BMW 320d Sport

BMW has released details of their new 3 Series saloon car which extends BMW’s lead in efficiency and dynamics, with four engines at launch and more to follow. The new BMW 3 Series offers more space, more comfort and more luxury and a greater choice of models and specifications, similar to the BMW 1 Series and an eight-speed automatic gearbox available across the range

The 3 Series Saloon is responsible for one-fifth of the company’s global sales and is an important car for the brand. The latest, sixth-generation of the 3 Series builds on the previous model’s position as the ultimate drivers’ car in its sector, as well as offering low CO2 emissions and superb fuel economy with its EfficientDynamics technologies.    

The new BMW 3 Series Saloon is larger and more spacious than the model it replaces, yet lighter and quicker in many cases. It is more fuel-efficient and more nimble and agile while even safer than the outgoing model it replaces.

All engines in the new 3 Series Saloon feature BMW TwinPower Turbo technology;

 * Electronically limited

BMW 335i Luxury

After launch, three new engines will be added with 316d and 318d diesels, powered respectively by 116hp and 143hp variants of the 2.0-litre diesel engine, plus another version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. This petrol unit will slot into the new 320i, and will be tuned to deliver 184hp.

All versions of the new 3 Series Saloon feature Drive Performance Control as standard. This allows the driver to swap between up to four driving modes, varying from sporty to extremely economical. The four modes are ECO PRO, Comfort, Sport, and Sport + (Sport + is included only on Sport models or with selected optional equipment).

The new 3 Series will be offeredly in ES, SE and, later in 2012 M Sport versions, but in a bid to offer greater customer choice, BMW will launch the 3 Series with the new Sport, Modern and Luxury models.

In addition to the enhanced range of trims on offer, all models including ES (which is only available on 316d), will receive enhanced levels of standard vehicle equipment, including 17-inch light alloy wheels, automatic air-conditioning, Bluetooth, BMW Professional radio with 6.5-inch colour screen and iDrive, keyless starting, USB, a multi-function leather steering wheel, cruise control and automatic boot opening.

BMW has also confirmed that towards the end of 2012 it will introduce four-wheel-drive and hybrid powertrains to the 3 Series Saloon for the first time in the UK. BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system has been available on the 3 Series in some overseas markets previously, and has now been engineered for right-hand-drive cars.

It will be of particular benefit to drivers who live in areas that are prone to extremes of bad weather, and will be available with selected petrol and diesel engines in the range. The ActiveHybrid 3 will arrive at roughly the same time, and will use the powertrain recently announced for the ActiveHybrid 5. This pairs the BMW 335i’s 306hp six-cylinder engine with an up to 40kW electric motor.

New Citroen DS5

If you fancy spending the weekend in St. Tropez, driving the new Citroen DS5, then Citroen is running a competition for five lucky winners. You will experience the DS5 first-hand and your driving reviews will also be placed on video on Facebook too.

The five lucky winners will spend the weekend in the exclusive Riviera with flights and five-star hotel accomodation all included. The theme of the weekend is called “The Refined, Redefined” and the lucky winners will take part in a series of fun activities and experiences, with filming taking place to record the weekend’s events.

If you want to enter the competition, you need to write 50-100 words on why you think you should be one of the first to drive the brand new Citroen DS5. The competition closes on the 31st January 2012 and the winners and guests will fly out on Friday the 10th February, returning on Sunday the 12th February.

Full details can be found @ www.facebook.com/citroenuk and click on the DS5 Star Experience tab.

Citroen DS3 Ultra Prestige

Citroen has just introduced the new DS3 Ultra Prestige to its UK range. The luxury, DS3 Ultra Prestige combines sophisticated style, a premium specification and the distinctive personality of the DS line range. It is powered by a sporty THP 155 petrol engine or a fuel and CO₂ efficient e-HDi 110 diesel with Stop & Start. The latter offers you 74.4 combined mpg and CO2 emissions of just 99g/km so is ideal as a company car.

The DS3 Ultra Prestige’s front seats are fitted with ‘watchstrap’ design seat upholstery in ‘Club’ leather and also sport a ‘crescendo’ colour effect that is entirely new and unique. Inspired by the world of fashion, the colour of the leather on the front seats gradually changes from white at the top of the seat back to black on the seat base.

