Hyundai i40 Tourer

Hyundai Motor Company and Cobra UK  (the leader in vehicle security, safety and telematics solutions), have just formalised a new strategic alliance with Cobra supplying Hyundai a range of premium reversing sensors and cruise control accessories.

All new Hyundai cars and SUVs will feature Cobra’s front and rear parking sensors (flush mounted) as an option, offering you speed related activation and deactivation (5mph when decreasing your speed and 10mph when driving off).

Hyundai already fits Cobra parking sensor systems on the Hyundai i40 and New Generation i30 globally, however this new partnership offers the same facility to UK dealers and their customers.

Cobra’s Managing Director, Andrew Smith, said,”We have devoted a great deal of time and investment to our new generation of automotive accessories and to work with Hyundai on its new product development has been fantastic”.

All-new V40 hatchback

Last month, the all-new Volvo V40 hatchback made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show and Volvo has now released the prices and specification for this premium hatchback model.

There are three trim levels available, namely ES, SE and SE LUX, all of which have Bluetooth fitted as standard. However it is likely to be the D2 that is the one for fleet customers as it offers company car drivers only 94g/km of CO2 emissions and a combined mpg of 78.5 from its 1.6-litre 115 bhp diesel engine.

The all-new Volvo V40 is also the first car to offer a pedestrian airbag  and City Safety as standard to further boost the brand’s safety credentials.

D2 offers CO2 of 94g/km

Looking at the entry-level ES, this model’s standard vehicle specification also features high performance audio with 5-inch colour display screen, Electronic Climate Control, 16-inch Matres alloy wheels, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, power windows, leather steering wheels and gear knob and textile floor mats.

The SE model adds Textile/T-tec upholstery, shimmer graphite inlays, steering wheel remote controls and keyless start, autofolding door mirrors with ground lighting and chrome exterior trim for the outside.

The SE LUX is the most luxurious version and this adds leather-faced upholstery, 17-inch Mannan alloy wheels and LED day running lights, plus active bending xenon lights with a headlight cleaning system.

The NAV option, available on all models in the range, includes a fully integrated satellite navigation system (full European mapping with two complimentary annual map updates) with voice activated control, a 7-inch colour display screen and DVD player.

Pricing starts from £19,745 on-the-road for the entry level D2 (115bhp) Start/Stop ES up to £26,795 for the D4 (177hp) Start/Stop SE Lux Nav. You are able to place orders now with full car production starting in May and first deliveries in time for the new “62 plate” in September.

All “On-the-Road” prices include Volvo’s standard national delivery charge, number plates and VAT plus Vehicle Tax and the first year registration fee.

Mazda2 Venture Edition

Mazda has just introduced a special edition of its best-selling model in the UK, the Mazda2 ‘Venture Edition’, priced from only £12,995 (OTR).

The new Mazda2 Venture Edition is based on the popular five-door hatchback Tamura model and features several additional items of equipment and a choice of six special exterior colours, including two unique to this version.

The Venture Edition features 16-inch gunmetal alloy wheels, sports styling kit, front fog lamps, privacy glass and a rear bumper sports trim.  Inside, you get a Sanyo TomTom navigation system with a 5.8-inch touch screen, integrated Bluetooth hands-free kit, climate control air-conditioning and electric rear windows.

Peter Allibon, Sales Director, Mazda UK, said,“The availability of the new Mazda2 Venture Edition, with its unique combination of advanced technology, sports styling, a premium interior and great added value, will attract new consumers to our brand.”  

The Just 1,500 Mazda2 Venture Edition models will be made, finished in the two unique colours, Dolphin Grey Mica and Burgundy Red Mica plus four from the regular Mazda2 range, namely Crystal White Pearlescent, Brilliant Black, Aquatic Blue Mica and True Red.

Other additional specifications for Venture Edition model includes: front, side and curtain airbags, remote central locking and dead locks, driver’s seat height adjustment, leather steering wheel with audio controls, CD radio with Auxiliary jack and four speakers, 60/40 split folding rear seats and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm.

The Mazda2 Venture Edition is powered by an 84ps, 1.3-litre MZR petrol engine, accelerates to 62mph in 13.6 seconds, returns 56.5mpg (combined cycle) and has a CO2 emissions figure of just 115g/km.

2012 Infiniti FX

Infiniti has made key enhancements to their top-selling model as the FX design is taken to fresh heights with an expressive new look plus new alloy wheels and paint choices.

