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| Chevrolet Cruze hatchback revealed Chevrolet has revealed the first photographs of a new hatchback version of the Cruze. It will be unveiled at the Paris motor show at the end of this month, and the five-door car will join the existing four-door saloon in Chevrolet showrooms in the middle of next year. Although the two models look similar, the hatchback stands out from the saloon with its coupe-like roofline. The range of engines and trims will mirror that of the saloon, although the new hatchback will be launched with Euro V-compliant engines, which will find their way into the saloon in due course. Exact details of the car and its specifications will be confirmed nearer its on-sale date, so there is no confirmation of whether every detail of the show car ? such as the LED running lights in the front bumper ? will appear on the production car. The company has confirmed that the five-door, five-seat car will have a 400-litre boot (50 litres less than the saloon), with 60/40 split-folding rear seats. The Cruze hatchback will be one of four Chevrolet world premieres at Paris. The company will also unveil the Orlando MPV, the new Aveo supermini, and a revised version of the Captiva 4x4. Get interactive with whatcar.com...      | Ford's mirror-based sat-nav A new sat-nav system fitted alongside the rear-view mirror is now available from Ford dealers. Mirror Navi allows drivers to use the navigation system at the same time as they check the rear view. The new system can be fitted by dealers in less than an hour and is classed as a fitted navigation system for insurance purposes ? which could help to reduce premiums. The Mirror Navi has tinted and dimming mirror glass, a battery charging connection and anti-theft security. It has a 3.5-inch screen, colour display with 2D or 3D mapping. Other features include destination memory, Eco Route ? software that finds more fuel-efficient routes ? and maps and voice directions for more than 70 countries and languages. The Mirror Navi system fits all Ford models and costs £299 plus dealer fitting charges. Get interactive with whatcar.com... | Celebs a bad influence on young drivers Reckless celebrities are setting a bad example to young drivers, according to a new report. The Autoglass survey claims the increasing amount of celebrities and sports stars ? such as England footballers Ashley Cole and Joe Cole ? being brought before the court to answer speeding charges is having a negative effect on young drivers who look upon them as role models. There was more bad news for younger drivers, with 68% of those questioned calling for tougher penalties for those caught speeding. Half of respondents also want young drivers who break motoring laws to be forced to retake their driving test. Other results of the survey included: • 32% wanted an instant ban for young drivers who break the law • 67% said teens should be restricted to small-capacity engines • 60% wanted youngsters to display a P-plate for 12 months after passing their test • 23% called for a night-time ban on young drivers Get interactive with whatcar.com... | |||
| Parents need driving lessons Parents should take a driving lesson or two before teaching their teenagers to drive, says the What Car? Driving School. This would give parents an updated understanding of the Highway Code, and knowledge of the skills required by the new test. The financial crisis has prompted many parents to shun professional driving lessons with driving instructors and play the teacher role themselves, but in the majority of cases parents? knowledge is out of date. What Car? Driving School is the only national driving school that encourages parents to participate in initial lessons or to take guidance sessions with their teenager?s instructor. ?With over 45% of UK drivers likely to fail the current driving test it is all too clear that these drivers need a refresher driving lesson or two to ensure they do not pass on their bad habits to their teenagers,? said Paul Atkinson, What Car? Driving School managing director. Parents? typical bad habits • Approach junctions too quickly • Rush observations • Incorrect use of speed • Drive too close to the vehicle in front • Don?t use mirrors enough 'What Car? Driving School recommends that every teenager learning to drive gets as much road experience as possible with their parents when they are safe to do so, but this should be supplementary to professional driving lessons with the highest-quality ADI driving instructors,' said Atkinson. What Car? Driving School Get more information: www.whatcardrivingschool.com Get interactive with whatcar.com... | Volvo V60 driven What is it? Given half a chance, Volvo will tell you what the new V60 is not. Apparently, it isn't an estate car, despite the fact that it's an estate-shaped version of the S60 saloon, which is designed to be more practical. Instead, Volvo is going with the phrase 'Sports Wagon' to describe the V60, and it says it's the coupe-like roofline that marks the difference. Whatever it is, don't expect a massive boot. It's a reasonable size at 430 litres, but that's only 13 litres bigger than the capacity you get in the outgoing V50, which is a much smaller