Jaguar 75 app

In celebrating the presentation of the stunning C-X75 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Jaguar has launched a new Jaguar 75 iPad app which is available to download from the iTunes store by searching for “Jaguar 75 HD”.

There is some newly commissioned photography of some famous Jaguar cars, such as the C and D-Type racers, the MK11 and of course the elegant E-Type, plus heritage images, archive video and various stories about the men behind the famous marque. The new C-X75 is the fastest and possibly the most beautiful Jaguar car ever built and best of all it is a 205mph four-wheel drive hybrid.

Lotus Elise

Lotus has set out its vision for 2015 with five new models including the Lotus Elan and Lotus Elise. The new model line-up also includes the Elite,  Eterne and Esprit. The Elise 2015 has a strong graphic styling and is the entry level two-seater sports car for the range, offering a 0-100kph time of under 4.5 seconds from its 2.0-litre inline 4 pressure charged engine.

Lotus Elan

The new Lotus Elan high performance (optional 2+2) sports car is due out in 2013 and is powered by a 4.0-litre V6 pressure charged engine capable of producing up to 450PS. The car races from 0-100kph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 310km/h. In keeping with the rest of Lotus range, the Elan features optional hybrid technology with KERS. Lotus business car leasing on the current range is available now.

911 Speedster

A new open-roof 911 two-seater Speedster will be launched at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and evokes memories of the classic Porsche 356 Speedster. The 3.8-litre 408hp flat-six engine drives the car through the rear wheels and the car reaches 0-62mph in only 4.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 189.5mph (where permitted). Only 356 cars are going to be made available worldwide so it will be a pretty exclusive car.

Porsche 911 Speedster

Combined mpg is 27.43 and CO2 emissions are 242g/km and this new sports car uses no more fuel than the standard 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, yet produces 23 more horsepower. The 911 Speedster has a seven-speed gearbox as standard and comes with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB).

The 911 Speedster has a generous level of standard equipment and is hand-finished in black smooth-finish leather with numerous exterior colour painted details. The “Pure Blue” exterior colour adds to the sporting appeal and the 911 Speedster will be launched in January 2011 and is priced from £144,100. The car is also available in Carrara White at no extra cost.

Mazda RX-8 R3

There are less than 100 examples of the Mazda RX-8 R3 coupe left in stock in the UK as Mazda phases out this four-seater, four-door sports coupe.

The rotary-engined 231ps Mazda RX-8 offers great performance and is still a head turner so if you want to join the 26,000 other UK motorists who have enjoyed the thrills of this sports classic you need to act fast.

Nissan JUKE

Nissan has finally started production of their eagerly awaited Nissan JUKE, which combines the best attributes of a sports car with an SUV, yet still offers you the practicality of a hatchback. Buildiing upon the success of the Qashqai, Nissan is hoping to produce around 100,000 units per year. The Nissan Note and Qashqai +2 are the other models being built at the high-tech plant in Sunderland.

You will be able to choose from three trim grades and three engines , which includes the 190PS flagship turbocharged option and like the Qashqai you have the option of 2WD and 4WD. Trevor Mann, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, Europe said: “JUKE provides a much needed breath of fresh air within the small car segment and will play a key role in defining the Nissan brand in the years ahead”. Nissan business contact hire prices on the JUKE are available off the site now.

ALPINA B5 BI TURBO

The new ALPINA counterpart of the BMW 5 Series, the ALPINA B5 BI TURBO is now available in the UK, after being launched at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed. This stunningly fast car is powered by a V8 engine capable of producing 507HP and is capable of a 0-62mph time in only 4.7 seconds and onto a top speed of 190mph (where permitted). CO2 emissions are 252g/km and combined mpg is 26.2, which is pretty impressive for a car of this size and performance.

The “limousine-like sports car” has a a new switchable eight-speed automatic transmission and BMW’s adjustable electronic dampers have been reconfigured to suit the 20-inch wheels and non-runflat tyres. John Quigley, Managing Director of ALPINA GB commented,”With the next generation BMW M5 yet to be announced, the B5 fills a significant market gap. The fact that Goodwood was chosen for its world debut of the car demonstrates the importance ALPINA attach to the UK market”.

BMW X3 diesel

A TRACKER system fitted to a BMW X3 stolen from an address in Staines, allowed Thames Valley Police to recover four vehicles in total from an address in Buckinghamshire. TRACKER is the UK market leader in stolen vehicle recovery using VHF and GPS technology to pin-point a stolen vehicle, even if it is hidden in a container or a lock-up.

Adrian Davenport, Police Liaison Manager, South of England and Wales for TRACKER said,”This is a fantastic result and illustrates the power of TRACKER’s relationship with police forces across the UK. With the TRACKER device, none of these vehicles may have been found and the gang of thieves could still be operating”.

If you drive a performance sports car or indeed any vehicle that is likely to be stolen, i.e. Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz,  it may well be worth considering fitting a TRACKER system, as some car insurance companies will actually reduce their premiums as well, knowing the car is likely to be recovered quite easily.

GT2 RS

The new Porsche GT2 RS is the fastest sports car ever produced by Porsche and reaches 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, 0-124mph in 9.8 seconds and 0-186mph in only 28.9 seconds. CO2 emissions are 284g/km and fuel consumption is 23.7mpg. The 620hp, six cyclinder boxer engine, is boosted by two turbochargers and drives the car via a six-speed manual gearbox. At the Nurburgring-Nordschleife race circuit, the car got round in 7 minutes and 18 seconds.

The basic interior is black, contrasting with red alcantarta upholstery on the seat centre sections and the roof lining, as well as on the steering wheel rim, gearshift and handbrake lever. The world debut of this new sports car will be at the Moscow Auto Show on August 25th 2010 and only 500 units will be built for worldwide distribution.

Diesel Car Magazine has announced the winners of its annual car of the year awards 2010 with the Peugeot 5008 grabbing top spot as Car of the year 2010.

Experts at Diesel Car Magazine put over 275 different diesel cars through their paces to come up with the winners in ten classes. There were also three new awards this year- best crossover, best sports car and best eco car. The Awards issue of Diesel Car Magazine goes on sale in newsagents from the 12th May and the list of winners is below.

Diesel Car, Car of the Year Award Winners 2010 

• Best small car - Ford Fiesta
• Best medium car – Volkswagen Golf
• Best large car- Skoda Superb
• Best executive car – Jaguar XF
• Best estate car- Skoda Superb Estate
• Best MPV - Peugeot 5008
• Best crossover – Peugeot 3008
• Best 4×4- Land Rover Discovery 4
• Best sports car – Peugeot RCZ
• Best eco car – Toyota Prius
• Car of the year 2010 – Peugeot 5008

Business contract hire pricing on all models is available on the site now.

Aston Martin Rapide

Aston Martin’s first Aston Martin Rapide four-door sports car has rolled off the production line at Gaydon, in Warwickshire. This is a new chapter in the history of Aston Martin and the preparation of the new Rapide, from its bonded aluminium frame to stitching to ten of the finest leather hides for the upholstery, is second to none.

At the heart of the car is a 6.0-litre V12 470bhp engine, with a specifically tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission. The 301 litre luggage compartment also provides generous space for the belongings of all four passengers.