The 2012 Infiniti FX range also comes at unchanged 2011 prices, starting from £46,750 on-the-road for the luxury FX37 GT model, and just £90 more for the V6 diesel equivalent.

The car’s sporting appeal is reinforced on GT and GT Premium derivatives with a new five double-spoke design of 20-inch wheel with S versions keeping their distinctive 21-inch wheels. There is more choice with the latest exterior paint colour, Iridium Blue and it is Infiniti’s newest Scratch Shield finish available exclusively on the FX, with Graphite Shadow also now available.

The Infiniti FX range for 2012 is made up of four grades.

• The FX37 GT (£46,750 OTR) is the complete luxury package powered by Infiniti’s 3.7-litre petrol V6 and offering 316bhp (320PS).
• The entry FX30d gets the same luxury features but with a lower CO2 (238g/km) from its 3.0-litre V6 diesel of 235bhp (238PS). Despite its high performance the FX30d GT (£46,840) offers 31.4mpg on the combined cycle.
• S versions are more sporting and come with Rear Active Steering (except FX37) and Continuous Damping Control, among other changes. The S versions are set apart by their 21-inch alloy wheels, smoked headlights, red S badging and dark chrome exterior air vent and sill strip. The FX37 S has an on-the-road price of £48,850 and the FX30d S diesel £48,940.
• Premium versions of both the GT and the S are one of the most comprehensively equipped cars in their class.  Their vehicle specification majors on innovative technology with standard equipment including advanced navigation and entertainment systems, along with a safety features such as Lane Departure Prevention. Both petrol and diesel V6s are available in Premium guise, along with the 385bhp (390PS) 5.0-litre V8 of the FX50 performance flagship, available in S Premium guise only.

Every FX is also equipped with Infiniti’s intelligent torque-sensing all-wheel-drive system plus a 7-speed adaptive shift automatic transmission. The car comes with solid magnesium gearshift paddles on the steering wheel of every model demonstrating both the FX’s manufacturing integrity and its sporting performance personality.

New digital radio adaptor

Alpine Electronics of U.K. Ltd. an industry-leading manufacturer of automotive mobile media stations has launched a brand new, innovative digital radio adapter called the EZi-DAB.

The new Alpine EZi-DAB is a professionally installed digital radio adapter for almost any car, that has been designed to keep in-car clutter to a minimum. It connects to any existing car stereo and provides outstanding digital radio reception as well as the ability to connect and control your iPod, iPhone, iPad and many other compatible USB devices.

The unit is “Powered by Pure”, the world’s leading wireless music and radio systems manufacturer.

Keith Holness, Alpine’s senior business manager, commented: “The new EZi-DAB digital radio adapter allows almost everyone to add digital radio to their existing car audio system and provides a neat and classy solution to accessing more radio stations and much more listening choice. We are proud to have collaborated with Pure on this project, as their reputation as leaders in digital radio is legendary.”

The control unit has a choice of five different illumination colours; green, amber, red, blue and white, has a small, discreet windscreen film solution for the antenna, where no cutting or drilling to your vehicle is required and also offers the option to connect your iPod, iPhone or iPad. You can search and play the music via the car speakers plus it also charges these Devices at the same time and you can listen to tracks from a USB flash drive, other mobile phones or MP3 players with USB connection.

Other useful innovations include the pause button when you stop and before you remove your car keys, where the broadcast or music is paused until you return, for a maximum of 15 minutes. Ideal if you have popped into the shops when you’re in the middle of listening to something you don’t want to miss. This feature allows you to simply pause live radio and continue to listen later, exactly where you left off, or rewind at 15 second increments.

The Alpine EZi-DAB is available now with a Typical Selling Price of £249.99, which also includes the discreet window antenna and is available through authorised Alpine dealers.

If you want more information on the EZi-DAB or to find an authorised Alpine retailer, then visit the Apline website @  www.alpine.uk.com.

Please note if you lease your vehicle you will need to get permission from the vehicle leasing company before you can have this unit installed.

Toyota Prius+ seven-seat hybrid MPV

The Toyota Prius+ is Europe’s first full hybrid seven-seat MPV and will be available in two equipment grades of T4 and T Spirit, with on-the-road prices starting from £26,195.

Vehicle specification for the T4 includes electric windows all round, Toyota Touch touchscreen control, Bluetooth, rear-view camera, head-up display, Smart Entry and Start, panoramic roof and automatic air conditioning.

