Introduction to the new Kia Picanto

Check out the new 3 Door Picanto.

Choosing the right tires for your car

Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas. I had a great time with family and few friends in London. While chatting with the guys about cars I realised that most of us had only one set of tires (or Tyres for those in the UK) which we only changed when they were worn out.

Like most people, I leave it up to the tire shops to recommend and change the tires. However, there are a range of tires to choose from but it is important to be aware that all cars have different requirements depending on the type of car and what you usually use it for. For example it would not make sense to have performance tyres usually used for racing for your family car which you normally use for every day commuting.

Moreover now that winter is here, it is a good idea to think about winter tires as well. The winters here are not that bad and so far we have had fairly great weather without any snow, we never know. It was fairly bad last year and I had a tough time driving in the snow using my normal tires. I have learnt my lesson and have got myself some winter tires which I ready to change to once it starts snowing.

Anyway, if you are interested in learning more about the different styles of Car Tires, check out Tires information site.

Trying to blow up the XJ Sentinel

Targeted at the rich, famous and powerful, the XJ Sentinel from Jaguar provides discreet armoured protection. According to Jaguar, they have put through extensive independent testing and certification to the latest national and international standards by QinetiQ®.

The cars offer ballistic protection up to B7 level (BS EN 1522 level FB7 and BS EN 1063 BR7-), blast protection against 15kg TNT equivalent detonated within close proximity of the vehicle, and substantial under floor grenade protection.

They are also available with several optional features and can be tailored to individual requirements.

BMW M5 to be launched in Canada in 2012

updated: 17th Dec 2011

Another North American BMW news:

Just found out from the BMW Canada website that the new BMW M5 will be launched there in 2012. The car is the latest update - the 5th generation of one of the most popular sport sedans in the World (BMW claims it to be the most "most successful high-performance sedan in the premium segment of the executive class").

The new BMW M5 is powered by a eight–cylinder V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology developing 412 kW/560 hp, which can take the car from 0–62mph in 4.4 seconds,

The engine is mated with a seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic, and Active M Differential.

Exterior details including twin dual–tailpipes and subtle M shaped rear spoiler.

Check out the clip of six lucky guys who get the change to test drive the car at the Nordschleife, Nürburgring.



Click the link for more news about BMW Canada

BMW i3 and i8 at LA show

BMW recently showed of their i3 and i8 Concepts at the 2011 LA Auto Show.

Both the i3 and i8 cars are part of BMW's "Project i" and is a separate brand.

First unveiled at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the i3 is expected to go into mass production in 2013 and available for delivery by the end of the year. The car will be BMW's first zero emissions mass produced vehicle.

On the other hand, first announced in 2010 and also unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the BMW i8 is a hybrid and sporty looking car. The car will be available in 2014. SO far no news on expected prices as yet.

Hybrid cars showcased at Warwick Uni open day

Warwick University WMG showcases Hybrid car technology at their open day.

Disney World to Offer World-Class Driving Experience

Recent visitors of the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida might have wondered what their Speedway is primarily used for, since it's almost always clear of cars and the stands are just as empty.

While at one time it hosted professional racing competitions, lately it's been the scene of the company's introduction of the “Richard Petty Driving Experience”, an expensive ride for grown-ups which allows them to test-drive NASCAR stock racers. But recently Disney has decided to give visitors the chance to get behind the wheel of a Lamborghini or Ferrari in addition to the stock car options. It's a totally different new offering as compared to the usual draws of the theme park, and car enthusiasts are certainly now more likely to take out auto title loans in order to afford the formerly too-expensive family trip to Florida.

Dubbed “The Exotic Driving Experience” by the Speedway's chief marketing officer Mike Bartelli, the addition is expected to start in January, with pairs of Ferraris and Lamborghinis, an Audi R8 and a Porsche 911. According to the Orlando Sentinel, all available vehicles will come with automatic transmission, and the starting price of $199 for a six-lap experience will be preceded by an instructional class where an instructor will accompany you on the raceway. For half that price, thrill-seekers can pay to sit in the passenger seat while a professional driver whizzes them through the three-turn tri-oval track. Either way, Bartelli and his Disney overlords all both counting on boosted success at the Walt Disney World Speedway.

That's because the Speedway has been a thorn in the company's side ever since it was built back in 1995. Originally meant to be a site for the newly created Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, the track hasn't seen a professional race in over a decade. Since then, it's either sat deserted or used sparingly in various driving experience thrills over the years. But a constant high price, a required half-day devoted to preparation, training, and the thrill itself, and a general lack of target-market visitors has made the Speedway the source of cost over-runs for sometime. In the mid-2000s Disney saw an opportunity in the rising popularity of NASCAR, but in the wake of the global recession, NASCAR numbers have dwindled and Disney is once again looking for a way to turn a profit from the Speedway.

