2012 Scenic

The new Renault Scenic 2012 will be ready to order from the 23rd January, with prices starting from £18,325 on-the-road (Scenic) and £19,725 (Grand Scenic).  The car gets a revised look for 2012, including a more contemporary front styling on both Scenic and Grand Scenic, plus gloss black and chrome detailing, standard LED daytime running lights and new rear lights as well. The new 2012 Scenic range also sees two new body colours added, Azzurro Blue and Damask Red.

To keep things nice and simple, the new Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic 2012 is launched with just only trim level – Dynamique TomTom.

Grand Scenic

Some of the new standard vehicle options added for 2012 include rear parking sensors and LED daytime running lights, 16” alloy wheels, auto lights and wipers, Bluetooth™, cruise control, Carminat TomTom Live satellite navigation. There will also be the option of adding Renault’s Visio System (lane departure warning and automatic high/low beam headlight function), plus Hill Start Assist, if you require.

Two new fuel efficient engines debut in Scenic in the  2012 range, the 1.2 TCe 115 petrol and 1.5 dCi 110 Stop & Start, both offering impressive performance, economy and emission figures. The diesel for example offers a class-leading 68.9 mpg (combined cycle) and emits only 105 g/km CO₂

If you are interested in some of the options available, there is a new Luxe Pack on all versions of the Dynamique TomTom (except the 1.6 VVT 110). The Luxe Pack offers some impressive extra equipment which is worth much more than its £1,500 price tag.  This includes 17” ‘Sari’ alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, BOSE Energy Efficient sound system with nine speakers, digital amplifier, sliding centre console, electrically folding door mirrors and the Visio System.

Suzuki Grand Vitara Special Edition SZ-T

If you are looking for a new 4X4 then Suzuki has just launched a new Special Edition Grand Vitara model, the SZ-T, which is now on sale. This new model is based on their popular 1.9-litre DDiS and offers an enhanced specification and exclusivity, with only 500 cars destined for the UK.

The SZ-T includes metallic paint, new design front grille, 18-inch alloy wheels, silver coloured roof rails and bonnet side vents, built-in turn signal lamps for the door mirrors, cruise control, keyless entry and a tailgate mounted spare wheel.

The 129PS Euro 5 1.9-litre DDiS diesel engine offers strong torque for overtaking or driving off-road and the Suzuki Grand Vitara Special Edition SZ-T emits 179g/km of CO2 and returns 41.5mpg. Colour options (all metallic) include, Quasar Grey, Silky Silver, Blueish Black Pearl, Phoenix Red Pearl and Nocturne Blue Pearl. Suzuki contract hire prices for the new model are on the site now.

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2012, together with MGM Grand Detroit, will once again feature über-luxury and performance vehicles at The Gallery.  Now in its fifth year, this exclusive motoring event will be held at MGM Grand Detroit on Sunday, the 8th January, 2012.

The Gallery will feature some magnificent luxury vehicles from Aston Martin, Bentley, Corvette, Falcon, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lexus, Lincoln, Lingenfelter, Maserati, Morgan, Porsche, Range Rover, Rolls-Royce, and some of the finest motorcycles. 

Many of the vehicles on display at The Gallery will not be shown at the NAIAS, for example the Aston Martin One-77, Lamborghini Aventador, Rolls Royce Ghost and Jaguar XKR-S will be on display exclusively at The Gallery.

A YouTube promotional video can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ19OgGWZK0&lr=1&feature=mhee).

Jeep Grand Cherokee

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee has just won the top award from Total 4X4 magazine, having been crowned 4X4 of the Year. The latest four-wheel drive Grand Cherokee has more than 30 international accolades and is one of the most highly decorated 4X4′s ever. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is powered by a 2,987cc V6 turbo diesel engine and is packed with an impressive standard options list and more refinement than ever before.

Alan Kidd, editor of Total 4X4 magazine, said,”It’s good value by the standards of its competitors. And there’s little at this price that does such a good job of combining comfort, equipment, dynamic prowess and relevant technology. There have been four Grand Cherokees over the years and each one has improved on the last. But this time the step up has been off the scale. It’s a worthy winner”. The Grand Cherokee also won the Awards’ Off-Roader category and we have Jeep contract hire prices on the site now.

Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler has just won the Icon class 4×4 Magazine’s 4×4 of the Year 2012 awards . The magazine’s annual test of all the best four-wheel drive vehicles is a tough and comprehensive examination, but in the class categories the Wrangler proved the top choice, both for its off-road worthiness and its improvements in terms of comfort and refinement.

“Why is the Wrangler our Icons winner? Because once behind the wheel in the rough stuff, the Wrangler effortlessly confirms what makes a great off-roader,” says Nigel Fryatt, editor, 4×4 magazine. “Add that it’s now civilised and comfortable to drive to the shops, and there really was no contest.”

