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Jane Hyde

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A160997_largeThe new Audi Q2, the fourth member of the highly successful Audi Q family , makes its world public debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Head of Audi Design Marc Lichte and his team have taken the compact SUV in a bold new styling direction designed to appeal to a younger audience, and have combined this with a quality of finish and a portfolio of connectivity, infotainment and assistance systems that will be instantly familiar from the larger Audi models.

“In the Audi Q2 we have developed a distinctively geometric form language with model-specific design characteristics. The car exhibits an independent character within the Q family,” says Lichte.

ESC6173altaSEAT has unveiled its first SUV at the Geneva Motor Show 2016. The new Ateca is a unique combination of distinctive design, dynamic driving fun, urban versatility and compelling utility.

The new SEAT Ateca is named after a Spanish town to retain the tradition and to give true brand and authentic Latin flavour, character and personality. It has been 100% designed and developed in Barcelona.

The SEAT Ateca will be available before the summer in Germany and Spain and progressively after in other markets, including the UK in September. It will come with petrol and diesel engines ranging from 115 PS to 190 PS,  2WD and 4WD versions, and manual and DSG gearboxes. The extensive array of technology options extends from full-LED headlights to a broad portfolio of assistance systems, like an innovative Traffic Jam Assist and new Emergency Assist, to a package of latest-generation infotainment systems with eight-inch touchscreens and Full Link connectivity. Three trim levels offer colours and top-quality materials to suit every taste. 

Jeep_Range_75th_AnniversaryJeep® and its legendary spirit are returning to the 86th Geneva Motor Show with a stand “packed” with history and excitement where the models of yesteryear will meet those of tomorrow to celebrate the brand’s 75th Anniversary.

As is Jeep tradition, the legendary brand is introducing a special edition, on all models of the current line-up, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary, which will be available in dealerships across the UK from the second quarter of 2016. More than just celebrating this important achievement, it’s also a milestone in the brand’s ambitious future, faced with the same determination which made 2015 the best year for sales for Jeep in the UK.

Produced in limited quantities – with only 8,000 units available for the entire EMEA region – all of the 75th Anniversary models are distinguished by a new livery, a 75th Anniversary badge, low gloss bronze-coloured rims, bronze and orange-coloured exterior inserts and exclusive interiors with seats sporting the 75th Anniversary logo in relief.

To celebrate this momentous milestone, there will be three vintage models on show at the Motor Show alongside four examples of the new 75th Anniversary special editions, as well as a Jeep Time Machine, which enables visitors the chance, through the Oculus Technology, to get close to the iconic models that made the brand what it is today.

Also exhibiting on the stand in Geneva, Jeep will be presenting a new limited edition Grand Cherokee SRT Night. It features a stealth-like appearance with the front grille bezels, B and C pillars and side window surrounds all adorned in Matt Black. The front applique is Satin Black, as is badging on the bonnet and rear lift-gate.

IM_3617Subaru unveiled the Subaru XV Concept at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show, previewing the design direction for the next generation of Subaru vehicles, including an all-new XV compact crossover.

The Subaru XV Concept is a design study that embodies Subaru’s next-generation ‘DYNAMIC X SOLID’ design philosophy, with a solid, robust appearance and raised ground clearance that references the go-anywhere All-Wheel Drive capability of every Subaru vehicle.

The cabin silhouette tapers and tightens slightly as the bodywork flows towards the rear, leaving an impression of energy and athleticism without compromising the XV Concept’s innate crossover practicality. The muscular body surfacing is divided by two strong character lines – one extending from the front bumper, along the doors and into the rear shoulder; another rising from the lower half of the doors towards the rear of the car.

At the front the concept features the company’s signature hexagonal grille and ‘hawk-eye’ headlamps. Matt black body cladding – which can shrug off light impacts and scrapes in rural or urban environments – runs from the front bumper, over the wheel arches and side sills, and into the rear bumper.

