2013 Honda Accord named Best New Sedan Under $25,000

The 2013 Honda Accord and Civic were named to KBB.com's list of the 10 Best New Sedans Under $25,000. The Honda Accord was the top ranked vehicle on the list of new vehicles introduced in 2013 compiled by the auto experts at KBB.com. The Civic was the highest rated compact car on the list.

"Nothing beats the value Accord and Civic offer customers" said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of auto operations at American Honda. "Both models deliver on all fronts – value, performance, fuel efficiency, top safety ratings and a wide array of standard features – all at a competitive price point."

As the top ranked model on the list, the Accord was recognized by the editors of KBB.com for its sophisticated styling, excellent driving performance and innovative features, like the available LaneWatch™ blind spot display. Additionally, Accord earns industry-leading safety scores, having been rated a TOP SAFETY PICK+by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and distinguished by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score¹.

"While other mid-size cars have threatened its dominance, now we can definitively say that the Accord is back on top, with the completely overhauled 2013 model hitting No. 1 on our list of the '10 Best Sedans Under $25,000'," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com. "The latest Honda Accord is as refined as any previous edition, but with a newfound sense of sporty style and cool new technologies that are as user-friendly as the car itself."

The 2013 Honda Civic was the top rated compact car on the list. KBB.com applauded the Civic for its revised interior and exterior styling along with an impressive list of standard features, which includes rearview camera, Bluetooth™ connectivity and Pandora® internet radio capability. The Civic also earns industry-leading safety scores; having been the only compact car rated a TOP SAFETY PICK+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and distinguished by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-star Overall Vehicle Score1.

Read More

Infiniti's new steer-by-wire is inspired by jet aircraft technology

Drivers of Infiniti's all-new mid-size premium car will be the first to benefit from electronic steer-by-wire technology, inspired by latest jet aircraft technology, when the Q50 hits the roads later in 2013.

Direct Adaptive Steering, standard on certain models in the Q50 range, will for the first time allow drivers behind the wheel to choose how that wheel feels in their hands.

The steer-by-wire technology is a key ingredient in making the Q50 one of the most dynamic and exciting sports saloons on the market – extensively tested by Sebastian Vettel. Infiniti Red Bull Racing's triple Formula One World Drivers' Champion – who is also Infiniti's Director of Performance – helped fine-tune the Q50's performance and handling at Infiniti's Tochigi test track in Japan.

Light and smooth for maneuvering, firmer and more agile for sporty driving and challenging roads, Direct Adaptive Steering makes all options available via simple touch-screen controls. Uniquely in the class, both steering weight and response can be tailored, with all settings stored for each driver in the Q50's sophisticated memory.

Like a jetliner, Direct Adaptive Steering benefits from several back-up systems – including a conventional mechanical steering linkage.

Direct Adaptive Steering works by electronically transferring the driver's input to the front wheels where a high-response actuator drives the steering rack. By eliminating the mechanical losses that can dull the responses in conventional systems, steering response is faster and vibration at the steering wheel is eliminated. All this is achieved with a level of feedback from the road that is central to every Infiniti's performance feel.

Steering is adjusted on a touch screen as part of the Infiniti Drive Mode Selector. Depending on the model, there are up to four pre-set modes plus a personal setting that allows the driver to mix and match effort and response to suit individual driving style and type of road.

As a result and in defiance of conventional car steering compromises, the Infiniti Q50 with Direct Adaptive Steering is as stable and stress-free to steer on a motorway as it is reassuring and rewarding to handle on a mountain pass – or as light and easy to maneuver in a crowded car park.

A further benefit of Direct Adaptive Steering is that it comes with Infiniti's latest driving technology, Active Lane Control. This is unique in using the steering system to keep the car between motorway lane markings, "magnetizing" the car to within its lane and reducing the need for continuous steering input owing to crosswinds or minor camber changes in the road surface.

Direct Adaptive Steering comes with triple-mode back-up (three separate electronic control units), 400,000km of real-world test distance behind it and the back-up of the mechanical steering linkage. In normal use a clutch disengages this mechanical link so it can never corrupt the steering response.

Direct Adaptive Steering and Active Lane Control will be standard on the Infiniti Q50 3.5 Hybrid and optional on the Q50 2.2d. Infiniti Q50 models without Direct Adaptive Steering are equipped with electro-hydraulic steering that offers drivers the ability to customize steering weight.

