Why is an Intercooler so Important to a Turbocharged Car

The internal combustion engine found in today’s cars is basically the world’s most mass produced heat pump. It converts what are basically the remains of dinosaurs into heat through the process of combustion. The combustion is used to force the pistons in the motor downward creating a torqueing motion on the crankshaft. This motion is converted by the transmission into usable power at the wheels of the car. A car equipped with a turbocharger or usually referred to as turbos for short uses an external device that is considered a power adder. A turbo is basically an air pump that forces more air into the cylinders of a vehicle.

When a turbo begins to build “boost” which is the slang term for the pressure that the turbo build in the engine a large amount of heat is created.  This heat can be damaging to a motor is not removed from the system and it robs horsepower from the motor as well. The more heat the air carries the more space the air will need to occupy. The device used to cool the air that is compressed by the turbo is referred to as the intercooler, this unit is basically a radiator that cools air.

The basic idea of the intercooler is that compressed hot air is spread out across a larger area than the pipes in the intake system. Once spread across this larger area the air will deposit its heat on the surface of the intercooler where it is released into the air. To add to the cooling ability fins are placed on the channels where the air travels, these fins allow the heat to be transferred more efficiently out of the system.

Once the air has been super cooled it is returned to the normal pipe size and it continues to the motor. The cooler air also needs less space which means that even more air can be forced into the cylinders of the vehicle. The more air, the more fuel that can be added to the cylinder and a more powerful combustion stroke can be achieved. A more powerful explosion in the cylinder means more power to the crank shaft and thus more horsepower at the wheels of the car. 

The Renault Fleet Team Building On Success

Renault Laguna Sport Tourer

Renault's fleet department will build upon award and customer win successes with a reorganised team structure, which will help the team to achieve the challenges set as part of the "Drive the Change 2016" strategy.

The last 18 months has seen Renault Business win awards for Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer of the Year from Fleet News and Fleet World. The department has also seen a fleet order increase of 28% through the dealer network during the first six months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.

The increase is in part to the Renault Business Promise, introduced just over a year ago as well as corporate customer wins.

Renault Business' structure has been improved recently, enabling continued focus on key customer accounts and allowing the team to provide greater focus on local SME (fleets over 200) business through the UK dealer network. Renault's Pro+ network has also been continuing to gain momentum, with three more dealership focused Renault Pro+ sales managers now supporting the growth of the one-stop outlets for business customers.

Patrick Whyman, Manager, National Corporate Sales will run one team as well as looking after key accounts, whilst Mark Hawkins, Manager, National Fleet sales, will oversee a team managing customers with fleets of under 200 and the new Pro+ sales managers. Both will be reporting to Renault UK's Director of Fleet and Commercial Vehicle Operations, Darren Payne.

Darren said, "The team and the Pro+ dealer network have done a great job in growing our fleet business consistently in recent months, so I'm sure this revised set-up with greater focus will allow us to get even closer to our customers, as well as delivering a more personal service. Much like with the creation of the Renault Business Promise a year ago, we've listened to the needs of our customers and developed our working practices to fit around them. These changes have been well received so far, so consistency of service will now be our number one aim."

The Vauxhall Ampera Achieves A Five Star NCAP Safety Rating

Vauxhall Ampera

In the latest NCAP safety ratings, the Vauxhall Ampera has received the top five star, making it the first electric vehicle from a European manufacturer suitable for everyday use to achieve such a result.

The Vauxhall Ampera exceeded the maximum points required in all categories for the top rating, which includes occupant protection, child safety, pedestrian protection and safety assist. In the side barrier test, the Ampera also achieved top results, due to the combination of solid core body structure, rigid passenger cell and efficient restraint systems.

"It has been a long tradition at Vauxhall/Opel to offer highest possible safety standards, and the Ampera impressively continues our leadership role in safety technology. The Ampera not only meets but exceeds the most stringent requirements for top ratings in each of the Euro NCAP test categories. This is a unique achievement we are very proud of," says Vauxhall/Opel Chief Executive Officer Karl-Friedrich Stracke.

The Vauxhall Ampera is the first car to score maximum points in the side pole impact test, which has been mandatory since 2009. For the test, the car is propelled sideways at a speed of 18mph into a pole, emulating a tree. The passenger cell is designed to ensure the least possible deformation and largest possible survival space in the event of a crash. The front, sides and rear of the passenger cell are protected by energy absorbing zones which will deform in a controlled manner, helping disperse high impact forces.

Electrical safety of the Vauxhall Ampera was also tested after each impact test. The battery pack of the Ampera is placed in the centre of the vehicle, with the vehicle structure built around it, meaning it is protected from from an side impacts. Post crash electric safety aims to achieve zero high voltage current in an emergency, and rescue parties can also disconnect the high voltage battery easily. The Vauxhall Ampera is required to have no electrolyte spilled into the passenger compartment and a maximum of seven per cent can be found outside the passenger compartment and battery.

Vauxhall Ampera Active and Passive Safety Features

• Standard Four-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist and Electronic Stability Control
• Eight airbags including front-, side-, knee- air bags as well as roof-mounted head-curtain air bags that help protect occupants in a side or rollover crash
• Optional rear-view camera system featuring a display integrated into the navigation system screen
• An ISOFIX child seat installation system for the rear seating positions
• Adjustable head restraints on the front seats which helps provide protection against whiplash injury in the event of a rear-end collision
• Collapsible pedal assembly (Pedal Release System) for lower leg protection in a frontal impact.