The rear of the car echoes the same wide, low and highly stable stance portrayed by the front, with powerful shoulders over the matt black-clad rear bumpers which rise to meet the car’s rear combination lamps. The rear lights share the same design motif as the ‘hawk-eye’ headlamps.

Subaru has given the concept an exclusive new paint finish, ‘Glacier Khaki Silica’ – a newly-developed blue-grey tone created to evoke the appearance of glacier ice. Distinctive orange accents appear on the grille, front and rear bumpers, 19-inch aluminium wheels and roof rails.

1146159_ME Image 1Organisers of the Canary Wharf Motorexpo have confirmed that the annual free to visit show will be cancelled and that Britain’s best attended motoring event will close in the UK.

For the past 20 years the show has used the prime locations on the East London Estate for a week long show which has been attended by a huge number of visitors and many manufacturers.

Graeme Carver, Motorexpo CEO, confirmed “we have been in discussion regarding the footprint required for the show for more than a year but sadly Canary Wharf are unable to continue with the long-term commitment. Naturally we are very saddened that the show has now come to an end and I’m sure the news will come as a big disappointment to Motorexpo visitors and manufacturers that attend each year”.

Over the years Motorexpo has been a hugely popular event with people working and visiting the Canary Wharf Estate each June.  The combination of visitors and cars has brought a unique spectacle and atmosphere to the East London estate. During its 20 years the show has seen thousands of new cars, driving displays, test drives and parades of classic vehicles, which have entertained and stimulated purchases of new models.

Visitor numbers have continued to rise and last year it was estimated that attendance was over 400,000 people. The show was always very popular and relaxed, with its ease of access to new cars being the show’s trademark. Motorexpo has seen the ups and downs of both the economy and the car industry over the years and back in 2009 celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the E-Type Jaguar by running a cavalcade of 50 E-Types through central London and out to Canary Wharf.

Motorexpo was created back in 1996 by Graeme Carver and gave visitors access to many of the world’s best cars free of charge. Over the years it has been visited by millions including HRH Princess Royal and Prince Michael of Kent and stars from the world of motor racing including Nigel Mansell CBE and Sir Frank Williams.

Motorexpo has also been proud supporters of local and national charities and in the past four years helped launch the UK Youth annual gala dinner which has raised both income for the charity and the profile of the problems facing young people in the UK.

History shows that motoring events focusing on new cars in the UK have had a difficult history with events closing in London at Earl’s Court and Excel as well as the NEC in Birmingham. They have proved to be both tricky commercially and politically, but the Canary Wharf Show continued throughout the recession and outlasted the others.  Following the closure of the SMMT’s British International Motor show in 2008, Motorexpo played host to the SMMT International Automotive Summit where industry leaders met to discuss the developments and future of the industry.

 

1145426_Jeep-UK-Batman-vs-Superman-Battle-of-the-Renegades-picJeep, celebrating 75 years as the iconic 4×4 SUV maker, has announced a partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures, becoming the official car partner of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in cinemas March 25.

The link-up with Warner Bros. Pictures kicked off during production, when Jeep’s Renegade SUV model was deployed through the streets of Metropolis with Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, at the wheel for a key scene in the film.

Jeep UK is now launching an innovative online experience and advertising campaign, created in collaboration with the filmmakers. Prior to the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, fans can get a sneak peek at previously unseen vehicle footage provided to Jeep UK in a special trailer only viewable as part of the online experience.

In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the world’s most iconic Super Heroes clash for the first time ever on the big screen.  Jeep’s online experience invites users to choose their allegiance and become a hero themselves in the ‘Battle of the Renegades’ by using the Jeep Renegade to help others and evade impending catastrophe.