Starting in January, visitors will have the chance to experience what it's like to operate some of the world's most luxurious sports cars. It will certainly entice a wider variety of car enthusiasts than just letting people get behind the wheel of some retired NASCAR stock racers. However, the question is whether there is a market it needs to sustain itself? Those immediately informed may attempt to orchestrate the annual family trip to include Disney World in order to jump on the opportunity, but what about the long-term? Disney is desperate to find a way to make their Speedway useful, and they hope they've finally found what they were looking for.

The new BMW M5

The BMW M5 will be launched on Nov 19‎ and according to news reports, will be priced at at £73,040. Check out the video of the new BMW M5 being put through its paces.

The car is powered by a 560hp 4.4-liter Twin-Turbo V8 rear drive engine. The car is said to have a a top speed of 190mph and goes from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.

Tata invests in the West Midlands

There was some good news for the automotive sector in the UK today as Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced that they plan to increase their workforce at their plant in Solihull by more than 25%.
For more info read their press release here.

This follows the opening of their new Global Headquarters at the Company's site in Whitley in Coventry last week.

From left: Mr Ravi Kant, Vice President of Tata Motors, Mr Ratan Tata (cutting the tape) Chairman of Tata Sons, and Dr. Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (Right).

Tata the Indian owners of Jaguar Land Rover will be investing more than £1.5 billion pounds annually for the next five years.

Jeremy Clarkson vs Karun Chandhok

Clip from Jeremy's new DVD.

The new BMW 3 series and buying used BMW cars

Last month BMW officially announced that the new BMW 3 Series Saloon would be launched here in the UK on 11 February 2012. There would be be four trim specifications, namely Sport, Modern, Luxury and ES/ SE.

Prices start from £24,880 (OTR) for the 316d ES Diesel model.

In case you were not aware, the BMW 3 series remains their best selling model. Even if you can't afford to buy a new model, there are so many affordable used cars out there in the market. Though you can sometimes get a fantastic bragain from private sellers, there are several risks involved. It is always better to buy from trusted dealers as they offer several advantages over private sellers including warranty, minimum MOT, finance options and also to avoid the risk of being sold a stolen car. In fact there is a large co-operative of Trusted Dealers BMW (used).

The trusted dealers site has a huge range of second-hand BMWs for sale which you can search by post code and your budget. So if you are thinking of buying a second hand BMW 3 series model from a trusted dealer, check out Trusteddealers.co.uk

Discovery 4 in the Malaysian Jungle

The unmodified Land Rover Discovery 4 takes on the Malaysian jungle and survives. With help of course.

Mantis Waterless Car Cleaners

A couple of weeks back I received some samples of a new car cleaning products from the guys at JML.

The unique feature about these car cleaning products is that it's water free - yes, that's right. This was ideal for me as I do not have a driveway and I am not really keen on washing the car on the pavement carrying bucket loads of water and soap.

They sent me the Mantis Instant Shine, the Mantis Scratch Remover and the twin pack microfibre towels - one for application and another for buffing.



The Mantis Instant Shine combines a wash, polish and wax and has a fabulous fruity fragrance. It retails at £9.99 from is available on the Mantis site, in ASDA and few other places as well.

I had a slight problem when I roughly pulled the paper cover and some parts of the spray mechanism came off (see pic). However, I was able to  put it back and works all fine.



I followed the instructions and sprayed the liquid over the bonnet of my car (which had been unwashed for a few weeks) and left it on for a few minutes. I then wiped it clean with the supplied application towels and polished the cleaned surface using the buffing towel.

Check out my car bonnet - the left side (top in picture) has not been cleaned while the right (bottom in picture) has been cleaned and buffed. Though not very clear from the photograph, there was a clear visible difference.



I also tried out the Mantis Scratch Remover on some of the scratches on my car. Key scratches on door locks and shoe scuffs can seriously dent your car’s resale value. As directed, I applied the paste to the affected area and rubbed it in a circular motion until my arms ached.



However, it did not do much for the deeper scratches on my car bonnet. I found that it works best with the light scratches  (as shown below). The light scratches are barely visible afterwards.





The scratch remover also retails at £9.99 on  the Mantis site and is also available in a few other stores including ASDA.

This water free cleaning kit is ideal for guys like me who hate hauling buckets of water and soap to clean their cars on the pavements (sidewalk in the US).

Over 500,000 units of Mantis Instant Shine has been sold in the UK and I am not surprised.

Production model of the Invader TC-3 to be unveiled soon

The production model of the Invader TC-3 will be unveiled at this years 2011 SEMA Show. The Invader is a reverse trike with two steering front wheels and one rear drive wheel and comfortably seats two - an exciting fusion of bike and super car.

As compared to the prototype, the improved version has a longer and wider wheelbase for a better ride and handling, and we increased its width and height to make it more comfortable and easier to get in and out of.