Vauxhall Survey Shows Consumers Are Unaware of Their Rights Following A Crash

Vauxhall has commissioned a survey, with results that show that consumers are not always aware of their rights when making an insurance repair claim, and as such could be missing out on the service levels they should expect.

The survey shows that 63 per cent of policy holders believe that their insurer will determine where their vehicles would be repaired after an accident. 18 per cent know that they have the right to choose where their vehicle is repaired. If given the choice, 18 per cent would opt for their insurer's choice of bodyshop.

Tony Neff, Vauxhall Accident Repair Channel Manager, said: "People don't realise that they have the right to choose where they get their vehicles repaired when making an insurance claim, so many will feel obliged to go with their insurers' recommendations. Many people do not read their terms and conditions, and so don't receive the service they expect when they make a claim, which creates problems for both consumers and insurers alike."

The survey also revealed that:

• 91 per cent expect their vehicles to be repaired by trained technicians
• 88 per cent expect them to be repaired using genuine parts covered by a manufacturer warranty
• 90 per cent expected their vehicles to be repaired using proven repair methods
• 73 per cent expect a courtesy car

"Consumers quite reasonably assume that crash repair work will be carried out to standard criteria across the board," continued Tony. "However, this is not the case and insurers are not actually obliged to guarantee any of this, even the fitment of new parts - using second-hand parts is perfectly legitimate. By shopping around for a repair outlet of their choice, consumers can be sure they will actually receive the level of service they expect. Vauxhall Approved Bodyshops guarantee that all of these expectations are met - when repairing a Vauxhall vehicle - which is why 99 per cent of our customers would recommend us to a friend."

79 per cent of motorists expect that the repair work estimate would be carried out at the most convenient location for them and 71 per cent expect to be kept up to date with the repair progress at every step. 55 per cent of people would expect their vehicle to be collected and returned having been cleaned thoroughly inside and out.

"Again, Vauxhall Approved Bodyshops can guarantee all of this, as we believe motorists are right to expect this level of service when making a repair claim," said Tony. "However, while shopping around for a repair bodyshop, consumers should also check the terms and conditions of their policies, as it is becoming increasingly common for insurers to insert a clause into their contracts that can result in the policy-holder being charged an additional excess of £200 if they do not use a repair bodyshop within their approved network."

The Lamborghini Aventador Presented With The Five Diamond Engineering Award

Maurizio Reggiani With The Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini has been presented with the Five Diamond Engineering Award at Concorso Italiano, the annual gathering of Italian cars which takes place during the Monterey Auto Week.

The award was presented for the innovations found in the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, and was accepted by Lamborghini board member and Director of Research and Development Maurizio Reggiani on behalf of Lamborghini.

The Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, which made its official debut in Monterey, features a 700hp 6.5 litre V12 engine, lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis, quick-shift ISR transmission and F1-inspired pushrod suspension.

"We are excited and honoured to accept this award from Concorso Italiano," Mr. Reggiani said. "Lamborghini's Research and Development team is extremely proud of the Aventador LP 700-4, and the design and engineering aspects that make it so special."

The Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 was also showcased at the McCall Motorworks Revival on 17th August 2011 and The Quail, a Motorsports gathering on 19th August. The events then concluded with a display on the Concept Lawn at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on 21st August.

Lamborghini also used the events to showcase the first line of carbon fibre bags, which are new to the Collezione Automobili Lamborghini fashion line for Autumn/Winter 2011. The bags are available in Travel, Messenger and Envelope style.

The Estede for Bentley Sunglasses Prove Popular

Estede For Bentley

Bentley and Estede have announced that orders of for the initial collection of the limited series solid gold sunglasses have exceeded expectations, especially in Hong Kong, China and Russia.

The initial styles feature a modern shape and are available in either 18ct solid gold, silver palladium or platinum. The Bentley "B" features on the hand-polished enamel coasting as well as carefully engraved surfaces which reflect the quilted leather design.

All the frames and sunglasses are created to order, with individual numbering, limited to 100 pieces per colour. The Bentley Eyewear collection use special sunglass lenses will provide 100% UV protection and feature state of the art lens coatings.

The glasses come in exclusive packaging, which fits with the new Bentley Mulsanne,

Christoph Rosenauer, son of Albrecht F. Rosenauer, who founded Estede in 1991, says: "The eyewear has been received very well with more orders than we could expect. Currently our main markets are Hong Kong, China and Russia, but we will start by the end of this year to distribute the products also in Great Britain, the US and the Middle East.

"Our main attraction is the level of personalisation that we can offer. The customer can order the frames or sunglasses in the size needed, we can offer them in white, pink or yellow gold (or even platinum if requested). Also the case is made to order and can be in any hide colour that Bentley offers, since we use the same leather as Bentley.

"Due to this level of personalisation we only produce to order according to the customer's specifications. We do not carry stock at present."

The eyewear is sold through optical retail networks around the world.

The Bentley Room at Mosimann's Receives An Update

The Bentley Room At Mosimann's Private Dining Club

The Bentley room at the private London dining club, Mosimann's has seen a new update bringing with it new Bentley decor and details.

The colour scheme features neutrals and accent details on racing green and purple silk, hinting at Bentley's racing history and contemporary design.

Mark Mosimann, Managing Director, Mosimann's, comments: ";We are delighted that Bentley will have a new room at Mosimann's; it is a relationship that has been established over nearly a decade and the synergy between the two Royal Warrant Holding organisations is based on achieving perfection in all the finest details.

"Bentley is at the heart of Mosimann's and the room reflects what members enjoy about their private dining club in Belgravia. It is warm, cosseted and positively oozes with charm."

