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

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

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.

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

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

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

New Ford Fiesta offered in both four- and five-door body styles

Internationally acclaimed with more than half a million units sold worldwide, Ford's popular Fiesta compact is set for another debut at the 31st Bangkok International Motor Show. The unveiling of the four-door Fiesta in ASEAN follows a whirlwind series of introductions for Ford's global compact that started in Europe one year ago and has progressively moved across the world.

The Fiesta's full arrival in ASEAN also signifies the continued role of Thailand as a global production hub for Ford Motor Company, where both the four- and five-door models will be produced for the ASEAN markets, with exports also planned for markets that include Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Available in four- and five-door body styles, the new Fiesta will include a choice of two E20-capable petrol powertrains and a comprehensive list of features for safety, connectivity and technology.

The new Ford Fiesta will be available in Thailand at all Ford showrooms in August.



Fun and fuel efficient

Whether it's the standard 1.4-litre manual or available 1.6-litre equipped with Ford's six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission, Fiesta delivers on both spirited performance and fuel efficiency. Vehicles with PowerShift also get Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and traction control as standard.

The standard I-4 is more than capable with 69 KW at 5750 rpm, while the larger 1.6-litre engine provides 87 KW at 6000 rpm. Combined fuel economy ratings, to be announced during the introduction of the new Fiesta, are expected to be among the class leaders when the model goes on sale.

The 1.6-litre engine utilises Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) that optimises camshaft phasing for exceptional throttle response, performance and flexibility across the rpm range.

With both the manual and automatic transmissions, gear ratios have been selected to provide spirited acceleration characteristics

Drivers opting for the larger engine also will benefit from the new PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission that combines the responsive performance and fuel economy of a manual with the convenience of an automatic that is preferred in busy urban traffic. Often found in larger, more premium cars, the availability of a six-speed automatic in a small car signals Ford's commitment to offer the latest vehicle technology across a spectrum of passenger cars.

Fiesta is the first Ford small car in the region to be equipped with the PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed combines the sportiness of a manual transmission and, with six forward gears, allows the engine to run at reduced speeds for better fuel economy and less wear and tear on the engine.

Source: Ford

New Opel Corsa: More power, greater comfort, less fuel

Rüsselsheim. The new Corsa range has been rejuvenated to provide more power and more driving fun with less fuel consumption. Opel engineers