Mitsubishi’s all-new urban crossover vehicle, the ASX, is now on sale. The ‘New Active Sports Crossover’ (X-over) will compete in the expanding crossover marketplace against rivals such as Nissan’s Qashqai and is priced at £14,999 to £22,040. The range offers mainly front-wheeldrive models with one AWC electronically-controlled 4WD available on the 1.8 DiD option.
The four-wheeldrive 1.8 DiD turbodiesel develops 147bhp@4000rpm, with a torque figure of 221lb ft@2000-3000rpm.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is the ‘Best Value 4×4 of the Year’ as judged by a panel from the Caravan and Camping Club and from What Car? and Practical Caravan. What Car?’s Steve Fowler said: “For more than £10,000 less than XC60, and nearly £20,000 less than the Discovery, the Sante Fe will tow most caravans, has room for seven and an enviable list of standard equipment.
Toyota has made the headlines recently by scooping up prestigious awards at the British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards at Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre located in Berkshire. As well as its mainstream cars taking the spoils, the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 retained its top position in the large 4×4 category for the third year running.
The Land Rover Discovery 4 has been awarded ‘Britain’s Best Towcar’ in the annual Practical Caravan, The Camping & Caravanning Club & What Car?
Towcar awards 2010. The Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 XS – with 3500kgs towing ability and optional intelligent towing technologies such as Tow Assist and Trailer Stability Assist – won its class and the overall title against tough competition from the likes of the Volvo XC60 D5 SE Geartronic and the Range Rover Sport 3.0-litre TDV6 HSE.
Volkswagen has announced prices for the new Touareg ahead of the first customer deliveries taking place in October.
Prices for the new Touareg start at £38,225 for the SE 3.0-litre TDI 240 PS, while the Hybrid model, which goes on sale in July, costs £54,995. Despite being 40mm longer both in wheelbase and length, the new Touareg weighs over 200kg less than the outgoing model and is 20 per cent more ef cient.
The new Kia Sportage, which goes on sale in August, is Kia’s latest European-designed model to have been speci cally developed for the UK’s roads and drivers. Research & development experts from Kia Motors (UK) have been involved with the testing of the new Sportage, to be built at the Žilina plant in Slovakia, from the prototype stages in mainland Europe right up until nal testing in the UK itself during the early part of 2010.
“Being involved right from the early stages of prototype testing on project ‘SL’ (the internal codename for the new Sportage), in both dynamic and static performance testing, has meant that we have been able to ensure UK market needs have been incorporated throughout the development process” explains Neil Kent, Product Specialist, from Kia Motors (UK).
The UK’s happiest car dealers have Nissan models in their showrooms. Car Dealer Magazine’s Car Dealer Power survey has named Nissan as the best manufacturer to represent in the UK. Dealers were asked to rate their respective marques in areas including aftersales support, supply of cars, stock levels and warranty offers. Nissan’s 91 per cent rating ensured victory over all 26 rivals.
Demand for new cars in the EU declined for the second month this year in May (-9.3 per cent), reflecting the end to government support schemes and the economic situation. In May, Germany registered the most cars, it also recorded the biggest decrease (-35.1) in registrations, followed by Italy (-13.8) and France (-11.5). The UK (+13.5) and Spain (+44.6) increased registrations.
More than 767,000 people miss their MoT test each year, risking up to £1000 in fines, but Motor Codes has the answer. Its MoT and service online reminder tool ensures owners never miss their MoT or service again. To gain access to the free MoT and service reminder tool visit www.motorcodes.co.uk, click on the MoT reminder icon and register the details. For free advice, call 0800 692 0825.
Land Rover has released the first of fcial picture of the all-new compact Range Rover following a preview in London celebrating the model’s 40th birthday held in partnership with Vogue magazine.
Named the ‘Range Rover Evoque’, and developed from the LRX concept, this allnew coupé will join the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport line-up in summer 2011. It will be the smallest, lightest and most fuel-ef cient Range Rover. Customers have a choice of both a 4WD and 2WD version, with a sub 130g/km CO2 gure.
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