2011 has been a special year for Jeep as it marks the brand’s 70th anniversary. This started with the refreshed Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. 2011 has also been the year of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee fitted which is fitted with the all-new MultiJet II 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine, and the refreshed Jeep Compass compact SUV.

Euro NCAP crash test

Although Geely will not enter the UK market until the end of 2012, the Chinese manufactured Geely Emgrand EC7 has just undergone its Euro NCAP safety testing and has been awarded four stars. The other car models picking up four stars at the same time, were the Jaguar XF, Renault Fluence ZE, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Fiat Panda and MG6 so the Emgrand EC7 is in good company.

When the Emgrand EC7 arrives in the UK it will come with the choice of two body styles, four door saloons and five-door hatchbacks, with a choice of 1.5- or 1.8-litre petrol engines, with an automatic version for the 1.8-litre versions. The car will be priced competitively from around £10,000 and all models will come with  a five-year, 100,000 miles warranty.

Geely Auto UK is in the process of  recruiting its dealer network in readiness for sales to begin by the end of next year and the Euro NCAP results are a major step forward for the brand.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s Secretary General said,”These results mark a milestone for the Chinese automotive industry. It is a clear sign that Chinese car makers are building on recent experiences and rapidly investing in better vehicle safety. Even with the upcoming increased demands, five stars are expected to be within reach soon”.

Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine

Ford has unveiled their new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine that will debut in the UK in the all-new Ford Focus next year, giving the Focus class-leading fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. The new 1.0-litre,  three-cylinder EcoBoost is Ford’s smallest petrol engine and delivers 125PS with 114g/km CO2 with turbo-charged direct injection plus this unit returns 56.5 combined mpg.

The same engine, with 100PS and 109g/km CO2, will feature in the all-new Ford Focus, Ford C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and the new B-MAX which enters into full production in the middle of 2012.  The new engine will be built in Craiova in Romania, and capacity for Europe will be up to 700,000 units per year with annual production of up to 1.5 million worldwide. 

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost delivers a performance  more akin to a 1.6-litre engine but with significantly improved fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. Stephen Odell, Ford chairman and CEO Ford of Europe, said,”The new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is a true collaboration from start to finish, with expertise from Ford specialists  across Europe leveraged in designing both the engine and the cutting-edge facility in which it will be produced”.

Mr Odell went onto to say,”This will be reflected in the class-leading European CO2 emissions of the new 1.0-litre EcoBoost Ford Focus when it debuts in early 2012; low emissions that will be achieved alongside the spirited and refined performance that customers expect from Ford”.

Renault new 1.6-litre dCi engine

Renault has launched their new 1.6-litre “Energy” dCi 130 engine initially in the Scenic and Grand Scenic Dynamique TomTom range. In the five and seven-seat versions of the Scenic range, the new Energy 130 dCi offers the lowest emissions and best fuel economy of any MPV powered by a similar size engine.

CO2 emissions are now at 115g/km, which is down by a massive 30g/km over the former 1.9-litre engine. Fuel economy is also improved by 25% with a combined mpg figure of 64.2, all of which will help any family in keeping their motoring costs down.

The engine still packs a punch with torque increased from 300 to 320Nm and the Scenic reaches 0-62mph in 10.3 seconds and has a top speed of 121mph (where permitted). The 1.6 dCi 130 also features other economy solutions including low pressure EGR and Stop&Start technology. It is also Euro 5 compliant, Euro 6 ready and Renault plans to roll out the engine into other models in its range in due course, for example the Megane and also their vans.

Suzuki Rear Eye

Suzuki has launched a snazzy new Rear Camera Display RCD) as an accessory option for the Grand Vitara, three and five-door models. The vehicle has a wide-angle camera mounted in the rear bumper that displays a camera picture on the rear view mirror once reverse gear is selected.

The transmits a high resolution image to a 3.5-inch screen and provides additional safety when reversing, especially in a larger vehicle. The accessory costs £459 including VAT and fitting so if you are thinking about contract hiring your next your Suzuki, this would be a great road safety feature to consider.

Jeep at the HOYS

The prestigious Horse of the Year Show 2009 will be at the Birmingham LG Arena (formerly known as the NEC Arena) this year and is being held from the 7th October to the 11th October 2009. Jeep is the official vehicle partner and their flagship Grand Cherokee will be used to transport VIPs and international riders, to and from the show. 

Jeep is also displaying a Jeep Patriot and Jeep Grand Cherokee at various locations around the the arena, as the models offer all round 4×4 capability, with the Grand Cherokee Limited’s Quadra Trac II system particularly making it ideal for road driving, off road and towing.

Jeep has always been popular in the equine community and the HOYS 2009 is the ideal place to market their models.