Read More

All about BMW i3

TheBMW i3 is the world’s first premium car designed from the ground up to be powered by an electric drive system. The result is hallmark BMW driving pleasure in undiluted form, delivered with zero emissions and an engaging intensity unmatched by any electrically powered vehicle.

The familiar sense of driving pleasure embodied by the BMW i3 is the result of a rigorously implemented overall concept, part of which has involved creating the optimum balance of weight, performance and range for urban mobility. The key elements here are the LifeDrive architecture and BMW eDrive technology. The use of lightweight CFRP for the passenger cell cancels out the extra weight contributed by the lithium-ion battery, while the low, central positioning of the battery pack enhances the car’s agility thanks to perfectly balanced 50 : 50 weight distribution. Additionally, the electric motor mounted in close proximity to the driven rear axle offers unique performance characteristics for this type of drive system as well as providing unbeatable traction. The driving characteristics of the BMW i3 are dominated by its manoeuvrability – a direct response to the demands of city driving. The instantaneous power delivery of the electric motor, allied to the car’s stiff suspension set-up, precise steering and impressively small turning circle (9.86 metres), produces a typically BMW take on electric mobility

The electric motor generates output of 125 kW/170 hp and peak torque of 250 Newton metres (184 lb-ft), which is on tap from the word go. The motor weighs just 50 kilograms and boasts power density and responsiveness unprecedented in the world of electric mobility. The specific construction of the hybrid synchronous electric motor, developed exclusively for the BMW i3,

maintains a linear flow of power into the higher reaches of the rev range. The BMW i3 sprints from 0 to 60 km/h (37 mph) in a mere 3.7 seconds and 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds.

The single-pedal control concept in the BMW i3 – configured by the BMW Group’s drive system development engineers – also contributes to the engaging driving experience. Recuperation mode is activated the moment the driver takes his foot off the accelerator. The electric motor switches from drive to generator mode, feeding power into the lithium-ion battery. At the same time, it generates a precisely controllable braking effect. This recuperation is speed-sensitive, which means the car “coasts” with maximum efficiency at high speeds and generates a strong braking effect at low speeds.

The lithium-ion battery enables the BMW i3 to achieve a range of 130 to 160 kilometres (81 – 99 miles) in everyday driving. This rises by around 20 kilometres (12 miles) in ECO PRO mode and by the same distance again in ECO PRO+ mode. If desired, the BMW i3 is also available with a rangeextender engine, which maintains the charge of the lithium-ion battery at a constant level while on the move as soon as it dips below a specified value.

This role is performed by a 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine developing 25 kW/34 hp and mounted immediately adjacent to the electric motor above the rear axle. The range extender increases the car’s maximum range in dayto-day driving to around 300 kilometres (approx. 180 miles).

The world’s first fully networked electrically powered car

The BMW i3 is the world’s first fully networked electrically powered car. No other model boasts such far-reaching exchange of information between the vehicle, its driver and the outside world. A SIM card fitted as standard in the BMW i3 is the key that unlocks the BMW ConnectedDrive services – in their recalibrated 2013 guise – available to the new electric model. For example, it

introduces navigation services specially developed to enhance electric mobility alongside familiar features including the Concierge Services information facility and the Intelligent Emergency Call function. Moreover, drivers can use the BMW i Remote app to share information with their car at any time using their smartphone. The pedestrian navigation function guides the driver from parking place to final destination and back, while BMW ConnectedDrive also offers unique intermodal route guidance as a world first, which incorporates local public transport connections into journey planning. The aim of this intelligent networking is to enable maximum driving pleasure in a car emitting zero local emissions.

The BMW ConnectedDrive services specifically designed for BMW i focus on the areas of navigation and energy management. The Range Assistant is engaged both for route planning and during journeys already under way. If the destination programmed into the navigation system is beyond the car’s range, the system suggests switching to ECO PRO or ECO PRO+ mode and calculates a more efficient route. If the driver needs to charge the battery at a public charging station, a list of available stations in the area is displayed. The navigation system of the BMW i3 also comes with a dynamic range display, which supplies drivers with exceptionally precise, up-to-date and reliable information on whether there is sufficient charge to reach their destination and, if so, how much power will remain at the end of the journey. All the factors affecting range are considered in the calculation process, which is carried out on a BMW server and sent to the navigation system via the SIM card installed in the car. The range readout, presented in the form of a spidergram on the navigation map in the central information display, is extremely clear.

