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GM’s Vauxhall Offers a Free Grille & Light Shine Service to Londoners

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:30:00 +0000

These days marketers and advertising agencies alike come up with all kind of weird ideas to grasp the attention of consumers. In the UK, GM’s British subsidiary Vauxhall is promoting its newly launched Insignia sedan by offering a free grille and light shine service to Londoners. Visitors to the new Bermondsey Square development just off Tower Bridge Road in central London today (that’s Thursday, 23 October, 2008) will be able to get a quick ‘face buff’ at the service which opens between 8:00am and 12:00pm. -Continued

Simon Ewart, spokesperson for Insignia, commented, “The grille and light shine service brings a little bit of 1950’s New York magic to London, but there’s a serious message behind it – the issue of safety and keeping car headlights clean during the winter period.”

Tags: 23 October, Advertising Agencies, Bridge Road, British Subsidiary, Buff, Car Headlights, Central London, Ecoflex, Ewart, Gm, Gm Free, Light Shine, Little Bit, Marketers, Opel Insignia, Spokesperson, Tower Bridge, Vauxhall, Weird Ideas, Winter Period

Alfa Romeo Confirms MiTo GTA with 230Hp 1.8 Turbo

admin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:54:00 +0000

During the European media presentation of the MiTo in Italy, Alfa Romeo’s executives confirmed earlier reports of a top-notch sport version that will out power its strongest European rivals like the 197Hp Renault Clio RS, the 192Hp Opel Corsa OPC even the 211Hp MINI Cooper John Cooper Works.

According to a colleague of ours that attended the presentation, the Italian automaker’s execs said that the MiTo GTA will be equipped with a turbocharged 1,750 cc (1.7-liter) turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine developing around 230Hp. -Continued

Power will be transferred to the front wheels with Alfa’s Q2 electronic system that simulates the effects of a limited-slip differential by making full use of the braking and stability control systems, promising to offer better traction and improved handling. Although Alfa’s execs didn’t reveal any more details, the 230Hp MiTo GTA should be able to sprint from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in the low 6 second region. The MiTo GTA is expected to make its market debut in Europe towards the end of 2009.

Tags: 100km, Alfa Gta, Alfa Romeo, Electronic System, European Rivals, Execs, Gta 1, Italian Automaker, John Cooper, Limited Slip Differential, Market Debut, Media Presentation, Mini Cooper, Notch Sport, Opel Corsa, Renault Clio Rs, Sport Version, Sprint, Stability Control, Top Notch

New Ford Fiesta Makes ASEAN Debut at Thailand Motor Expo

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Coinciding with its U.S. launch at this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford’s new Fiesta will also make its ASEAN (Southeastern Asian nations) debut at the Thailand International Motor Expo that runs from December 2 to 13. FoMoCo’s supermini will go on sale in Thailand in early 2010 as a five-door hatchback and four-door sedan.

It will be locally produced at AutoAlliance Thailand’s new $500 million plant, which will supply the entire ASEAN region, as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

“The ASEAN launch will write the next chapter in our global Ford Fiesta success story and continue to highlight Ford’s leadership in small car design and development,” said David Alden, president, Ford ASEAN.

“Stylish Thai and other ASEAN consumers will appreciate the uniqueness and undeniable appeal of the Fiesta to express their individuality, style and sophistication.”

According to the Detroit automaker, the new Fiesta has already sold more than a half million units since its introduction a year ago.

Tags: Asean Region, Asian Nations, Auto Fiesta, Car Design, David Alden, Detroit Automaker, Expo, Fomoco, Individuality, Launch, Los Angeles Auto Show, New Ford Fiesta, President Ford, Small Car, Sophistication, South Africa, Success Story, Supermini, Thailand International, Uniqueness

The End: VW Launches 2010 New Beetle Final Edition Models at LA Show

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:23:00 +0000

After 11 years in production, the New Beetle will soon find a place in the books of automotive history. To mark the forthcoming end of the current generation New Beetle, Volkswagen announced the launch of a special Final Edition version at the Los Angeles motor show. Available in coupe and convertible forms, the Final Edition models will arrive in U.S. showrooms in the Spring of 2010 with production limited to 1,500 units each.

