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Tyre giant joins code of conduct
(Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:15:00 GMT)
The UK’s largest independent tyre distributor and fitter has joined the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair.
Micheldever, which sells six million tyres in the UK each year, has signed up all of is 50 Protyre outlets to the code.
The code is designed to provide motorists with an easy way to find a reputable and reliable business to carry out work on their car. It also offers conciliation and legally binding arbitration in the event of a dispute.
Micheldever’s retail director, Simon Hiorns, said: ‘Protyre has built a reputation for providing exceptional service, something that the Motor Code allows us to promote to our customers.’
There are more than 6000 service and repair garages signed up to the voluntary code, which was launched in response to criticism of standards within the industry. It encourages best practice and is actively recruiting more garages to join.
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Nissan's most-efficient Micra
(Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:58:00 GMT)
There was a vital ingredient missing when we drove the new Nissan Micra a few months back, and that was the more powerful of its new 1.2-litre petrol engines.
Record-low CO2
That missing engine is currently known by the unwieldy designation HR12DDR. It's a direct-injection supercharged unit that gets more energy out of its fuel than other engines through a clever valve-timing system. With the additional help of stop-start, so you're not wasting fuel when stationary in traffic, it sets a new record-low for CO2 from a petrol engine – 95g/km – and achieves nearly 71mpg.
No ball of fire
Despite producing 98bhp and 105lb ft of torque – both well up on those of the standard 1.2 that's your only other engine option with the new Micra – we wouldn't want you to run away with the idea that it makes the Micra some kind of tiny tearaway, however. It doesn't. You don't have to thrash the car so hard at motorway pace to maintain decent momentum and it pulls more strongly when you want to pick up speed, but it's still pretty leisurely. It's also pretty quiet, although there's still some three-cylinder thrum.
Designed for emerging markets
As for the rest of the car, it's roomy, light, ridiculously manoeuverable and likely to be cracking value, but there's much work to be done to European-ise the interior and suspension before we can say that a car that’s been designed for emerging markets can cut it in a mature one such as the UK.
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Infiniti targets ‘green’ Europe
(Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:25:00 GMT)
Small-capacity petrol and diesel engines and a compact car to rival the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series are part of Infiniti's plans to reduce the average carbon footprint of its range and make it more appealing to European buyers.
Engine deal
The four-cylinder petrol and diesel units will be supplied by Mercedes-Benz following the recent deal between Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes and Smart, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which includes Infiniti. In return, Infiniti will sell its next-generation V6 and V8 petrol engines to Daimler.
The G saloon will be the first Infiniti to be Mercedes-powered, but not until a replacement model comes along in two to three years. Then Infiniti will have a car to take on the BMW 320d in the UK's all-important business market.
Compact hatchback or saloon
A compact hatchback or saloon to sit below the G has not yet been confirmed, but Andy Palmer – the British head of product planning for the whole Nissan Group – admits it is in the company's thinking. 'It is the sort of thing we should be looking at,' he says.
If it comes it is almost certain to be front-wheel drive, whereas the entire current range has either rear- or four-wheel drive. Infiniti has admitted that the compact electric car it is working on, for launch before the end of 2014, will be driven at the front, using the powertrain of the all-electric Nissan Leaf, which goes on sale at the end of this year.
Petrol-electric hybrid
Earlier this year Infiniti launched its first diesels when it slotted a 3.0-litre V6 into the EX crossover and the big FX off-roader, and next year it will launch its first petrol-electric hybrid in the M, a BMW 5 Series-sized saloon. The hybrid will have an engine stop-start system, which will eventually become uniform in the majority of Infinitis, says Palmer.
Infiniti has no plans to create a green sub-brand such as BMW's Efficient Dynamics or Mercedes' Blue Efficiency, however. Palmer says green drive systems will simply be slotted into cars as they are updated or replaced. 'At heart we remain a performance brand,' he says.
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Infiniti M35 hybrid driven
(Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:10:00 GMT)
By this time next year Infiniti will be in the unique position in the UK executive saloon market of being able to offer petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains.
It's quite a feather in the cap of a company that has operated in the UK for less than a year and that sells only penny numbers.