The link-up between driver and car also enters a new dimension in the BMW i3. The BMW ConnectedDrive Remote app for BMW i enables smartphone access to useful vehicle data for journey planning. If the BMW i3 is hooked up to a charging station or the BMW i Wallbox, the supply of energy can be controlled via smartphone, while the air conditioning and heating function for the high-voltage battery pack can also be activated remotely. In addition, customers can use their smartphone to send destinations to their car’s navigation system. The app also shows the driver charging stations (both available and in use) and can establish if the car has sufficient power remaining to reach them. The car’s range limit display on the smartphone screen replicates that provided by the car’s navigation system.

The BMW i3 is also available with an array of other innovative BMW ConnectedDrive driver assistance systems developed specifically to enhance convenience and safety in urban conditions. These include Driving Assistant Plus, Parking Assistant, a rear view camera and Speed Limit Info.

360° ELECTRIC provides an all-encompassing energy supply and mobility solution

The aim in determining the range of the BMW i3 was to ensure that customers could cover their typical energy needs by charging the car twice or three times per week. The studies carried out as part of project i – involving more than 1,000 participants and conducted over some 20 million kilometres (approx. 12.5 million miles) – revealed that the average daily distance covered was around 45 kilometres (28 miles). Customers can charge their cars using either the wallbox supplied by BMW i or a conventional domestic power socket.

BMW i offers an extensive range of products and services in its 360° ELECTRIC package designed to meet all individual customer needs for energy supply and journey planning. The spectrum of services ranges from the installation of the BMW i Wallbox in the customer’s garage and special

renewable energy supply offers, to the charging card for user-friendly access to the public charging infrastructure and additional assistance services from BMW ConnectedDrive. If the BMW i3 concept fails to meet mobility requirements in a specific situation, 360° ELECTRIC provides flexible mobility solutions including alternative vehicles from the BMW and DriveNow ranges.

Read More

Jaguar Project 7 debuts at Goodwood

Jaguar’s Project 7 concept will make a dynamic debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed on 12^th July. Project 7 is based on Jaguar’s acclaimed F-TYPE, its all-new, two-seater, convertible sports car and winner of the World Car Design of the Year 2013 award.

Key exterior design changes include a fairing behind the driver’s head; bespoke carbon-fibre components – a new front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser; lowered windshield and restyled front bumper. Project 7’s unique interior features a composite single-seat with racing harness, a helmet holder and custom trim. Project 7’s name acknowledges Jaguar’s winning of Le Mans seven times between 1951-1990 – a record for a British manufacturer – and its blue paintwork is reminiscent of the victorious Jaguar D-types of 1956/1957.

Project 7 is not a static concept, but a fully-functional, high-performance sports car. The F-TYPE’s rigid all-aluminium architecture provides the perfect starting point, power coming from Jaguar’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine in 550PS/680Nm form – an increase of 55PS and 55Nm over the F-TYPE V8 S.

–The overriding dynamic aim when developing F-TYPE was ensuring connected feel; it’s a true, driver-focused sports car; agile, immediate, fast and, of course, fun. Having achieved that for the road, Project 7 has given us a unique opportunity to go that little bit further. It’s visceral in every sense – its response, its sound and its sheer performance. I’m very much looking forward to driving it at Goodwood, says Chief Engineer Mike Cross.

In addition to the increase in power – delivered to the rear wheels through Jaguar’s eight-speed Quickshift transmission and electronic active differential – Project 7 also features a free-flow exhaust system with a ceramic finish, 10mm lower ride height and a unique spring/damper tune.

Project 7: A story of passion

Under Director of Design, Ian Callum, who constantly challenges his team to push the boundaries of design, Project 7 went from being an experimental sketch by Jaguar designer Cesar Pieri to the track in just four months.

Bringing to bear his love for cars and motorsport, his passion for Jaguar’s heritage, and his familiarity with the F-TYPE, Pieri drew a single-seater sports car with a swooping profile, cut-down windscreen and race-inspired livery.

