New Volvo C70

Volvo is launching a new Volvo C70 coupe/convertible at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The original car was launched in early 2006 and broke new ground at the time, as the world’s first four seater with a retractable hard top.

The new car has been updated with a fresh new design both inside and out and retains the three piece retractable roof which opens in just 30 seconds.

The nose of the new car has a more distinct wedge shape with new pronounced headlamps and updated fog lights adding to the inviting “V” shape. From the rear the high-tech LED lamps, as found on the XC60, are now added.

New Volvo C70

Inside the car has a more luxurious feel with new, softer leather upholstery and a re-designed instrument panel. Four engines will be available when launched and the following data is provisional and shows information for manual versions only, with the fuel data for combined mpg consumption. The first cars are expected to be in showrooms in early 2010 with full prices and vehicle specifications released later to this date.

Auris HSD Hybrid

Toyota is unveiling their new Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and this new model will take centre stage at the Toyota stand.

This is a milestone for Toyota as they have introduced full hybrid technology into a mainstream model and is the first step in rolling out their Hybrid Synergy Drive across the company’s whole range of vehicles.

Other models on the Toyota stand at Frankfurt include the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept, enabling pure electric car operation for short range day-to day transportation.

Prius Plug-in

Toyota plans to trial 150 of these models in 2010 which will be leased to selective fleet customers. 

In addition to the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota will also be showing two customised iQ cars, namely iQ for Sports and iQ for Collection.

iQ Sports

Audi S5 Sportback

Audi is planning to unveil three new models at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The three models are the Audi S5 Sportback, The Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro and the Audi A3 1.2 TFSI.

Audi S5 Sportback 

This new model is the top of the Audi A5 range and this elegant five-door coupe is powered by a three-litre V6 with a mechanical compressor. The car sprints from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds (provisional), has a top speed of 155mph and offers combined fuel economy of 29.1mpg (again provisional).

The car has a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive as standard equipment. The car has sports suspension, 18-inch aluminium wheels with 245/40 tyres, black brake calipers bearing S5 emblems at the front and will be available in the Spring of 2010.

Audi A4 3.0-litre TDI clean diesel quattro 

The new clean diesel engine was first seen in the Audi Q7 SUV and is now available in the A4 range. The engine features a new common rail injection system with innovative pressure sensors in the combustion chamber, plus a high performance exhaust recirculating system. These three measures ensure a highly efficient and low emission combustion process.

The A4 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro already complies with the emission limits of the EU’s Euro 6 standard, which is expected to become law in 2014. This TDI engine reaches 0-62mph in only 6.2 seconds (Avant 6.3 seconds) and has a top speed of 155mph. The six-speed tiptronic and quattro permament all-wheel drive system should guarantee a high degree of comfort and safety, with its superior traction on the road.

Audi A3 and A3 Sportback 1.2 TFSI

This new 1.2 TFSI has been designed from scratch and the turbocharged direct petrol engine generates 105PS and reaches 0-62mph in 11.1 seconds in the three door hatch and 11.3 seconds in the Sportback. Both versions have a top speed of 118mph, can return 51.3mpg on the combined fuel cycle and emit just 127g/km of CO2. The first versions of this car will be paired with front-wheel drive and a six speed manual transmission. Audi is the most popular manufacturer on Comparecontracthire.com and car leasing prices on all their other range of models can be compared now.

Saab 9-5 saloon

Saab, the Scandanavian manufacturer, has released the details of their new premium saloon, the Saab 9-5 which signals the dawn of a new era for the company. The new car goes on sale in 2010 and has a new sculpted shape with muscular, aerodynamic, styling.

The car has an array of new features including head-up information display (HUD), adaptive headlights (Bi-Xenon Smart Beam), adaptive cruise control, Saab DriveSense adaptive chassis with real time damping control, keyless entry and starting, dual-zone climate control, dynamic parking assistance and Saab XWD with eLSD, an industry leading all-wheel drive system.

New Saab 9-5

The car has an all-turbo powertrain using highly efficient four cyclinder engines and you have a choice of three fuel types, petrol, diesel and E85 bioethanol. CO2 emissions are as low as 139g/km. The engine options are a 160hp 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine, a 220hp 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine and a top of the range 2.8 V6 turbo, generating 300bhp which is offered exclusively with the Saab XWD.

After the launch a 1.6-litre petrol turbo with 180bhp will be introduced plus the 2.0-litre BioPower E85 engine.  All the transmissions offered will be six-speed as well. The new car makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and as soon as prices are released, we will have car leasing rentals on the site.

Ferrari 458

Ferrari has released the first official pictures of the stunning new Ferrari 458 sports car before its official launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show on the 15th of September.

Working closely with the Ferrari Styling Centre, the engineers have redesigned the cockpit completely to offer a truly driver oriented driving experience. All steering -column stalks have now been eliminated with the indicators, beam, flash and windscreen wiper functions now being activated by buttons on the steering wheel boss. 