The T Spirit features 17-inch alloys, leather upholstery Toyota Touch and Go Plus with satellite navigation, voice recognition, advanced Bluetooth and on-line connectivity, plus rain-sensing wipers and JBL audio system.

The T4 model is the only sub-100g/km seven-seat model on the UK market offering 96g/km of CO2 and is available to order now, with first customer deliveries expected from the 9th of July. The T Spirit emits 101g/km CO2 and official fuel consumption figures are 68.9mpg for the T4 and 64.2mpg for the T Spirit.

The ground-breaking new model, which combines traditional people carrier practicality with ultra-efficient performance, is also the first mainstream Toyota hybrid to use a lighter and more compact lithium-ion battery pack.

The slim lithium-ion battery fits neatly within the centre console and avoids any intrusion on the space available for rear seat passengers and for load carrying. There are five separate folding rear seats provided and with all of these in place there is 200 litres of luggage space, or with the third row stowed, this figure rises to 505 litres.

2012 Audi A6 allroad quattro

Audi has released the details of their new A6 allroad quattro Avant bringing major efficiency gains and an even more extensive specification to the UK. This new generation version of the all-terrain A6 Avant is available now priced from £43,150 OTR to £49,445 OTR, with first deliveries expected in July.

The 2012 A6 allroad quattro has also been constructed using the latest Audi ultra lightweight construction principles and its body total vehicle weight is reduced by as much as 70 kilograms compared with the previous model. There are four engine options – 3.0 TFSI with 310PS and 440Nm, 3.0 TDI with 204PS and 450Nm, 3.0 TDI with 245PS and 580Nm, 3.0 BiTDI with 313PS and 650Nm, with fuel consumption reduced by as much as 20 per cent. 

The petrol-powered option is the 3.0-litre TFSI is boosted by a mechanically driven supercharger and produces 310PS and powers the A6 allroad quattro from rest to 62mph in 5.9 seconds, on the way to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Yet it can still achieve 31.7 mpg according to the combined cycle test.

The TDI range comprises three 3.0-litre V6 units, the first two of which deliver 204PS or 245PS (with the help of a single turbocharger). The 204PS version is the fuel efficiency champion, achieving a combined economy figure of 46.3mpg with CO2 output of 159g/km, yet still offers you a 7.5-second zero to 62mph acceleration. The 245PS models offers 44.8mpg, 165g/km CO2, along with a 6.6-second acceleration.

Or there is the new BiTDI, that uses two turbochargers to inject 313PS and enough punch to power the A6 allroad to 62mph in just 5.6 seconds, on the way to a governed 155mph top speed. It has a sports car-style engine note that comes courtesy of Audi’s innovative sound actuator in an auxiliary channel of the exhaust system, but its economy figures remain diesel-like, with up to 42.2mpg possible and CO2 emissions at 176g/km.

The three single turbocharger engines are paired with Audi’s seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission with its wide ratio spreads and rapid fire shifts while the BiTDI uses the latest eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.

The A6 allroad quattro is an all-terrain car and this is reflected in its exterior features such as extended side sills, flared wings and protective front and rear stainless steel underbody guards. The wheel arches, bumpers and sills are also painted in a contrasting colour, but can be body-coloured as an option.

Audi A6 allroad quattro interior

The interior of the car offers plenty of space thanks to the long wheelbase of 2,905 millimetres. Vehicle specification include 18-inch alloy wheels, Milano leather upholstery, satellite navigation, the Multi Media Interface (MMI) linked to a 6.5-inch retractable colour display, Audi parking system plus, cruise control, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation, light and rain sensors and the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system.

The luggage compartment has a capacity of 565 litres, and the standard split rear seat can be folded down to increase this to 1,680 litres. There are also numerous standard and optional features that underscore its practicality as an estate car, including a rail system into which a load-securing kit for dividing the luggage compartment can be inserted, tensioning straps on the left wall and also a double loading floor.

The list of safety-focused systems is also pretty impressive and includes radar-based adaptive cruise control, Audi active lane assist lane departure warning system,  Audi side assist blind spot detection system and night vision using thermal imaging.

Audi A6 allroad quattro UK OTR Pricing

Suzuki Attitude based on the SZ3

Suzuki is launching a special version Attitude model based on SZ3 with a limited production run of only 500 units, split between three and five door hatchbacks. The new car goes on sale on the 2nd April, priced at £10,750 for the three door, £11,220 for five door and is available in Superior White only.

