New Car: 2011 Volvo C30

This is the facelifted Volvo C30, revealed ahead of its public unveiling at next week's Frankfurt motor show next week.

The front and rear of the car have been redesigned, taking cues from the S60 concept and the recently revealed C70.

Front-end changes include new panels for the wings and bonnet, and a larger Volvo logo in the restyled honeycomb grille, in line with all the other current models. The air intake has also been enlarged to reflect the design of the XC60's.

The rear has also been tweaked, and buyers can specify the rear bumper assembly in the car's body colour or an alternative colour.

Buyers of all engine variants except the 1.6D DRIVe stop-start model can also opt for a new Sports chassis, which Volvo describes as giving the car "a sharper ride". Changes include sharper steering, a tighter steering ratio that gives a 10 per cent faster response to inputs, increased spring stiffness (up by 30 per cent) and stiffer dampers.

Volvo is also making the polished stainless steel exhausts visible on T5 and D5-powered models, adding metallic orange to the colour choices, and offering two new wheel options, one of which is white.

Interior changes include a range of new upholstery colours.

The C30 can also be specified with a new styling kit, which includes a fog lamp surround and front and rear skidplates.

There are five diesel options, ranging in power from 107bhp to 177bhp, and three petrols, ranging from 99bhp to 227bhp. These include two DRIVe eco models powered by the 1.6-litre diesel engine. The version with stop-start averages 72.4mpg and emits 104g/km of CO2, while the version without the system averages 62.8mpg and emits 119g/km.

The facelifted car will go on sale early in 2010, with prices announced nearer to that date.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Car: 2010 Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari

The biggest name in Italian supercar history is coming – to the country’s smallest hot hatch!

Ferrari and Abarth are set to team up to produce this ultimate limited-edition version of the Fiat 500.

Named the 695 Tributo Ferrari, it carries the Maranello firm’s traditional Scuderia Red paint job – but the upgrades aren’t simply cosmetic.

The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine has been modified to develop more than 180bhp, and there’s a race-derived six-speed paddleshift gearchange.

The suspension has been upgraded by Ferrari to cope with the extra power, and bright red Brembo brakes have been added to boost stopping power. The unique 17-inch alloys are inspired by Ferraris of old, too.

Inside, there are black leather seats with carbon fibre shells, while the hide-trimmed steering wheel features red inserts to match the exterior.

It’s due to be unveiled at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, but there’s no word on prices yet – and Fiat hasn’t confirmed if it’s coming here. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot news: Mini Duo Gets Green Light

Two stunning new MINIs have been given the green light for production – before they’ve even appeared in public!

Last week, the BMW-owned firm said that it is to increase manufacturing at its plant in Cowley, Oxon, by introducing a pair of new models.

That means the Coupé Concept is certain to become a feature on UK roads. But even more surprising is that a fresh vehicle to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show – hotly tipped to be the Speedster – will also be fast-tracked into production.

Both cars are expected to take MINI’s famous driving dynamics to new heights, by shedding weight and utilising top-end engines including the 1.6-litre turbo from the John Cooper Works special editions.

The double-whammy was confirmed by Dr Norbert Reithofer, chairman of BMW’s board, during a visit to the factory where the hatch, convertible and Clubman are built.

It’s a boost for the company, which was forced to lay off 850 people earlier in the year.

No launch date has been given, but insiders say the cars won’t arrive before 2011.

Assembly of the Crossman SUV will start next year at Austria’s Magna Steyr plant. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

New Car: 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost

Rolls-Royce has finally released official pictures and mechanical detail on its brand new saloon, the Ghost.

First mooted at the Paris show in 2006, the Ghost is defined by its maker as a smaller and more affordable Rolls-Royce. However, at 5.5m long and almost £200k, it will only ever look either small or affordable to a very select few.

Even so, Rolls expects the car to roughly double the firm’s annual output from around 1000 to 2000 units per year, and for 80 per cent of the Ghosts’s buyers to be new to the brand.

Underneath the new car lies an overhauled version of the current BMW 7-series platform, so the Ghost eschews the aluminium spaceframe construction of the Phantom for a steel monocoque skeleton. As a consequence of a steel frame taking up less space within the outer skin of the car than extruded aluminium, the Ghost’s creators say that in many ways it provides just as much cabin space as the bigger car.