Both models receive a small number of upgrades and touches that include a special Aquarius Blue paint with a painted black roof on the coupe, and a two-tone Aquarius Blue and Campanella White paint scheme with a white top on the convertible.

The Final Editions also get individually numbered badges, fog lights, a sport suspension and unique 17-inch alloy wheels.

Interior upgrades concern the individually numbered Final Edition steering wheel and in the case of the convertible, a white interior that matches the top.

There are no changes under the hood with both models powered by VW’s 150 horsepower 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder gasoline engine matted to a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic.

Prices for the coupe model start at $20,240, while the convertible model begins at $27,170.

Tags: Alloy Wheels, Automatic Transmission, Automotive History, Beetle Volkswagen, Blue Paint, Convertible Model, Coupe Model, Cylinder Gasoline, Edition Models, Fog Lights, Gasoline Engine, Inch Alloy Wheels, Interior Upgrades, Launch, New Beetle, Paint Scheme, Showrooms, Sport Suspension, Steering Wheel, White Paint

Rated R: Lamborghini Murcielago Porks Hyundai Santa Fe

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:02:00 +0000

It can happen to the best of us - you know, you’re going faster than the vehicle in front of you and all of a sudden he/she slows down or slams the brakes and well, say goodbye to you low insurance rates. In this case, the car behind the Hyundai Santa Fe happened to be a ‘wedge-faced’ Lamborghini Murcielago and the resulting accident leaves an open window for many erotic-style jokes. According to reports, luckily, no one other than the Lamborghini owner’s bank account was hurt in the accident.

Via: Jalopnik, Cardomain, 6Speed, and NBC-2

Tags: Brakes, Cardomain, Erotic Style, Hyundai, Hyundai Santa Fe, Insurance, Insurance Rates, Jalopnik, Lamborghini, Lamborghini Murcielago, Murcielago, Nbc, Porks

Nurburgring-Spotting: BMW M3 Coupe and Audi S3 in Police Wrap

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:59:00 +0000

You never know what you’ll stumble upon in and around the famous Nurburgring circuit in Germany. It may be a heavily camouflaged prototype model performing test runs like the ones we often post here on Carscoop, or in this case, a pair of privately owned cars dressed in a eye-catching police uniform (okay, most likely a vinyl wrap). The M3 Coupe and Audi S3 faux police cars appear to belong to a group called ‘Ring-Police’ details of which remain unknown for the time being. More photos after the jump.

Via: Autogespot

Tags: Audi, Audi Cars, Audi S3, Bmw, Bmw Coupe, Bmw M3, Bmw M3 Coupe, Carscoop, Germany, Photos, Police Cars, Police Uniform, Prototype Model, Test Runs

Tesla Model S All-Electric Sports Sedan to Start from $57,400

admin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:39:00 +0000

In its latest newsletter, Tesla officially confirmed that its forthcoming Model S which will be revealed in prototype form on March 26, 2009, will have an anticipated base price of $57,400 (€43,700 with today’s exchange rates) or $49,900 after a federal tax credit of $7,500, when it goes on sale in late 2011. This means that the Model S will not only cost half the price of the Tesla Roadster that begins from $109,000, but also that it will be priced significantly lower than Henry Fisker’s plug-in hybrid Karma sedan that starts from $87,900.

“Because of tax incentives and relatively inexpensive maintenance and refueling, the lifetime ownership cost will be closer to cars with far lower sticker prices,” the company stated.

Tesla aims to roughly split initial sales of its all-electric four-door sports sedan in North America and Europe, with Asian markets following shortly after.

Tags: Asian Markets, Base Price, Cars, Electric Sports, Europe, Exchange Rates, Federal Tax Credit, Fisker, Inexpensive Maintenance, Initial Sales, Karma, Lifetime, Newsletter, North America, Prototype, Sticker Prices, Tax Incentives, Tesla Electric, Tesla Roadster

Lotus Helps Development of Honda Civic Hybrid Race Car

admin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:02:00 +0000

Bet you never thought you’d see a Honda Civic IMA Hybrid in the air like the one in featured in the picture above. Of course, this isn’t your ordinary hybrid but a race prepped version of the eco-friendly Civic created by Oaktec. The Lancashire based company has been developing the Honda Hybrid system for motorsport since 2004. Oaktec took part in several rallies around the UK winning the F1000 Class A Championship in 2006 with a Honda Insight. Now Oaktec has joined forces with Lotus to develop the performance of a Civic Hybrid for rallying and circuit racing. -Continued

Though no details on the car’s specifications have been revealed yet, Phil Barker, Chief Engineer of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technologies at Lotus said that the British automaker will work with Oaktec to create a revised electrical specification for more power and a control system that will allow a more aggressive regenerative braking strategy.