The Invader features an enclosed cockpit complete with a roof and a tempered safety glass windshield. Its frame is constructed from one-and-a-half-inch tubular steel with a front crash zone, triangulated side protection bars and a complete roll-cage around the cockpit.

Inside there are two side-by-side fully adjustable race style bucket seats that will comfortably accommodate six foot plus occupants.

The Invader is powered by a 1,300 cc Hayabusa engine capable of delivering 197 horsepower to the 18-inch wide rear tire.According to their press release the can go from 0 to 60 mph in just under four seconds with a top speed of 150 mph. Stopping power is provided by front and rear discs equipped with four and six piston calipers respectively.

Last year's Invader prototype is pictured below:

Sebastian Vettel's journey to the top

Red Bull has created an exclusive webpage dedicated to grand prix champion Sebastian Vettel. Check out the video clip charting his journey to the top of the podium.

Car Magnets - an effective advertising medium

A great way to advertise your business or organisation is to use the vehicles. They represent a really great medium for advertising and promotion as they are visible, mobile and cost effective.

You have several options: First of all, there is the more permanent method of painting on the vehicles or you can also have the really popular method - using customized vinyl decals which can partially or fully wrap the vehicle. Another method which is fast gaining in popularity is the use of magnetic signs. These offer several advantages over the previous two methods namely, in terms of flexibility and relatively inexpensive as well. They can be removed easily and transferred to other positions or vehicles.

Sometimes if you are using your car for both commercial and private purposes, you may not want the sign on all the time. In this case, magnetic signs are the obvious choice. On the other hand, these signs have certain limitations in the sense that it may not be possible to have full coverage or have them go round the curves or the vehicle.

Anyway, I was going through the CarMagnets.com - a company which specialises in car magnets.

According to the company, their signs use high quality material, with non-fading ink which is UV and scratch resistant. However, I guess there is a small mistake on the home page at the top as it says that you can choose from 3 sizes when in fact, they offer five standard sizes of magnetic car signs.

They take away the difficult job of designing your own signs by offering over 100 templates to choose from. To make it easier, the templates are also grouped under different categories ranging from "Just Married" to "Autism Awareness" - all you have to do is add your own slogan or company name. On other other hand, if you are the artistic type or know someone good with graphics - you also have the option of uploading you own graphics and then use their online editing tool to add additional text.

I feel that a little bit more information about the advantages of magnetic car signs and also some more information about the company would help. It also appears that their pricing page is still under construction - not a great way to instil confidence in prospective customers. They could also do with a more professional looking logo. Apart from that, I think the site is really innovative and their online editing tool is really user friendly as well. It took me less than 5 minutes to choose a template and create my own sign.

Check out the site in case you are thinking of getting a magnetic sign for your car.

Quality used cars from Hertz

Most of us know of Hertz as a reputed car rental company. However, not many are aware that Hertz also sells exceptional used cars as well.

If you are looking for a great deal on a car in the US, check out the Hertz Rent2Buy® programme for high-quality, used rental cars at really competitive prices. Their website allows you to have a unique shopping experience, by being able to compare a variety of models. Check out Hertzcarsales.com to take advantage of this new way to "car-shop." Hertz has a large selection of used cars for sale by owner, so your ideal car is never out of reach.

Also don't forget to take advantage of a 3-Day Test Rental, which gives you time to see how the car really feels on the road. You can try out the car for 3 days at a special low rate which will be waived if you decide to buy the car.

Call 1-888-674-3309 for additional information and questions!

Hyundai Genesis best upscale sedan

According to new test results from Consumer Reports, out of a test group of 10 upscale sedans including the the Chrysler 300C, Hyundai Genesis, Toyota Avalon, and Acura TL, the Hyundai Genesis came out at top of the CR’s ratings with an Excellent road test score of 92. The car has been on top of the list of upscale sedans since 2009. The 2012 model has a softer, more comfortable ride; a stronger direct injected V6; and a more fuel-efficient eight-speed automatic transmission improving the overall mileage.

A surprise was the Revamped 2011 Chrysler 300C which scored an “Excellent” overall road test score of 80, up from 64 for the previous model. According to David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, CT “The 300C’s quick, muscular 5.7-liter V8 engine is now complemented by responsive handling and a more comfortable ride.” He further added: “And, thanks to a major upgrade, its roomy interior is now quieter, more luxurious, and has improved visibility.”

A disappointment was the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, a fuel-efficient family sedan, which scored only 69, a full 20 points below the previously-tested and more popular conventional Sonata GLS.

On the other hand, the all-electric Nissan Leaf scored a respectable 78 points. The Leaf is quick, very quiet, rides comfortably and is easy to get in and out of. However, the limited driving range of only about 75 miles per charge, and the long time it takes to recharge (about 6 hours on 240V) are the main drawbacks.

The full report is available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org and in the November issue of Consumer Reports.