Powering the Ghost is a direct injection 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 that produces 563bhp at 5250rpm and 575lb ft from 1500rpm. Both of those outputs trump those of the Phantom model, but as Rolls design boss Ian Cameron told Autocar, the company “was not prepared to compromise this car for pure marketing reasons”.

The engine drives the Ghost’s rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, sending it from 0-60mph in just 4.7sec.

The Ghost’s resemblance to its bigger and more expensive brother is marked; Cameron’s overriding brief for the car was that it should be “from all angles and aspects a true, classic and recognisable Rolls-Royce”.

“Buyers should find the Ghost a less intimidating car than the Phantom,” Cameron said. “It’s not just smaller, but less formal.”

The Ghost is a new model series for maker Rolls-Royce, so we can expect open and two-door versions of the car to be launched in years to come.

Thanks to: Autocar

Sneak Peek: Citroen Nouveau C3 Concept

Citroen has teased an image of a new concept car on its Facebook page.

The car appears with the title "Nouveau C3" - but is not the standard version of the new C3 or the DS3, both of which have already been revealed.

A Citroen insider has confirmed that it is the firm's Frankfurt motor show concept car, but declined to give any further details.

However, it appears that the concept showcases a small city car project, possibly previewing the styling of the next Citroen C1.

Citroen is also known to be pushing ahead with bringing hybrid technology to the market, and this could also be highlighted by the concept.

The first Citroen production cars to go on sale with hybrid powertrains will be the larger DS models, the DS4 and DS5. They will use the same hybrid system as Peugeot, which will launch teh technology first, on its hybrid 3008.

PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi have also announced today that they will jointly develop and launch an electric car in Europe by the end of 2010.

It will be based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV EV, and be sold as a Peugeot and Citroen model. It will have a range of around 80 miles between charges, which will take around six hours.

The companies said they will announce more details at the Frankfurt motor show.

Thanks to: Autocar

First Sketch: Hyundai ix-metro Concept

One of Britain’s most famous motoring badges is making a come back – the Metro has returned, and this time it’s dressed as a Hyundai!

Ahead of its official unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month, the Korean firm has revealed these exclusive images of its new baby SUV, which resurrects the famous Austin and Rover supermini name. Called the ix-Metro, the newcomer is designed to shrink the winning compact-SUV formula into a city car sized package.

The show car takes its lead from the larger, production ready ix35 which also makes its public debut at the Frankfurt expo. Swooping curves and a squat, muscular stance are designed to bring the rough and tough looks of a 4x4 to a model designed with the urban environment in mind.

Described by designers as a CUV – City Utility Vehicle – the ix-Metro is powered by a new hybrid powertrain. Its 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine uses continuously variable valve timing, direct injection and a turbo along with a torque boost from its battery to deliver 123bhp with CO2 emissions of only 80g/km. This powerplant will appear in non-hybrid form in a revised version of the i10 city car next year.

While it rides on huge 20-inch alloys, the Hyundai is smaller than the average supermini. To make the most of its compact dimensions, there is no B-pillar to give the largest possible opening into the cabin, while the rear doors slide back for easy access in tight spaces. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

New Car: 2010 Lotus Club Racer

Lotus will launch another special edition Elise at the Frankfurt motor show, called the Lotus Club Racer.

Under the skin it’s a basic Elise S, with the entry-level model’s Toyota-sourced 1.8-litre engine and five-speed manual gearbox, which makes it good for 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 127mph.

The car will use colour schemes harking back to the company’s Elite and Elan models of the 1960s, which they say will make it “modern with a classic twist”.

The Club Racer will be available in yellow, grey, white, and the sky blue shade seen on last year’s Exige Club Racer, which was available in a limited run of 25 cars.

Exterior colours are mirrored on the cabin’s metalwork, along with silver and black accents, and there are Club Racer logos on the transmission tunnel and embroidered on the seatbacks. The seats have lightweight microfibre cushioning and the steering wheel is finished in black leather with a silver centre marker.

Further special touches are added inside, with anthracite-coloured anodised aluminium flooring, gear knob and handbrake cover. The package is completed by anthracite six-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in bespoke rubber from Yokohama.

The Club Racer will cost exactly the same as a standard Elise S at £26,662, and it will go on sale to coincide with the start of the Frankfurt show on 15 September.

Thanks to: Autocar