Auto News archives

Infiniti announces next new model for Europe

Infiniti may have only just arrived in Europe but the brand is wasting no time in announcing the next addition to its range of performance cars, the G37 Convertible, which will go on sale from summer 2009. The news coincides with the release of a second image of the car that shows how Infiniti’s designers have preserved the sensuous lines of the G37 Coupé … despite the need to accommodate the Convertible’s three-piece automatic retracting hardtop. The G37 Convertible promises beautiful styling and the dynamic pe

Aston Martin Introduce Touchtronic Option to DBS

One year after making its first public appearance at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Aston Martin have confirmed details of a number of enhancements for the company’s flagship DBS, including the introduction of a ‘Touchtronic 2’ transmission. A series of additional features to provide customers with even greater personalisation capabilities are also introduced - including a new Bang & Olufsen audio system, the availability of 2+2 seating and a new lightweight wheel option. Touchtronic In

ABT Scirocco – more dynamics for the sports coupe

The very first Scirocco was the absolute star amongst compact sport coupes”, reminisces Hans-Juergen Abt. The manager of the renowned car tuner is just as fascinated with the great-grandson of the Wolfsburger trend-setter: “The Scirocco looks really dynamic and the handling is very agile.” All the more so with the Kemp

Smart Fortwo MHD is the Most Inexpensive Way of Running a Car

The smart fortwo is still Germany's most cost-efficient car. This is the conclusion reached by experts from the prestigious market observer EurotaxSchwacke after analysing 16 vehicles in the mini car class. They confirm previous cost calculations by numerous trade magazines and the ADAC, Germany's largest automobile club. Owners of a smart fortwo mhd save around €1,700 in running costs compared with the most expensive model in this class. The

Suzuki Swift given more attitude

Following a resounding success in 2007, the special edition three-door Swift Attitude model is back on sale in the UK, limited to only 500 units, and equipped with a higher specification, providing an enhanced driving and ownership experience. For the first-time, the new fully-loaded Attitude receives air conditioning, and driver and passenger sports seats, which until now, have only been available in the high performance flagship Swift Sport model, thereby ensuring a superior level of comfor

Land Rover's most fuel efficient vehicle ever debuts at paris motor show

The new Freelander 2 TD4_e is Land Rover's most fuel-efficient vehicle to date. Featuring a new intelligent Stop/Start system, it is the first production vehicle to incorporate technologies from the company's programme of sustainable engineering initiatives, collectively named 'e_TERRAIN TECHNOLOGIES'. On the standard EU4 cycle, the CO2 emissions of the Freelander 2 TD4_e are reduced by 8 per cent*, compared with the outgoing manual diesel Fre

Scirocco now available with new engines and entry-level trim

Volkswagen has announced a new entry-level specification and two additional engines for the Scirocco coupé, which are now available for ordering from Volkswagen Retailers. Prices for the entry-level model, fitted with a 1.4-litre TSI 160 PS engine, start at £18,790 RRP on the road, opening the possibility of Scirocco ownership to a wider audience. At launch in September, the Scirocco was only available in range-topping GT trim. The new engines

SsangYong recruits Giugiaro to style new car ranges

SsangYong showed the first fruits of its relationship with Shanghai Automotive Industries Group – a new compact SUV, codenamed C200. It signals the start of a major product offensive – 20 new models on five new platforms, over five years, starting in 2009. “The car is very, very important for us as it’s the first de

GKN Driveline’s High Performance Products For New Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi Motor’s highly acclaimed all-new Lancer Evolution has key new driveline components from GKN Driveline Torque Technology. The all-wheel-drive Lancer Evolution has an upgraded power transfer unit (PTU) – the car’s “Active Centre Differential” - with industry-leading torque capacity. The high-end RS version fits an enhanced multi-plate limited slip differential (LSD) Active Yaw Control (AYC) at the rear to help the dynamic transfer of the

Chevrolet on Cruze control with vital new model

GM executives are calling their new four-door sedan “the most important car in our history.” But which four-door sedan do they mean? Not the electric Volt, for all the importance attached to its eco-friendly credentials. GM is in fact referring to the Chevrolet Cruze, its new C-segment saloon. And while the car has nothing like the hi-tech content of the Volt, GM believes it’s the car that can help steer the company through the Credit Crunch. It’s a truly global car – designed and engineered by GM-Daewoo in Ko

Paris Motor Show: French Wallys plan British invasion

Long before it became part of Chrysler, the original Jeep was made by a company called Willys. But at Paris this year, we saw the launch of a Jeep lookalike – made by Wallys! WallysCar, in fact. It’s called the Izis, and it’s a plastic-panelled body-on-chassis off-roader, with a 75bhp Peugeot 1.4-litre TU3A petrol e

308 CC – A cabriolet for all seasons

This year’s Paris Motor Show will see Peugeot reveal the latest in its long line of coupé cabriolet cars. Peugeot pioneered the concept of “folding roof cars” way back in the 1930s with its elegant 401, 601 and 402 “Eclipse” models, and today continues this with the 207 CC and now the new member to the family, the 308 CC. Compared to the Peugeot 307 CC which it replaces, the 308 CC is longer, wider and has a larger front and rear track to improve its overall dynamic performance. The extr