Paul Andrews, Senior Partner of Oaktec said: “Maximizing racetrack performance from a hybrid drivetrain is a complex technical exercise but one that Lotus Engineering has the experience and expertise to help us deliver. We look forward to seeing our success on the rally tracks replicated in the race circuits. We will be breaking new ground with the project when Gavan Kershaw of Lotus Engineering and Jamie Corstorphine of Autocar magazine will race our Honda Civic Hybrid for the first time in the Dunlop Max Sport Cup at Rockingham circuit on 28th September.”

Via: Le Blog Auto , Source: Lotus

Tags: 28th September, Auto Source, Breaking New Ground, Chief Engineer, Corstorphine, Electric Vehicle Technologies, Electrical Specification, Honda Civic, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Civic Ima, Honda Insight, Hybrid Race, Hybrid System, Lotus Engineering, Max Sport, Phil Barker, Race Circuits, Racetrack Performance, Senior Partner, Technical Exercise

Toyota iQ: New High-Res Gallery of European Spec Model

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:26:00 +0000

Measuring in less than 3m in length, the Toyota iQ is the smallest four-seater production car in the world. Thanks to the unique 3+1 seating system, the iQ will accommodate three adults and once child in relative comfort. Toyota’s new premium micro car will hit most European dealerships towards the end of the year, although some markets including the UK will get the iQ in January 2009.

According to the Toyota people we talked to, the iQ will be offered in Europe with two gasoline engines, a three-cylinder 1.0-liter and a 4-cylinder 1.3-liter unit as well as with a 4-cylinder 1.4-liter turbo diesel. Expect the iQ to carry a hefty premium over Toyota’s entry-level city car in Europe, the Aygo. Check out our high-res image gallery of the European spec iQ right after the jump. -Continued

Tags: 3m, Adults, City Car, Europe, Gasoline Engines, High Res, Image Gallery, Iq, Liter, Micro Car, New Car, People, Production Car, Relative Comfort, Res Image, Seating System, Toyota, Toyota Car, Turbo Diesel, World Thanks

Suzuki Adds New 1.6L Petrol and 1.9L Diesel to facelifted Grand Vitara 3d Range

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:48:00 +0000

After the launch of the facelifted Grand Vitara model range with the 166HP 2.4-litre engine in October 2008 (for details and photos, click here), Suzuki is now expanding its UK lineup with the addition of a 1.6L petrol and 1.9L diesel engine to the three-door model range. The 1.6-liter gasoline unit which is linked to a 5-speed manual gearbox, makes 106HP at 5,900 rpm and a peak torque of 145Nm at 4,100 rpm offering a 0 to 62mph (100km/h) sprint time of 14.4 sec and a top speed of 99mph or 159km/h.

The entry-level petrol model that comes with a four-wheel drive system as standard achieves a combined fuel economy of 34.5mpg UK or 8.2lt/100km in the European cycle.S

The second addition to the Grand Vitara 3d lineup is the 1.9-liter DDiS diesel unit. that produces an output of 129 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 300Nm at 2,200 rpm. The four-wheel drive model accelerates from standstill to 62mph or 100km/h in 12.8 seconds and achieves a top speed of 106mph (170km/h) while returning 40.4mpg UK or 7.0lt/100km in the combined European cycle.

As with the rest of the range, both models feature a revised front end treatment and new door mirrors with integrated turn indicators while interior changes include a new multi-information display and revised air conditioning control panel.

In the UK, the 1.6-litre three-door manual is priced from £13,600 while the 1.9 DDiS diesel starts from £16,200.

Tags: 100km, Diesel Engine, Diesel Unit, Drive Model, Four Wheel Drive, Fuel Economy, Gearbox, Grand Vitara, Information Display, Interior Changes, Launch, Manual Gearbox, Maximum Torque, Model Range, Peak Torque, Petrol, Standstill, Top Speed, Turn Indicators, Wheel Drive System

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