Autoesque

When the UK government announced earlier this week it was ring-fencing £43 million for Plug-in Car Grants , there was a mostly positive response from the motor industry. However, the exclusion of electric motorcycles from the scheme has been met with criticism. The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) is not too happy, and it has already contacted the Department for Transport demanding an explanation for the omission. Quite rightly, the MCI points out that electric bikes beat congestion better than any car and so reduce journey times. Its stance is that the government should therefore be encouraging them, not ignoring them. There is already a selection of electric motorcycles and scooters available on the market. These include the Econogo Yogo and the Zero range, with more - such as the KTM Freeride - coming soon. In general, these bikes are more expensive than their petrol-powered counterparts, due mainly to the cost of the batteries. Therefore, some cash from the governmen...

Following its showing at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and at Auto China in Bejing, Porsche has now decided to develop a limited series production version of the 918 Spyder. Part of the company’s ‘Porsche Intelligent Performance’ strategy, the 918 Spyder is a plug-in hybrid. In concept form it featured a 493 bhp (368 kW / 500 PS) V8 engine, plus electric motors that produced an extra 215 bhp (160 kW / 218 PS). With all that power, 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration was said to take just 3.2 seconds, while the 918’s top speed was 199 mph (320 km/h). However, the real headline numbers were CO2 emissions of only 70 g/km, and an astonishing combined cycle fuel consumption of 94.1 mpg (equivalent to the magic 3.0 l/100 km). It remains to be seen quite how many of those performance parameters - and the car’s styling details - make it into production. For the moment, Porsche are just saying that further details will be disclosed in the coming months. That just leaves the question o...

The UK Plug-in Car Grant , which will cover up to 25% of the price of an electric car, has been saved. Originally announced back in March by the then Labour government, there had been fears the scheme would be scrapped by the Conservative / Liberal Democrat coalition to help reduce the public spending deficit. A decision wasn’t expected until the completion of the government’s autumn spending review, but today the Department for Transport confirmed that the money would be ring fenced. However, the rules of engagement have changed. Whereas the original proposal had £230 million set aside over five years, there’s now only £43 million allocated for the period January 2011 to March 2012. Any available budget beyond then won’t be confirmed until January 2012. Among the reasons given for the reprieve, Business Minister Mark Prisk said, “The consumer incentive will help Britain become one of the leading centres for the design, development and manufacture of ultra-low carbon vehicles....

The World Rally Championship could do with a few more works teams right now, so it’s good news that Mini has confirmed it’ll be joining the series. Using the new Countryman as a basis, the cars will be prepared by Banbury-based Prodrive in accordance with the FIA’s Super2000 rules that come into force next year. The revised regulations, which stipulate the use of 1.6 litre turbo engines and four-wheel drive, are designed to reduce costs by around 25% compared to current specification WRC cars. Existing competitors Ford and Citroen are also working on their Super2000 challengers, and development versions of the Fiesta and DS3 have already been seen out testing. Mini will begin its WRC campaign by entering selected rounds of the 2011 season , before competing in all events the following year. There’s no word on drivers yet, although it’s rumoured Marcus Gronholm and Kris Meeke may become involved. The Countryman WRC will also be made available for private customer teams to buy, wh...

As anticipated, Porsche has confirmed that the Panamera S Hybrid will be launched in 2011. It’ll share the technology already used in the Cayenne S Hybrid, which means a combined 374 bhp (279 kW / 380 PS) from a supercharged six-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor. In the Cayenne, that hybrid package is good for a 150 mph (242 km/h) top speed, while 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration takes just 6.5 seconds.  Despite the performance, it still manages a fairly respectable combined cycle fuel consumption of 34.4 mpg (8.2 l/100km). But the benefits are most noticeable when it comes to CO2 emissions: the Cayenne S Hybrid’s figure of 193 g/km is actually better than that of the recently announced Cayenne Diesel . When it arrives, the Panamera S Hybrid should record even better stats. That’s because it’ll probably be around 250 kg lighter than the Cayenne, and have a lower drag coefficient. If only it was a bit better looking… Porsche is also starting work on a purely electric...

Following in the tyre tracks of cars such as the Ford Focus RS500 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class DR 520 , Fiat has jumped onboard the matt black bandwagon. Its offering is somewhat less high performance though, and the unique features of the 500 Blackjack special edition are purely cosmetic. Apart from the paint, these include leather upholstery, 16” alloys, red brake calipers and a gloss black finish for the door handles, mirrors and bumper trim. There’s no doubt that matt black looks good on the small Fiat. However, it remains to be seen how well it will stand up to the scuffs and scratches that come with hard city use. When the Blackjack goes on sale in September, buyers will be able to choose from the usual selection of Fiat 500 petrol and diesel offerings, including the recently-announced two-cylinder TwinAir engine . UK prices for the Fiat 500 Blackjack have yet to be confirmed.

