Monthly Archives: November 2012
The crossover pie has pretty much every automotive finger in it as its profitability is most attractive in this current economic environment. Even Jaguar plan to enter the market, a manufacturer that has never even contemplated such a move until now. Toyota, however, is a very familiar face in this segment. In fact it could be argued that the original RAV4 was a founding father of the class. This all-new RAV4 looks to continue the models success.
The new car is taller, wider and longer than its predecessor boasting more interior space as a result. The new design language, first seen on the latest Auris, has transferred well giving the 2013 RAV4 a purposeful appearance.The boot is absolutely vast with 547 litres of capacity. Two drive trains, FWD and AWD, as well as three engines will be on offer. The one petrol is a 2.0 litre 149BHP unit and the diesels come in the form of a 2.0 litre with 122BHP accompanied by a new 2.2 litre with 148BHP.
The RAV4 goes on sale next month with deliveries commencing in March 2013.
Jaguar is rapidly expanding its range of luxury and sports cars in a bit to capture more of the market. The sports car side of things got a real boost with the launch of the F-Type, the true successor to the E-Type, and the all-new XJ is one of the greatest luxury saloons money can buy. Have you ever pondered what would happen if these two bloodlines of Jaguar ever crossed? Well ponder no more! This the XFR-S…
Before you ask, yes it is indeed as bonkers as it looks. The recipe for this new car is actually relatively simple. Take the award winning Jaguar XF, load it with 550BHP, enhance the bodywork for a more aggressive appearance and voila, you have something quite exciting. The XFR-S maintains all of its tranquility inside but that muscular body can now shift from 0-62MPH in just 4.6 seconds. Its 5.0 litre supercharged V8 delivers the car to a limited top speed of 186MPH.
Want one? Of course you do! Well, for £80,000 in May 2013 you can have one.
After an explosive final Formula One Grand Prix, Tyler and Matt are back with all of the latest from that event as well as the WRC. Also this episode the boys talk about Mercedes’ bonkers new SLS AMG Black Series and McLaren’s 12C Grand AM.
Enjoy!
Download from iTunes or listen online. SEE PODCAST PAGE FOR DETAILS
Porsche really are producing some of the best machinery that they have ever done in their history. The new 911 is the most capable car to wear the legendary three digit nameplate and the new Boxster makes a very good argument as to why the 911 costs so much more than itself. We have all been waiting to see what the Cayman will offer and indeed ponder if it negates the need for its bigger brother all together.
This is the 2013 Porsche Cayman, in essence a coupe variation of the much loved Boxster. The new car boasts more power and less weight than the outgoing model, not to mention a step-up in refinement. Underneath the much more extroverted stance sits either a 2.7 litre flat-six in the Cayman or a 3.4 litre unit of the Cayman S. They produce 275BHP and 325BHP respectively. A new Cayman can do a of 0-62MPH time of 5.7 seconds and is capable of a top speed that hits 165MPH. The Cayman S cranks it up to 11 with a 0-62MPH sprint complete in just 4.7 seconds and a terminal velocity of 176MPH. Despite the increase in performance both models are capable of over 35MPG.
When BMW decided that they would produce some environmentally friendly cars they were to be given their own image. A fresh model designation free from the “series” line required a new name. An obvious choice would have been “E” but that letter is used in BMW’s model family design already. It was decided, that as with most things of the past 10 years, the letter “i” would precede the name. The Germans have shown the i3 city car and i8 sports car before, but now BMW looks to expand upon these models.
The BMW i3 Coupe Concept is, as the name suggests, a coupe variation of the soon to be launched i3. The concept car features a sloping roofline and a more stylistic approach to the rear end. The design language is brilliant and actually makes the i3 look like a car of the future. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 170BHP electric motor that also produces 184lb-ft of torque. The range of the i3 is 100 miles thanks to the utilisation of light weight carbon fibre construction.
Judging by the concept, this car is almost ready for production and will likely launch just after the i3 four-door hatchback next year.
Recently Fiat announced that they have now sold over 1,000,000 of their ever popular 500’s. It’s success is largely down to its fantastic packaging, not to mention being an all round good car. The Italian manufacturer is looking, just like almost everybody else, to get in on the EV market. The already booming 500 proves to be the ideal platform on which to start.
Reveled for the first time at the L.A. motor show, this is the 2013 Fiat 500e. Powered by an electric motor producing 111BHP and 147lb-ft of torque, this plucky little zero emissions character also has revised aerodynamic bodywork to reduce wind resistance. Low rolling resistance tyres also help boost the range of the 500e to 100 miles. The charge time from a 240-volt outlet is four hours from empty. Whether the electric car is the future or not is undecided, bu this 500e is sure to be a hit either way.