Participation in this interactive online experience will be rewarded with a range of prizes, including live themed driving experiences and cinema tickets to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, as well as a range of other related digital content. To enter visit: www.battleoftherenegades.co.uk

To join the conversation on social use #RenegadeBlack #RenegadeBlue #BVS, and follow Jeep UK on Facebook /JeepUK, Twitter @Jeep_UK and Instagram @Jeep_UK.

batmanvsupermandawnofjustice.net

www.Jeep.co.uk

1144348_KUGA_MCA_Sport_Final_HighRes_01Ford has revealed the new Kuga, offering customers a more technologically advanced, refined and sportier redesign of this SUV.

The new Kuga will offer technologies and updates to make driving simpler, safer, more enjoyable and more affordable. These include Ford’s new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system, innovative driver assistance technologies, an ergonomic and comfortable interior and a new 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.

The  sporty new Kuga debuts at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The new Kuga also will offer Ford’s Perpendicular Parking technology that helps drivers park hands‑free in spaces alongside other cars; an enhanced version of the Active City Stop collision avoidance system; and Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System for optimised visibility in low light. Further technologies include Hands-Free Tailgate and Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive.

Ford is launching the new Kuga and the larger Edge SUV this year, after introducing an updated EcoSport last year. Ford is bolstering its SUV line-up just as it has been predicted by industry sales analyst IHS that sales in the SUV segment are poised to increase to 27 per cent of all vehicle sales in Europe by 2020.

New Kuga and the Edge are among five all-new or redesigned Ford vehicles that will compete in the SUV and crossover space in the next three years.

1146290_142850_10_5Nissan will showcase two striking special versions of its best-selling crossovers, the Qashqai and X-Trail, at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show.

Taking the current models as a starting point, Nissan has explored how a more premium and dynamic design interpretation could enhance and extend the appeal of its award-winning crossover range in the future.

The two cars are called the Qashqai Premium Concept and the X-Trail Premium Concept. While they are separate models, the colours, materials and themes which run through them mean they are unmistakably a pair. The Qashqai Premium Concept has been created by Nissan Design Europe (NDE) in the heart of London, while the X-Trail Premium Concept is the work of Nissan’s Global Design Centre (GDC) in Japan.

1144592_VG VSS Unity Reveal_001Land Rover  helped Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson unveil Virgin Galactic’s new SpaceShipTwo at a special reveal and naming ceremony at their Mojave Air and Space Port base in California, USA.

A Range Rover Autobiography took centre stage at the global reveal, towing out the new SpaceShipTwo – officially christened VSS Unity, –in front of the world’s media, special guests and a group of Virgin Galactic’s ‘Future Astronauts.’

Guests at the unveiling ceremony including Virgin Galactic’s stakeholders, VIP guests and Future Astronaut customers, watched on as Sir Richard arrived in the Range Rover and the new SpaceShipTwo made its global debut. The event also marked the special official naming moment of the new SpaceShipTwo, with Stephen Hawking announcing the name VSS Unity via a specially recorded message.

Announced in April 2014, the tow-out of VSS Unity by a Range Rover Autobiography marks the latest milestone in the partnership between the two brands; a partnership based around a strong British heritage and a true spirit of adventure, but underpinned by a desire to push the boundaries of technical innovation.

A fleet of Land Rover vehicles currently provides valuable support for the Virgin Galactic team at its base in Mojave, and will be an important part of its commercial operations  for future astronauts at Spaceport America in New Mexico

1144708_6955A new type of crossover designed to shake up the sector, the C4 Cactus is continuing to expand its range with the World Premiere of a new special edition at the Geneva Motor Show. The Citroën C4 Cactus Rip Curl is born from the collaboration between Citroën and Rip Curl, the brand from the world of surfing.

Through the association with Rip Curl Citroën is boosting the outdoor spirit of C4 Cactus through the introduction of an even more radical and adventurous version.

Citroën is providing C4 Cactus fans with a special edition that is more technologically advanced, with a higher level of all-road performance. This car is ideal for lifestyles focused on leisure and well-being. This philosophy is totally in tune with Rip Curl, a brand founded in Torquay, Australia, only a few hours’ drive from the mythical Cactus Bay surfing hotspot.