Honda CR-V

Honda is unveiling the first engine from their new Earth Dreams Technology range at the Geneva Motor Show 2012 this week. The 1.6-litre i-DTEC  is the first in a new generation of fuel-efficient and low-co2 engines being introduced to Honda models over the next three years.

The models lining up next to the new 1.6 litre i-DTEC engine include the stunning Honda NSX Concept and the European Honda CR-V Prototype. The European CR-V Prototype provides the first official showing of the styling direction for the all-new, fourth-generation CR-V, set to go on sale in autumn 2012.

The CR-V Prototype has taken a bold styling direction with a more aggressive stance with deeper sculpting of the body lines and a bolder front fascia. The lower front bumper wraps smartly upward with improved aerodynamics. Its vertical taillights remain for the new model and now feature a more three-dimensional style that wraps further into the overall design of the vehicle.

The Honda CR-V is one of the world’s top-selling SUVs and is sold in more than 160 countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa. This European 4th Generation CR-V SUV will make its official debut at the Paris Salon in the autumn of 2012.

Honda EV-Ster

Honda is also showing the EV-STER, the next-generation electric small sports concept model in the form of an electric rear-wheel-drive two-seater convertible sports car. Plus, two new Jazz derivatives are also being shown for the first time.

The Jazz Si features an upgraded sporty suspension package and has styling changes to the interior and the exterior. The second variant, the Jazz 1.2 with Idle Stop, delivers a reduction in CO₂ emissions of 3g/km compared to the standard 1.2 model.

In addition, Honda is also displaying the rest of its car model line-up comprising of the new Civic, the hybrids – Jazz, CR-Z and Insight – as well as the Accord range in Saloon and Tourer guise. The FCX Clarity, the world’s first production fuel-cell vehicle, makes another appearance at Geneva as well. Honda contract hire on all the current range is on the site now.

Morgan E

Morgan has unveiled an electric sportscar with a five-speed manual gearbox that has been designed with the support of British technology specialists Zytek and Radshape. The new electric sports roadster was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show this week and could enter production if there is sufficient customer demand.

The Morgan Plus E is based on Morgan’s lightweight aluminium platform chassis with power delivered by a new derivative of Zytek’s 70kW (94bhp) 300Nm electric engine, which is already proven in the US.

The Zytek electric motor drives the rear wheels through a conventional five-speed manual gearbox and the clutch is also retained. However, because the motor provides torque from zero speed, the driver can choose to leave the clutch engaged when coming to rest and pulling away, just like driving a conventional automatic.

Volkswagen Amarok Canyon

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has unveiled an extreme version of the successful Amarok pick-up at the Geneva International Motor Show, with its new Amarok Canyon concept vehicle.  

This concept model has been specially configured for the popular extreme sport of ‘freestyle kayaking’ and the show car illustrates how versatile pick-up configurations can be created, for any sports enthusiast, or for any other commercial usage.  

Every aspect of the Amarok Canyon concept has been designed to meet the requirements of this extreme sport, from the pick-up’s running gear to details of the cargo box.

The Amarok Amazon concept pick-up is taller and wider than the production Amarok, and its colour is also more exotic.  The pick-up’s body, shimmers in the three-layer effects of its bright ‘Baladi Orange’ paint, and the vehicle has been raised by 40 mm with a body lift kit.

Volkswagen Amarok Canyon

When the tyres are included, the concept is a full 85 mm taller than the production Amarok model, plus it comes with auxiliary headlights mounted on its roof, smoked rear lights and the colour-contrasting underbody protection. Two electrically deployed tread plates also make it easy for all passengers to step into and out of the pick-up, despite the raised ride height.

The wheel housings were also widened by 35 mm on each side to make room for the large AT tyres, size 275/65 R 18, mounted on ‘Durban’ type wheels painted in ‘High Gloss Adamantium Dark’.

The two carbon fibre kayaks are securely mounted to the cargo floor with the paddles firmly latched in place on the inside surface of the tailgate. All other sports gear such as white-water helmets, flotation devices and rafting shoes, are also stowed securely.

Inside, the leather seats have two-tone styling, with the seating surfaces finished in ‘sterling’ colour, while the head restraints and the side supports are offset in ‘adamant’ colour.

The Amarok concept vehicle is powered by a 2.0 TDI bi-turbo with 180 PS, which provides a maximum torque of 400 Newton metres over engine speeds ranging from 1,500-2,250 rpm.  The switchable 4MOTION all-wheel drive system also ensures effective power transfer to the wheels, even in the toughest off-road conditions.

If you are interested in an Amarok pick-up then we have the current range on the site now on Volkswagen contract hire.

All-New Hyundai i20

Hyundai has released the first images of the All New i20, ahead of its world premiere at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this week.

The new model features refreshed styling, enhanced standard vehicle equipment and the lowest CO2 emissions of any conventional powertrain car on sale today, at 84g/km.