GE Joins Hands with Nissan

GE and Nissan has announced a joint, two-year R&D collaboration to speed up the creation of a reliable charging infrastructure for electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF.



They plan to focus their resources on two key research areas:

1. integrating electric vehicles with homes and buildings and
2. investigating EV charging dynamics and the future impact on the electricity grid once millions of EVs are on the road.

I found it really interesting to learn that 25 percent of the world’s electricity is generated or distributed by equipment designed and made by GE,;

For more information read the complete GE Report.

Modified Mini at Antartica

Came across this interesting article in the Mini blog about a modified Mini - the Mini Trac at Wilkes Antarctic Base in 1965 .

Appearance Improvements for Your Vehicle

Every driver has a vested interest in keeping his or her vehicle in the best-looking shape possible. Whether it’s for keeping up appearances or prepping the vehicle for resale to a potential buyer or a used car dealer, the way a car looks matters. If you are unsatisfied with the current condition of your car’s exterior, consider pursuing several of the following upgrade ideas, many of which may help enhance the aesthetics of your vehicle. After all, if you’re going to be caught driving something on the road, you want it to be something that makes a positive impression at first glance.

Lighting
Poor lighting may be dangerous when driving, but it can also be disastrous to a car’s appearance. Cars with dim headlights and broken tail lights don’t inspire much confidence for potential buyers, and they can make a car appear prematurely older than it actually is. From yellowing headlight casings to malfunctioning tail light bulbs, you’ll want to replace any car lighting components that can cause a dent to your vehicle’s reputation. For easy headlight upgrades, try HID headlights, which can be customized by color and which also shine much brighter than a typical halogen headlight array. For tail light modifications, go with bold and modern LEDs.

Grille
The front grille on a car may be a rather small component in comparison to much larger pieces on the car’s exterior, but the grille is the focus of many people’s attention as they pass by your car. That’s because the grille sits front and center on your car, making it a pristine visual centerpiece when properly cared for. If your car’s front grille has been damaged in an accident, or simply just hasn’t aged well, you can replace it with plastic, billet or stainless steel grilles.

Windows
Windows that are scratched up, cracked, or just really dirty (dirty to the point where taking the car through a car wash isn’t enough to clean them) aren’t going to help you sell your car, and certainly won’t make a positive impression as you continue to drive it. For easily impressive windows, try using a window tint kit. Dark windows increase the privacy of your car’s inside space while also making your car look more upscale on the outside, so there are benefits abound from this single upgrade. Just don’t forget to apply each tint evenly before going forward. Also do not forget to check the legal requirements in your area.

The VW up! family

The up! is the new city car from Volkswagen and had it's World premiere at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. VW also showed off 6 concept cars in the up! family of cars. This includes the buggy up! and up! azzurra: specially designed for the world’s beaches as well as the cross up!, GT up!, eco up! and e-up!

The up! will be launched in the UK in Spring next year 2012. However, they are opening up for orders from October 2011.

For more information about the up! concept cars, click here.

Fisker unveils the Surf

Fisker Automotive recently unveiled the "Surf" at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The car is styled by former Aston Martin and BMW chief designer Henrik Fisker.

The car is a finished production model rather than a concept car and it's also Fisker's second model to go on sale. The company's first car, the Karma, which was launched earlier this year has generated more than 4,000 orders.

Fisker Automotive has been producing electric vehicles with extended range since 2007. BMW has signed an agreement with the company whereby the German car company will supply Fisker with engines and other components for future Fisker models.

Fisker was formed in 2007 and has raised 1.5 billion dollars worth of investment, with 1500 people employed worldwide.

Finding dependable car shippers in the US

Choosing a reputable and reliable company the United States can be a formidable task as there are literally thousands of companies out there, each claiming to deliver the best service at an affordable price.

You do not have to worry. Just check out Cartransportquotes.com which links you to the most trusted and Dependable Car Movers in .

Qualified professionals who are licensed and properly insured will give you fast and reliable quotes/ rates with reported savings exceeding 20%.

The site offers the best Car Shipping and auto transport quotes for free. All you have to do is fill up their quick form and generate up to eight car shipping estimates. You can then use this information to compare national car shipping rates from automotive shipping carriers at one time. This way, you can select the best quote.

I would suggest anyone who has never shipped a car to first check out the Car Shipping Glossary so that you are familiar with the industry jargon and go through the Frequently Asked Questions as well. Teh site also has a Auto Mover Blog with loads of interesting information.

Video of the new Jaguar Land Rover Defenders concepts

Here is a video of the new Jaguar Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts. Also inculdes interviews with the designers of the Defender and Jaguar C-X16 concept cars.

Bad behaviour while driving is learnt from parents

According to a research by AXA car insurance, it was found that found that many young drivers will emulate the way their parents drive.

The study has found that young drivers who demonstrate bad behaviour while driving, such as hand gestures and swearing, and more dangerous cases including speeding and drink driving, have may actually have learnt these from their parents.