The room seats 14 people, and standing room for 28, the room was designed by Caulder Moore, who is also responsible for the Bentley Living Room at the headquarters in Crewe.

The walls feature photographs of racing highlights as well as old and new Bentleys as well as original art from the Bentley styling team.

The Bentley room update includes a new table and wall unit made by Matthew Collins Furniture, a company founded by the Prince's Trust - one of Bentley's chosen charities. The centrepiece table is surrounded by classic green leather dining chairs, each seating being handcrafts along the original designs for a 1926 Bentley. The table is finished in Bentley burr oak, burr walnut and stained burr walnut veneers complete with picture framing marquetry echoing the veneers as seen in the Bentley Mulsanne.

The room also features a number of accents and accessories which have been designed to reflect the passion Bentley has for craft and quality. A wall unit features the dark stained burr walnut veneer complete with Bentley Mulsanne handles for the drawers and Bentley leather lined shelves.

A new mirror features Burnt Oak Bentley hide with shortbread stitching, the door panel is finished in Burnt Oak Bentley hide with shortbread stitching, complete with Bentley logo embroidery to echo the personalisation of the model.

The door handle has been made at Crewe, featuring Bentley knurling detail reflecting gear knob and switches. The Pendant light features sketches which depict Bentley's coupe and four-door heritage ranging from the earliest Bentleys through the new Bentley Continental GT and Mulsanne.

Irony alert: NASCAR driver's license suspended for speeding

The story : NASCAR racer Kyle Busch may have a lot of things — 26-year-old bravado and bragging rights for being the Sprint Cup champion, for starters — but what he doesn't have is a driver's license. He lost it for 45 days Tuesday after he was nabbed for driving 128 mph in a 45 mph zone on a North Carolina rural road. The speedster also was fined $1,000 and sentenced to 30 hours of community service. But fans needn't worry too much. This won't keep him from competing in NASCAR. Despite the fact that racers drive cars at break neck speeds, NASCAR officials do not require them to pass a basic drivers test first, arguing that the racetrack and the highway are two very different ways of driving. But considering the risk Busch's joy ride posed to nearby civilians, and that he is not the first professional racer to find himself in court on reckless driving charges, should the sport's governing body suspend Busch and rewrite its rules?

The reaction : Absolutely, says David Newton at ESPN. Busch makes a living driving cars, and if that was threatened because he his license was suspended, he might have given his joy ride a second thought. Yes, he should be suspended, but that will never happen, says the Los Angeles Times Fabulous Forum blog. "Going 128 in a 45-mph zone borders on the insane," but this is pro sports — NASCAR needs "the antagonizing Busch, smirking smile and all," too badly to hold him accountable. Busch is being punished the same way anyone else would be, says Barry Stavro, also in the L.A. Times. He should be allowed to do his job, "as long as someone else drives him to work."

Patrick confirms full-time move from Indy to NASCAR

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  Andretti Autosport driver Danica Patrick of the U.S. prepares for a practice session …

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Danica Patrick, the only woman to win an IndyCar race, ended months of speculation about her racing future by announcing on Thursday that she will make a full-time move to NASCAR next year.

The petite American has divided her time between the two series for the past two seasons but had come under increasing pressure to commit to just one of the circuits to achieve more consistent results.

"We can finally put the rumors to rest -- I am going full-time NASCAR with Go Daddy next year," Patrick said during a news conference at the headquarters of GoDaddy.com, an Internet domain registrar which is her primary sponsor.

"I am going to race a full Nationwide schedule and a limited Sprint Cup schedule in my GoDaddy.com Chevrolet next season. The time is now. The opportunity is now."

A long-time darling of American motorsport, Patrick will compete in NASCAR's second-tier circuit, the Nationwide Series, for JR Motorsports, her current stock car team which is owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, she will be with Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by double Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation.

"Her work ethic is probably the best of anyone in the sport," Earnhardt Jr. said.

"People don't understand how difficult it is to do what she did -- racing two totally different cars at the same time. I'm glad she gets the opportunity to devote all of her attention to this car because I think she's going to continue getting better."

The photogenic Patrick, equally comfortable in front of the cameras as behind the wheel, became the only woman to reach Victory Lane in an IndyCar race with a win at Motegi in Japan in 2008.

However, she has made no secret of her preference to race on oval circuits rather than on street courses in recent years as IndyCar has increasingly focused on street tracks.

Patrick has recorded three top-10 finishes in seven starts this season in the Nationwide Series. Her best result was fourth in Las Vegas.

"I don't want to wait years," the 29-year-old said while sitting next to GoDaddy chief executive and founder Bob Parsons. "I want to do it now, and I'm lucky enough to have a sponsor that will stand behind me and allow me to go."

Motor racing-Patrick confirms full-time move from Indy to NASCAR

PHOENIX, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Danica Patrick, the only woman to win an IndyCar race, ended months of speculation about her racing future by announcing on Thursday that she will make a full-time move to NASCAR next year.

The petite American has divided her time between the two series for the past two seasons but had come under increasing pressure to commit to just one of the circuits to achieve more consistent results.

"We can finally put the rumours to rest -- I am going full-time NASCAR with Go Daddy next year," Patrick said during a news conference at the headquarters of GoDaddy.com, an Internet domain registrar which is her primary sponsor.

"I am going to race a full Nationwide schedule and a limited Sprint Cup schedule in my GoDaddy.com Chevrolet next season. The time is now. The opportunity is now."

A long-time darling of American motorsport, Patrick will compete in NASCAR's second-tier circuit, the Nationwide Series, for JR Motorsports, her current stock car team which is owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, she will be with Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by double Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation.

