Audi TT RS

Audi is previewing a new five cylinder version of the Audi TT at the Geneva Motor Show. The car comes with a 2.5 litre turbocharged producing over 300PS.

The quattro permanent all wheel drive system helps keep this powerful car on the straight and narrow with 0-62 reached in under 5 seconds and top speed (limited) of 155 mph.

Always known for their expertise in five cylinder engine cars it is great to see a tradition returning.

Alfa MiTo GTA Concept

Alfa will show their new performance concept, the Alfa MiTo GTA, at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009.

GTA or Gran Turismo Alleggerito is the Italian concept that Alfa has used on previous models and aims to achieve the best in power to weight ratio. Plenty of work has gone into lowering the centre of gravity with many of the parts made in carbon-fibre to ensure the car is as light as possible.

The MiTo GTA has a new exciting turbo charged petrol engine offering 240 bhp from a 1742 cc engine. Coupled with an exciting high performance style and look this remarkable car continues in the spirit of the famous GTA signature.

Hyundai, the 5th largest car manufacturer in the world, is highlighting the new ix-onic CONCEPT at the Geneva Motor Show. This new compact SUV is full of the latest technology making it more fuel efficient than some superminis.

The power train is a 1.6-litre GDi turbo four cylinder petrol engine offering a CO2 of just 149 g/km.  Power is transferred to the road by a four wheel drive system providing superb handling on and off road. 

The dynamic styling and flowing lines ensure this new model looks the part and is bound to be hit if put into production.

Hyundai ix-onic SUV CONCEPT

The Toyota iQ

The Toyota iQ is one of the safest vehicles on the market according to new independent testing results from Euro NCAP. Together with the Toyota Avensis the iQ was awarded a 5 Star overall protection rating.

The new overall ratings scheme uses a weighted score of the following protection factors;

1) Adult (50%)

2) Child (20%)

3) Pedestrian (20%)

4) Availability of driver assistance devices (10%)

A minimum score of 70% must be achived to get a 5 Star rating so the iQ and Avensis are particularly safe models with the iQ achieving 79% and the Avensis 81%.

Fleet News, the industry respected magazine and website, has appointed Stephen Briers as its new editor. He takes over the reins from Martyn Moore who has left to pursue other interests.

Stephen said “I’m delighted to be joining Fleet News. It has a proud heritage as the leading business title in the fleet industry and I am looking forward to building on this in the future”.

Stephen has most recently worked on the Fleet News sister publication AM, the merged business of Automotive Management and AutoTrade, where he has been editor since 2002.

Fleet News general manager , Ian Richardson, said  ” Stephen Briers has the right credentials to move Fleet News forward and to extend its undisputed position as the market leading media brand in the company car and van sector”.

Well if you have got around £60,000 spare cash to spend you might be interested to know Joe Cole, the Chelsea winger, is selling his Ferrari 612 Scaglietti F1A.

Bought new in 2004 for £212,000 (a snip), it boasts a specification you can only dream about. Finished in Nero Daytona Black with Sand Leather interior the car has 19-inch alloys, Sat-Nav, F1 Paddle Shift gearbox, heated memory seats, red brake callipers and ceramic wing shields.

This Ferrari reaches 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 199 mph. This car is a fine example of a sporting grand tourer and seats four people. With only 27,500 miles on the clock and a full Ferrari service history the vehicle will be sold to the highest bidder on Thursday the 19th February at 10.00 AM at BCA .

Mercedes is launching a new model to the E Class range in the form of a new coupe. This new coupe comes hot on the heels of the new saloon which launched 3 months ago.

There are five engine variations namely;

-E 250 CDI BlueEfficiency Coupe with a combined mpg of 53.3

-E 350 CDI BlueEfficiency Coupe with a combined mpg of 41.5

-E 250 CGI BlueEfficiency Coupe with a combined mpg of 40.3

-E 350 CGI BlueEfficiency Coupe with a combined mpg of 32.5

-E 500 Coupe with a combined mpg of 25.9

The E250 CDI BlueEfficiency Coupe is a particularly clean and efficient vehicle emitting only 139 grams of C02 per kilometre.

As usual Mercedes have packed this new luxury coupe with the latest technology including selective damper control, drowsiness detection, preventive occupant protection and the Active bonnet feature. This new coupe also offers a Dynamic Driving package allow different driving set ups at the touch of a button.

New Mercedes E Class Coupe

Piaggio has seen a year on year growth of 18.8 % in their light commercial van registrations. The Piaggio range is available in a number of body type variations namely; Van, Pick-Up, Big Deck, Topper, MPV or Chassis.

Piaggio has won the microvan award from What Van ? for five consecutive years and is available in 2 or 4 wheel drive along with an electric version (with zero emissions).

Fleetnews.co.uk  announced today that they are launching a new SME online service for small to medium sized fleets.  The major part of their new offer is a link up with comparecontracthire.com, the UK’s first business and personal contract hire price comparison site.

However the SME Fleet News site will also show;

- average and national fuel prices

- fuel cost calculator

- running cost database offering pence per miles figures

- residual values on over 6,000 model derivatives updated monthly

- road tests on all the latest cars and vans

- a SME toolkit including advice on vehicle choice, taxation, roads afety, risk management, motoring laws and travel planning.

Ian Richardson the Fleet News general manager said ” Our new online offering is designed to ensure we meet the needs of all SME’s running cars and vans”.

Robert Wastell, founder of comparecontracthire.com said ” I am delighted to be working with Fleet News on this initiative and I believe many SME’s will benefit from this new partnership”.

Hyundai, the Korean car and van manufacturer, is unveiling a dramatic new SUV concept at the Geneva Motor Show.  Codenamed HED-6, the new concept will take centre stage together with the new i20 three door and i30 blue.

The dramatic look of the new SUV coupled with a 1.6-litre GDi turbocharged engine shows the exciting new direction Hyundai is taking. A muscular design coupled with everyday utility is being promised, providing a great car to drive about the city or out of town. This is a real eye catching package.