• 28% of those with parents who drink drive do so themselves.
• Young drivers with parents who drive aggressively are 50% more likely to swear, flash or beep aggressively at other drivers.
• Drivers whose parents have points on their licence or a ban are three times as likely to face the same penalties themselves.

Jaguar Reveals the C-X16

Today Jaguar revealed the production concept of their new sports car - the new C-X16 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The car's unveiling also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the iconic E-Type.

The C-X16 concept aims to set benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology for future Jaguar sports cars. The car represents a step forward from the 2010 Jaguar C-X75 supercar concept and works towards enhancing the driving experience as well as the car’s environmental credentials. It is also built and designed to a beautifully high spec, with the cabin trimmed in dramatic red leather.

The car is powered by an innovative supercharged 3.0-litre V6 producing 380PS (280kW) and 332lb ft (450Nm) of torque with an impressive 126PS specific power per litre. Mated to the engine is a eight-speed ZF gearbox with Quickshift changes. The high-performance hybrid system boosts output by 70kW and 235Nm with a top speed of 186mph, 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and 50-75mph acceleration in 2.1 seconds. The electric-only top speed of 50mph.

The two-seater model is environmentally conscious with CO2 emissions of 165g/km. It also features a steering wheel-mounted ‘Push to Pass’ button controls the hybrid boost function. Intelligent Start/Stop for improved fuel economy.

New Land Rover Defender Concept

After more than 60 years of production, theLand Rover Defender is finally getting a makeover. Land Rover today unveiled the new Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concept cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This indicates a new future direction for the Land Rover Defender which is one of Land Rover’s oldest and most iconic models and has been used by UN aid workers, Red Cross medic’s, police and military forces worldwide.

The new concepts have been designed by the Land Rover Advanced Design team whose remit was to create a vehicle that would resonate with the commercial customer as well as the retail customer. Their aim was to create a model that is relevant to the 21st century.

Both the Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts are buit on a Lightweight, mixed-alloy platform using sutting-edge, sustainable, hi-tech materials taken from aerospace industries.

They are loaded with high tech features including

• The Terrain-i scanning device which warns the driver of obstacles when off-roading and can suggest alternative routes.
• Wade Aid which uses sonar technology to assess water depth and advise the driver of optimum speed
• Intelligent, next-generation, Land Rover Terrain Response system automatically optimises the car for any environment.
• Driver-activated spiked tyre system can be deployed at the touch of a button.

Both cars are permanent four-wheel drive with an eight-speed transmission, Intelligent Stop/Start and a transfer case. They are powered by 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with hybrid and plug-in capabilities.

The new Defender models are planned for production in 2015.

Zara Phillips is the first owner of the Range Rover Evoque

Land Rover ambassador Zara Phillips recently became the first owner of a 5-door Orkney Grey Evoque. The car has a 2.2 litre Diesel engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, panoramic sunroof and features including park assist, blind spot monitoring and a surround camera system.

Zara said: "I've grown up around Land Rovers and have been an ambassador for the brand for several years – I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of my new Evoque. It looks absolutely fantastic and I am delighted to be the first person in the UK to take delivery of one."

Land Rover has received over 20,000 pre-orders for the Range Rover Evoque worldwide with 6,000 of these in the UK.

Zara is one of the UK's leading equestrian figures and has been a Land Rover brand ambassador since 2006.

The new BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch

The new BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch will be launched on 17 September. The car is the only rear-wheeldrive car in its class. Available in a variety of different trim levels with different specifications, namely, ES, SE, Sport and Urban models.

Prices will range from £19,375 OTR for the ES model to £24,720 OTR for the diesel engine Sport and Urban models.

The BMW i3 and BMW i8 Concepts.

BMW just unveiled two concepts - the fully electric BMW i3 was formerly known as the MegaCity Vehicle, and the BMW i8, a plug-in hybrid vehicle. One of the major problems with electric vehicles are the huge and heavy batteries. Well both cars use the innovative architecture and CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic) to cancel out all of the extra weight added by the batteries.

Both cars will be manufactured at the BMW plant in Leipzig.

New Audi S models

Audi has posted photographs of its new S models - the Audi S6, S7, Sportback and S8 on their Facebook page. The models will be shown at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show and launched the following year.

 Audi S6

 Audi S6 Avant

 Audi S6 Avant (front)

Audi S7 Sportback

Audi S7

Audi S8

Audi S8

The new 4.0 litre TFSI engine

According to Audi, these models combine high power outputs with low fuel consumption. Sounds too good to be true.

Brand new MINI coupe ads

So far they have put up 3 videos on their Youtube channel which is also posted on their Facebook page.

How do you think the stories will end?