The car in question is the new M, and it is Infiniti's first hybrid. To be honest, it isn't primarily aimed at Europe, though. It's a car for America, the Far East, Russia and the occasional country such as Switzerland where diesel enjoys the same kind of popularity as BP currently does on the Gulf of Mexico.
Still, Infiniti reckons it could do well here in the UK, possibly claiming 40% of M sales. For one thing, it will have better performance than either the 3.0-litre diesel (M30d) or 3.7-litre V6 petrol (M37) models. It will also have the lowest CO2 emissions – comfortably below 200g/km – although it will also be the most expensive, possibly as much as £5000 more than the corresponding M37.
The strange thing is that we're being allowed to drive it now, before the V6 petrol, which has just gone on sale, or the diesel that arrives in October. When we say 'drive', we should perhaps point out that it was only for a short time around a test track in Japan. The hybrid won't actually be available until next spring, and engineers are still working on finalising the production version.
Still, the powertrain is the real deal but for a bit of final tuning of the software that controls the gearbox. It combines Infiniti's old 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, developing 303bhp, with a 67bhp electric motor. There's nearly 200lb ft of torque at around 1000rpm from the electric motor, and 259lb ft at 5000rpm from the V6. Why not the newer and more powerful 3.7-litre engine? With the additional clout of an electric motor, Infiniti says the 3.5 does more than nicely.
There's a twin-clutch seven-speed auto gearbox instead of one with a torque converter, cutting fuel consumption by up to 10%, while a new electronic power steering system helps to save another 2%.
Infiniti reckons you can drive for about a mile-and-a-quarter at speeds of up to 50mph using only the electric motor, but we reckon you'll need to treat the throttle like a landmine to do so. The system is gorgeously smooth, though, and it propels a hefty car (120kg more than the as-yet-undeclared weight of the M37) with some vigour. There's no delay when you want to get going, either. With no torque converter to slow response times, the powertrain's reactions are close to instantaneous. It's refined, too, with just enough V6 crackle when you really stir the engine into life.
You're aware of the car's weight and not-inconsiderable size when you ask it to change direction – at more than 4.9 metres, it's closer in length to standard-wheelbase limos than other executive saloons – but let's not dwell on how it rides and handles right now, because the set-up will be changed for Europe. As it stands it's more of a gobbler of motorway miles than a car to have you seeking out short-cuts. The steering feel is artificial, but the weighting does change as you turn the wheel to let you know you're loading the front tyres.
It's a handsome car from just about every angle, and if the style of some trim is more American or Oriental than European, few will quibble about the feel of it, or the interior layout. Space in the rear isn't exactly generous given the car's size, and you lose a portion of the boot to the batteries, but Infiniti says it passes the two-golf-bags test. The batteries are of the lighter lithium-ion variety, so there shouldn't be the payload issues you get with the Lexus GS450h.
All in all, it feels a good effort, particularly if your interest is in fast motorway expresses rather than sports saloons. It will come only in luxurious GT spec and be loaded to the rafters with kit, including some safety items denied most of the grandees of the executive car world, and you'll be looked after like royalty by the (currently sole) UK dealership. At least there'll be a couple more by the time it goes on sale.
What Car? says
As a business express, it has a lot going for it
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More stop-start for autos on the way
(Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:05:00 GMT)
Bosch has developed a new engine stop-start system for use with a wider range of automatic gearboxes.
Although stop-start systems are already available on a small number of automatic cars, the new system is suitable for a broader spectrum of gearboxes.
It can be used with dual-clutch transmissions, such as those used by Volkswagen and Porsche, automated manual gearboxes and more traditional torque converter ’boxes.
Significant savings
Bosch says the system cuts fuel consumption and emissions by an average of 5%, while around town it can improve efficiency by 8%.
Drivers will not have to take cars out of ‘Drive’ to use the system, which means Bosch has had to make the restart process faster with modifications to the starter motor and injection systems.
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VW Jetta driven
(Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:44:00 GMT)
We might have a ‘special relationship’ with America, but we don’t agree on everything. Take our respective tastes in Volkswagens, for example. The Golf is the UK’s favourite VW with its sharp looks and hatchback practicality, while the US market’s insatiable appetite for saloon cars means the Jetta is the best seller across the Atlantic.