The new 1.1-litre, 3-cylinder ‘U-II’ diesel engine generates 75 ps and when mated to Hyundai’s Blue Drive technologies, this derivative emits just 84 g/km of CO2 - a figure lower than any other car with a conventional powertrain. 

This ground-breaking new engine will also be offered alongside another sub-100 g/km diesel and with Blue Drive technologies, the upgraded 1.4-litre ‘U-II’ 90 ps engine emits 96 g/km.

Hyundai releases first images of All-New i20

The All New i20 sees the introduction of Hyundai’s fluidic sculpture form language to this popular supermini and includes the company’s signature hexagonal grille and new headlamp units.  The All New i20 gets a more contemporary profile for the front and rear bumpers, a new sculpted bonnet and new wheel designs as well.

Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor Europe commented, “The i20 has been very popular with European buyers since it came to market in 2009, thanks to its combination of efficiency, quality, practicality and value.  With an enhanced engine line-up that includes the lowest CO₂ emissions for a conventional powertrain, and sharper styling influenced by fluidic sculpture, the All New i20 will appeal to a broader range of buyers, including younger consumers.  The assurance of our industry-best, comprehensive Five Year Triple Care package makes the All New i20 an even more attractive proposition.”

Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Hyundai is set to showcase their new Veloster Turbo at the Geneva Motor Show with power output increased to 186 ps and an increase in low-end torque. This is the first Hyundai application of their new 1.6-litre T-GDI engine which has also been re-tuned to suit European driving tastes

The new turbocharged version of the 1+2 door Veloster sports coupe has a high-compression, twin-scroll turbocharger and in European specification, this new T-GDI unit generates 186 ps and 270 Nm of torque.  

The Veloster Turbo accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 8.4 seconds (manual) compared to the 9.7 seconds (manual) of the regular Veloster and exact CO2 emissions and fuel economy figures for the new Veloster Turbo will be announced nearer to its UK launch.

It features unique front and rear bumpers and foglights, a new rear spoiler and grille, new 18-inch alloy wheels with chrome inserts, projection headlights with LED headlight accents, and its own unique LED tail-lights.  

The Veloster Turbo will also come with Hyundai’s Five Year Triple Care assurance, a combination of a five-year unlimited warranty, five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks.

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor UK, commented: “UK drivers tend to prefer more torque from a lower engine speed, so our European engineers have specified a set-up that still provides a substantial increase in power – up from 140 ps to 186 ps – while also delivering the desired low-end torque.  The resulting package is very competitive against the performance of competitors such as VW Scirocco and Vauxhall Astra.”

VolkswagenCross Coupe Concept

Volkswagen is unveiling its new Cross Coupe Concept at the Geneva Motor Show this week. The Cross Coupe has been shown previously at the Tokyo Motor Show but this latest model has an even more frugal plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

The Cross Coupe Concept is powered by a turbodiesel direct injection engine (TDI) and two electric motors with a combined fuel consumption around 157 mpg.

This translates into CO2 emissions of just 46 g/km, which is remarkable in a powerful SUV that has a top speed of 137 mph, 306 PS of power and a kerb weight of 1,858 kg.

SEAT Toledo concept

SEAT presents its new Toledo Concept which combines the proportions of a classic saloon car with a sporty, almost coupe-like design.

The next generation of the SEAT Toledo will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next week and its design language is a further development of the now characteristic SEAT sporty design. The car has a powerful and solid stance, clear surfaces and lines, and has the new headlamp form that is now a signature feature of SEAT’s new design DNA.

This new Toledo Concept offers the spaciousness and usability of a five-door hatchback, within compact dimensions and the series-production version on which it is based will begin to reach dealers in Spain later this year.

SEAT Toledo concept

It measures 4.48 metres in length and has a generously proportioned interior for five people, a luggage compartment of more than 500 litres and the convenience of a large rear hatch and folding rear bench. 

James Muir, President of SEAT, S.A. said: ‘The SEAT Toledo Concept illustrates our idea of the perfect mid-range car.  It is an excellent combination of emotional design, top-level usability and dynamic driving characteristics. The subsequent production model, our new Toledo, will write a whole new success story with its clear SEAT identity, its excellent quality standard and exceptional value-for-money”.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake

Jaguar has released the first images of their new XF Sportbrake before its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show next week. This is a new model based on the XF platform and offers a maximum load volume of 1,675-litres

However there has only been a small increase in weight and footprint and hence you have a chassis structure that equals the rigidity of the saloon, so that the XF Sportbrakes retains the handling characteristics of the conventional XF saloon.

The strong silver signature line running the length of the car is extended while the C-Pillar is finished in gloss black, a design feature shared with the XJ saloon. Slim rear light units extend into a strong chrome crossmember and the result is a car that blends style and function with the rear seat occupants also benefitting from 48mm of extra rear headroom.

The large tailgate can be specified with power struts, opening to reveal a wide and highly versatile load space for the family. It offers 550-litres with the rear seats up, and 1675-litres with the seats folded.

