New Kia c'eed
The new Kia c’eed is set to be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012 and in the meantime Kia has just released the first image of the new car.
The styling resembles a sporty coupe and has design features like chrome framed windows and muscular lines on the bonnet. The new Kia c’eed will be available in Europe from the second quarter of 2012 and in the UK by June.
Citroen C3 e-HDI 70 Airdream EGS VTR+
Citroen has just announced the launch of the new Citroen C3 e-HDI 70 Airdream EGS VTR+, which is its most CO2 efficient conventionally powered model to date offering CO2 emissions of just 87g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 83.1mpg.
This new low CO2, fuel efficient version of the C3 was first displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and the highly specified e-HDI 70 Airdream EGS VTR+ is now available to order and comes with the C3′s renowned panoramic Zenith windscreen. This new model of car also uses Citroen’s innovative e-HDI micro-hybrid Stop & Start technology coupled to a 68bhp HDi diesel engine, to offer its stunning green credentials.
Citroen’s UK Marketing Director, Jules Tilstone, said,”Citroen is committed to driving down the cost of motoring and this new model is a perfect example of that. With impressive fuel economy, low CO2 emissions, a BIK rate at just 13%, free VED and the benefit of no London Congestion Charge, this stylish model is a financially and environmentally attractive addition to the Citroen range” .
New Audi A4 Saloon
Audi has released some initial details and images of the new eighth-generation Audi A4 series, which includes the Audi A4 Saloon, the A4 Avant, the A4 allroad quattro and the flagship S4. Since its launch, 39 years ago, the Audi A4 series has sold over ten million models and the A4 is well known for its elegance, sportiness and driving experience.
The Saloon and Avant will both offer the S line exterior package, while the Avant also gets a rear spoiler, plus the interior in the new A4 series has been refined, offering a selection of new steering wheels with chrome high-gloss inlays, for example.
All interior colours, with the exception of black, have been re-coordinated and the upholstery range has also been updated with Fine Nappa leather replacing Valcona leather. Luggage capacity in the saloon is the same at 480-litres (962 litres with rear seats folded) while the A4 Avant and A4 allroad quattro have a capacity of 490-litres and 1,430-litres respectively.
New Audi A4 Avant
In the UK, Audi will offer a choice of five diesel models and four petrol engines for both the Saloon and the Avant. All engines will offer you supercharged direct-injection systems, the start-stop system and the recuperation system as standard, throughout the model range. Six-speed manual transmission is standard on the Saloon and the Avant with front wheel drive, while most variants will offer continuously variable multitronic as an option.
The most economical model is the Audi A4 2.0 TDI with 136 PS which returns 67.3 combined mpg and CO2 emissions of just 112g/km. There is also a A4 2.0 TDI 163 PS engine that returns 64.2 combined mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km and these two (available in the Saloon and Avant) are likely to be the favourite models with most company car drivers.
The exact model line-up, full vehicle specifications and prices are yet to be announced, however early indications are that the prices are expected to be similar to the current A4 range.
Volkswagen cross up!
Visitors to the Frankfurt Motor Show this month saw the early production styling cues to Volkswagen‘s five-door up! city car with the concept cross up!, which was one of the six small family car concepts shown alongside the three-door model.
The cross up! is a five-door model that also takes its own styling from an SUV, including the suspension which was raised 15 mm all round. However it’s the additional doors and C-pillars that give the biggest clue as to how the five-door up! might look.
Volkswagen cross up!
The cross up! has an eye-catching rear and front front bumper with silver cross-bar and integrated fog lights (front), plus a honeycomb grill and 16-inch alloy-wheels. Order books for the three-door up! will open in October of this year with first UK models arriving in the spring of 2012. The five-door model will follow later in 2012.
Citroen C4 AIRCROSS SUV
Citroen has just announced the details of their new Citroen C4 AIRCROSS compact SUV, which goes on sale in the UK in the second half of 2012.