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has upheld two complaints made against a regional press advertisement for the BMW Z4 sDrive35is. Objections were raised because of the environmental claims made in the ad, which had the text: "Joy presses you back in your seat. It's a lesson in EfficientDynamics - our way of doing more with less. Part of the thrill of being in an accelerating BMW is knowing nothing is going to waste. High Precision Fuel Injection gives you abundant power, using less fuel. So you can step on the accelerator, knowing Joy will minimise the CO2 emissions. The story of Joy continues at bmw.co.uk/joy. THE BMW Z4 sDRIVE35is JOY IS FUTUREPROOF. BMW EfficientDynamics Less emissions, More driving pleasure." The associated small print read: "Official fuel economy figures for the Z4 sDrive35is Roadster: Urban 22.4 mpg (12.6 l/100km). Extra Urban 40.9 mpg (6.9 l/100km), Combined 31.4 mpg (9.0 l/100km). CO2 emissions 210 g/km. BMW EfficientDynamics...

Two years on from its launch, the Ducati 848 has received a few tweaks. These have been focussed mainly on the engine and brakes. Changes to the 849 cc Testastretta V-twin include revised throttle bodies, cylinder heads and camshafts. As a result, power is up from 134 bhp (100 kW / 136 PS) to 138 bhp (103 kW / 140 PS), while maximum torque is now 98 Nm. Braking ability has been improved as well, thanks to the use of race-derived Brembo Monobloc calipers for the front twin 320 mm discs. For the first time, the 848 also gets a steering damper. To mark the changes, Ducati has given the 848 an ‘EVO’ suffix. However, despite the various enhancements, the good news is that UK prices are unchanged compared to the outgoing models. The 848 EVO, which comes in traditional Ducati red with a matching frame and black wheels, remains at £10,695 (plus on the road charges). A slightly cheaper alternative is the very cool looking 848 EVO Dark Stealth which, as the name implies, has a matt-eff...

The Nissan Murano crossover has been around for several years, but up until now it has only been available with a 3.5 litre petrol V6. Although that engine allows for fairly brisk performance, with 0-62 mph (100 km/h) taking 8 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph (210 km/h), owners have had to pay for it. A combined cycle fuel consumption figure of just 25.9 mpg (10.9 l/100km) means trips to the filling station are painfully frequent and expensive, while a CO2 emissions figure of 261 g/km places the petrol Murano in Band M for UK road tax purposes. That’s the highest tier and it means the cost of putting the car on the road each year is a whopping £435. Realising that - for European tastes at least - there was a glaring gap in the Murano line-up, Nissan is finally producing a Murano with a diesel engine. So, to complement the existing petrol engine, it must have just used the 3.0 litre V6 diesel out of sister brand Infiniti’s FX crossover, right? Wrong. It’s a 2.5 litre four cylin...

Chevrolet has announced that the lithium-ion battery and associated components in its Volt plug-in hybrid are to carry an eight year / 100,000 mile warranty. In a move clearly designed to allay customer fears about battery life - and more crucially replacement cost - the battery's thermal management system, charging system and electric drive mechanism are all going to be similarly covered too. Importantly, the eight year period should also help the Volt’s prospects as a used car, as the warranty will be transferable to subsequent owners. North American Volt sales are due to start in October or November this year. A European launch will follow during 2011, and it’s expected that the Volt will get an eight year warranty here as well. It will be interesting to see whether the closely related Vauxhall / Opel Ampera, which uses the same technology, also enjoys the same level of cover. It’s beginning to look like the Volt (and Ampera) is going to have some real-world advantages ov...

When the Peugeot 308 GTi was first announced back in May, we were left wondering whether the car would make it to the UK. Well now it’s here, except it’ll be known as the Peugeot 308 GT THP 200 in this country. Maybe Peugeot felt that leaving an ‘i’ tacked on after the ‘GT’ might build up the expectations of UK buyers, who would just draw comparisons with GTi models of old? And Peugeot isn’t exactly focussing on the 308 GT’s sporty nature, preferring to talk about ‘good levels of performance’, ‘high levels of comfort and convenience’ and being ‘enjoyable for day-to-day driving [and] equally at home transporting the family’. Stirring stuff. That said, it’s no slouch. Powered by a 1.6 litre twin-scroll turbo engine producing 197 bhp (147 kW / 200 PS), 0-62 mph (100 km/h) takes 7.7 seconds, while its top speed is 140 mph (225 km/h). Yet despite that level of performance, the combined cycle fuel consumption is a very respectable 40.8 mpg (6.9 l/100km) and CO2 emissions are a reasona...