"Her work ethic is probably the best of anyone in the sport," Earnhardt Jr. said.

"People don't understand how difficult it is to do what she did -- racing two totally different cars at the same time. I'm glad she gets the opportunity to devote all of her attention to this car because I think she's going to continue getting better."

The photogenic Patrick, equally comfortable in front of the cameras as behind the wheel, became the only woman to reach Victory Lane in an IndyCar race with a win at Motegi in Japan in 2008.

However, she has made no secret of her preference to race on oval circuits rather than on street courses in recent years as IndyCar has increasingly focused on street tracks.

Patrick has recorded three top-10 finishes in seven starts this season in the Nationwide Series. Her best result was fourth in Las Vegas.

"I don't want to wait years," the 29-year-old said while sitting next to GoDaddy chief executive and founder Bob Parsons. "I want to do it now, and I'm lucky enough to have a sponsor that will stand behind me and allow me to go." (Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Patrick to leave IndyCar behind for NASCAR

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  Driver Danica Patrick signs a contract to drive full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide …

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  Danica Patrick gives a thumbs-up at a news conference Thursday, Aug 25, 2011, in …

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Danica Patrick finally pulled the curtain back on the worst-kept secret in auto racing, revealing her plans to leave IndyCar next year and race full time in NASCAR.

The deal, announced Thursday, will put her in a Nationwide Series ride full time for JR Motorsports and a part-time gig in Sprint Cup for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2012 — and surely send reverberations across the two biggest motorsports series in the U.S.

"I've been waiting for Danica to make the commitment to NASCAR and now that she has, I believe she will surprise a lot of skeptics," NASCAR Hall of Famer and Fox analyst Darrel Waltrip said. "She is a very focused driver and now without the distractions of another series she can put all her efforts into it. In a very short period of time and with very limited experience, she has shown me she has the talent to be very successful in NASCAR.

"Can she win? You bet."

The news that Patrick was switching to fendered cars came as no surprise.

One of the most marketable stars in auto racing, she had been rumored to be headed to NASCAR even before she ran her first stock race, at an ARCA series event at Daytona in 2010.

Even while racing limited Nationwide schedules the past two years for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team, Patrick had deflected talk of leaving IndyCar for more-lucrative NASCAR, but it became more and more clear over the past few months that she would make the switch.

It became official on Thursday, when Patrick signed a contract with GoDaddy.com chairman Bob Parsons in front of TV cameras and a few dozen cheering company employees.

"If it was about money, I'd have gone a long time ago," Patrick said from GoDaddy's offices in north Scottsdale. "I just go where my heart tells me, where my gut tells me to go, where I'm enjoying my life the most, where I feel like I can have the most success. I've truly enjoyed my experience in NASCAR, to the point that I want to do it full time."

Patrick will run most of her races in the lower-tier Nationwide Series with only a handful of Sprint Cup races, but her switch to NASCAR should be a big boost to a sport that's been hurt by a sagging economy and a dip in popularity from its heyday just a few years back.

With her telegenic looks, mass appeal, not to mention racy Super Bowl ads, Patrick brings something that's hard to come by: star power.

"We are pleased Danica Patrick has chosen to race full time in NASCAR in 2012," NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said in a statement.

"She has demonstrated a strong desire to compete and NASCAR provides the best opportunity to race against the top drivers in the world with the largest and most loyal fan base in motorsports on a week-to-week basis. Danica has shown solid improvement in NASCAR and we believe her decision to run full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with additional races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will be exciting for our fans and a great challenge for her."

On the other side of the wheel, Patrick's decision leaves a big void in IndyCar.

The series has made some big strides under the direction of CEO Randy Bernard, who has aggressively reshaped the sport with innovative marketing approaches.

But for all the successes IndyCar has had, Patrick is still possibly the sport's biggest star — certainly it's most recognizable — and losing her will likely put a dent in the sport's momentum.

"Danica has always been a great ambassador for IndyCar, and there is no doubt she has left a positive impression on our sport," Bernard said in a statement.

"She has touched millions of fans and many that were new to motorsports. Danica attracted a fan base that every athlete and sports property in the world would love to have. We should give her a great farewell the rest of this season as she opens a new page in her career and wish her continued success with her new direction."

Patrick has run 20 races in two years with JR Motorsports and has five more on the schedule this season. She plans to run between eight and 10 Sprint Cup races with Stewart-Haas, with an eye on a full season in 2013.

Patrick would like to race at the Daytona 500, though the team hasn't mapped out where she'll start or which races will fill out the schedule this year, and didn't rule out another run at the Indianapolis 500 — even after Andretti Autosport announced it had reached a mutual agreement to part ways with her after the 2011 season.

"We're thrilled with Danica Patrick's decision to join us for the 2012 season and looking forward to seeing her behind the wheel of a NASCAR Nationwide Series car on a consistent basis," said Matt Jauchius, chief marketing and strategy officer for Nationwide Insurance. "Her presence will continue to make our Series stronger and more competitive. She has proven to raise awareness levels of our sport, sponsors and competitors; and that's good for everyone involved."

Patrick will leave IndyCar after a decent run.

She became the first woman to win an IndyCar race at Japan in 2008 and was the first to lead the Indy 500, when she did it in 2005 — the same year she earned the pole at Kansas. Patrick also had a high finish of third at the Brickyard in 2009 on her to way to a career-best fifth in the season standings.

Patrick is 12th in the IndyCar standings, with seven top-10 finishes.

