South Africa

Continuing from their previous car recall program, Toyota has now begun recalling additional vehicles. The Global recall program will effect the Toyota Prado, Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus GX 460, as mentioned in a previous post.

This recall however will have no effect on South African Land Cruisers or Prado models, as they are right hand drive models and it is only the left hand drive models that are in need of the recall. The recall is to fix an issue with the left hand drive models, there is an issue with their Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) under certain conditions.

The reason the right hand drive models are not effected is because they have different weight distribution.

Source: Toyota

2010 Land Rover Range Rover is the Russian car of the year

At the recent 'Car of the year' awards held in Russia, the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover won the 'Best full size off-road vehicle'. These awards are the Russian variation of the the popular 'Car of the year' competition that happens in many different countries around the world.

The award is voted for by over 1.5 million Russian car owners after various models have been nominated as best in their category.

Look out for a full 'Car of the year' writeup coming in the next week, noting how the system works, as well as many of the previous winners.

Source: Land Rover

The new 2011 BMW X5 xDrive35i details released

The details have finally been released on BMW's new 2011 X5 xDrive35i. The 2011 X5 however is somewhat underwhelming in it's changes from the 2010 X5. There are obviously improvements but nothing to write home about, or even to make you feel bad for owning one of the older X5 models.

The X5 comes with an automatic 8 speed transmission as standard, as well as obviously being 4wheel-drive. There are a number of different engines variants available, including:

• xDrive50i - V8 Petrol engine with TwinPower turbo, 300kW
• xDrive35i - 6 cylinder petrol engine with TwinPower turbo, 225kW
• xDrive40d - 6 cylinder diesel engine with TwinPower turbo, 22kW
• xDrive30d - 6 cylinder diesel engine with Turbo charger, 180kW



The X535i drives 0-100km/h in just 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 235km/h. The average fuel consumption clocks in at just 10.1 litres/100km and a CO2 emissions level of just 236 grams/km.

Looks wise, the BMW X5 xDrive35i remains much the same as its 2010 predecessor, with only minor changes being made. These changes though are almost not noticeable, and all the major differences coming under the hood, as listed in the number of engine variants.

The 2011 BMW X5 xDrive35i goes on sale in May and has a starting price of $47 000.

Source: BMW

The new Audi A1 Iphone application game available

There seems to have been a trend of late where the big car brands have accompanied the release of one of their new models with an Iphone game. This was done previously by Volkswagen with their Scirocco game which was launched when the car came onto the market. These games provide great publicity for the brand and are impressive forward-thinking new channels of advertising.

Whats really nice about these kind of games is that they are free to download from the Itunes store. While there are a ton of free apps already available on the Itunes store, they are usually quite simple and have not had much development go into them. This is where the Big car brands games come in. They obviously have huge budgets for advertising and can supplement the development costs quite easily from the exposure these games generate.

The new Audi A1 game is no exception. The game comes with great soundtracks which change depending on the level. The driver needs to drive through these various levels, collecting extra points as they go. There will also be a highscore table accessible online and you will be able to share your scores through Facebook and Twitter. Also included in the game, as one would expect, is the option to subscribe to Audi's newsletter, to further increase their exposure.

Source Audi

Another car recall announced, this time its Lexus and their 2010 GX 460

Lexus seems to now be facing a similar situation to Toyota with their recent accelerator issues forcing them into a mass vehicle recall. Lexus, who are a division of Toyota, seem to have the issues on a much smaller scale though. And their car that is effected is only the 2010 version, so it should be a lot easier to handle and effect far fewer people.

The issue with the 2010 Lexus GX 460 is with the "Throttle-lift off" and as the problem was identified, the vehicle was taken out of the salesroom floor and intensive investigations conducted regarding the issue. The issue has now been identified and a solution created. Lexus has now started a voluntary recall program for all 2010 Lexus GX 460 models.

Anyone who brings their Lexus in for the recall program will be issued with a courtesy car during that period. Anyone who has any questions regarding this recall should contact their local Lexus dealership.

Source: Lexus

The new Ford Fiesta is the best selling car in Europe for March

Ford's impressive new Fiesta continues its great sales figures with another impressive month in Europe. The month of March proved to be a great one for Ford as their Fiesta became the best selling car in Europe, added to that was the news that the Fiesta is has been the best selling car in Europe for the first quarter of 2010.

Since the Ford Fiesta went on sale 18 months ago, Ford have sold 750 000 around the world. What is more impressive is how the Fiesta has shut out the Volkswagen Golf with greater sales figures in Europe. In March the Fiesta out-soled the Volkswagen Golf by almost 11 800 units. A truly impressive statistic based on just how popular the VW Golf and Polo models are around the world.

Source: Ford.

The new Audi RS 5 Coupe' - Details released

The RS 5 Coupe adds yet another high performance offering from Audi, although the RS 5 has a slight focus on fuel efficiency, which is not always the case with high performance cars.

The RS 5's V8 engine displaces 4,163 cc with the 4.2 FSI delivering 331kw (450hp). With all performance cars, the most important spec is the 0-100km and the Audi RS 5 Coupe' clocks in at just 4.6 seconds. The top speed comes in at 250km/h but Audi say they can increase the speed to 280km/h on request.

As far as economy goes, the RS 5 consumes just 10.8 litres of fuel per 100km which is less than its competitors in the same class. This is helped by the 7 speed S-tronic which allows the driver to change gears using the paddles on the steering wheel, or by using the selector lever or finally by enabling the dual clutch transmission shift which will change gears automatically.