Inside the cabin, the dashboard strip is covered in ‘Alpine’ white leather and embossed with the distinctive DS signature. The white colour dials also match the white of the interior detailing, for that extra styling effect. Ultra-thick protective mats are braided with double top-stitching in contrasting colours, plus leather trim is also fitted to the door panels and central armrest.

The vehicle specification is based on DSport trim level and the DS3 Ultra Prestige is available with a choice of two exterior body colours – Polar White and Thorium Grey. The car features a sports spoiler, dark-tinted side and rear windows and 17” charcoal-grey alloy wheels. The‘Ultra Prestige’ graphic (that covers the model’s black roof with the DS insignia) provides a range of colour contrasts, shifting from matt to gloss as the light changes. 

In addition to the DSport’s equipment specification (that already includes automatic digital air conditioning and a Bluetooth^® enabled Hi-Fi system), the DS3 Ultra Prestige gains Citroën’s integrated MyWay colour satellite navigation system, rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers, electrically heated and folding door mirrors and an electrochrome rear view mirror. Features which are normally seen on a top-of-the-range executive car. Citroen contract hire leasing prices on the DS3 Ultra Prestige should be loaded soon.

OTR Prices

Fisker Karma at Harrods

The world’s first luxury electric vehicle, the Fisker Karma, will take pride of place in the prominent Brompton Road window display at Harrods, Knightsbridge, until the 4th of February.

“Harrods is one of the most prestigious retail sites in the world, which is perfect for our car,” said Henrik Fisker, co-founder and CEO of Fisker Automotive.  “The landmark store attracts hundreds of thousands of customers from all over the world during January, and we look forward to introducing them to the Fisker Karma.”

The Karma is one of the most efficient, low-emission vehicles available today and it can travel from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds,was recently given an emissions rating of just 51 g/km CO2 and this luxury EV saloon car offers up to 112 mpg. The car also has a range of 50 miles on “electric only” operation with zero emissions. 

If you go to see the car you will be able to take a tour of the vehicle and offered the chance to virtually configure your own model. The 2012 Fisker Karma is already on sale in the United States, priced from $102,000, and will soon be available at dealerships internationally, in the coming weeks.

City Emergency Braking on the up!

The Volkswagen up! is not even on UK roads yet, but it has just been awarded the title of What Car? Car of the Year 2012, as well as Best City Car, at the What Car? Awards.

Volkswagen had a successful night at the motor industry’s annual ‘Oscars’, which was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The Golf was voted the top Small Family Car category for the sixth time overall and fourth consecutive year, and Volkswagen also won the coveted Safety Award.

Commenting on the awards, What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: ‘The Volkswagen up! sets new standards for a car at £10,000.  It’s a city car that can seat four adults, while offering new levels of refinement, quality and maturity at this price; none of its rivals feels quite so grown-up.  Buyers will be looking for even more for their money than ever in 2012, so the up! is a worthy winner of the What Car? Car of the Year.’

Meanwhile the Safety Award was in large part the result of the availability of Volkswagen’s new City Emergency Braking system on the up!.  The What Car? judges were impressed by this particular example of ‘big car’ technology filtering down to a smaller model and the system uses sensors to scan the space ahead. It then applies the brakes automatically if it detects that the car is about to hit an object in front. 

Director of Volkswagen UK, Chris Craft, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with the awards we have received from What Car? this year.  The magazine continues to be one of the most thorough and important sources of new car buying information for UK customers and winning the overall Car of the Year accolade gives our new city car, the up!, the best introduction to the UK market that we could have hoped for”.

First models should arrive in UK showrooms in March and Volkswagen contract hire on the up! range is on the site now.

The full list of category winners at the What Car? Awards 2012 is below.

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).

Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 204PS

Audi has released the details of the new Audi Q7 3.0 V6 TDI 204PS lead-in model that offers you more luxury with more economy. The new Q7 3.0 TDI quattro 204PS model compliments the existing 3.0 TDI quattro 245PS versions and is available in Standard, SE, S line and new S line Plus spcification levels.