"The thing you see in Danica right away is how determined she is to be good at what she does," Stewart-Haas owner Tony Stewart said. "She's very dedicated to taking the time and effort to make the transition from Indy cars to stock cars. She has talent, she has the right mindset, and she has the proper drive and determination. It doesn't matter who it is you're looking for, those are the key attributes that you look for in a driver, and Danica's got them."

Patrick had a sharp learning curve when she first started racing stock cars, but has gained ground this year.

After that first ARCA race at Daytona, she struggled with the nuances of the Nationwide car, her best finish a 19th at Homestead with an average finish of 28th.

Patrick has been much smoother this season, posting three top-10 finishes, with a career-best of fourth at Las Vegas — the best finish by a woman at a national NASCAR race. She's made good progress as a part-time driver and expects to get better with a full-time shot.

"I feel like in the last year, I've really come around much more on the track and the top-10s are happening much more frequently," Patrick said. "I feel like I'm getting it more and more all the time. I still have a lot to learn, that's for sure, but I really feel confident that I can be successful in the future."

Why do Bigger Brakes Perform Better?

New car models all seem to have larger brakes each year but what makes that such a good thing? Performance enthusiasts always seem to change the brake calipers and brake disc on their cars to something different but why? The fact of the matter is that the brake system on a vehicle is one of the most important parts in the car. Even if a car has a blow engine it can still start rolling on a hill and if the brakes are gone it won’t be easy to stop.

The key to big brakes or just an overall great braking system is to match the system to what the vehicle is intended for.  The idea of larger brakes is that larger brake pads can be fitted and more contact can be made between the pad and the disc. Big discs are not the only factor in better stopping power, evenly spaced and properly positioned pistons for the calipers are a huge factor.

The disc is very important to the braking as it must be vented for proper cooling and slots can be added for even more. There is a down side to slotted or drilled rotors and that is when the drilling or slotting is done it reduces the surface area of the disc and thus lessens the cars ability to stop. Many times it will be seen on the road when some car owner bought the “upgrade discs” for their car and now it can’t stop as quickly.

The key to brake upgrades is to go larger and also add slotted or cross-drilled rotors to reduce brake fading over time. There is not really a cheap way to get better braking in a car so be sure before ordering a set of “upgraded” discs that there is a plan to do a complete brake system upgrade. Lastly don’t forget that the tires are the only part that touches the tarmac so if they are bad the brakes won’t help.

Volvo Announces Designed Around You Global Brand Strategy

Richard Monturo - Vice President Global Marketing, Volvo Car Corporation

Volvo car Corporation has has announced a new global brand strategy "Designed Around You" at a press conference in Beijing, pointing to the direction of Volvo's future brand development.

"It summarises our approach to understanding people, giving them a luxury experience that is a little more human-oriented - while at the same time linking firmly to our heritage of building safe and dependable cars" said Richard Monturo, Vice President Global Marketing, Volvo Car Corporation. "We are the most human-centric car brand in the industry. And we need to communicate that to our customers" he continued.

More details of the new brand direction will be shown at the 2011 Frankfurt Motorshow in September.

Artists Repaint A Ford Focus in Glasgow

Ford Focus

Artists Lyken, FiST, Syrkus, Rue 5, Death Rattles and Al White from Glasgow's Independent Recoat Gallery, worked in a temporary public studio outside the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in Buchanon Street for six hours on a Ford Focus to create a piece of artwork which will be featured for the next month as part of the Ford Centenary Tour.

Recoat Gallery manager, Amy Whiten, said: "The artists we have at Recoat have been doing great work in Scotland and we are delighted to get the chance to show what we can do. We've worked on a few different vehicle projects but this is the first time the artists have collaborated on completely restyling the paint job of a car."

The Ford Centenary Tour is an exhibition which highlights Ford's history in the UK and future plans. Over the duration of the tour, 20 UK locations will be visited, including Ford plants and dealers, where contact will be made with customers, employees and enthusiasts ranging from Inverness to Plymouth.

The Ford Centenary Tour runs through to 18th September 2011 culminating at the Goodwood Revival in Chichester, West Sussex.

The Mazda Rear Vehicle Monitoring System To be Presented With The Euro NCAP Advanced Award

Mazda Rear Vehicle Monitoring System

Mazda's Rear Vehicle Monitoring System (RVM) will be presented with the Euro NVAP Advanced award at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Mazda RVM was reviewed by Euro NCAP, who were impressed by the safety benefits the system offers. It can help the driver avoid dangerous situations and collisions with other vehicles when changing lanes. The system uses two radar sensors, mounted on either side of the rear bumper which constantly measure the distance to, and relative speed of, surrounding vehicles.

When travelling at speeds more than 60km/h, the Mazda Rear Vehicle Monitoring system will warn the driver with a proximity indicator light situated in the door mirror on the side where either a vehicle is currently in the blind spot or will be approaching the area in the next 5 seconds. Should the driver use the indicator in the direction of an approaching vehicle, the proximity will then blink rapidly and a beeper will sound to warn the driver. The system will work in almost all weather and can detect all types of vehicles including motorcycles.

Mazda research shows that nearly 5% of all accidents are between vehicles driving in the same direction, and nearly 80% of these are due to lane changing.

Mazda initially introduced tot he system to Europe with the Mazda6 in 2008, and was then made available on the Mazda3 and CX-7 in 2009 and will now be included on the Mazda CX-5 which will premiere at the 2011 International Automobile Exhibition in Frankfurt alongside the new Mazda3.

A New Volvo Dealership in Watford To Open September 2011

Volvo XC60

A new Volvo dealership will open in Watford on 12th September 2011, run by Regent Automotive Limited.