New Jaguar XF Sportbrake

Standard equipment on the XF Sportbrake includes remote fold levers that are mounted within the boot area to lower the rear seats. In addition, powerful LEDs throw a pool of light onto the ground when the boot is open, while the tailgate itself features a soft close function as well.

The boot floor has a panel that splits into three sections to allow smaller loads to be neatly wedged in and to avoid your precious or fragile cargo being thrown about. It has self-levelling air suspension that offers superb driving dynamics and means the Sportbrake can also serve as an accomplished tow vehicle if required.

The Jaguar XF Sportbrake will be powered by a range of efficient yet powerful diesel engines in 2.2-litre four cylinder and 3.0-litre six-cylinder, both directing drive through the rear wheels via an advanced eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Vehicle prices and specifications will be announced nearer the time of the launch of the XF Sportbrake,  which looks set to take place in the third quarter of 2012.

Jaguar contract hire on the current Jaguar model range is on the site now.

New Golf GTI Cabriolet

The most powerful production Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet will be unveiled next week at the Geneva Motor Show and packs all the performance and practicality of the GTI hatchback while adding the pleasures of open-air motoring for four.

The car has an electrically powered fabric roof which can be folded away in just 9.5 seconds, even while travelling at speeds of up to 18 mph, which is handy if the rain starts falling while driving along.

The new Golf GTI Cabriolet has classic GTI design cues with the radiator grille featuring its honeycomb structure with red edging and of course the iconic GTI badge.

The front bumper incorporates a deep honeycomb air dam and distinctive vertical fog light while side sill extensions give the GTI a wider stance, plus it comes with 17-inch ‘Monza’ alloys as standard. At the back, the rear diffuser is framed by a chrome tailpipe on either side and smoked LED headlights to complete the look.

New Golf GTI Cabriolet

Inside the cabin under the fully automatic insulated roof are four individual seats covered in classic tartan ‘Jacara’ cloth upholstery. ‘Vienna’ leather upholstery is a cost option. 

The GTI multifunction steering wheel, handbrake and gear lever gaiter are covered in leather, all finished with contrasting red stitching, while the pedals have brushed stainless steel caps. Black ‘Edge’ decorative inlays feature on the doors and facia and the hood lining and roof pillar trims are also finished in black.

The car is powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the GTI hatchback, mated to either a standard six-speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox, producing 210 PS.  The  0 to 62 mph sprint is covered in 7.3 seconds with either transmission (compared to 6.9 seconds for the hatch), while top speed is 147 mph (146 mph for the DSG).

The GTI Cabriolet comes with automatically deploying rollover protection, front and side head/thorax airbags and a driver’s knee airbag as standard. These safety features helped it achieve a five-star (96 per cent) rating for adult occupancy in its Euro NCAP crash tests.

It goes on sale in the UK in the second half of the year and Volkswagen car leasing prices and further specification details will be announced closer to the on-sale date.

Ferrari F12berlinetta

Ferrari has just unveiled their new F12berlinetta online before its official launch at the Geneva International Motor Show this month.

The F12berlinetta is finished in an attractive new Rosso Berlinetta three-layer colour, representing the very cutting-edge of mid-front-engined sports cars and this new Ferrari is the most powerful and high-performance Ferrari road car ever launched.

This F12berlinetta has a 20 per cent increase in structural rigidity while reducing its weight to just 1525 kg (70 kg less than the previous V12 coupe). It has a 6262cc V12 engine delivering superb performance and revs for a naturally-aspirated 12-cylinder and is mated to the F1 dual-clutch transmission.

Ferrari F12berlinetta

Fuel consumption has been reduced by 30%, with CO2 emissions at 350 g/km, which put the F12berlinetta at the top of the high-performance league for supercars. 

The F12berlinetta’s impressive technical specifications include Active Brake Cooling, latest generation carbon-ceramic brakes (CCM3), uprated suspension control system (SCM-E), plus its control systems (E-Diff, ESP Premium, F1-Trac, and high-performance ABS) are all fully integrated.

The result of all this power and weight reduction is that the F12berlinetta sprints from 0-62mph in 3.1 seconds plus it can also complete a lap of the Fiorano circuit in 1’23”, faster than any other Ferrari road car. 

Inside the new F12berlinetta

This new Ferrai coupe has sleek, aggressive lines concealing exceptional in-car space and comfort. Inside, the new car has all-new Frau leather interior and sophisticated, handcrafted detailing, while in the middle of the light and lean dashboard, there are new carbon fibre and aluminium air vents clearly inspired by the aeronautic field.

There is additional luggage capacity behind the seats, which can also be easily reached thanks to the large opening offered by the tail-gate. The Human Machine Interface approach of Ferrari is also emphasised, bringing all the major commands within immediate reach of the driver to guarantee maximum ergonomics for the most involving driving experience.