car. Crucially, though, it's also less space than you get in the rival 'lifestyle' estates from Audi and BMW. However, while the Volvo's boot might not be huge, it's a usefully square-sided shape, and there's more storage space underneath the floor. The space is flexible, too. The rear-seat backrest splits 40-20-40, and each section folds down perfectly flat with no need to pop the bases out of the way first. The front passenger seat also folds far enough forward to be perfectly flat, which helps you accommodate longer loads. The cabin is welcoming for passengers, too, with lots of space, comfortable seats and a high-quality feel. Being a Volvo, you also get bags of safety kit as standard. This includes City Safety, which can sense a slower-moving car ahead, and automatically apply the brakes if you get too close. What's it like to drive? Volvo's plan for the V60 was to make it more practical than the S60 saloon without compromising the driving characteristics. It's no surprise, then, that the two feel remarkably similar on the open road. The ride is a little on the firm side, and although it stays comfortable most of the time, potholes and drain covers can thud into the cabin. The pay-off for this, though, is that body movements are tightly controlled, so the body stays reassuringly stable through bends. There's plenty of grip, too. More photos of the Volvo V60 > Volvo V60 1: click to enlarge > Volvo V60 2: click to enlarge > Volvo V60 3: click to enlarge > Volvo V60 4: click to enlarge > Volvo V60 5: click to enlarge A wide range of turbocharged engines will be available, including four petrols and three diesels. A 304bhp 3.0 sits at the top of the petrol range, followed by a 240bhp 2.0. Two brand new 1.6-litre turbos are also available, giving either 150bhp or 180bhp. We've driven the 180bhp version, and although it's reasonably quick, it doesn't feel as fast as the numbers suggest. The car we drove came fitted with the new Powershift dual-clutch transmission, too, which didn't really suit the engine. The gearbox was too keen to kick down, and it meant that the slightest increase in throttle pressure made the engine wail noisily without much increase in acceleration. The turbodiesels will be of more interest to most buyers, and you'll choose between a 205bhp 2.4, a 163bhp 2.0, and later on, the 1.6 DRIVe. We've driven the 2.0-litre, and with strong mid-range muscle, it's got an impressive turn of pace. It's not as mighty at the top of the rev range, though, so you'll find yourself short-shifting to keep the engine on the boil. What'll it cost me? Prices haven't yet been announced, but expect the V60 to cost between £1000 and £1500 more than the equivalent S60 saloon. The V60 has identical equipment specifications to the S60, too, so all cars come with a good amount of standard kit. All have alloy wheels, cruise control, four powered windows and climate control, while stepping up to SE trim brings rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers and a Bluetooth. SE Lux cars have powered leather seats. CO2 outputs and fuel consumption figures are also yet to be finalised for most of the engines, but we do know that the 2.0-litre diesel (which is expected to be the most popular version) will return 51.4mpg and emit carbon dioxide at a rate of 144g/km. That means running costs will be competitive, if not quite up there with the best. Get interactive with whatcar.com... | Hyundai to unveil its ix20 at Paris show Hyundai will launch its ix20 ? a new mini-MPV ? at the Paris motor show later this month. The ix20 will give the company a rival to the Citroen C3 Picasso and Nissan Note, as well as the new Toyota Verso-S, which will also be launched at the show. Designed and developed in Germany, the ix20 is the company?s second car ? after the ix35 crossover ? to adopt what it calls its ?fluidic sculpture? design. 'Striking' design As yet, the company has issued only this initial sketch of the car, but it says that the ix20 is 'a striking departure from the boxy "minivan" image typically associated with the segment, adopting a more dynamic, sportier profile'. Hyundai also says the car will be both practical and fun to drive, and that it is expected to go on sale in November this year. Updated i10 Also making its debut at the Paris motor show is an updated version of the i10 supermini. Featuring revised styling and specification, as well as a new 1.0-litre engine, which emits just 99g/km of CO2, it will go on sale in January next year. Get interactive with whatcar.com... | |||