The new dealership is the result of a £500,000 investment to create a Volvo dealership for the first time in the town. The dealership will be based at Greenhill Crescent, near Croxley Green Business Park, on the premises of the former Anthony Betts business.

The showroom is contemporary, meeting the latest Volvo design standards, complete with a nine vehicle display including a touch-screen car configurator, customer lounge and children's play area. The forecourt has space for 35 used Volvo vehicles and an eight bay workshop at the rear will allow for VOlvo servicing and MOTs. The dealership will also offer dedicated a Volvo Trade Parts department, accessory sales and a new car Motability sales and Volvo rental service.

Local recruiting is currently underway as well as transfers from the company's other businesses.

Regent Automotive Group Managing Director Tracey Perry says: "We enjoyed an incredibly successful year in 2010, including the opening of a new dealership in Bishop's Stortford, which enabled us to progress with further expansion this year. We're proud to be opening new businesses, especially in the current economic climate, and it is testament to the desirability of the Volvo brand and the dedication of our team that we're able to do so. Their hard work and significant Volvo experience has helped us achieve our outstanding growth and I am confident the new business at Watford will be just as successful.

"The key to our success is most definitely our customer focus; we pride ourselves on delivering excellence in everything we do. It is this philosophy which will enable the Volvo business in Watford to really stand out and we are very excited about looking after local Volvo owners and inviting new customers to come in and enjoy the Volvo brand."

The Second Generation Bentley Continental GTC To Debut At Frankfurt

New Bentley Continental GTC

The 2011 International Automobile Exhibition in Frankfurt will host the debut of the second generation Bentley Continental GTC convertible.

The new Bentley Continental GTC builds on the previous version of the cabriolet which premiered in 2006, seeing improvements in most aspects.

The exterior design of the new Bentley Continental GTC is more contemporary and gives a muscular impression. The front wings are manufactured from aluminium and need to welds. Twenty inch wheels are fitted as standard, and fro the first time for the GTC are three optional 21 inch wheel styles .

The four seater cabin is more spacious and luxurious than the previous model, featuring soft-touch leather hides, wood veneers, cool-touch metals and deep-pile carpets. The leather is available in 17 colours, with six colour split combinations, alongsidea range of seven veneers.

Legroom has been improved, and new storage solutions have been added, as well as touch screen infotainment, automatic seat-belt presenters and a Bentley-designed Neck Warmer for those cold days with the roof down.

Optimised noise isolation comes from the multi-layered fabric hood, acoustic glass and under-body panels.

The front and rear track is now wider, combined with sharper steering and retuned suspension allows for an improvement in the driving experience. The torque bias of the all-wheel drive system is now 40:60, as apposed to the original Bentley Continental GTC's 50:50. This helps to minimise understeer when cornering hard.

The Bentley GTC Continental convertible is powered by a more powerful 6.0 litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine, mated to a new QuickShift transmission for faster gear changes. Power output is now 575PS, up from 560PS, and torque is increased to 700Nm, an additional 50Nm on the version it replaces.

Wolfgang Durheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive, Bentley Motors said: "The GTC has always been the most emotional model in the Continental range and a showcase for Bentley design. With its tailored soft top, the GTC is a pure British convertible true to those classic Bentleys of the past. However, the technology, performance and overall design excellence invested in this model means that we are now writing a new chapter for the Bentley convertible driver."

Available to order now, the new Bentley Continental GTC will see first deliveries in late 2011.

Volvo's Mobile App Awarded At The 2011 BusinessCar Fleet Technology Awards

Volvo Mobile App For iPhone

At the 2011 BusinessCar Fleet Technology Awards - The Techies - Volvo's mobile application has been presented with the Best App award, marking the third time Volvo has been presented an award for its technology.

Previously, Volvo's City Safety and Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake systems have one the Best Car Safety Device.

Volvo's mobile app works in conjunction with Volvo's On call telematics technology which will be fitted to all Volvo models from Model year 2012. On Call enables to user to communicate with an operator at the touch of a button, being provided with vocal assistance as well as contacting and guiding the emergency services to the vehicle in the event of an accident.

The new mobile app, available for Android and iPhone, will allow the user to communicate with their Volvo from where ever they have mobile network coverage.

"We design cars around people's needs and lifestyle. Creating an intuitive and ergonomically optimised driver's environment is part of our aim to offer a feeling of relaxed control. It is only logical that you should feel in command of your vehicle, including after you have parked it," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO at Volvo Car Corporation.

The app includes the following features:

• Car locator. The location of the car is displayed on a map, alongside a digital compass to point the driver in the right direction. The car horn and indicators can be activated to aid in the search.

• Remote door lock. The status of all doors and windows is displayed - the driver can also lock and unlock the car remotely via the app.

• Vehicle dashboard. This feature provides the driver with a range of information: fuel level, remaining range to empty tank, average fuel consumption, average speed, odometer reading and trip meter reading.

• Car check. The mobile app performs a "health" check of the car, displaying information about bulbs, break fluid level, coolant level, engine oil level and engine oil pressure.

• Driving journal. Detailed data of each trip during the last 40 days can be downloaded and stored. The data can also be extracted as an Excel file - ideal for company car owners.

• Vehicle information. Basic car data such as model, registration number and VIN number are stored and can be displayed.

• Theft notification. If the car alarm is triggered, the driver is alerted via the mobile app.

• This new Volvo On Call generation still includes all the safety and security aspects that are part of the first generation.

James Small SS2012 Collection Fashion Film Featuring Jaime Winstone and The Vauxhall Astra GTC

Vauxhall Astra GTC

A new fashion film 'Wash' stars Jaime Winstone and the new Vauxhall AStra GTC for James Small Menswear, directed by Konstantinos Menelaou, showcases James' SS2012 collection and announces Vauxhall Motor's patronage of the British menswear designer of its support of Vauxhall Fashion Scout.