Euro-style makeover
It’s no surprise, then, that the latest Jetta has been designed specifically for American tastes. Don’t panic, though – before the car arrives on our shores next year, it’ll undergo a raft of changes to make it more palatable to European tastes.
Those orange indicator lenses will be the first things to go, the European models coming with clear lenses instead. Other than that, the European versions will look identical from the outside. The hard plastics we found inside the US cars will be replaced with softer, more tactile materials, too, so expect Golf-like levels of sophistication and quality.
There is also generous space for four adults, plus a 510-litre boot that’s well-shaped and comes with a split-folding rear seat.
More photos of the VW Jetta
There’ll be mechanical differences, too, and it’s just as well. Most of the US cars have hydraulic steering, which is a little too light at high speed, and a torsion beam rear suspension, which gives a slightly knobbly ride. European cars, on the other hand, will have the same electro-mechanical steering and multilink rear suspension as the Golf, which VW says will make it more civilised. Having driven a European-spec prototype, we can confirm that. The suspension gives you a great balance between comfort and control, while the steering is well-weighted and consistent.
Engines
Expect some cracking engines, too. Rather than the large-capacity petrol engines that American customers will snap up, we’ll have the choice of more familiar VW offerings. Petrol options include the 104bhp 1.2 TSI, a pair of 1.4s with either 120bhp or 158bhp, and a 2.0-litre with 197bhp. Diesel buyers can choose between the 104bhp 1.6 and the 138bhp 2.0. We’ve tried both 2.0-litre engines, and both feel as strong and as smooth as we’ve come to expect.
UK prices and equipment levels are a long way off being finalised, but expect the new Jetta to cost about the same as the outgoing model. That means it won’t be cheap, but it won’t be top-dollar, either.
Ivan.Aistrop@whatcar.com
What Car? Says…
Most of the Golf’s strengths in a sleek and sexy saloon package
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Top 10 ways to beat road rage and stress
(Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:30:00 GMT)
A new report suggests road rage and disrespectful driving could lead to 800 road deaths a year in the UK.
That's more than a quarter of all road deaths, so what can you do to avoid becoming part of the statistics?
How to beat road rage and stress
• Forgive and forget - everyone has bad days. If someone cuts you up, doesn't indicate or blocks you in, put it down to them having a bad moment and move on.
• Count to 10 and breathe deeply - try to stay calm at all times. Getting worked up isn't just going to make you more likely to have an accident, it's also bad for your general health. Slowly counting to 10 and taking deep breaths really does work.
• Keep your distance - giving yourself plenty of space from the car in front will give you more time to react to any sudden moves they may make. Tailgating someone who isn't moving out of the fast lane will wind them up and create a vicious cycle that could end in disaster.
• Don't overreact - being in a car can give you false sense of security and make you react more violently than you would, for instance, in a supermarket shopping queue. Don't make obscene gestures or swear - you'd look a little silly doing this in Tesco, so don't do it in your car.
• Avoid eye contact - if things start to get out of hand, avoid eye contact and don't get dragged in to a battle. Head for a police station or a busy place like a supermarket car park if you're getting worried, and sound your horn.
• Apologise - if you make a mistake, admit it. Simply holding up your hand in apology can work wonders and help to defuse situations before they get out of hand.
• Give yourself time - if you find you're regularly stressed and under pressure to get places in your car, make a big effort to leave earlier and give yourself more time for your journey.
• Get plenty of sleep - you're more likely to overreact and be irrational if you haven't had enough sleep, so make sure you've recharged your batteries fully.
• Change your tune - Slipknot is likely to make you more aggressive than Beethoven, so try switching radio stations or MP3 files if the soundtrack is starting to wind you up.
• Rise above it all - prove you're a good driver. Let people out, give other motorists plenty of room and stay calm.
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Does road rage kill 800 a year in UK?
(Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:01:00 GMT)
Road rage and disrespect among motorists is costing 800 lives a year in the UK and adding £945 million to insurance premiums.
That's the verdict insurer AXA has reached following research into driver habits and behaviour.
AXA reports that 35% of the motorists it polled said they had been made angry or frightened by another driver's behaviour just before they were involved in a serious or costly accident.