Ahead of its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show in September, Peugeot has released the first details of the new 508. It replaces both the so-so 407 and the slow-selling 607, and will be available as either a saloon or estate from launch. Based on the same platform as the Citroen C5 and outgoing 407, the 508 saloon is 4790 mm long, while the estate is 4810 mm. Those measurements are increases of 99 mm and 47 mm over the respective 407 versions, and reflect the 508’s dual segment role. The 508 sees the arrival of a new design language for Peugeot. Gone, thank goodness, is the gaping wide-mouth look typified by the 407 and 4007 SUV. The new model also manages to be less fussy at the front than more recent Peugeot offerings such as the 5008 MPV, but some of the details - like the ‘Peugeot’ name badge on the grille, and the strange bonnet lip that comes down to meet it - seem a bit unnecessary. The rest of the car looks neat enough though, the most striking feature being a strong should...

Mark Webber deserved his British Grand Prix win, especially after the Red Bull team’s fiasco on Saturday. The strange decision, made just before qualifying, to take the new design of front wing off the Australian’s car and give it to team-mate Sebastian Vettel instead certainly caused trouble. Webber’s "Not bad for a number two driver" radio message to team boss Christian Horner on the slowing down lap was especially telling. It seemed to be evidence of a growing tension in the team, something that has been brewing ever since the two Red Bulls had their infamous coming together during the Istanbul race. Further proof was Vettel’s cryptic comments in a post-race interview, which suggested the ‘good fun happy family’ image of Red Bull is just a thin veneer that’s starting to crack in places. "Obviously I focus on myself and so does he I guess," said the German. "Especially after what happened in the past people have different opinions. I have opinions, I have...

A standard Camaro SS is already pretty powerful, with 426 bhp (317 kW / 431 PS) available from its 6.2 litre V8. But that now looks a bit weedy when compared to what Hennessey Performance has achieved. The latest in Hennessey’s line of increasingly powerful upgrade packages for the Camaro is dubbed the HPE1000. And yes, as the name implies, that means 1,000 bhp (745 kW / 1,013 PS). To achieve such an output, first the standard engine is ditched in favour of an LSX block from GM Performance Parts. Its capacity is then increased to 7.0 litres, and twin turbochargers plus an intercooler get bolted on. That’s not all, though. Essentially, just about every other component is modified including the pistons, connecting rods, camshaft, cylinder heads, intake manifold, fuel injectors, fuel system, air filters and oil cooler. In order to cope with the huge increase in power, cars with the six-speed manual gearbox require a dual friction clutch, while those with an automatic transmission ...

While Fiat is busy launching the ultra-economical TwinAir engine, events at its recently acquired Dodge subsidiary are taking a very different direction. Perhaps in an effort to help get over the recent demise of the Viper , it has just unveiled the Mopar ’10, a special edition based on the Dodge Challenger R/T. Limited to just 500 examples, this is the first time Dodge and Mopar have combined to produce a complete car that can be bought from a dealer. Power comes from a 5.7 litre Hemi V8, and it’s reckoned the standard car’s 372 bhp (277 kW / 377 PS) has been increased by around 15 bhp (11 kW / 15 PS). That’s thanks to a functional bonnet scoop which feeds a revised cold air intake system. Chassis enhancements meanwhile are restricted to Mopar front and rear strut braces, although the Mopar ’10 has 20” forged black finish wheels in place of the standard 18” items. The only colour option is Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl, and the grille gets a black chrome surround to match. Apa...

The Fiat 500 continues to be a huge success, so much so that the chances of getting any discount are still virtually nil. Now, in time for the 500’s third birthday, Fiat has announced a revolutionary new range of two-cylinder petrol engines for its diminutive city car. Called TwinAir, they use the MultiAir electro-hydraulic valve management system - which debuted in the Punto Evo earlier this year - to significantly reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Power outputs will eventually range from 64 to 103 bhp (47 to 77 kW / 65 to 105 PS), but appearing first in the 500 will be a 900 cc turbocharged version. This generates 83 bhp (62 kW / 85 PS) and has carbon dioxide emissions of only 95 g/km, or 92 g/km if the Dualogic robotised transmission is specified. Similarly, fuel economy is impressive, with manual cars achieving 68.8 mpg (4.1 l/100km) on the urban cycle. Those figures effectively make the 1.3 MultiJet diesel - previously the ‘greenest’ 500 - obsolete. Also, for UK custo...

The Royal Enfield Bullet Classic definitely has a certain charm about it. Now it’s available as a Battle Green version, which pays homage to the company’s long relationship with the Indian Army. The association dates back to 1949, when Royal Enfield first set up an operation in Chennai to build a military spec 350 cc Bullet. Despite its 1950s looks, the Bullet Classic is surprisingly modern. The entire range received a new 499 cc engine back in 2009, featuring fuel injection and a five-speed transmission. Fortunately for riders not familiar with the traditional Royal Enfield set up, this also saw the gear change move to the left side of the bike. The Euro 3 compliant single cylinder engine produces 27 bhp (20 kW / 28 PS) and, while it’s never going to make the bikes the fastest on the market, its near 80 mpg (3.5 l/100km) fuel consumption is impressive. The Battle Green Bullet Classic, which has its frame, wheel rims and bodywork all painted in matt green, costs £4,895 in the UK ...