James Small has been leant one of the first Vauxhall Astra GTCs by Vauxhall Motors and collaborated on a moving image showcase to highlight his collection. James' show and after party on 21st September 2011 will also be sponsored by Vauxhall. James Small Menswear will show as part of Menswear day at Vauxhall Fashion Scout held at Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden.

The film tells of a strong, beautiful and stylish women alluding power and style, who spends summer days driving from carwash to carwash in order to look at the men who wash her car. After confirming her authority, she signals the start of the carwash by removing a boom box out of the boot of her car and hitting the play button.The men then was her car for her to view, interacting with them with the same composure. When the music stops, signalling the end of the carwash, the woman gets into the car and drives off to seek out the next carwash, leaving the men waiting.

Konstantinos Menelaou stated: "We wanted to subvert the male dominated fantasy of the carwash as it traditionally portrays an object of male power (the car) being cleaned by an object of male desire (the girl). In this case we reverse the roles and we give the power to the woman."

The female lead is played by Jaime Winstone, a British actress cast by James Small. He said: "Jaime is a great friend and we needed someone that could fit with the slick and powerful look of the Astra GTC and make it work in the context of subverting male fantasy,

"The SS 2012 collection is all about forward thinking and its great that Vauxhall Motors let me work in such a dynamic way with the Vauxhall Astra GTC. I cast the Vauxhall Astra GTC as its sleek design fitted the collection – which is all about looking back to my days in art college when we were allowed to freely express creativity and find our own personal style. I have streamlined the collection into a sleek and romantic vision incorporating the James Small trademark silk shirts and use of floral. Wash reflects this."

Renault Wins Best Green Development in The 2011 BusinessCar Fleet Technology Awards

Renault Kangoo Z.E.

The 2011 BusinessCar Fleet Technology Awards, AKA The Techies, has seen Renault awarded in the Best Green Development - Manufacturers' category.

The award was presented in recognition of Renault's investment and commitment to electric vehicles and for being the only manufacturer to offer a full range of zero emissions cars. It has also been presented with the Technology Award in BusinessCar's sister title WhatVan?

Paul Barker, Group Editor of BusinessCar and What Van? said: "As one of the judges commented, Renault is 'putting its money where its mouth is' and the massive achievement of offering an electric vehicle at an affordable price gives the technology the best possible chance of taking off."

"In the right circumstances, electric vehicles can be a real asset and money-saver for a business and Renault's impressive Kangoo Z.E. Van is an impressive first step towards adoption of electric power where appropriate."

Darren Payne, fleet and commercial vehicle operations director at Renault UK, said: "The Renault-Nissan Alliance is investing four billion Euros into the Zero Emissions (Z.E.) programme and the fruits of this will soon be a familiar sight on the UK's roads.

"Here at Renault, we're committed to greener motoring, which, in turn, lessens the cost for fleets. Our Renault eco2 range now extends to 51cars and 32 vans that reach our strict environmental standards for accreditation as eco2 variants. The Z.E. product offensive for this year and 2012 further enhances our drive to significantly lower vehicle emissions."

The New Ferrari 458 Spider

Ferrari 458 Spider

The new Ferrari 458 Spider now joins the 458 Italia, offering high performance and strong handling with the enjoyment of open top driving, courtesy of Ferrari's fully retractable hard top.

The Ferrari 458 Italia features Ferrari's naturally aspirated, direct injection 4.5 litre V8, mated to a dual clutch F1 paddle shift transmission through the E-Diff integrated with the F1-Trac traction control and high performance ABS.

To provide maximum sportiness and driving pleasure,the accelerator pedal mapping and the multilink suspension have been calibrated in line with Maranello's spider tradition. The engine soundtrack has also be revised for the top down driving experience.

The Ferrari 458 Spider's hard top is constructed entirely from aluminium and deploys in 14 seconds. The hard top has been engineered to fit ahead of the engine bay with no compromise to aerodynamics or performance. Due to the small space required to house the roof, designers have been able to include a rear bench for luggage behind the seats.

An adjustable electric wind stop has been designed to slow and diffuse the air in the cockpit, allowing for conversations to be held at speeds of more than 200km/h.

The New Porsche 911 Carrera At The 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

New Porsche 911 Carrera

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Porsche 911 Carrera will have its world premiere, ahead of going on sale in the UK on 17th December 2011.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera features a 100mm longer wheelbase offering improved stability and an increased interior space. The front and rear overhangs are now shorter and the sporting stance is further emphasised with a lower roof line and wider front track. Redesigned exterior mirrors are now mounted on the upper edge of the door, which provides improved aerodynamics and emphasises the new line design and a visual impression of width.

The flat six cylinder rear-mounted engine is uprated, offering increased power and improved efficiency. The new Porsche Carrera features 3.4 litre engine produced 350hp, with PDK offering a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds, when fitted with the optional Sport Chrono Pack reduces the time to 4.4 seconds, whilst the Carrera S features a 400hp version of the 3.8 litre engine delivering a 0-62mph time of 4.3 seconds (Sport Plus 4.1 seconds).

For the first time, the Porsche Carrera S features the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active roll stabilisation system, which reduces body roll during cornering, allowing the tyres to retain their optimal position relative to the road surface and in turn transmitting higher lateral forces which, for the driver, means the maximum corners speeds are increased.

