Kia Track'ster concept car

The new Kia Track’ster concept car was created in the California Design Studio and is envisaged with a 250PS Petrol engine. It was launched by Kia at the Chicago auto show and is based on the popular Soul urban crossover. Last year, more than 102,000 Souls were delivered to US customers and Kia sees the US vehicle market as an attractive proposition.

This Kia concept has a powerful, dynamic and aggressive style, yet displays the distinctive design direction that the South Korean manufacturer is taking. The Track’ster is intended to be a sporting representation of Kia’s Soul B- segment SUV, which was originally created in the California Studio.

The California Studio is also the birthplace of the Soul’ster convertible concept that is currently under final assessment for production, however there are no plans for Track’ster to enter production just yet. But this could change if public demand for the concept is strong. If you are also interested in leasing a new Kia Soul we have Kia contract hire on the site now.

DVLA personalised registration plate sale

A mystery businessman has just purchased DH11 LON for nearly £80,000 at the DVLA’s first personalised registrations sale of 2012. Dhillon is a popular Asian surname, but no one expected that the plate would sell for as much as as £80,000 during the first day of the Agency’s three-day sale staged at the Stratford Manor Hotel near Stratford-upon-Avon.

The plate was tagged with a reserve of £2,000, however the bidding soon got going with the final winning bid at £61,000. However, the total amount paid was £79,100, because of the VAT on the hammer price, buyer’s premium, VAT on the buyer’s premium and assignment fee.

Jody Davies, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ Events Manager, said: “What a way to start our 2012 programme? We were hopeful DH11 LON would create some interest, but no one predicted it would fetch such a high figure. We are delighted, of course, but a little stunned.”

Subaru XV

The new Subaru XV is being launched with an eleven vehicle model choice, with prices starting at £21,295. The XV offers a generous equipment level across the whole range and also comes with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and the brand’s famous Boxer engines.

The new XV has the highest Euro NCAP rating in its class and will be available in three trim levels: S, SE and SE Lux Premium. It scores particularly highly for child occupant safety and combines style and functionality with generous levels of standard-fit equipment. 

There are three Euro V Boxer engines on offer in the new XV, with a 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel.  The 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines develop 114ps and 150ps respectively, while the 2.0-litre diesel produces 147ps and the XV is available with a choice of either a five and six-speed manual or a six-speed CVT automatic (petrol only). 

Reaching 60mph in 9.3 seconds, the 2.0 diesel XV offers class-leading fuel economy of 50.4mpg on the combined cycle, while emitting just 146g/km of CO2, so this model is likely to be the best seller in the UK..  The entry-level S model features a standard kit list of ABS, traction control, Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (SVDC), front, side, curtain and knee airbags, 17-inch alloy wheels, daytime LED running lights and automatic air conditioning as standard. 

The SE model range adds cruise control, rear-view camera, Bluetooth functionality and USB/iPod connectivity, while the SE Lux Premium models also come with a sunroof, Keyless Smart Entry, push-button start, leather seats and satellite navigation.  All 2.0-litre models are fitted with roof rails.

Subaru XV range:

BMW M550d xDrive

The new BMW M GmbH product range will offer you more ways to experience Sheer Driving Pleasure with an even greater sporting edge. The BMW M Performance Automobiles car range stand out with their powerful engines, enhanced agility and precision handling, their distinctive design, yet still offering everyday practicality.

All models in the range are based on current BMW models with BMW M GmbH using its vast pool of expertise to carry out carefully targeted technical and design modifications to enhance performance. The premiere of the BMW M Performance Automobiles creates a new category of car. The first models are linked to a newly developed six-cylinder in-line diesel engine. Three turbochargers with a maximum output reaching 280 kW/381 hp and peak torque of 740 Newton metres (546 lb-ft) provide the inspiration for the new models.

The new engine gives the BMW M550d xDrive Saloon, BMW M550d xDrive Touring, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d performance figures that are head and shoulders above those of the diesel models currently topping their respective model series. The new M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology provides a significant increase in output and torque across an extremely wide rev range. And all of this enhanced power delivery is delivered without any substantial increase in fuel consumption and emissions figures.