With 2222 people killed on UK roads in 2009, AXA calculates that nearly 800 lives are lost because of road rage and disrespectful driving.
Craig Staniland, Insurance director for AXA, said: 'A return to good manners and consideration could prevent nasty accidents and needless anguish.
'Disrespectful driving seems to be reaching pandemic proportions as drivers fail to see the potential consequences of thoughtless driving.'
The insurer reckons £35 of every motorist's insurance premium covers accidents caused by road rage – resulting in an annual bill of £945 million.
Need some tips on how to calm down?
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Cars get cleaner thanks to scrappage
(Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:39:00 GMT)
Emissions from new cars have fallen by almost 5% thanks to the popularity of small cars that were bought through the scrappage scheme.
Average CO2 emissions fell 4.7% to 145.2g/km during the first half of 2010, compared with the same period in 2009, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
The SMMT's chief executive, Paul Everitt, said: 'Continued vehicle manufacturer efforts to improve fuel efficiency and cut emissions have further reduced average CO2 output during a better-than-anticipated first half of 2010.
'The remainder of the year is set to be challenging, especially now the scrappage scheme has ended.'
Alternative-fuel vehicles
Sales of alternatively powered vehicles reached 11,468 during the first half of 2010, an increase of 50% over the same period in 2009.
Registrations of eco-branded cars, such as the VW Bluemotion or Ecoflex from Vauxhall, have also soared to 74,000 vehicles so far in 2010, – 141.4% up on the first half of 2009 and 850% more than during the same period in 2008.
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Volvo S60 D5 driven
(Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:27:00 GMT)
Can Volvo do 'sporty'? It claims the new S60 is its sportiest model yet, but does it sacrifice Volvo's more traditional attributes – supreme comfort and interior quality – as it aspires to sharper-handling rivals from BMW and Audi?
Performance
On paper, the D5 version looks like the best option for putting these questions to the test. We've already group-tested the 161bhp 2.0-litre D3 (What Car? September 2010), but the D5's 2.4-litre twin-turbo diesel produces an extra 41bhp, so it certainly has the power to back up Volvo's claims of improved sportiness. It's a punchy engine, too, delivering brisk acceleration from low revs no matter what gear you're in. By comparison, the 2.0-litre D3 feels a little flat low down – there's a power surge from around 1800 rpm – and runs out of puff earlier, so you'll find yourself changing gear more often.
The D5's refinement is less impressive: it's louder than the D3, particularly when you rev it. However, average fuel economy and CO2 emissions match those of the smaller engine.
Dynamics
So, with the performance box ticked – what about the handling? Former Touring Car champ John Cleland helped Volvo develop the S60's chassis and, overall, he hasn't done a bad job. The steering is a bit too quick, which means you often find yourself turning into a corner and then having to adjust the amount you've turned the wheel, but body movements are tightly controlled and, on-the-whole, the S60 manages to successfully combine comfort with composure.
More photos of the Volvo S6O
The S60's interior also impresses, with top-notch materials and comfortable seats. It's an oversight, though, that there's no rest for the driver's left foot, and the remote control for the car's multimedia system takes a while to get used to, but overall the S60 is a fine place to be.
Safety tech
City safety – where the car can sense a slower-moving vehicle ahead and apply the brakes if you get too close – is standard on every S60, while for £1200 you can add a Driver Support Pack, which includes a world-first system that automatically brakes the car when a pedestrian wanders into the car's path.
Engine options
As well as the diesels, Volvo is offering a wallet-emptying T6 3.0-litre petrol at launch, but petrol buyers will get the option of T3, T4 and T5 2.0-litre models in November (with 148-, 177- and 237bhp respectively).
An efficient DRIVe model, which comes with a 1.6 diesel engine and a host of fuel-saving features, will also join the line-up in February 2011.
However, for now, most S60 buyers will be choosing between the D3 and the D5. We'd stick with the D3. It has enough power for most situations and is more refined – as well as being more than £2000 cheaper than the D5.
Iain.Reid@whatcar.com
What Car? says…
A lot to like, but the D3 is a better bet
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Electric cars 'mean design innovation'
(Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:35:00 GMT)
Electric cars will give designers the freedom to come up with more innovative-looking vehicles, says Shiro Nakamura, the chief creative officer of Nissan and Infiniti.