–When I saw this sketch of a low-screen, single-seat F-TYPE, I felt enthused by it and wanted to take it further. As designers, our very purpose is to disrupt – to turn the norm on its head and see if it still works – and here at Jaguar, we love to push the boundaries, says Jaguar's Director of Design, Ian Callum.

–As a team our challenge was to take this gem of an idea, work within the limitations of production feasibility, and create something worthwhile. So I encouraged Cesar and Alister Whelan, Chief Designer, Jaguar, to take it to the next stage and develop a workable concept, and with the support of key departments across the business, Project 7 was born.

Following digital modelling, a clay model of Project 7 was produced. With that signed off, and time before Goodwood short, Jaguar’s engineering team worked closely with the design team to ensure that the build stayed true to the concept.

For Project 7, the F-TYPE’s two key ‘heartlines’ remain, the most prominent change being the completely new, D-type-inspired, rear fairing section that incorporates a rollover hoop and swoops down from behind the driver’s head. The roof system has been completely removed.

Aerodynamic modifications include a carbon-fibre front splitter, side skirts, large rear diffuser and a fixed rear spoiler with a 14-degree angle of attack, giving Project 7 a low, unified, muscular stance. The side louvres and bonnet vents are also carbon-fibre, while the carbon-fibre and aluminium wing mirrors draw inspiration from those on Jaguar’s C-X16 sports car concept, from which F-TYPE is derived.

The windshield has been lowered, while a new nose design incorporates revised air intakes and headlights with gloss black surrounds instead of chrome. The car sits on 20-inch Blade forged-alloy wheels with carbon-fibre inserts.

The cockpit of Project 7 is no less impressive than its exterior. The driver sits in a composite bucket seat, lowered by 30mm, and is gripped by a four-point racing harness. The passenger seat is replaced by a unique helmet holder, which carries a custom-designed Project 7 helmet in matching blue paint and graphics, secured by its own harness.

The seat and the insides of the doors are finished in a quilted racing-style diamond pattern. There are carbon-fibre inserts on the console and SportShift lever, the start-stop button is gloss black and the steering wheel is equipped with machined aluminium paddles.

Project 7: Technical Specification*

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Engine Capacity (cc)	5000
Cylinders	8
Valves per cylinder	4
Compression ratio	9.5:1
Bore/stroke (mm)	92.5/93.0
Bore/stroke (inches)	3.64/3.66
Transmission	Eight-speed ‘Quickshift’
PERFORMANCE
0-60mph (sec)	4.1
0-100km/h (sec)	4.2
50-75mph (sec)	2.4
80-120km/h (sec)	2.4
Top speed - electronically limited (mph)	186
Top speed - electronically limited (km/h)	300
Power (PS@rpm)	550@6500
Power (kW@rpm)	405@6500
Torque (lb ft@rpm)	502@2500-5500
Torque (Nm@rpm)	680@2500-5500
Wheels	20-inch Blade forged-alloy
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero 255/30/20 (front) / 295/30/20 (rear)

*ALL FIGURES ARE MANUFACTURER’S ESTIMATES

Read More

Caterham unleashes most powerful Seven at Goodwood

Caterham Cars will launch its most extreme Seven to date at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend (July 12-14).

As the lightweight sportscar manufacturer celebrates 40 years of developing and building the Seven, Caterham is re-inventing the already enviable parameters of its iconic model, with the Seven 620R setting a new benchmark in outrageous performance.

A newly-engineered, two-litre supercharged Ford Duratec engine pumps out 310bhp, providing even more of a kick in the back for the driver and propelling the Seven 620R from 0-60mph in under 2.8 seconds.

Priced at £49,995 (incl VAT) fully built, such extreme performance, pushing on to a top speed of 155mph, will put the 620R at the top of the current range, replacing the legendary Superlight R500.

Caterham F1 Team driver Charles Pic will drive the 620R up the famous Goodwood hill at the Festival of Speed, as will Caterham F1 Team reserve driver and Caterham Racing GP2 driver, Alexander Rossi.

A static version of the new car will also feature on Caterham’s Festival of Speed stand, along with other performance vehicles from across the Caterham Group.

Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald, said: “The 620R is the most hardcore production Seven ever built for the road.