Performance figures, CO2 and fuel consumption for the new models;

BMW M550d xDrive Saloon:
Acceleration [0 - 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.7 seconds,
top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph),
average fuel consumption: 6.3 litres/100 kilometres (44.8 mpg imp),
CO₂ emissions: 165 g/km, exhaust standard: EU6.
BMW M550d xDrive Touring:
Acceleration [0 - 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.9 seconds,
top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph),
average fuel consumption: 6.4 litres/100 kilometres (44.1 mpg imp),
CO₂ emissions: 169 g/km, exhaust standard: EU6.
BMW X5 M50d:
Acceleration [0 - 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 5.4 seconds,
top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph),
average fuel consumption: 7.5 litres/100 kilometres (37.7 mpg imp),
CO₂ emissions: 199 g/km, exhaust standard: EU5.
BMW X6 M50d:
Acceleration [0 - 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 5.3 seconds,
top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph),
average fuel consumption: 7.7 litres/100 kilometres (36.7 mpg imp),
CO₂ emissions: 204 g/km, exhaust standard: EU5.

Aston Martin is going to debut the first production V12 Zagato at the Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance on 15-18 February.

The Kuwait Concours d’Elegance, is now in its third successive year and is the only event of its type in the Middle East. It plays host to some of the world’s finest automotive art from over 19 countries. The V12 Zagato, being built in strictly limited numbers of up to 150 cars, is due for first customer deliveries in late 2012.

It will be hand assembled at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, England and is based on the highly acclaimed V12 Vantage. It features a beautiful hand-crafted aluminium and carbon fibre body along with a bespoke interior. Combining traditional craftsmanship and high technology.

The V12 Zagato also boasts Aston Martin’s most dynamic bonded aluminium platform and the power of the company’s acclaimed 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque. If you want to buy one you will have to dig deep as the V12 Zagato is currently being offered for sale at £330,000 GBP (excluding local taxes).

We have been featuring driving tips from driver training specialist IAM Drive & Survive, with the good advice from head of training, Simon Elstow. This week he is advising on parking your vehicle.

• Do try to park on the left-hand side of the road if possible, and always at night.
• In a car park, try and reverse into parking spaces as this is safer when driving out of a space, and more fuel efficient as you’ll be manoeuvring with a warm engine, rather than cold one when you start up .
• Always check your mirrors and over your shoulder frequently – you still need to know what’s going on around you and don’t just rely on parking sensors to guide you.
• When looking for a parking place, don’t stop your car suddenly. Drive slowly past a potential parking space and size it up to see if your vehicle will fit. And if you can’t stop because you have traffic behind you, drive on.
• When visiting a supermarket , try and park away from the trolley parks and corners to avoid your car being exposed to damage from trolleys full of shopping!
• When parking, open your window in car parks and turn off your stereo as you can often hear something before you can see it.

Elstow said: “Parking is an essential part of driving which many people find stressful. Don’t feel pressurised by other drivers waiting for you to park – it’s important to take your time.”

New BMW X6

The BMW X6 is the world’s first ever Sports Activity Coupe and has now been updated for 2012. The new model combines the elegant lines of a coupe with the prestige of a BMW X model, with powerful petrol and diesel engines, fitted with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and the intelligent all-wheel-drive system xDrive, including Dynamic Performance Control.

The new BMW X6 gets a new front end with the standard fog lights now set in matt finish surrounds in the upper area of the outer air inlets. The striking three-dimensional modelling of the frame and newly designed bars, angled in the lower section, make the BMW kidney grille stand out even more, especially conspicuously within the vehicle front section.

Front headlights

The new BMW X6 is also the first vehicle in its segment to be fitted optionally with adaptive LED headlamps. Their bright white light ensures optimum visibility, while their high-quality visual appearance represents a new interpretation of the BMW brand’s hallmark twin circular headlamps. While in the new BMW X6 M, adaptive LED headlights are fitted as standard.

The external paint finishes for the new BMW X6 consists of two non-metallic and eight metallic colours, including Marrakech Brown metallic, Orion Silver metallic and Midnight Blue metallic. The standard equipment range also includes 19-inch light alloy wheels, and in the 8-cylinder model BMW X6 xDrive 50i, these now feature a new double spoke design in bi-colour. 

The standard interior leather trim Nevada is also available in the colour Vermilion Red and the exclusive nappa leather option with extended features now includes a choice between the colours Black and Ebony White. A three-seater rear bench is optionally available instead of the standard four seats and the luggage compartment volume is 570 litres and can be extended to up to 1,450 litres by folding down the rear backrests.