Concept cars such as Nissan's Pivo, and the Twizy from Alliance partner Renault, give clues to the sort of things we could see in years to come, according to Mr Nakamura.
The Pivo is a bubble-like car capable of being driven forwards, backwards or sideways, while the Twizy is a four-wheeled covered scooter, or quadricycle.
'Realistic approach'
Twizy is scheduled for production in 2012, and will be largely unchanged from the concept car, but there is less chance of people ever being able to buy a Pivo as things stand.
'Technically it is feasible,' says Nakamura. 'The difficulty is cost. Would people be willing to pay $1million (£650,000) for it? We want our electric vehicles to be as reasonable and affordable as possible, therefore we take a realistic approach.'
Eight EVs planned
The alliance plans to introduce eight electric vehicles within the next three or four years, the first of which – the Nissan Leaf – will be on sale later this year for just over £28,000 – before Government grants.
In design terms it is not much different from petrol or diesel mid-sized hatchbacks already on sale, but Nakamura says that future electric cars are likely to be more avant-garde.
'Today we are utilising existing platforms, but we are gradually developing unique electric-vehicle platforms that will give us much more freedom with our second- or third-generation cars,' he says. 'We have much more interesting ideas coming.'
One of the four electric vehicles to come from the Nissan side of the Alliance will be an Infiniti, but Nakamura is warning people not to expect anything too radical. 'The first-generation Infiniti electric vehicle will not necessarily be too different (from the cars we are used to),' he says. 'But the emotional expression has to be Infiniti.'
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Porsche to build 918 Spyder
(Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:05:00 GMT)
Porsche is to put its stunning 918 Spyder into production, the company has confirmed.
Revealed as a concept car at this year's Geneva motor show earlier this year, the 918 Spyder is a two-seat, ultra-high-performance, mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology.
Porsche claims it's capable of 94mpg and CO2 emissions of just 70g/km, but can blast from 0-62mph in just 3.2 seconds and around the Nurburgring in Germany in less than 7.5 minutes.
Michael Macht, president and chairman of the board of management of Porsche said: 'Production of the 918 Spyder in a limited series proves that we are taking the right approach with Porsche Intelligent Performance featuring the combination of supreme performance and efficient drivetrain concepts.'
Further details about the 918 Spyder will be confirmed soon, but the concept car was powered by a V8 engine delivering more than 500bhp, and three electric motors with an overall output of 215bhp.
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Top 10 ways to cut car insurance bills
(Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:24:00 GMT)
Car insurance premiums are rocketing.
Uninsured drivers, insurance scams and high-risk drivers are to blame, but you don't have to accept an increase in your premium as inevitable.
Do some homework, spend a little time on the internet and telephone, and you could see your bill going down, not up.
Our top 10 tips to beat the insurance increase
• Shop around online
It's the simplest tip, but the one that could save you the most money. Use comparison sites to narrow down providers, but don't assume that this is as cheap as your premium can get. That’s where the next tip comes in.
• Get them to fight for your cash
Phone the companies to see if they can beat the online quote. Don’t forget to contact insurers, like Direct Line, that aren’t on comparison sites.
• Mum and dad
Young drivers can save money by going on their parents' policy, but if they're the main driver of the car in question, they could get in trouble for 'fronting' – where an older, more experienced and lower-risk motorist is insured as the 'main driver' of a vehicle. Young drivers who put their mum and dad on their policy as additional drivers could still lower their premium because their parents are lower risk drivers.
• Find a friendly female
Like mum and dad, women are also considered lower risk than men, so men adding a female driver to the policy could also get a reduction in their premium.
• Drive other cars
You might think having access to other cars would increase your premium, but the opposite can be true. Try putting a partner's car on the policy – or a friend's or mum and dad's – and see what happens.
• Realistic values
There's no point insuring a £5000 car for £50,000. Your premium will rocket and you certainly won't get £50,000 for your Ford Focus in the event of a write-off.
• £9995, not £10,000
Drop the value of your car by a few pounds and you premium may fall.