Aston Martin has unveiled its latest V8 Vantage-based special edition. The N420, successor to the similar N400 of three years ago, is inspired by the company’s exploits at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. But that doesn’t mean it’s a stripped-out track car. In fact, Aston Martin seems to have used the ‘special edition formula’ favoured by some more mainstream manufacturers: raid the options list, add some cosmetic bits and pieces, then paint the result in some unique colours. Somewhat disappointingly the N420 - as its name implies - has the same 420 bhp (313 kW / 426 PS) engine that’s found in the standard V8 Vantage. Even with the fitment of a sports exhaust and a 27 kg weight saving (mainly down to lightweight carbon fibre seats), Aston Martin isn’t claiming any performance improvements. Therefore it can be assumed the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time of 4.9 seconds and 180 mph (290 km/h) top speed of the V8 Vantage remain unchanged. Maybe Aston Martin was reluctant to modi...

Is this the end of an era, or just a short pause? After eighteen years, Dodge has ceased production of the Viper. The news was expected, having first been announced back in November 2009. The subsequent release of the Viper SRT10 Final Edition in April was confirmation of Dodge’s intentions. The final car off the Detroit assembly line was a heavily customised example, built for an enthusiast from Texas who already owns forty Vipers. The paintwork - bronzed gold with copper stripes - is certainly, er, unique. It probably looks much nicer in the flesh… There’s still no firm word from Dodge about the next-generation Viper. The rumours are that it won’t be with us until 2012, assuming it arrives at all. The company is still saying it is ‘investigating’ the situation but, judging by the encouraging comments Dodge Brand President and CEO Ralph Gilles makes in this YouTube video , there seems to be genuine appreciation of how important the iconic Viper is to Dodge.

British politicians are forever going on about the special relationship that is meant to exist between the United Kingdom and the United States. (Don’t worry if you’re an American reading this; understandably you’ve probably never heard of it.) Anyway, Chevrolet has decided to do its bit for the trans-Atlantic alliance by confirming the Camaro is to be officially imported into the UK. In this country, Chevrolet means different things to different people. Doubtless most still see the brand as offering a fairly cheap means of transport, a hangover from the Daewoo days. For some others, Chevrolet has the allure of Americana, conveniently ignoring (or being ignorant of) the fact that the cars sold in Europe are made in Korea. To motor racing fans, the main association is the marque’s continued competitiveness in the British and World Touring Car Championships . The Camaro’s arrival will add yet another, albeit small, group to the mix: those who crave muscle car horsepower, and plenty...

If anyone thought the C 63 AMG could do with a bit more grunt, Mercedes-Benz UK has the solution. It has unveiled the DR 520, available as either a saloon or estate and guaranteed to be exclusive with a production run of only twenty units. Power from the 6.2 litre V8 is increased from 451 bhp (336 kW / 457 PS) to 513 bhp. That’s equivalent to 382 kW, or 520 PS - hence the name (the ‘DR’ part apparently stands for ‘dyno rated’). Torque is similarly raised from 600 Nm to 650 Nm, so prospective owners might want to sign up to any loyalty schemes their local tyre shops are running. The improvements come courtesy of the AMG Performance Pack Plus, which includes forged pistons, newly-developed connecting rods, a revised crankshaft and composite front brake discs. But that only accounts for an extra 30 bhp. Curiously, Mercedes-Benz isn’t being specific about where it’s getting the other 32 bhp from. Probably a re-mapped ECU? As expected, it’s a bit quicker than the standard C 63 AMG,...

Mazda must be very keen to commemorate the 20th birthday of its MX-5. Not satisfied with having just the 20th Anniversary Limited Edition that’s already on sale in the UK, the range is now being joined by the Miyako special edition which, according to Mazda, ‘continues’ to celebrate the occasion. So what are the differences? Well, the 20th Anniversary Limited Edition is available only as a soft top, powered by the 124 bhp (92 kW / 126 PS) 1.8 litre engine. Costing £17,300 on the road, its specification includes unique finish 17" alloy wheels, front fog lights, a strut brace, individually numbered Limited Edition scuff plates, special floor mats, body-coloured dashboard decoration panel, aluminium pedals, manual air con, leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever. Paint choices are Aurora Blue, True Red and Crystal White Pearlescent. Similarly, the Miyako special edition also features 17" alloy wheels, front fog lights, a strut brace, and special floor mats. Add...