Tuesday in Iceland


Wednesday in Hong Kong


Sunday In Rio

Car production in UK rises

In contrast to the rest of the manufacturing industry here in the UK, car production rose 1.3% in July this year compared with the same period last year and has gone up 3.7% in the first seven months, according to The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. An article in the Guardian is ascribed to the export orientated nature of the car industry and the "rise in demand of upmarket brands like Jaguar and Mini in emerging markets such as China".

Measuring vintage cars with a laser

The problem with vintage cars is getting spare parts. Researchers at The University of Warwick show how laser technology can help solve this problem. This video show how this technology is used to scan and measure every part of a vintage sports car.

Results of the Largest Electric Vehicle Trial

Late 2009, I wrote a post "Electric cars tested in the UK" about CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrators) - the UK’s largest study into long-term low carbon vehicle use.



The results of the test were released by researchers in Aston university, Birmingham last month. Their press release says among others:

• ..that in spite of initial scepticism surrounding the capability of electric vehicles and concerns over range ‘anxiety’, they are more than capable of meeting the needs of drivers that require efficient urban transportation.

• most journeys undertaken (77%) lasted less than 20 minutes and only 2% used more than 50% of the battery

• electric vehicle users are not motivated to replenish their vehicle’s battery by reaching a particular point of depletion; rather they are driven by convenience and with data showing the vehicles are parked for 97.2% of the time (23.3 hours each day) it is apparent that there is ample opportunity for them to be plugged-in.

More details can be found on the CABLED site.

Mercedes-Benz E220 Estate Diesel review

I recently had the opportunity to try out the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate E220 and took it for a long trip to Ayr, Scotland - a distance of around 315 miles. Another family (husband and wife with their son) also accompanied us.

The car comfortably seats 5 adults and with the extra rear facing seats (an extra option), an extra 2 kids or small adults can fit in the car. Without the rear seats up, the boot is enormous and you can fit in several suitcases.

The car has a diesel engine and was fully automatic. The ride was really quiet and smooth - definitely made me question my preconceived notions about diesel engines. The suspension was also terrific and we hardly felt the bumps on certain parts of the road.

Initially I only had some trouble getting used to the foot-operated parking brake but it came naturally after a while.

The engine was quite efficient and taking over slow trucks and cars on the road was not a problem. It has been quite a while since I last drove an automatic car and I have to say, I got spoiled - I want an automatic car as well. Despite the long distance I was not as tired as I had been the last time I drover to Edinburgh in my old Volvo S40.

It has to be one of the best estate cars I have ever driven till date.

Thanks to Eju and Muz.

Volkwagen Up! concept photos

The Up! concept was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It is the newest, smallest Volkswagen model however, the spacious interior seats four adults and has two cargo areas - one in the nose and one just above the rear-mounted engine. Here are the first press photos.

Check out the Up's mini site.

Video teaser for the Jaguar C-X16 concept

Jaguar has just released a video teaser of their latest concept, the C-X16, which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 13th September.

Audi urban concept

After spy shots were leaked on the net, Audi has finally revealed the Audi urban concept car.

The car is an innovative urban concept car with 1+1 seats with cockpit made from carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP), which integrates the undercarriage of both seats and free-standing wheels with protective plates featuring feature ‘blinking’ strips of LED lights (bling, bling). It features elaborate suspension design and compact electric drive system for sporty performance.

According to Audi the car "combines elements of a racing car, a roadster, a fun car and an urban car into one radical new concept".

The driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals for his or her own driving position. Entry to the car is through the tailgate, while the roof is designed to be manoeuvrable and slides to the rear to open. The Audi urban concept rides on 21-inch wheels.

Two e-tron electric motors provide the propulsion – providing the ultra-light Audi urban concept with the ability to accelerate powerfully. A lithium-ion battery supplies the energy.

Review of TMS Coventry

Recently had my old Volvo S40 serviced and MOTd at TMS Coventry, the authorised dealer for Volvo in Coventry. Had been thinking of writing a review about their service for while but had kept putting it off.

TMS Coventry is a family owned and run business. I had avoided it because of preconceived notions that as an "authorised dealer and service provider" they would be costlier than the friendly neighbourhood garages. However, I was forced to go to them when I once had a problem with the security system/ central locking and a few garages I visited was not able to fix the problem. I drove down to their garage with my emergency lights blinking all the way from Radford. I was genuinely shocked when the final cost came out to be much less than what I had expected.

However, the next time I visited because of a misfiring engine really put me off. I was happy with the replacement of the ignition coil and fixing the problem. What I was not OK with was the fact that they charged me £19.80 for changing 3 bulbs and included and extra £34.40 labour charge. And they had not even thought of calling me up to check with me.

In contrast my favourite garage in Stoney Stanton, had once changed one of my bulbs and had only charged me £3.

Anyway, I had to go back to them again when I had electrical problems with the car. Ultimately found out that the fault had been caused by some coins (my son's handiwork) in the car radio/ CD player which had caused a short-circuit. However, this time I was quite impressed by their professional service. They sent me an SMS to confirm my booking and also called me up after the work was done.