• Extras and excess
Cutting back on extras such as breakdown recovery and European cover will reduce bills, but it might prove misguided if you're likely to need these services. The same goes for the excess – increasing the amount you pay before the insurance company puts its hand in its pockets will cut premiums, but if you make a claim, it can come back to bite you.
• Pay up front
Insurers will charge interest if you pay monthly, so settling in full up front will be cheaper.
• Limit your driving
Agreeing to a lower-mileage limit should also reduce your costs. The Young Marmalade scheme, which rolls a car and insurance into one package – and limits driving at night when young motorists are at increased risk – could also help cut bills for young drivers.
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Electric/plug-in car grant to go ahead
(Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:45:00 GMT)
The £5000 Government payment towards the price of an electric or plug-in hybrid car will go ahead next year.
There had been concerns that the grant would be scrapped as part of wide-ranging cuts to be detailed in the comprehensive spending review this October.
A statement from the Department for Transport said: 'Exceptionally, the Government has agreed the announcement of this incentive ahead of the completion of the spending review to support the early market for ultra-low-carbon cars.'
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV city car will cost £33,699 with the grant, while the larger Nissan Leaf, due in February next year, will cost £23,500 with the incentive.
Enough cash for 8600 cars
Although the level of the scheme will be reviewed in January 2012, the £5000 offer is set until March 2012, so the Vauxhall Ampera plug-in car will also benefit and cost around £30,000.
In all, £43 million is available for the first phase of the scheme up to March 2012 – enough for 8600 cars. The full £5000 is available as long as it does'nt exceed 25% of the list price of the car, something that doesn't affect any of the current or forthcoming models.
The discount will be applied at the point of sale, so car buyers won't have to pay the full amount first and then claim the money back. There is no limit to the number of cars you can buy and receive the incentive on, and the scheme is open to both private individuals and companies.
Cars will have to meet safety and performance criteria
Anyone wanting to claim the grant will have to buy a car that meets the following criteria:
• It must be a car – not quad bike-based vehicles such as the G-Wiz;
• Emit a maximum of 75g/km of CO2 if it's a plug-in hybrid;
• Have a minimum range of 70 miles if it's an electric-only vehicle;
• Have a minimum battery-powered range of 10 miles if a plug-in hybrid;
• Have a three-year or 75,000-mile warranty;
• Have a three-year warranty on the battery or a five-year warranty if requested by the customer;
• It must retain 'a reasonable degree of performance after a three-year period of normal use'.
Find out more about electric cars and plug-ins
Type 'electric' or 'plug-in' into our search box and you'll find lots of information on electric cars on whatcar.com, from first drives and videos to announcements on new electric models.
Here's a quick taster of what's on offer on whatcar.com:
• All about electric cars
• Nissan Leaf on video
• Nissan Leaf driven
• Vauxhall Ampera on video
• Vauxhall Ampera driven
• Plug-in Prius trials start
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Seat Ibiza ST prices revealed
(Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:34:00 GMT)
Seat has revealed prices for its new Ibiza ST estate.
Available to order now in S A/C, SE and Sport trims, prices start at £12,070 for the entry-level 1.4-litre 84bhp petrol model.
Prices top out at £14,910 for the 74bhp 1.2 TDI CR Ecomotive in SE trim.
With the seats in place, the ST has 430 litres of luggage space, 138 more than the five – door Ibiza. A Skoda Fabia estate has more space, but the Ibiza is on a par with the Renault Clio and beats the Peugeot 207 SW.
Standard kit for all cars includes air-conditioning, an MP3-compatible CD player and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Electric front windows, speed-sensitive power steering and remote central locking with deadlocks are also standard.
More photos of the Seat Ibiza ST
What we think of the Seat Ibiza ST...
Read our 'first drive' review of the new Seat Ibiza ST.
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Audi product avalanche continues
(Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:45:00 GMT)
Audi has just launched the A7 Sportback and there's plenty more to come.
Audi's technical director, Michael Dick, confirmed there will be a hot S7 version of the car, but we can also reveal the forthcoming Q3 crossover and next-generation A6 pictured in these computer-generated images.
The Q3 arrives in 2011 and will be available in front- and four-wheel drive, while the A6 will borrow much from the A7 and go on sale next spring.
As well as being built on the same platform as the A7, the A6 will also follow the look of the A5 Sportback with its interior and exterior styling.