“The R500 claimed its place in motoring history as a benchmark for lightweight sportscar performance but this new vehicle pushes the boundaries even further.

“While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this car for those inexperienced in driving Caterhams, we always ensure that even our fastest cars retain the manageable delivery of power that makes them accessible, despite the daunting statistics.”

The 620R is diametrically opposed to the new ultra-efficient, affordable entry-level Seven that will sit at the opposite end of the range when Caterham unveils it in Autumn this year.

Like all Sevens, the 620R adheres to Caterham’s brand mantra of delivering ‘accessible fun’ and the traditional Caterham minimalistic, lightweight approach to the engineering of the car is ever-present.

As well as producing more horsepower and torque than any previous incarnation of the Seven, the 620R also benefits from several other new enhancements.

The car features a unique gunmetal chassis, an air-flow optimised nose cone and a race-developed cooling package. De Dion rear suspension and wide track front suspension units are complemented by high-performance dampers all round, while the car sits on lightweight, 13” alloy wheels fitted with track-inspired Avon ZZR tyres.

In the cockpit, there are more noticeable improvements, with features including performance-focused instrumentation and ergonomic switchgear.

Meanwhile, carbon fibre interior panels and dash plus carbon fibre race seats and a Q/R race steering wheel complete the sports feel to the interior.

“The Seven 620R is an extreme piece of kit,” concludes Macdonald. “We know there is demand for cars that re-write the rules of performance and, if you’re brave enough to take it on, the 620R will be an enormously rewarding, fun car to pilot.”

While the launch edition of the Seven 620 features the sportier ‘R’ pack, a slightly less hardcore ‘S’ pack, which harnesses all the power of the original but offers a little more accessibility will be launched later this year.

Orders are now being taken for the Caterham Seven 620R, with first deliveries expected later this year.

Read More

The new Suzuki Swift 4x4 - SZ4

Suzuki has a strong global heritage for its 4WD models and now, following sales success in Japan as well as several European Countries including Germany and Switzerland, Suzuki is launching the 4x4 Swift in the UK and it goes on sale this month.

Swift 4x4 will be available as a five door 1.2 petrol model with manual transmission and equipped as either an SZ3 or SZ4 grade.

Apart from 4x4 badging and a slightly increased body ride height of 25mm the SZ3 grade appears identical to an equivalent SZ3 five door. The SZ4 model has a more rugged appearance and offers extra protection over rough ground by adding front and rear skid plates, black wheel arch extensions and black side skirts.

This new model has a proven and simple fully automatic and permanent 4-wheel drive system which transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required via a viscous coupling, further enhancing the already highly acclaimed cornering ability of the Swift.

It is also an ideal choice for customers living in rural areas needing additional mobility or for crossing slippery surfaces during winter without owning a larger and more conventional SUV sized vehicle.

Thanks to the use of small and lightweight components Swift 4x4 is just 65kg heavier than an equivalent 2WD petrol model and emissions are only 10g/km higher at 126g/km.

Included in Suzuki’s recently extended VAT free offers, the 4WD Swift is priced at £11,516 for SZ3 and £13,116 for the higher specified SZ4 model which now includes power folding door mirrors with integral indicators and Daylight Running Lamps as standard equipment.

Read More

Aston Martin celebrates centenary at Brands Hatch

Tens of thousands of motor racing fans flocked to the Aston Martin Centenary Festival at Brands Hatch at the weekend to celebrate the British luxury sports car maker’s 100^th anniversary.

In bright sunshine the spectators enjoyed parades, static displays and 12 thrilling races, including the fourth and fifth rounds of the GT4 Challenge of Great Britain and the 100-minute GT Centenary Race – the pinnacle of the weekend.

Aston Martin Racing works driver Bruno Senna, competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2013, showed off the V8-powered Vantage GTE while celebrity chef James Martin competed in a Vantage GT4. A gathering of pre-war Aston Martins and iconic models from the James Bond films added to the list of attractions.

Stratton Motorsport won the first of two QuickSilver Exhausts and Post Vintage-sponsored GT4 Challenge of Great Britain rounds on Saturday to strengthen their lead at the top of the points table and British Touring Car Championship star Tom Onslow-Cole made a guest appearance in the race with Mardi Gras Racing.