The RS 5 Coupe comes standard with 19 inch wheels, which, like all RS models are powered by Quatro permanent all wheel drive. Also with many performance models, the ESP stabilization can be completely deactivated or set to sport mode.



Source: Audi

The new Ferrari 599 GTO revealed at Beijing Motor Show

Ferrari have release the first information available on the new Ferrari 599 GTO. The Ferrari 599 GTO aims to be Ferrari's fastest ever road car and as a special limited edition and will be available to only 599 clients.

Regarding its speed, it holds the current record of just 1 minute 24 seconds on the Fiorano track. Added to this are some impressive stats that include a 0-100km/h in just 3.35 seconds. The engine puts out 670hp with a power to weight ratio of just 2.23kg/hp.

Fitted with the latest second-generation carbon-ceramic brakes which are aimed at improved performance and aerodynamic properties and are lighter. Another impressive feature is the Virtual Race Engineer (VRE) which gives the driver instant feedback regarding the performance of the car on the cars console.



There have obviously needed to be some changes made to the car, including the engine, to ensure that it is road-worthy, as many aspects of the car were taken from the racing version. The engine is a V12 5999cc and produces 670 cv at 8250 rpm.

The brakes have also been designed for performance thanks to the CCM2 breaking system and result in quicker lap times and cooler running temperatures. This results in an impressive breaking distance of 100-0km/h in just 32.5 meters.

Source: Ferrari

The new Honda CR-Z Hybrid full release details

The new Honda CR-Z is the worlds first sporty hybrid and is designed with urban living in mind, while still placing an emphasis on being green. The CR-Z still produces a lot of power and with its hybrid motor maintains low exhaust emissions.

The CR-Z comes with a 1.5 liter 4 cylinder petrol-electric engine, capable of 0-62mph in just 9.9 seconds and a co2 emission rate of 117g/km. The CR-Z is the first hybrid car where the focus has been placed on the driver, and the car has been tailored to be agile and quick, perfect for urban driving with a top speed of 124mph.

The CR-Z has a low center of gravity, thanks to its low suspension of just 135mm ground clearance. The suspension, reduced weight and lower track all add up to benefit handling and control. The Honda CR-Z comes with IMA (Intergrated Motor Assist) which allows the electric engine to boost the petrol engine during acceleration for increased power.


New to the CR-Z are 2 components that aid in keeping fuel consumption down and lowering Co2 emissions. These features are; An eco drive bar and an ambient meter. The eco drive bar moves to either side of the center line, when the bar is on the center, the drive is smooth and more efficient. The bar will shift slightly to the right when accelerating and to the left when breaking, the drive is encouraged to keep this bar in the center. The ambient meter with glow different colours depending on how the car is driven, the different colours represent different levels of economical driving. If it glows green, then the car is performing at an optimal economical setting.

With plush sports seats, a range of metallic colours to choose from and a range of safety features (including 6 airbags), the new Honda CR-Z hybrid is a coupe to be proud of!

Source: Honda

Second generation of the Opel Meriva launched

The next generation Opel Meriva which is aimed at ergonomic design and styling goes on sale in June. Designed in Germany, the next generation Meriva is intended to be dynamic, flexible and affordable.

First on the list of new design elements is FlexDoors, which is a rear-hinged door system that is aimed at enabling passengers easy access into the cabin, as the back seats are often used in the Meriva. The doors open independently from the from doors and extend up to 84 degrees, with the focus being on easily accessing a baby seat without the need to twist and turn.

Inside the cabin the focus is once again on space and comfort. With flexible armrests and fully adjustable seats. The legroom has been increased, and the seats can be moved and adjusted to further increase legroom and cabin space.



The new Opel Meriva range includes petrol and diesel versions, the petrol range includes:

• 1.4 liter (100hp)
• 1.4 Turbo (120hp)
• 1.4 Turbo (140hp) - 6 Speed manual gearbox, increased power and reduced emissions compared to the previous generation Meriva.

The 2 diesel models available include:

• 1.3 CDTI (75hp) requires only 4.9 liters / 100km
• 1.7 CDTI (100hp) - 6 Speed automatic transmission

The new Opel Meriva will be produced in Spain

Source: Opel

2011 Audi TT: With updated looks and performance

Audi has released details about their 2011 Audi TT Roadster and Audi TT Coupe models. The most exciting bit of info being the inclusion of a 4 cylinder version. The 2.0 TFSI will develop 155kW of power (211 hp) and most importantly features a dual-exhaust!.

The updated models are slightly longer in length with the other dimensions remaining unchanged. There are 12 LED Daytime running lights underlining the headlights and fog lights set in chrome rings. There are some new colour options available to the 2011 Audi TT with increasingly suspect names:

• Scuba blue
• Oolong gray
• Volcano red
• Dakota gray



The interior of the 2011 Audi TT range offers a large amount of space with sport styling and sport leather seats. Many of the interior applications have received an aluminum look and improved styling. The seats have been treated especially to reduce thermal heating when the car is parked in the sun.

The 2 liter engine accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 6.1 seconds with a top speed of 245km/h. The 6 speed manual gearbox continually transfers power to the wheels. Another option is the S tronic dual clutch transmission which changes between the 6 gears with almost no interruption to the supply of power.

Source: Audi