There will also be the electric sports car, battery-powered supermini and the R4 baby brother to the R8 that we've previously revealed.
42 models by 2015
The relentless release schedule means Audi will have 42 models in its line-up by 2015, a world away from 1978 when it offered just two – the 80 and 100.
Computer-generated image of the Audi Q3 Audi boss Rupert Stadler said the increase in the number of models on offer would help to bolster strong sales which, so far this year, have hit record levels of 550,000 vehicles.
Increased demand from China will play a large part in future sales, but Audi boss Stadler is also confident the global economy is now past its lowest point.
'We have new products, refreshed cars and we have more to come. The world economy has momentum and we have the right products. Yes, there are countries with debts that are still not resolved, but any fall will not be as severe as we have come through already. I am optimistic.'
Read our exclusive interview with the man in overall charge of the design of all of these cars, as well as Lamborghini, Seat and VW, Walter de Silva.
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Earn money renting out your car?
(Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:38:00 GMT)
An online scheme that rents out your car to other motorists could earn you cash, but if you owe finance on the vehicle you could end up in hot water instead, according to the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA).
Whipcar.com connects you with drivers looking to rent a car, and is designed to make the process safe and easy by checking their credentials and organising insurance.
Legal issues
This will work if you own your car outright, but the FLA has raised concerns about using such a service if you've taken out a finance agreement. It believes that motorists could be illegally renting their vehicles without realising the implications.
Whipcar.com recognises the issue in its terms and conditions, but there's nothing in the website's frequently asked questions about the potential problem.
Car could be repossessed
The head of motor finance at the FLA, Paul Harrison, said: 'If a customer hires out a car to a third party without the knowledge of the lender, then this is fraud and they'd be in breach of their agreement. The lender might seek to recover the car.'
At least one driver has already fallen foul of the regulations. A Motability customer who publicised his use of Whipcar.com in a magazine has had his finance agreement cancelled and his car collected.
Until finance has been fully satisfied, the car remains the legal property of the finance provider, even if the customer is listed on the V5C logbook as the registered keeper.
Tax evasion
In addition to having their car seized, motorists who illegally sub-let could be required to cover the cost of terminating their finance agreement early. It is also the owner's responsibility to declare any money that is earned through hiring their car to the Inland Revenue, or face the threat of a fine at a later date.
The FLA has more information and advice on its website.
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What Car? Q&A session
(Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:45:00 GMT)
The What Car? live question and answer session has now ended. Don't worry, though, simply click below to replay the entire event.
If you missed today's session, make sure you log on next Tuesday because we'll be doing it all over again.
Our team should be able to cover all subjects, whether it's a new car, used car or a problem with your current car. However, some questions might be too involved to sort out in a single lunchtime. We'll let you know what to do if so.
Answering your questions today were:
Answering your questions were...
• Peter Lawton: whatcar.com deputy editor
• Steve Huntingford: What Car road tester
• Matt Sanger: What Car? Used car editor
• Barnaby Jones: What Car? deputy production editor
Live What Car? Q&A
The What Car? live Q&A session runs from 1pm to 2pm today. Please enter your questions below.
Peter Lawton:
whatcar.com deputy editor Steve Huntingford:
What Car? Road tester Matt Sanger:
What Car? Used car editor Euan Doig:
What Car? Production editor
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What Car? Q&A live now
(Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:45:00 GMT)
Click below to log-on to the latest live What Car? question and answer session. It's live between 1pm and 2pm today and all your motoring-related questions are welcome.
Simply type your question in the box below and our team of What Car? experts will post a reply as soon as possible. Be patient, though, it might take a few minutes.
Our team should be able to cover all subjects, whether it's a new car, used car or a problem with your current car. However, some questions might be too involved to sort out in a single lunchtime. We'll let you know what to do if so.
Answering your questions today were:
Answering your questions today will be the following What Car? team members:
• Peter Lawton: whatcar.com deputy editor
• Steve Huntingford: What Car road tester
• Matt Sanger: What Car? Used car editor
• Barnaby Jones: What Car? deputy production editor
Live What Car? Q&A
The What Car? live Q&A session runs from 1pm to 2pm today. Please enter your questions below.