Ferrari 458

There are more photos in the Ferrari site plus an exclusive interview with Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of Pininfarina S.p.A who provides an insight into the philosophy of the Ferrari 458′s design.

MINI Coupe Concept

Fifty years after the first classic MINI was presented to the public in 1959, a stunning new concept model is being launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Mini Coupe Concept will be shown at Frankfurt between the 17th to the 27th September and looks to be the most dynamic and agile MINI ever built.

MINI Coupe Concept

This car is strictly a two seater with a low roof line, compact dimensions and has the muscular stance of a true sports car. The large round headlamps inclusive of black internal reflectors, a hexagonal radiator grille and low front front spoiler add to the sporty feel.

The car has 18-inch alloy wheels and is powered by the “John Cooper Works model” 1.6-litre twin scroll turbocharged engine, producing 211bhp and offering CO2 emissions of 165g/km and a 40.9 combined mpg consumption.

Disc brakes are fitted all round and the suspension has been designed to guarantee a safe but “grin-inducing” drive every time.

MINI Coupe Concept

Inside sports seats with contoured side supports, three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with mutil-function controls and two Chronoswiss clocks to the right and left of the rev counter, add the classic MINI touch. The MINI is a popular car on the site and you can easily get car leasing prices on all their range of models now.

Polo three-door

Volkswagen has unveiled the first official pictures of their new Polo three-door, before showing the car at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. The three-door Polo shares the same platform as the five-door model and has the same space, safety and refinements as the outgoing model.

VW Polo 3 door

The three-door Polo will be built in Spain, at the Pamplona factory and will be available in right hand drive from from late October, with first deliveries starting in early 2010. Every Polo is fitted with ABS, ESP, four airbags, and hydraulic brake assist as standard, plus CD stereo, speed sensitive power steering and electric windows.

Step up to the SE model and you get air-conditioning, 15-inch alloy wheels, six speaker stereo with iPod connectivity and body-coloured door handles and mirrors. The top specification is the SEL with 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, leather trim on the steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake plus a multi-function computer.

The new Polo will have a choice of six engines at launch, four petrol and two diesel. These are two naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engines with 60 or 70PS, a new 1.2-litre 105PS turbocharged TSI unit, a 1.4-litre 85PS, plus two 1.6-litre common rail TDI diesel engines offering 75 or 90PS. Car lease prices on the Polo three-door will be on the site soon.

New Hyundai ix35

Hyundai has released the first pictures of their new Hyundai ix35 SUV, which is the replacement model for the Tucson and will go on sale in the Spring of 2010. The new hexagonal styled grille on this new ix35 will also be carried over to other new Hyundai models, when released.

The ix35 is a bit smaller than conventional C-segment hatchbacks and MPV’s which will broaden the appeal of this model to potential customers who are looking for something more stylish. The car will be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show from September and the full vehicle specification will be released after this. Hyundai Contract Hire is a partner on the site and their car leasing prices are readily available on all their range including i10, i20, i30, Coupe, Matrix, Sonata, Tucson and Santa Fe.

New Astra

The all-new Vauxhall Astra breaks cover at the Frankfurt Motor Show with a highly competitive range of petrol and diesel engines. A new 1.4-litre Turbo will be available from launch, producing 140bhp and will replace the naturally aspirated 1.8-litre model.

New Astra

Citroen DS3

A new Citroen DS3 car is being shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2009 and offers an attention grabbing design, highlighting the best of Citroen’s “creative technologie”. The DS3 takes a radical step on the usual compact urban vehicle and is bound to stand out from the crowd when launched in the UK.

Citroen DS3

It has a great road presence with its colour-contrasted “floating roof”, “shark fin” B-pillars and the sleek design of the front LED lights. Luxury material including leather and chrome are also in abundance, inside the car, with Thermo-coated components used throughout as well.

The roof is going to be available in four colours, namely Black, White, Blue and Red to contrast with the rest of the car and the wing mirrors and rubbing strips can also be colour coded. This new car will also offer other great ways to personalise it to your taste, both inside and out.

Power comes from five CO2-efficient Euro V power plants with two HDi diesel units and three BMW co-developed petrol engines. The two HDi diesels (90bhp and 110bhp) come with a DPFS (Diesel Particulate Filter System) and the three petrol engines (VTi 95, VTi 120 and 150) are fitted with 5 or 6 speed manual gearboxes. The diesel engines will offer you a CO2 figure of just 99g/km (90bhp) and 115g/km (110bhp) with the petrol engines ranging between 136g/km and 160g/km. 

DS3 is also available with Citroen’s latest in-car technology, for example the MyWay car satellite navigation system, which incorporates an audio and multi-media package including wide format colour screen, MP3 and WMA compatible CD player, plus Bluetooth hands free kit.

The DS3 will arrive in the Spring of 2010 and prices will be announced in the coming months.