The new Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 204PS returns 39.2 combined mpg, has a CO2 emissions figure on 189g/km, reaches 0-62mph in 9.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 127mph where permitted. It combines seven-seat practicality with quattro four-wheel drive plus variable height adaptive air suspension for genuine off-road capability.

While there are four trim levels it is the S line Plus specification that gives you all that you would look for in a luxury 4X4 SUV.  Standard vehicle options on the S line Plus include metallic paint, 21-inch alloy wheels, Verano leather upholstery, privacy glass, hard disc-based navigation with Google Earth mapping, in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, iPod connection, powered tailgate and Audi Parking System Advanced with reversing camera and running boards.

The UK OTR prices are as follows;

• Audi 3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic Standard – £39,995  
• Audi 3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic SE – £42,960
• Audi 3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic S line – £44,620
• Audi 3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic S line Plus £49,120

New Lexus GS 250

Lexus has launched a further extension of its all-new luxury GS saloon car range with their new GS 250 which has just been showcased at the Guangzhou motor show in China. The GS 250 is powered by a 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine with D-4S direct port injection and Dual VVT-i intelligent valve timing. This luxury Lexus saloon car has a maximum 206bhp,  0-62mph time of 8.6 seconds, a top speed of 142mph (where permitted), CO2 emissions of 207g/km and the combined mpg figure is 31.7.

The engine is mated to a Super ECT-i close-ratio intelligent six speed automatic transmission, with a sequential manual shift function and also a Drive Mode Select option. This allows you to change the driving mode of the car to the road conditions, with Eco, Normal and Sport S modes available. If you opt for Adaptive Variable Suspension as an option you then get Sport S+ mode added to the drive mode functions.

The Lexus GS 250 is equipped with the same innovations and safety features as the new Lexus GS 450h and will be launched in the UK in June 2012 alongside its larger sibling. The safety provisions include Lexus’s advanced Pre-Crash Safety system, Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and Lexus Night View. Further details and vehicle specifications of the new Lexus GS 250 will be released closer to the launch date.

Bentley Continental GTC

A Bentley Continental GTC was sold over the weekend for £240,000 at a star studded event at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester. The event featured stars like Gary Barlow, Chris Moyles and Sir Terry Wogan with the winning bidder also getting their car hand-delivered by Gary Barlow.

This unique, 195mph bespoke luxury car, will have the woods and leathers for the interior selected to the taste of the lucky bidders, who will also be attending the Bentley factory for a tour. As a finishing touch the Bentley craftsmen will add the signatures of several of the celebrities who attended the event, creating a unique, luxury car that no one else will have.   

Jon Crossley, Managing Director of Bentley Manchester, commented,”Nearly 400 people saw the auction unfold and, as the price kept on rising, the whole place fell silent. To reach £240,000, even for the very latest Bentley which is still making its debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show, just takes your breath away”,

Ultimate luxury

Range Rover will be unveiling the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition which will be launched to the public at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March. This is the most luxurious Range Rover ever built and only 500 models will be made and sold worldwide in over 20 countries.

Luxury interior

This new Range Rover takes levels of luxury for both driver and passengers to a new level with even the load space kitted out with a super yacht inspired teak floor, with metal and leather detailing.

The cabin of the vehicle uses handcrafted soft feel natural leathers and even the rear seats are electrically adjusted. The rear console offers a machined aluminium laptop table and drinks chiller and you get two Apple iPad as standard.

This car is offered in two unique colours, Roussillon Red or Otago Stone and both are available with body coloured door handles, dark atlas radiator grille and side vents. The Ultimate Edition is kitted out with new 20-inch multi-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels plus you also have the option of an Exterior Pack.

The V8 Engine line-up consists of a superb new 4.4-litre LR-TDV8 Diesel with eight-speed transmission incorporating Drive Select and Paddle Shift as standard, which offers you 30.1 combined mpg and a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds. Or there is the LR-V8 5.0-litre supercharged engine which takes you from 0-60 in only 5.9 seconds, which is pretty quick for a vehicle of this size. Finally, both models come with Land Rover’s award-winning Terrain Response system, with five different settings to suit different terrains, including new Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control.