Peter Lawton:
whatcar.com deputy editor Steve Huntingford:
What Car? Road tester Matt Sanger:
What Car? Used car editor Euan Doig:
What Car? Production editor
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Audi confirms small electric car
(Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:10:00 GMT)
Audi will put an electric city car into production, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has confirmed.
It has already committed to having an electric sports car on sale in limited numbers by 2012, sold under the e-tron moniker.
However, speaking at the launch of the Audi A7 Sportback in Munich, Stadler admitted for the first time that a mass-market supermini was planned.
It is not clear if this will be an electric version of the Audi A1 or a smaller vehicle, already dubbed the Audi Zero, both for its size and place in the product line up, and its mooted tailpipe emissions.
Notably, Audi is not expected to sell a spin off version of the VW Up city car in the same way brand stablemates Skoda and Seat are.
'Almost certainly, yes, we will have a small electric car. It is being investigated,' Stadler told What Car?
'What we then need are customers willing to pay a premium these vehicles demand.'
Stadler predicted it will be 'three to five' years before the market is ready for such a car.
'What is important is that we believe there will be a time when such vehicles are viable,' said Stadler.
'We are a technical company planning technical solutions, but we are also entrepreneurial, so we are planning for a changing market when customers will be ready.
'Then in 10 years time I see a point where we have clean energy too. Then the situation will be perfect.'
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New Audi A7 Sportback revealed
(Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:00:00 GMT)
The new Audi A7 Sportback has been revealed. As its name suggests, it will sit between the A6 and A8 in Audi’s range and cost from £42,925 when it goes on sale next month.
The looks Audi's rival to the BMW 5 Series GT and Mercedes CLS remain very similar to the Audi A7 Sportback concept, that was unveiled at the 2009 Detroit motor show.
It’s billed as a five-door coupe and continues the growing trend for blurring traditional car classes.
Although it goes on sale next month, it will not be available for delivery in the UK until January 2011. However, customers ordering before January 4 will avoid the 2.5 per cent VAT hike.
The Audi A7 Sportback is 497cm long, 191cm wide but only 142cm high. By comparison, the BMW 5 Series GT is 3cm longer, 1cm narrower and 14cm higher, while the Mercedes is 5cm shorter, 4cm narrower and 1cm taller.
The boot can hold 535 litres of luggage seats up, or 1390 litres with the seats folded down. The 5-series GT can hold 440 litres seats up and 1700 litres seats down while 505 litres is available behind the fixed seats of the CLS.
The Audi A7 Sportback will go on sale with two petrol and two diesel V6 engines initially, ranging in power from 201bhp to 256bhp. Torque ranges from 207lb ft 369lb ft. All engines are mated to energy recuperation and stop-start systems to improve efficiency.
More photos of the Audi A7
Two trim levels are available - SE and S Line. Standard kit will include xenon headlights, LED rear lights, a powered tailgate, leather upholstery, climate control, electric seat adjustment, heated front seats, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, sat-nav, iPod connection, DAB radio and Bluetooth connection.
The aluminium-and-steel A7 Sportback is said to be particularly light and safe, and has an especially quiet cabin. Buyers can opt for 18-, 19- or 20-inch alloys, and adaptive air suspension. Audi also says a new electromechanical power steering system greatly improves driver feel.
Technology on the car includes active lane assist to stop a driver veering off course, and a park assist system that steers the car into spaces automatically. It also has all-weather headlights, which replace the traditional fog light, and a head-up display that projects information onto the windscreen so the driver doesn’t have to take their eyes off the road.
The touchpad sat-nav screen first seen on the new Audi A8, which allows the driver to write a destination on the screen with their finger, will also be available. The sat-nav can also use Google Earth images to enhance the mapping.
The interior is described by Audi as having ‘workmanship at a craftsman’s level’, and is significant because many of the design touches and materials will be used in the new A6. It can be enhanced by options including ventilated, massaging front seats and ambient lighting.
Mechanically, the Audi A7 is a blend of the current Audi A6 and Audi A8 models, although its floorplan will be shared with the next Audi A6 with an identical wheelbase.
An updated Mercedes CLS is expected to be unveiled at the Paris motor show in September.
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