| Citroen unveils face-lifted C4 Picasso Citroen has revealed the face-lifted versions of its C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso MPVs. The changes include the pair now sporting Citroen's revised double chevron logo, as well as LED running lights below the headlights. The front indicators now have white lenses, while the C4 Picasso's rear lights have a black border. Meanwhile, in the French market, Exclusive trim level gets door handles trimmed in chrome, as well as a new trim on the seats and door panels. Start-stop system boosts efficiency At the same time, Citroen is introducing an engine stop-start system to models with the 1.6 HDi engine and a manual gearbox. According to the company, this can result in a 15% cut in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption in town. Translated into figures, that means average fuel economy jumps to 58.9mpg and emissions drop to 125g/km ? compared with the 53.3mpg and 140g/km of the previous model. For the moment, the company is confirming precise details of the cars for the French market only. However, Citroen in the UK has said it will announce further details of the models destined for this country early next week. Get interactive with whatcar.com... | Mazda Shinari concept car revealed This is the Shinari, the latest in a line of Mazda concept cars in recent years. It demonstrates the future design direction the company will take under its new global studio head, Ikuo Maeda. Racing car 'intimacy' for the driver Mazda's Shinari concept car is a four-door four-seat coupe just short of five metres long and two metres wide. The designers responsible for it say it's intended to create a car which 'has hot blood under a cool skin'. Its exterior surfaces are meant to convey strong motion, high quality and Japanese craftsmanship, while the interior was inspired by the intimacy of single-seat racing cars on the driver's side, and a more relaxed ambience around the passengers. 'Nagare' design concept is tamed The design represents a toning down of the controversial flow-pattern (nagare) style that Mazda had been pursuing under previous design chief Laurens van den Acker, who has moved to Renault. Nagare, said to reflect natural forces like waves and the wind, was felt in some quarters to be too ornate and fussy. More photos of the Mazda Shinari > Mazda Shinari 1: click to enlarge > Mazda Shinari 2: click to enlarge > Mazda Shinari 3: click to enlarge > Mazda Shinari 4: click to enlarge > Mazda Shinari 5: click to enlarge > Mazda Shinari 6: click to enlarge While the Shinari (the name comes from the Japanese for something that is ready to release its energy, such as a bow about to fire an arrow) will not be built, elements of it are likely to be seen on the next Mazda 6. Maeda became head of the Mazda design studios around a year ago. He has previously overseen the design of the RX-8 four-door coupe and the current Mazda 2 supermini. He is the son of Matasaburo Maedo, who designed the first Mazda RX-7 before going on to head the design studio. Get interactive with whatcar.com... | Mazda shapes cars of the future The typical family car of the 2020s will have a central control screen, such as on an Apple iPhone or iPad, but in 3-D, and there'll be super-intelligent applications (apps) to help you manage your daily life. For instance, there could be an app that will not just recommend a restaurant, but also tell you the name of the chef and suggest the pick of the menu that day. Record your drive and much more A navigation app called Co-Pilot will give you a detailed bird's-eye view of every detail of the road you are driving on. If it's a spectacular or scenic route, G-Pro ? a camera mounted in the front grille ? will film your drive in HD for you to watch later or transmit to friends. There will also be paint finishes that you can change on a whim without any need for a spray gun, and solar panels to keep the battery topped up and power the air-conditioning system. For city cars, flexible interior materials will make it possible to change the ratio of passenger-to-luggage space without any levers or folding mechanisms. Developing the future now These are all things that Mazda is envisaging for cars that are only 10 years away. 'Not all of these things are going to happen, but by looking at every possibility something that is not viable might lead to something else,' says Peter Birtwhistle, the head of Mazda's European design studio. You have only to look at the developments in communications technology in the past decade to see that many could well become reality. Advanced product planners at Mazda believe they can foresee much of what our cars will be like in 10 years, based on their forecasts of changing lifestyles. People will be sharing more by 2020, they say. There will be new production methods and materials, layered shapes and colours and more natural structures. 'Good design reflects the mood and values of an era, and the role of the car as a status symbol is changing,' says Jo Stenuit, of Mazda's European design division. 'We will have to rethink the role of the car within the city. It is already happening in places like Copenhagen, which has twice been voted one of the most liveable cities in the world.' Get interactive with whatcar.com... | |||
| Ferrari 458 Italia to be recalled Ferrari has recalled every 458 Italia supercar, following reports that the car could spontaneously catch fire. According to Ferrari, an adhesive used in the wheelarch assemblies can overheat and allow the rear wheel housing heat shields to move around. In extreme cases, the glue can smoke and even catch fire. Five of the earliest examples of the car have caught fire, although none have been UK cars. As a result, Ferrari is inviting owners of more than 1200 458 Italias from around the world to have new wheel arch liners fitted to their cars. Get interactive with whatcar.com... |
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