Aimed at younger buyers, the Swift Attitude is based on the 1.2-litre SZ3 model but with a more sporty and aggressive styling. The 1.2-litre Dual VVT 94PS engine is one of the most powerful engines in its class but offers low emissions of just 116g/km and 56.5mpg on the combined cycle.

The Swift Attitude is based on the SZ3 grade and comes with seven airbags, ESP, air conditioning and USB port as standard but offers an increased vehicle specification with front fog lamps and rear privacy glass, plus Carbon fibre effect roof and door mirrors, rear upper spoiler in body colour, Carbon fibre effect ‘Attitude’ badging and 16-inch wheels in black paint finish.

Toyota GT86

Toyota has released the prices and equipment specification for the new Toyota GT86 with two versions available, namely the six-speed manual at £24,995 on-the-road and six-speed automatic at £26,495. The models come with a single high specification that includes limited slip differential, dual-zone climate control, sports seats, bi-xenon headlights and 17-inch alloys with first deliveries from the 1st July.

The new car’s handling and performance has been applauded by the media and shows that Toyota has succeeded in recapturing the essential joy of driving with the car’s great performance. The Toyota T86 has a front-mounted 2.0-litre “boxer” engine and rear wheel drive and the light, low and nimble GT86 has a classic sports car set-up. 

Styling and specification reflect its driver-focused character with exterior features including a rear spoiler, 17-inch light alloy wheels, chrome-finished dual exhaust tailpipes and a signature “T”-mesh grille. The T motif is also repeated in the shape of the rear foglight, set centrally between the tailpipes and a limited slip differential also fitted as standard.

Other features include bi-xenon high intensity discharge headlights, LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps and electric folding door mirrors with housings matched to the car’s body colour. There are seven exterior colours available: Dark Red, Silver metallic, Black metallic, Blue metallic, Dark Red metallic, Orange metallic and Pearl pearlescent.

Toyota GT86 cabin

The 2+2 cabin further has a cockpit designed around the driver, with front sports seats, aluminium pedals and contrasting red stitching around the black leather trimmed steering wheel, gear knob and parking brake. Black cloth upholstery is standard, but you do have the option of black leather and Alcantara, or black leather with red Alcantara and additional red leather styling details on the door grips, steering wheel, gear knob and parking brake.

The car access is easy thanks to the Toyota Smart Entry system, and the cabin environment can be programmed for comfort with dual-zone air conditioning. The high quality extends to an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, cruise control, hill-start assist, scuff plates and the Toyota Touch touchscreen control system for controlling the six-speaker audio system, with Bluetooth for phone connection and music streaming, and a USB port.

Safety equipment includes a switchable VSC stability control system, which can be adjusted through three driving modes to suit your driving preference, and a torque-sensing limited slip differential. Seven airbags are also provided, including a driver’s knee airbag.

Renault Twingo Renaultsport

Following its world debut at last autumn’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the French marque’s new-look Twingo Renaultsport 133 has been launched and the upgraded pocket-rocket bursts onto the scene on 2nd April when ordering opens, priced from £13,565 on-the-road.

The New Twingo Renaultsport 133 has enhanced styling and features new Renault visual identity with prominent logo and black detailing, plus specific black headlight and front foglight surrounds. From the back it sports several model-specific additions including a black rear spoiler, a special rear bumper incorporating a diffuser and aerodynamic extensions on the rear wheel arches.

Inside, the flagship Twingo has Renaultsport yellow stitching on the steering wheel and seats, together with white detailing for the top of the steering wheel, seat backs and cushions, rev-counter surround and air conditioning controls.

Core standard vehicle equipment on the latest revised Renaultsport includes F1-style front blade,  16” alloy wheels, Bluetooth, cruise control, electric Gloss Black door mirrors, ESC (with on/off switch), speed limiter, extra tinted windows and tailgate, Renaultsport exhaust with chrome tailpipe, plus Twingo’s versatile independent sliding and folding rear seats.

CO2 emissions have been reduced to 150g/km and the combined-cycle fuel economy improved by three per cent to 43.5 mpg. Its 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated engine still puts out 133hp at 6,750rpm, with 160Nm of torque available at 4,400rpm and the car has a top speed of 125 mph, with 0-62 mph time at 8.7 seconds.