The total cost for the service and MOT came to £200.83  including £50 for the MOT. This was reasonable considering that I had to pay £185 last year at my local garage. They had to replace a few things including bulbs to rear indicator light. However, this time there were no labour charges for replacing the bulbs.

Here is their address and contact info:

TMS Coventry
510 London Road
Coventry
West Midlands
CV3 4EU

Phone: 08446 626226
Fax: 02476 639362

Getting the best deal on your car insurance

Do you know how to get the best deal on your car insurance?

If you drive, you need insurance. That’s a simple fact of life that all motorists have to budget for every year. Thanks to Internet online comparison sites, it’s never been easier to compare car insurance quotes online and get the best deal. But do you know what to look for when you’re scanning through pages of suppliers and tempting new deals?

It’s not just about the price

While the temptation may be to go for the cheapest quote, before you click ‘OK’, have a good look at the fine print. That cheap quote may have hidden extras attached to it, like a hefty excess or additional charges for breakdown recovery. Does it include windscreen cover and insurance for your possessions? Before you sit down to compare car insurance quotes, decide what you want from your insurer, how much cover you actually need and how much excess you’re prepared to pay.

Sticking with the devil you know…

The easiest option may be to stay with your current insurance provider. After all, it’s just a simple matter of renewing your policy, and you’re bound to get a better deal after a year’s no claims, right? Well, not necessarily. While your current insurance provider may offer you a perfectly good policy, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get the same deal at a cheaper price if you shop around. And don’t be afraid to haggle with your current insurer. They don’t want to lose your business, so you’ll be surprised just how open they are to a little bit of gentle persuasion, especially if you’ve found the same deal for less by comparing car insurance prices online.

Won’t swapping affect my no claims bonus?

Many motorists are concerned that if they swap insurance providers, they’ll lose the benefit of their no claims bonus. However, some insurance companies will give you a discount on the cost of your policy if you have a history of careful driving. Check that they’ll add any no claims bonus you have to a new policy and avoid ‘starting all over again’.

By using online websites to compare car insurance, you can keep the cost of motoring down in what are increasingly expensive times

Used Cars to Avoid

Moneywatch.com has come up with an interesting list of used cars to avoid. Some suggestion in the same range are also given.

Hand wash car at Stoney Stanton Rd, Coventry

Found this great car wash on Stoney Stanton road. They did a great job and only charged me £3.

Identify this car

Noticed that great looking convertible at Sainsbury's a couple of days ago.

Can you identify the car? No prizes sorry.

The Mini Countryman

The Mini Countryman

New BMW 3 Series cars

BMW is launching the new 3 Series Coupé and Convertible Sport Plus Editions on 1st September. The cars come with the distinctive M Sport body styling such as 19" M Sport alloy wheels and an M3 rear spoiler (on the Coupé only).

A range of additional equipment comes as standard.

Toyota Advanced Technology Vehicle Display

­Little Tokyo Design Week: Future City announces the Toyota Advanced Technology Vehicle Display. The event will be held this coming July 14-17 in Little Tokyo (Los Angeles, California).

They plan to exhibit the Prius Plug-in, the RAV4 EV battery-electric vehicle and the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid.

The range of the Prius Plug-in is approximately 13 miles (at speeds up to 60 mph). The compact Lithium-ion battery can be fully recharged quite fast - in 3 hours on 110 volts and 1.7
hours on 220 volts. The best part is that when the EV power is depleted, the Plug-in performs like a
conventional Prius.

Toyota plans to launch the car for sale in the first half of 2012 in the US.

The RAV4 EV is a joint project with aims to develop an electric version of the RAV4 with the intent to bring a RAV4 EV to market in 2012.

Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell hybrid vehicle fleet has logged several million miles since hitting the road in 2002, with significant technological improvements along the way. Toyota's current FCHV-adv
nationwide demonstration program is placing more than 100 vehicles with demonstration partners by 2013, providing one of the largest fleets of active fuel cell vehicles in the country.

The primary goal of the demonstration program is to spur infrastructure development prior to fuel cell vehicle market introduction in 2015.

For more information, visit the ­Little Tokyo Design Week site.

Buying a motorhome

Now that the holiday season is here I can see a lot of caravans and motorhomes on the roads. As compared to caravans, motorhomes are costlier to buy and to maintain. However, they are ideal for people who hate the idea of towing a caravan. If you thinking of getting yourself a motorhome, check out C4 Caravans. When I last checked, they had 195 Motorhomes for sale.

You can search for motorhomes based on condition (new or used), price range, manufacturer and other options. The cheapest was for a Mercedes Spencer Classic (4 berth) for just £1,600.

Having a motor home would mean double taxes and insurance (including my car) but is something I am definitely interested in.