On Sunday, no fewer than 44 Aston Martin GT racers competed in the 100-minute GT Centenary Race to cap a weekend of celebrations. The star-studded race included Aston Martin Racing works drivers Jonny Adam and Stuart Hall, Aston Martin Chairman David Richards while James Martin and Tom Onslow-Cole returned for a second day of racing.

Villois Racing and PGF-Kinfaun battled hard throughout the race for honours, with Massimiliano Wiser and Alvaro Barba Lopez eventually reaching the chequered flag first to clinch the victory for Villois Racing. Barwell Motorsport rounded out the podium, while Track Club took the win in the GT4 Challenge of Great Britain category.

The schedule included ten historic races, reflecting Aston Martins enduring involvement in motorsport that reaches back to the 1930s. The 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 was on display to mark the luxury sports car manufacturer’s famous victory at La Sarthe.

As a mark of respect for Allan Simonsen, the Aston Martin Racing works driver who lost his life in the famous 24-hour race a fortnight ago, a one minute silence was held ahead of Sunday’s 100-minute GT Centenary Race.

David Richards comments: “The weekend was a huge success; a fitting way to celebrate 100 years of Aston Martin’s motor racing history. The large number of spectators who came to Brands Hatch to enjoy the celebration also reflects the huge enthusiasm and support we enjoy for Aston Martin’s current racing activities.

“On the track, the Aston Martin Owners Club members put on several entertaining races. In the GT4 Challenge and the 100-minute GT Centenary Race our Aston Martin Racing customers battled fiercely on the circuit, yet the atmosphere in the paddock was, as usual, friendly and jovial, which is so typical of Aston Martin’s motorsport events.”

Aston Martin will continue its centenary celebrations in a week of events starting on 15 July, concluding with the largest gathering of the marque’s cars in the history of the brand at Kensington Gardens on Sunday 21 July.

Aston Martin Racing will continue its campaign in the FIA World Endurance Championship at the Six Hours of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday 1 September.

Read More

Duel: Range Rover vs Spitfire

Two supreme examples of British engineering, the All-New Range Rover Sport and the legendary Supermarine Spitfire, have engaged in a unique duel to measure their off-road mastery.

The Range Rover Sport, the fastest production Land Rover to date, representing the latest advances in all-terrain performance has been pitted against Britain’s most famous fighter aircraft in a high-speed off-road race along the grass airstrip at the Goodwood Aerodrome in Sussex. Land Rover was invited to take part in the challenge, formulated by Goodwood’s FortyOneSix.com website. It provided a perfect curtain raiser for this weekend’s Festival of Speed, where the new Range Rover Sport will be making its UK dynamic debut.

The race – the first of its kind at the airfield – involved a straight drag run down and back on the runway, punctuated by a nimble U-turn. It was particularly challenging being conducted on the bumpy grass airfield, notorious for being a low traction surface.

The Vickers Supermarine Spitfire lined up for the contest was a 1945-vintage model, piloted by Matt Jones from the Boultbee Flight Academy. Powered by a 1,750bhp V12 Merlin engine, it has a maximum airspeed of 400 mph, and its typical acceleration on take-off is up to 80mph before the wheels leave the ground, making it a strong contender for victory against the Land Rover.

Mike Cross, Jaguar Land Rover’s Chief Vehicle Integrity Engineer, was at the wheel of the All-New Range Rover Sport, a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 model with 510 hp on tap. Even though grass is one of the most challenging terrains on which to gain traction, for both acceleration and breaking, Cross still managed to clock a top speed of 130 mph before braking for the mid-race turn.

The turn manoeuvre was helped by the Range Rover Sport’s new Torque Vectoring technology, which contributes to stable and secure cornering by applying appropriate braking to the inside wheels.

Cross explained that Land Rover was pleased to take up the challenge: “The team couldn’t resist the challenge laid down by FortyOneSix.com and to race such a British icon.

“It’s always difficult to find traction from a standing start on grass, but the Range Rover Sport made a great launch off the line. I was surprised by how bumpy the course was as I accelerated up to 130mph, and of course the other extreme challenge is to brake in time for the turn-around, but the car felt composed throughout the whole run.”