This new Citroen model combines the DNA of Citroen styling with the strong presence of an off-roader and has a distinctive light signature at the front, created by LEDs that are integrated into the vertical vents. The shape of the 18-inch alloy wheels and the rear lights take their styling from the Hypnos concept car and the sophisticated design includes indicator repeaters in the door mirrors, light guides in the rear light clusters and a reversing camera.
The Citroen C4 AIRCROSS is likely to have a high level of standard specification including GPS navigation and touch-screen, reversing camera, USB/Bluetooth connectivity and will be available in either two-wheel or four-wheel drive, although final specifications for the UK are yet to be confirmed.
California Berghaus
If you are a hardcore camper then you might be interested in the new limited edition California Berghaus that has just been launched. The Berghaus has been created in collaboration with the outdoor clothing specialist and has been designed as an ultimate vehicle for exploring and enjoying the outdoors in comfort and style.
Inside you get all the mod cons that you would need on a camping holiday including seating and accomodation for four, an electrically-operated pop-up roof for extra headroom, fully-functioning integrated kitchen with fridge, gas power cooker and fold-away table and chairs.
The new Berghaus also features a bike rack, side-mounted awning, 18-inch bi-colour “Dakar” alloy wheels, metallic paint, Berghaus-branded carpet mats and waterproof seat covers plus Berghaus badging. You also get an exclusive “Berghaus pack” which includes a Berghaus “Freeflow 25″ rucksack, two “Flare” sleeping bags, gloves, hats, insulated mugs, travel water bottle, flask and map case.
All the California Berghaus models have a 2.0-litre BiTDI 180PS engine and six-speed manual transmission which accelerates from 0-62mph in 12.4 seconds, returns 36.2mpg on the combined fuel cycle and emits 205g/km of CO2. Safety features include ABS, traction control (TCS), engine braking control (EBC) and ESP.
Only 80 models of this exclusive California Berghaus model are going to be produced so if you want one you had better be quick. Further details on the California Berghaus can be found at the Volkswagen website and we also have Volkswagen business contract hire on current California models on the site now.
Land Rover DC 100 concepts
Land Rover revealed more DC 100 concepts at the Frankfurt Motor Show, including the DC 100 Sport, with the intention to launch a production model, that replaces the Land Rover Defender, by 2015.
The concepts have certainly got the interest of the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, plus other conservation groups and Land Rover will working closely with them, to ensure the new Defender meets their particular requirements.
The new Land Rover DC 100 and DC 100 Sport offer a range of technical capabilities including:
New Caddy Edition 30
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Volkswagen Caddy next year, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has unveiled a near production concept special edition model called the Caddy Edition 30 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It doesn’t matter if you are a young family, a delivery firm or tradesman, Volkswagen does have a Caddy model to suit you.
The Caddy Edition 30 is different to the rest of the range as it has its roof and roof-railing painted in brilliant gloss black and polished 17-inch alloy wheels. Five bodywork colours are available from Candy White, Reflex Silver, Salsa Red, Primavera Green or Sunny Yellow.
Inside you can get a five-seat or seven-seat configuration with seats in Alcantara upholstery, multi-function steering wheel, leather-trimmed gear stick and handbrake lever, semi-automatic climate control and tinted windows.
Power comes from four different engine specifications, both with a short wheelbase as a car or as a van for commercial use. The model on show at Frankfurt had the most powerful engine ever installed in a Caddy, the 170PS 2.0 TDI with DSG.
SsangYong SUT-1 concept pick-up
SsangYong is ready to take their SUT-1 concept pick-up truck into full production with a model on show at Frankfurt this week. The design of the production version remains true to the original concept that was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011.
This robust new 4×4 pick-up has a 155bhp 2.0-litre Active Diesel Engine fitted, which complies with Euro 5 CO2 emissions standards and emits 186g/km of CO2. Standard equipment includes a sunroof, RDS & Bluetooth audio, rear view camera, hinge sprung tailgate, ESP, Brake Assist System (ABS), Active Rollover Protection, ISOFIX child seat attachments, dual airbags and trip computer.