No official word on availability or pricing as of yet. We will keep you posted.
Over here in Europe there is one brand that everyone turns to when it is time to run off of the tarmac and onto the rough stuff. That brand is Land Rover. Over in the United States, however, their first choice of mud pluggers has always been Jeep. Finding its roots during the war, the company has suffered some tough times, as have many other manufacturers, but despite this they are still in the mood to celebrate.
As a 10th anniversary gift Jeep has produced what they are calling the “most off-road capable Wrangler in history.” Named the Rubicon, this American alternative to the Defender clearly means business. Equipped with huge BF Goodrich tyres and a removable front bumper to expose more of them, this machine is quite the rock-crawler. Winch and hardcore suspension are all included in the package as you would expect. Available in three colours and in two or four-door variations come spring 2013, it is a shame that the Wrangler Rubicon is not to set foot in Europe.
Who said the horsepower wars are over? Sure, in the “average Joe’s” sector there is much more appeal for a car that produces big MPG and not so much BHP. However, at the sharp end, located in supercar country, things are still pretty pointy when it comes to big numbers. The Hennessey Venom GT was quite a machine but its successor is set to one-up its forefather in just about every way.
This is the Hennessey Venom GT2 and let’s not mess about here, it produces 1,500BHP! The car is completely street legal just like the original Venom but unlike the aforementioned car it puts out an extra 300BHP. Keeping the 7.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8 in check are some revised aerodynamics, including that double-bubble roof, and transmissions. A $165,000 optional extra is a new 7 speed paddle shift gearbox, a long conversation with the bank manager is standard. The Hennessey Venom GT2 will set prospective customers back $1.25 Million without the fancy gearbox.
Official performance figures have yet to be released.
Nobody likes being second best. No matter what our mothers told us when we were younger, “you almost won” is no consolation for missing out on your time at the top. VW may dominate the motor industry by owning giants such as Audi, Lamborghini, and Bugatti, but in the small hatchback sector the Polo has always played second fiddle to Ford’s Fiesta. “No more” say the Germans as they go all out with this new generation Polo.
Looks pretty sharp doesn’t it? Our test cars metallic black paint does well to emphasise the much more aggressive design characteristics. The well defined shape garnished with bold lines gives this Polo a look of importance that was absent from previous generations. As the vast majority of car purchases are made mainly on how the machine looks, this one should do well as it ditches its once bland appearance. The pleasant architecture is carried over to the interior bringing with it some nicely sculpted surfaces as well as well defined areas of the center console. Every button and knob not only looks and feels premium but they all bring a sense of purpose to the cockpit. Too many cars today have meaningless symbols scattered like lost scrabble tiles all over the place, but here everything has been logically placed and perfected. That is really what the Polo must take as its most competitive element. Whilst the Fiesta and rivals are cheaper and have other merits, this German hatchback could pass as a small saloon thanks to its high levels of refinement. Seating is supportive with some rather functional headrests. I mention these specifically as driving the Polo is so effortless that you will find yourself leaning back much more often. In the rear section headroom is generous but the space for passengers legs was distinctly average. Boot space is again average for the class but does include a false floor to store fragile or precious items underneath.
In motion the 1.4 litre motor pulls well delivering good levels of performance around town. Coming out of junctions it may be a little slow to respond, thanks to not having the most responsive throttle peddle, but to the casual driver it isn’t anything major. The steering is also well balanced for the urban environment and provides a rather neat little turning circle. At idle the engine is near silent and often provoked comments such as “is it turned on” from many of my friends. The gearbox deserves particular admiration as it is so silky smooth that you can literally swap a cog with your little finger. Pair that with its light clutch and you find yourself with a fantastic car for commuting. The whole driving element of this machine is extremely polished and with good levels of grip it never leaves you feeling that the car is anything less than capable. On motorways this refinement is bliss as journeys of a few hours are effortlessly completed and soothed from a passengers perspective thanks to a sound system of high quality.
However, as with everything, you can unearth a few undesirables with the Polo when you get nitpicking. The steering wheel isn’t the most comfortable object to hold in your hands for lengthy periods of time. Its hard plastic surface feels a little abrasive for my liking and that is a shame as everything else is of such a high standard. As I said the steering is well balanced for the urban environment, but at motorway speeds it can feel a little vague. I guess this is the trade off that Volkswagen made in order for the little car more suited to an urban environment. My only other gripe with car is with its onboard computer continuously telling me what gear I should be in. One of the joys of owning a manual car is being able to make a decision as to what gear you want by yourself. The system isn’t intrusive but the arrow on the dashboard telling me to change up in order to save fuel became a pet hate. But really these aren’t deal breaking issues and the Polo can still stand tall and proclaim itself as one of the best all round hatchbacks on sale today.
