New Golf GTD offers economy and performance

The new diesel powered Golf GTD is being launched at the Leipzig Motor Show. Imagine 0-62 mph in 8.1 seconds, a top speed of 136 mph, average fuel consumption of 53.3 mpg and a range of 650 miles on a single tank of fuel and you have a car of the moment.

The car is powered by a 2.0-litre common rail diesel engine producing 170 ps and a CO2 emissions of only 139 g/km. The car comes in a six speed manual or automatic DSG gearbox.  With looks to make this car stand out from the crowd it also has the GTI’s honeycombe grill, full body coloured bumpers with Seattle Black 17 inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the car comes with a flat bottomed steering wheel , a GTD gearshift and a standard tartan interior. The car also comes with ABS, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) and seven airbags (including knee airbag).

The Volkswagen Golf GTD will be available to order from the end of April.

Prodrive supports Scooby Sprint Championship entry

Prodrive will be running the latest Prodrive Imprezza WRC2008 World Rally Car on the 2009 Scooby Sprint Championship, starting at Elvington airfield, York on 19th April.

Scooby Sprint is a “one make” UK series for Subarus and will allow private road car owners to race against the clock and pit themselves against the fastest and most advance Subaru machinery around. 

Simon de Banke of Scooby Sprint said ” We’re delighted to have Prodrive on board and it shows their commitment to UK Subaru enthusiasts”.

If you own a Subaru you can enter the championship at www.ScoobySprint.com

However please note that if the car is on a contract hire lease you are not allowed to use the vehicle for rallying or other racing purposes.

Pendragon Contracts, part of Pendragon Plc which is one of Europe’s leading multi-franchise retailers, has joined the contract hire finance partners at comparecontracthire.com. Pendragon Contracts will be offering both business and personal contract hire and have already loaded their car pricing. Commercial van pricing will be loaded next week.

Robert Wastell, founder of comparecontracthire.com said ” I am delighted that Pendragon Contracts has joined the growing number of contract hire leasing partners on the site. This will provide even more choice for our customers, as they will now be able to compare prices directly from up to 13 finance partners. If you want to deal directly with the leading finance companies in the motor industry there is only one place to do this and that is at comparecontracthire.com”.

Comparecontracthire.com is the UK’s first business and personal contract hire price comparison site allowing customers to compare quotes on a like for like basis. All finance partners are FN50 (Fleet News 50) contract hire companies and provide dedicated support services to both SME’s and private customers. The site also provides a wealth of information on other motoring related matters. Prices can be compared on the site by exact model, by budget per month , by CO2 g/km or by combined mpg.

Fiat announces prices for new 500 C convertible

Fiat has just announced prices for the new Fiat 500 C convertible which goes on sale in the summer. The UK is the first country in Europe to get the convertible, in recognition of the British drivers’ enjoyment of open-top motoring.

Elena Bernadelli, marketing director Fiat Group Automobiles UK said ” It is a car for people who want to express themselves and demonstrate their own personality. I am sure the 500 C will make a host of enthusiastic new friends.”

The Pop and Lounge models will be available at launch. Standard options on all models include an electronically operated hood, air conditioning, remote central locking, radio/CD/MP3 player, seven airbags and electric door mirrors. 

Climate control, ESP stability control, BlueMe (hands free entertainment), eco:Drive, foglights, alloy wheels and rear parking sensors are among the principal features incorporated in the Lounge models.

Available in 11 colours the 500 C comes with red, ivory or black roof colours. The car comes with the frugal, low emissions Euro 5 range of engines including the 69bhp 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol units and the 75bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel.

The full list price is as follows

1.2 Pop £11,300

1.4 Pop £12,500

1.3 Mjet Pop £12,700

1.2 Lounge £12,700

1.4 Lounge £13,900

1.3 Mjet Lounge £14,100

PetrolPrices.com has joined forces with the Freight Transport Association (FTA) to try and stop the fuel duty rise that is anticipated next week. Many motorists, companies and haulage operators are finding times hard enough without seeing a further rise in fuel costs.

The FTA’s “Every Penny Counts” campaign is aiming to draw attention to the fuel duty rise looming from the 1st April.  Jo Tanner of the FTA said ” We’re delighted to have Petrolprices.com on board with the Every Penny Counts campaign”.

Louise Doherty of PetrolPrices.com commented ” A fuel tax hike doesn’t just hurt drivers, but small businesses, hauliers and everyone who is reliant on them. At a time of soaring unemployment and in the midst of a recession every penny really does count.”