The spacious five seat cabin enables all passengers to travel in comfort and a large 2 metre square deck provides ample space for all types of equipment to be carried. You also have the option of either rear wheel drive or on demand four wheel drive, coupled to six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
2012 Model Year Audi A5
Audi has released details of their changes to the 2012 Model Year of the Audi A5, S5, A5 Sportback, A5/S5 Coupe and A5/S5 Cabriolet, which will be available to order from September 2011. The new car gets subtle design changes both inside and out however the main changes are under the skin, to the engine (upgrades and replacements), new fuel-saving electromechanical power steering and also suspension revisions.
The key objective in updating the three ranges (Sportback, Coupe and Cabriolet) was to get greater gains in efficiency using forced induction, rather than larger cubic capacity, to avoid comprimising on performance yet offering better fuel economy and lowering CO2 emissions by up to 22 per cent.
There is a new 272PS version of the supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI petrol engine replacing the 3.2-litre FSI engine in the Coupe and Cabriolet. The existing 333PS version engine used in the S5 Sportback and S5 Cabriolet replaces the V8 in the S5 Coupe. A new 204PS 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine replaces the 2.7-litre TDI and reduces CO2 emissions to 129g/km in the front-wheel-drive A5 Coupe. An updated 177PS 2.0-litre TDI engine also offers 60.1mpg and 122g/km in front-wheel drive A5 2.0 TDI Coupe.
Inside the cabin, changes include new colour schemes and trims, revised switchgear and a new online service option that brings Google Earth mapping, plus in-car internet access. The full range has been detailed below plus the CO2 outputs of the new cars where known. Audi car leasing on the new A5 2012 Model Year range will be loaded shortly however there are still existing A5 models available.
The 2012 Model Year Audi A5 range:
A5 Coupe – from £26,490 OTR
1.8 TFSI 170PS Six-speed manual 134g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS Six-speed manual 149g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS Eight-speed multitronic 167g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS quattro Six-speed manual 169g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS quattro Seven-speed S tronic 159g/km
3.0 TFSI 272PS quattro Seven-speed S tronic TBC
2.0 TDI 177PS Six-speed manual 122g/km
2.0 TDI 177PS Eight-speed multitronic 123g/km
2.0 TDI 177PS quattro Six-speed manual TBC
3.0 TDI 204PS Eight-speed multitronic 129g/km
3.0 TDI 245PS quattro Six-speed manual TBC
3.0 TDI 245PS quattro Seven-speed S tronic 149g/km
S5 3.0 TFSI 333PS Seven-speed S tronic 190g/km
A5 Sportback – from £25,540 OTR
1.8 TFSI 170PS Six-speed manual 136g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS Six-speed manual 152g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS Eight-speed multitronic 169g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS quattro Six-speed manual 172g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS quattro Seven-speed S tronic 159g/km
2.0 TDI 177PS Six-speed manual 122g/km
2.0 TDI 177PS Eight-speed multitronic 127g/km
2.0 TDI 177PS quattro Six-speed manual TBC
2.0 TDI 177PS quattro Seven-speed S tronic TBC
3.0 TDI 204PS Eight-speed multitronic 129g/km
3.0 TDI 245PS quattro Six-speed manual TBC
3.0 TDI 245PS quattro Seven-speed S tronic 149g/km
S5 Sportback 3.0 TFSI 333PS Seven-speed S tronic 190g/km
A5 Cabriolet – from £29,450 OTR
1.8 TFSI 170PS Six-speed manual 143g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS Six-speed manual 159g/km
2.0 TFSI 211PS Eight-speed multitronic TBC
2.0 TFSI 211PS quattro Seven-speed S tronic 164g/km
3.0 TFSI 272PS quattro Seven-speed S tronic TBC
2.0 TDI 177PS Six-speed manual 127g/km
2.0 TDI 177PS Eight-speed multitronic TBC
2.0 TDI 177PS quattro Six-speed manual TBC
3.0 TDI 204PS Eight-speed multitronic 138g/km
3.0 TDI 245PS quattro Six-speed manual TBC
3.0 TDI 245PS quattro Seven-speed S tronic 154g/km
S5 Cabriolet 3.0 TFSI 333PS Seven-speed S tronic 199g/km