Our model as tested cost £13,600 which isn’t all that much more expensive than a similarly specified Ford Fiesta, the gap certainly is much more narrow that what it has been in the past. So does the Polo surpass the master of this class? It really is very close but where Fiesta loses out on interior fit and finish, it does make up for in its enthusiasm on country roads. The VW Polo is a very fine car and does such a good job of being a dependable machine that you would be pleased to own.
What will be powering our cars in the future? That is the million dollar question to not only automotive giants, but also to everyday folks like you and me. Will we still be pouring petrol into our conveyances in 10, 20, 30 years time? Will it be hydrogen? Electric? Many questions but I’m sorry to say that nobody, not even the “experts” have the answers at the moment. The electric car is something that is very slowly trickling onto the roads with adopters boasting of low fuel costs and virtually no maintenance. However, we are all too aware of these machines drawbacks or else you would own one now. Renault say they have overcome many of the obstacles that stop people from going down the zero emissions root with their new Fluence.
Ok, so lets say that the French company have overcome some barriers that stops people from buying these specific cars, but there is no denying that they have put up another. The Fluence is by no means a looker. I would actually describe its appearance as one of the most uninspiring pieces of design on sale today. Come on Renault! What happened here? Did your designers just run out of enthusiasm after producing some attractive hatchbacks? Let’s put looking like a monkfish aside for a moment and concentrate on why Renault think this car is something special. This is the first full sized all electric saloon you can go out and buy on the UK market. Utilising many of the Nissan Leaf’s internals, the Fluence is off to a relatively promising start. It is based upon the Megane saloon that does not appear in our showrooms and as a result it offers exactly what you would expect from any other car in this segment. Inside you are greeted by a familiar dashboard with built-in satellite navigation. The seats are comfortable and accompanied by plenty of leg room for both front and rear passengers. All of the tangible elements of the car do appear to be genuinely functional just like a petrol or diesel saloon, but now you can ferry the kids to school feeling good about saving the polar ice cubes. The only real downside on the ergonomic front is that the boots capacity is limited by the necessary amount of batteries stored in it.
Out on the road the Renault Fluence Z.E. is actually a very pleasant place to be. The quiet in the cabin, thanks to not having a combustion engine, makes the whole driving experience rather relaxing. As you sink that little bit deeper into the well designed seating you also appreciate the brilliantly soft ride of the car. The suspension soaks up bumps in the tarmac like a sponge does water further promoting the car as an ideal candidate fro British roads. The steering is light meaning that threading the Fluence through congested towns is effortless. What does disrupt the harmonious way it moves about is when you need to slow down. Due to regenerative systems in the brakes, using them often leads to harsh motions whilst stopping. Personally I feel the harvesting of the energy is a little too aggressive and upsets the rhythm that is otherwise enjoyable. Being powered by an electric motor means that there is no waiting for all that torque to kick in. Though the Fluence has a 0-62MPH time of over 13 seconds, it does feel nippy off of the line. 84MPH is its top speed, which isn’t fantastic, but on public roads it is more than enough to get you into trouble, but most importantly it means that it can hold its own on motorways. But just how far will you be going on said motorways? Well, Renault recon 106 miles but our test car didn’t push much past 80. It would appear that range anxiety is still the limiting factor with electric cars.
In spite of not being able to travel as far as a conventional car, this Renault is at least much cheaper to run. Pennies as opposed to pounds charge the car, but with a 12 hour wait from empty to full via the mains, you might want to think about purchasing a book or two. A charging station can be fitted to your house that shortens this time to 6 hours.
This next item I am to bring up may be a real deal breaker for prospective buyers. The batteries in your car will never actually belong to you. Rent is payed to Renault, £76 per month, for the cells that sit in the boot. Obviously this will not please everyone but it does allow for two benefits to emerge. Firstly the risk of adopting this new technology is greatly reduced as if the battery pack breaks then Renault will replace it for free. Also not purchasing the batteries outright results in our top spec Fluence only costs £18,495 with the help of a government grant. Nissans’ leaf costs a few thousand more and realistically you get less car for your money.
Overall the Renault Fluence Z.E. is a step in the right direction for electric cars and brings the class much closer to competing with everyday models. That said, if electric is the future, it still has a long way to go before everyone will be comfortable buying one.