To find out whether it was classic or cutting-edge British engineering that won the day, the film and more details can be viewed here: www.FortyOneSix.com. FortyOneSix.com is Goodwood’s online magazine and social media website covering news, features and events in the world of motor sport, cars, motorbikes and aircraft. The film will also be available on Land Rover’s social media channels:www.facebook.com/landroveruk and www.twitter.com/landrover_uk.

Read More

Vauxhall Monza Concept

Vauxhall Monza Concept.

After 110 years as one of the UK’s leading automotive innovators, Vauxhall – and sister company, Opel – is set to reveal a groundbreaking concept ahead of its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

Known as the Monza Concept, and partially unveiled today by Opel/Vauxhall’s CEO, Karl-Thomas Neumann, the car represents a vision of the company’s future, while crucially giving an indication of its design targets. ‘It covers a whole range of subject areas and elements,’ said Karl-Thomas. ‘It carries them forward in a visionary fashion, expressing them with fresh inspiration and clarity. This car is a study that will have a long-term impact on the next generation of Vauxhall and Opel models.’

Monza Concept: Beginning the next generation of Opel/Vauxhall vehicles

The Monza Concept shows what Vauxhall customers can expect to see in the future. It focuses on two major themes – efficiency and connectivity – which will be top priorities for the 6,000-strong team of engineers, technicians and designers developing the next generation of models.  The Monza Concept demonstrates outstanding efficiency through its architecture and use of materials, as well as in its aerodynamics and ground-breaking powertrain solution. In terms of connectivity, it offers possibilities that are a quantum leap in the development of infotainment systems.

Representing a styling evolution of Vauxhall’s ‘sculptural artistry meets technical precision’, the Monza Concept develops a new theme which conveys a sense of lithe athleticism, rather than pure muscle power.

This design emphasis is immediately apparent in the vehicle’s frontal styling. A low stance with flowing lines, the clearly defined bonnet and striking headlamp treatment all combine to give the car an extra dose of self-confidence. Further developed signature Vauxhall themes are embedded in the overall look: the typical crease on the bonnet appears more three-dimensional and prominent, while the chrome grille bar carrying the brand logo now sweeps up with winglets at its tips. Two characteristic blades under the headlamps add to the appeal. Overall, the Monza Concept has a light, athletic look designed to convey efficiency, excitement and great driving fun.

While the name ‘Monza’ harks back to an Opel production model, which was first sold in the UK in the late Seventies, Vauxhall’s mirror-image version was the better-known Royale, built from 1978 to 1982.  The Monza and Royale combined fresh and rakish styling with clever, functional solutions for drivers and passengers. Similarities between the Concept and original Monza/Royale are visible in some design elements, such as their large, glazed surfaces and low belt line.

The original Monza/Royale was the first car on the market to feature a digital dashboard display and the Monza Concept continues this innovative theme. It introduces ground-breaking technologies for future infotainment and connectivity, showing how next-generation Vauxhall cars will address the needs of a more closely connected and communications-savvy society. They will enable future individual mobility that’s more than simply a driving experience alone.

XVR – The start of Vauxhall’s concept car heritage

Vauxhall XVR.

The Monza Concept is the latest of a long line of influential design studies that Vauxhall has created to illustrate its future styling direction. Nearly 50 years ago, the XVR took centre stage at the 1966 Geneva Salon. Largely the work of Vauxhall’s head of design, David Jones, the concept was remarkably prescient, with its wide, low-profile tyres aping the visual change in contemporary Formula One cars, which required more grip to cater for the power produced by the new 3-litre engine formula. And like the Monza Concept, the XVR provided hints to design cues on future production models, such as the unique, ultra-slim tail-lights of the Viva HC. As well as the XVR show concept, a driveable car was built and tested by Vauxhall.

“With the Monza Concept, we make our automotive future tangible today,” said Karl-Thomas. And fueling curiosity about Rüsselsheim’s newest study ahead of its world premiere, he added: “I can’t yet go into detail about how the Monza Concept’s interior design – and especially its trend-setting technologies – will change the driving experience. However, I can guarantee that viewed from any angle, its innovative body design and perfect proportions will turn heads. But they are just a visible expression of the great substance you will find under the bodywork. Everyone should visit us at the Opel/Vauxhall stand at the IAA to get a look at our exciting future!”

Read More