To support Every Penny Counts visit www.fta.co.uk/epc where you can request a postcard which can be sent to your local MP. You can also join the EPC Facebook group which can be found at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=52505287514

Kwik-Fit, the parts, repair and and replacements specialists have undertaken research from over six million motorists and 24% admitted to driving their car without an MoT, because they forgot the renewal date. If you are caught driving without a valid MoT certificate you will face a £60 fine.

A lapsed MoT will also impact on your car insurance and prevent the road tax being renewed. In order to combat this Kwik-Fit is offering a free service whereby motorists can request an email reminding them when their MoT is due for renewal. If you are interested in signing up you need to email your Name, Vehicle Reg and MoT Renewal date to remindme@kwik-fit.com.

David White, Customer Services Director Kwik-Fit said ” We welcome any initiative that prompts motorists to remember their renewal date”.

An MoT on a car is due after three years and details on other road legislation is available off the Government VOSA site @ http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/generalinfo/legislation/legislation.htm 

Alternatively if you want to check your MOT renewal date yourself the web address is www.motinfo.gov.uk

Porsche unveils Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3

A new limited edition of the Porsche Cayenne is being launched with an exclusive production of only 1000 units worldwide. This new Cayenne will be available to special order in May of this year and promises outstanding performance and styling features.

Coming in a Lava Grey Metallic colour, with design stripes along the side and on the bonnet, the new Cayenne also offers 21-inch colour co-ordinated SportPLus alloy wheels, to match the special exterior. An extended roof spoiler with double wing profile is also available as a no cost option and the model has the “Cayenne GTS” designation in black with a red “S” at the rear.

The 405 bhp, 4.8-litre engine accelerates from 0-62 in just 6.5 seconds and has a six speed Tiptronic S transmission feature as standard.  The model also comes with three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, black leather upholstery (and red seams) throughout, Bose 5.1 Surround Sound System with 14 loudspeakers plus a Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) approved to Thatcham Category 5 standard amongst many other accessories. More details are available at www.porsche.co.uk

Hyundai BLUE-WILL

Hyundai is unveiling an all-new concept plug-in hybrid car at the Seoul Motor Show. The new ” BLUE-WILL” has innvovative advanced “green” technology crammed inside an eye catching bodyshell.

The new “BLUE-WILL” is powered by an all-aluminium Gasoline Direct Injected 1.6-litre engine which is coupled to a Continuously Variable Transmission and 100kw electric motor. Electric power is stored by a Lithium Ion Polymer pack and sits with the fuel tank under the rear seats to maximise compartment space.

Some other “green ” features include;

1) Recycled PET soft drink bottles were used to make the material for the headlamp bezels.

2) Bio-plastics have also been used, PLA for the interior and PA11 for the engine cover. 

3) The panoramic roof glass area integrates dye-sensitized solar cells which can also generate power for the batteries, from the sun.

Hyundai will be the first car manufacturer to apply Lithium Ion Polymer, in a mass production vehicle, when the Elantra LPI Hybrid goes on sale in Korea, in July of this year.

A car for the future from Hyundai.

Auctioneers selling 1D personalised plate

The personalised plate 1D has been sold at auction for a record amount of £352,411 reports the DVLA. Lebanese property developer, Nabil Bishara paid this staggering amount at the DVLA Personalised Registrations auction in Warwickshire. Mr Bishara is now going to put the plate on his wife’s new Bentley as a surprise present.

This sum beat the previous record of £254,000 for the plate 51 NGH in 2006. Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations Marketing Manager said “We always expected interest in this registration to be among the highest we’ve ever had and the pre-auction bids certainly back that up. But we were still amazed when the bidding went as high as it did and we are obviously over the moon with the final result”.

The sale continues until Friday however you can still buy personalised registration  plates for your car or commercial van off the DVLA website at a more affordable price.

Following on from the previous blog about manufacturers raising their prices, Kia has announced today, that its prices will increase by about 3% across the range, on the 1st April.  All models apart from the recently launched Soul and Magentis models will be affected.

Paul Philpott, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Limited said ” We have held off on an increase for as long as possible and did not make any pricing changes during the first quarter. The increase we are making now will be kept to an absolute minimum and still maintains Kia’s competitive position in the market”.

Mr Philpott went on to say ” This has come about purely as a response to the weakness of the pound and strength of the Euro and Dollar which have impacted on Kia Motors UK Limited and the whole industry in recent months”.