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

Mazda introduces free Apple Iphone roadside assistance application

A number of Iphone applications already exist that are designed by major car manufacturers to aid with the running of their cars.

Massive sales increases in March for major car brands.

With the world-wide recession now clearly a thing of the past, three of the top car manufacturers have once again shown strong sales figures and growth for the month of March. These figures are somewhat deceptive as they are generally compared to March of 2009, which was obviously an atrocious year for the automotive market as global car sales dropped dramatically. However these figures are still impressive in their own right as they clearly show the full recovery the automotive market is marking and a positive future for these major brands.

Volkswagen


Volkswagen of America reported that their March sales included 22,148 car units which resulted in a 40.9% increase compared to the same month in 2009. The Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg proved to be very popular during this time with their economic pricing and clean diesel engines.

Ford



The Ford brand in America, which includes Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, also posted very strong sales figures for March 2010. The sales figures were up 37% for the quarter compared to the 2009 year. Ken Czubay, Ford vice president US Marketing Sales and Service, reported that it was due to Fords lineup of new vehicles that carried sales figures and that cars, utilities and trucks were all on the up.

Among the top achievers for Ford cars include: The Ford Fusion, the Ford Taurus and the Ford Focus. As for the utility market, the Ford Escape is up 52% in sales.

Audi



Following in the trend and not to be out-done, Audi posted their US sales stats that included a 33.5% increase from the same month in 2009. This increase also gave Audi a personal milestone of its best first-quarter sales since they began selling cars in the US. At the top of the list is the

Audi A5 which set an Audi single month sales record with an increase of 59.8% compared to March 2009. The Audi A3 also saw impressive increases with a jump of 100% sales compared to 2009 which was increased by the new A3 being named 2010 Green car of the year. Also among the top contenders were the: Audi Q5 and Audi Q7 which also saw big gains in sales.

What about used cars?

The used car market, like the new car market, has seen an increase in sales compared to 2009. The market is once again thriving with renewed confidence from used car buyers and generally more money available. As always find a range of used cars on Cars.co.za.

Source: VW, Ford, Audi

The new Mercedes-Benz R-Class; Spacious, prestigious and comfortable

The new Mercedes-Benz R-Class comes with a completely redesigned front as well as more space, and various styling elemtns taken from other Mercedes-Benz SUV's and saloons

Audi takes top honours at Auto Zeitung magazine design competition

The Auto Zeitung magazine recently held a design competition where voters could vote on which cars they felt were the must beautiful. The voters could choose from the top 50 best selling car brands in Germany.

Audi came in with 26% of the vote for the brand with the most beautiful cars, which gave them the majority percent and thus the award. Also among the winners was the Audi R8 Spyder, which won the most beautiful convertible car and finished 3rd in the overall car model category.

This was the first competition held by the magazine, they intend to run the competition annually.

Source: Audi

Volkswagen Showcases Second Generation Touareg Featuring Hybrid Powertrain

Showcased at the 2010 New York International Auto Show, the new Volkswagen Touareg boasts some impressive new stats. The focus is largely on fuel consumption and low co2 emissions across the 3 available engines.

V6 FSI Gasoline

V6 TDI Clean Diesel engine

V6 TSI Gasoline Hybrid engine



The focus point for the new Touareg falls in line with the 'green' movement that is happening world-wide. The 8 speed automatic gear box runs at 21 mpg during inner city driving. Added to this is the clutch which can disengage the transmission from the engine when the engine is not powering the Touareg, further reducing emissions and fuel consumption.

The styling of the Touareg has also been updated, with a narrower grille and a muscular appearance. Like many new cars these days, the Touareg has a chrome finish and LED illuminated lights. Compared to the previous Touareg, the 2011 Touareg is wider and shorter and has a longer wheelbase for a strong sturdy feel. Also the space inside the cabin has increased and the overall weight of the car has decreased, thanks largely to use of new materials

Source: Volkswagen