The petrol and diesel engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology available for the BMW X6 deliver impressive pulling power and impressive low fuel consumption figures. The V8 engine of the BMW X6 xDrive50i delivers 407 bhp, while in the BMW X6 xDrive35i an in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine with 306 bhp ensures a smooth, powerful, performance.

The in-line 6-cylinder diesel engines of the models BMW X6 xDrive40d and BMW X6 xDrive30d offer 306 bhp and 245 bhp respectively. Both engines offer not only impressively sporty power delivery but also low emission figures. The BMW X6 xDrive30d can also be fitted with optional BMW BluePerformance Technology as of spring 2012. 

BMW is also launching the BMW M Performance Automobile BMW X6 M50d and this car sets a new benchmark for pulling power and efficiency with a newly developed 381 bhp in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine. It offers unique triple turbocharging and provides the world’s most powerful standard in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine. This powerful diesel model has an acceleration rate of 5.3 seconds for the sprint from zero to 62mph.

One million cars from Kia

The Kia Motors Manufacturing Slovakia has just built its 1,000,000^th car – a white, diesel-engined cee’d SW. The car was handed over to a Slovakian children’s charity, the Red Nose Clowndoctors. The cee’d is also the 600,000th version of the Zilina factory’s first car, plus the factory now produces the Sportage and Venga as well.

“Kia Motors Slovakia has achieved an important milestone in its history with the production of the millionth car. We decided to donate it to an organisation which will bring pleasure to children during their stay in hospitals,” said Eek-Hee Lee, President and CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia.

Some of the unusual vehicle registrations at the forthcoming DVLA Personalised Registrations sale includes that old British favourite of “fish and chips”– CH11 PPY.

CH11 PPY, along with MA11 ORY, is just one of the unique 11-series registrations being listed among the 1,500 registration plates which will go under the hammer during the DVLA‘s first three-day sale of 2012 at Stratford Manor Hotel near Stratford-upon-Avon, commencing on Wednesday, February 1.

Or is you fancy something to remind you of the hit TV show The Only Way Is Essex – or TOWIE as it has become known – TOW 111E is another example of some of the fun-plates that motorists can purchase. Or with Mother’s and Father’s Days coming up soon, how about H15 MUM and H15 DAD, both with reserves of £900?

Jody Davies, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ Events Manager, said: “We always manage to come up with an incredible array of personalised registrations to suit all tastes and, with reserves starting from as little as £250, this auction is no exception.”

You can fit a personalised plate if you lease a vehicle however you will need to get permission from your relevant leasing company, as they own the vehicle.

Here are some of the plates on sale with reserve prices in brackets;

• AL51 NGH (reserve -  £900)
• ALF 4W (£450)
• APE 80Y (£400)
• CAR 70Y (£400)
• CH11 PPY (£1,500)
• COP 80Y (£400)
• DRU 111D (£400)
• EL11 NOR (£1,000)
• FE11 OWS (£1,500)
• FUN 80B (£450)
• H15 DAD (£900)
• H15 MUM (£900)
• JAB 80Y (£400)
• MA11 ORY (£1,000)
• 55 O (£8,000)
• OBT 41N (£400)
• 12 OOO (£4,000)
• SA11 MON (£3,000)
• TOW 111E (£400)
• USA 848E (£400)
• VO11 LVO (£1,500)
• YE11 OUT (£900)
• YES 848Y (450)
• YOU 105T (£400).

Skoda MissionL

SKODA’s is attending the 2012 Qatar Motor Show where it will be showcasing their MissionL concept saloon. This car is a close-to-production concept and reveals the future design direction for the SKODA brand. The visit to the Qatar Motor Show also demonstrates their future international growth strategy plans.

The new compact MissionL saloon will be launched in late 2012 and will extend the model range of the brand in a new segment between the Fabia and Octavia models. The MissionL is destined for Qatar as well and SKODA aims to substantially increase their global sales of all car models to at least 1.5 million units per year, by 2018. In addition to the MissionL, SKODA is also displaying the latest Fabia, Octavia, Yeti and Superb models at the show.

The MissionL concept saloon impresses with its clear and precise lines with the front showing SKODA’s new brand design. The revised and freshened-up SKODA logo is now prominently positioned on the bonnet’s rounded front end and the grille sports a chrome frame and is made of vertical plate fins. There is also a black transparent glass roof that spans across the car’s interior with the cockpit conveying its spaciousness thanks to its horizontal arrangement.  

If you are interested in leasing a brand new Skoda car then we have the full Skoda model range on the site on contract hire.