Archive for July, 2009
The Honda Accord is officially the most reliable car in the UK according to consumer experts Which?
The Accord scored a reliability rate of 98.5 per cent in Which? Magazine’s survey based on more than 84,000 motorists.
And it was a double whammy for Honda as the Honda Jazz came second in the 121 model strong survey based questions regarding breakdowns, faults and servicing.
This is good news for Honda who have suffered indifferent news in the past 12 months having had to close their UK plant in Swindon for four months due to falling sales figures because of the economic downturn and also to safeguard jobs.
Humberside Police Force has chosen the Lexus IS-F as its pursuit car in favour of all other high-performance cars.
The Police Force have tested and considered many cars to be used as their next pursuit car over the past year and have decided that the Lexus IS-F was the ebst of the bunch.
The Lexus IS-F can reach 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds thanks to the 417bhp 5 litre V8 engine and has a top speed limited to 168mph.
‘The purchase of the vehicle was far from an easy decision and involved research and advice from the force fleet manager, financial managers and a vehicle dynamics expert,’ said Sergeant Mike Peck, Humberside Police.
Those crazy cats at Top Gear are planning to shoot a re-enactment of the Italian Job (the original, not the hammy US remake) but not in Italy; the three mid-lifes plan to drive MINI’s through sewers in Belfast.
They will drive the MINI Coopers through the City’s new 6 mile sewage works and like the original film, this will be the second time this scene will have been shot in the UK., as although the opening and ending sequence of the car chase was shot in Turin, the actual scene where the Mini’s speed through the sewer tunnel was shot in Coventry.
The Lexus HS250h has received more than 3,000 orders in a slowing Japanese car market yet will not be made available to UK drivers Toyota have announced.
The HS250h is also performing well in the US with pre-orders going strong and estimates of 2,500 units to be sold per month proving that this particular hybrid could well be the most popular eco-friendly vehicle yet.
The first full hybrid model by Lexus will not be released in the UK because of similar models in the Lexus IS and Toyota Avensis hybrids that are set to be released in Britain in the next year.
The new MINI First has many an incentive for those on the lookout for a new comfortable, stylish, eco-friendly and economical drive.
Not only will you be getting an efficient and quality assured piece of German engineering, but the MINI First is also set to be the least depreciating vehicle in its class.
BMW expect the MINI First to still be worth 50 per cent of its £10,950 price tag after three years or 30,000 miles: unheard of!
BMW are set to release a smaller and more affordable version of the X5 in the coming months.
Having just launched the MINI First – a cheaper entry level model – BMW look set to continue their pursuit of cornering the mid end as well as the high end of the market.
The BMW X1 will come equipped with all of the EfficientDynamics features aimed at eco-friendly motoring including start-stop technology and Brake Energy Regeneration, amongst other Green extras.
News that Honda has topped Warranty Direct’s used car reliability survey again proves the engineering expertise of the Japanese car giants.
According to insurance specialist’s survey used Honda vehicles only have a 10.59 per cent chance of breakdown – when compared to those at the bottom of the list, such as Land Rover with a 47 per cent chance of breaking down, that is an impressive statistic I’m sure all motorists would agree!
Eco friendly motoring is becoming increasingly vital for our collective carbon footprint and more and more manufacturers are investing in research and development to envelope the best green technology into all types of vehicles.
BMW have won two Green awards in the last 12 months and look set to pick up more in the coming months with the release of the new MINI One D.
With a 90hp engine with 6mg fuel economy, this low end commuter car is a must for those that want a low CO2 emitting little hatchback with high fuel economy.
Lexus look set to release their LF-A concept car in the coming months, and when they do, expect deserved hyperbole!
The Formula One inspired LF-A concept looks almost Italian in design with the sexy, sculpted lines and curves. Like a good woman, all the curves are in the right places!
Unlike many gorgeous women though, this concept car performs well also: a top speed of 320 km/h testifies to this.
This two-seater boasts a 5 litre V10 engine containing the power of 500 horses under the bonnet, with the sexy body produced from aluminium and carbon fibre allowing for such rapid speeds!
BMW are set to launch a budget MINI, named the MINI First, that will start from just £10,950 on the road.
Boasting a hugely economical 75 BHP 1.4 litre engine offering fuel consumption of 53.3 miles per gallon, the MINI First is most certainly aimed at first time buyers and those requiring an economical commuter car.
The MINI First may not be that nippy off the mark – 0-62MPH in a painfully slow 13.2 seconds – but with a top speed of 109MPH and the responsive handling and coolness of all other MINI models, this new hatch will sell like hot cakes.
Lexus look set to fight fire with fire in 2009.
Having released the IS 250c in an attempt to challenge the BMW Z4, Mercedes SLK and Audi S4 cabriolet, they now look set upon taking on their German rivals in the saloon department with the IS 220d.
As ever the IS 220d offers a smooth as silk ride – what more would you expect from a Lexus? But this new model also exudes style that emanates from the inside to out.
Honda’s domestic sales continue to perform well with the Insight and Jazz proving popular in Japan.
Having become the first hybrid vehicle to top the Japanese sales list in April, the Insight looks to be taking the Japanese market by storm, although sales in Europe are yet to meet such heights.
The Jazz, named the Fit sub compact in Japan, has been a complete success, becoming the number one selling Japanese car of 2008.
Honda believe that the increased interest in the Insight will have a knock on effect with other models as showrooms fill up with prospective buyers as the worst of the motor industries sales slump looks to have passed.
The British icon, the Mini is of course celebrating its 50th anniversary this year but has also recently passed a noteworthy milestone.
BMW’s MINI plant in Oxford has now built more than 1.5 million units of their award winning hot hatch since 2001.
The 1.5 millionth MINI was a MINI Clubman, red of course, was seen heading off the production line by Business Minister Ian Lucas and BMW Group board member Ian Robertson.
Having been acquired by BMW Group, the MINI has been hugely popular worldwide, thanks to the design, ergonomics and engineering excellence of Bavarian Motor Works.