Breakdown Cover for Expensive Cars

All cars are not created equal – and when you’ve got a Lamborghini or an Aston Martin glittering in your garage, you’ll want to give it the best treatment you can. No doubt you’ll invest in regular servicing and give it a good wash and brush-up whenever it needs it, but there is an avenue that tends to be overlooked - breakdown cover.

The Best for the Best

Expensive and prestige cars are designed and manufactured with that extra attention to detail. High-end specifications and immaculate production standards are what set your car apart from the rest of the crowd. When it comes to the cost, you’re paying for something that delivers outstanding performance, as well as the satisfaction of knowing it turns heads as fast as it turns corners.

Because of the cost, these prestige cars are relatively rare on the roads and this sets them apart from the general traffic in both physical and financial terms. By paying for a high-end car, you’re going to find that your insurance premiums are higher, reflecting the increased risk that they represent to insurance companies. However, given that your pride and joy is also going to be subject to wear and tear and the unscrupulous designs of others, you’ll need to give yourself the best protection you can.

Breakdown without a Breakdown

Your general insurance is going to reflect the cost of your car as much as your driving history. However, there are some things that are completely beyond your control such as mechanical failure or the effects of the elements on certain components. Breakdown cover gives you the security of knowing that, if your car does break down, you’re not going to be stuck on the side of the road or have to pull out all the stops in hunting out a specialist garage.

Because your car is a specialist product, it will require specialist breakdown cover which, in turn, is going to cost more than the average policy. However, with the insurance market becoming ever more competitive, the Internet can help to yield surprisingly cost-effective rates. It’s also worth remembering that, just as your car stands out from the crowd, so too will the levels of service you can expect from your breakdown cover. By shopping around for breakdown cover that deals with top-of-the-range cars, you can also find policies that offer top-of-the-range provisions for premium customers. This might include accommodation in the event of a breakdown or much faster response times. Look at the perks and incentives offered by each company to find which suits you and your motor the best.

If the idea of trawling the Internet for policy details is too much to think about, bear in mind that online comparison sites are a quick and convenient way of finding out just what’s available. These sites are independent data-collators, which present all the information you need in an easy-to-read format, allowing you to quickly find out which is the best policy for you.

A luxury car is a major investment. Taking a little time to hunt down the best breakdown cover can prevent that investment from turning into a money pit.

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Jaguar to partner with Williams F1 to create hybrid supercar

Jaguar announced last week that they were going to develop the Jaguar C-X75 in association with Williams F1 who will provide their engineering expertise in areas including aerodynamics, carbon composite manufacture and hybrid technologies. The production of this hybrid supercar will be limited with only 250 built.

This is the first time the two companies are collaborating to produce one of the world’s highest performance and environmentally sustainable supercars. The production of Jaguar C-X75 is expected to create more than one hundred highly-skilled jobs in the UK.

The new car will have an internal combustion engine along with electric motors and emitting less than 99g/km CO2 emissions.

The car will reach 0-60mph in less than 3 seconds and 0-100mph in less than 6 seconds with a top speed in excess of 200mph. The car will have a lightweight, all carbon-fibre chassis and prices are expected to start from £700,000.

Volvo concept - The Tiandi / Universe

Volvo recently unveiled their global concept car called the Tiandi or Universe at the Shanghai motor show. The curvy and more flashy look indicate the direction the Volvo is going to take under Geely, Volvo's new Chinese owners.

Even though the Volvo Cars chief Stefan Jacoby says that the Geely was not involved or influenced the car's design or development, they are clearly targeting the Chinese with this new concept.

The car features a unique grille shape and low-set headlights. Will post more details and pics as I get them.

New VW Beetle

The new VW Beetle was unveiled at the Shanghai motor show recently. The new generation Beetle is longer (4,278 mm in length ), wider (1,808 mm in width) and lower (12mm less at 1,486) giving it a more masculine and sporty appearance. The Beetle is not really seen as a guy's car and I guess they are looking to change that.

The roof extends back further, the windscreen is shifted back and the boot capacity has also increased at 310 litres, up from 209 litres in the 1998 model.

The Beetle has four seats, with a split-fold rear seat for added versatility.

It will be available in 3 trim levels, namely, Beetle, Design and Sport with a wide range of innovative options, ranging from Keyless Access through satellite navigation systems and a panoramic sunroof to bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights.

In the Beetle will be available in a choice of four engines: three petrol – a 1.2-litre TSI 105 PS, a 1.4-litre TSI 160 PS and a 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS; and one diesel – a 1.6-litre 105 PS with BlueMotion Technology. The latter is fitted with Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems which gives it a combined fuel consumption of 65.7 mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of 112 g/km.

Safety features include standard ESP and six airbags but also a laser-welded and galvanised body structure.

The car is expected to be available to order in the UK in the summer and arriving in showrooms early in 2012.

Tags: Volkswagen 21st Century Beetle Revealed