Fuel consumption and emissions have been improved in the new Porsche Carrera and Carrera S, boasting up to a 16% increase compared to previous models. This has been achieved in part by auto start/stop, thermal management, electrical system recuperation, the world's first seven speed manual transmission and in conjunction with the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) – a 'coasting' function that decouples the engine for enhanced fuel efficiency when the throttle is closed.

The Porsche 911 Carrera with the new 250hp 3.4 litre direct injection engine and optional PDK returns 34.4mpg on the combined cycle and 194g/km CO2, making it the first Porsche sports car to emit under 200g/km CO2. The 400hp 3.8 litre Porsche 911 Carrera S has a combined fuel consumption figure of 32.5mpg when paired with the optional PSK and 205g/km CO2 emissions/

The Porsche 911 carrera is priced from £71,449 and the 911 Carrera S prices start from £81,242.

Standard equipment across the range includes a leather interior, sports seats, automatic climate control, Bi-Xenon headlights, 7-inch colour touch-screen Porsche Communication Management with satellite navigation, a universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity, Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and a three year warranty.

The Porsche 911 Carrera S sees the addition of 20-inch alloy wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with rear limited slip differential.

Fuel System Issues

Any car can be crippled with a fuel issue and it doesn’t matter how well you care for your car. The main issue to remember it may not always be the fuel pump or fuel pump assembly that is to blame. Many people get the news that their engine is not getting enough fuel and assume a fuel pump issue. In fact most mechanics will give the old “fuel pump don’t work” but believing this can be an expensive mistake. There are many parts in the fuel system that can cause an issue from leaking to low pressure.

If the fuel pump is bad there will be no pressure coming from the pump even if the mechanic were to hook direct power to the unit. A low pressure system may be caused by a blockage in the system or even low voltage from the alternator. A major cause of fuel issues is the FPR or fuel pressure regulator which is a unit that controls the flow of fuel to the injectors. If this unit were to function incorrectly it would cause low fuel pressure at the injectors and the car would have issues running and starting.

Cracks in the fuel lines and bad seals in meeting points can cause fuel leaks that can not only cause low pressure in the fuel system but can also be dangerous due to the highly flammable nature of the fuel.  If there is a fuel leak in the system it could be caused by old dry rotted line or cracks in the system from impacts of rocks and other debris from the road.

If the issue is tracked back to the fuel pump it may be a much smaller issue than the whole pump. If the wiring has a short and cannot get the proper voltage to the pump then the electric motor cannot function at full power and will not provide the correct pressure. Sometimes the voltage sent from the alternator is just too low and cannot power the pump unit enough. In the end it is better to check out the cause of the issue then just throwing in new parts and hoping it fixes the issue.

The AA Driving School To Use The All New Ford Focus

New Ford Focus

The AA Driving School will now start using the all new Ford Focus for its learner drivers.

The AA Driving School will take on more than 1650 new Ford Focus models by the end of January 2012, joining Ford Fiestas, already a part of the fleet.

Since 1998, Ford has exclusively supplied the AA Driving School, and is half way through a three year deal which will see the Company provide more than 8000 cars.

Sarah Dopson, AA head of group fleet, said: "Not only is the new Ford Focus attractive to us in terms of its cost-effectiveness, but it is also ideal as a car for tuition purposes and learners are attracted to the AA Driving School as a result. The new Focus is a perfect stablemate for the Fiesta."

Ian Watson, Ford's direct sales manager, added: "The car in which you learn to drive leaves a lasting impression on you and Ford is of course delighted to have been associated with the AA Driving School on an exclusive basis for many years. We're sure that the new Ford Focus will prove every bit as popular with students as the Ford Fiesta and the previous Focus."

BMW 1 Series Review

BMW 1-Series Review

Introduction

In a beauty contest for cars, the first generation BMW 1-Series would be unlikely to win any prizes. Its somewhat ungainly styling was rather tail-dominant and has been likened to a gangly puppy sitting on its haunches. It was the prized propeller badge on the car’s nose, and its status as the smallest and most affordable model in the BMW range, that ensured its success in the years since its 2004 launch. Seven years on, the second generation 1-Series has been given an extensive re-style that morphs an ugly duckling of a car into rather more of a swan.

The baby BMW has grown up just a touch, gaining 85 mm in overall length, with a slightly longer wheelbase and wider track than the original model. The added space benefits back seat room and has helped to give the car more balanced proportions. With these changes the 1-Series has also been given a stronger structure, but overall weight has been reduced by around 30 kg.

The 1-Series has the distinction of being the only rear-wheel-drive model among cars of a similar size, giving it a certain cachet amongst drivers attracted by its different driving dynamics from the mainstream of front-wheel-drive rivals. Whether it entirely lives up to those expectations is debatable.

Prices for the range start from £19,375 for a petrol-engined 116i ES.

Performance

The choice of engines includes two new generation four-cylinder petrol engines and three mildly revised four-cylinder diesels. All the engines come equipped with automatic shut-off to save fuel wastage in urban driving and traffic jams. The diesels are all turbocharged two-litre, common-rail units with differing power outputs. The petrol engines range in power from 135 to 168 bhp, and the diesels deliver from 115 to 181 bhp. Transmissions available are a six-speed manual or eight-speed auto, the latter with up- and down-shift paddles on the steering column.

The mid-range diesel 118d is expected to be the most popular model in the range, with power peaking at 141 bhp. Its 0-62 mph acceleration time is under nine seconds and the quoted top speed is 132 mph, but fuel economy is a pretty reasonable 62.8 mpg on the combined cycle. CO2 outputs are from 129 to 137 g/km for the petrol models, and from 114 to 122 g/km for the diesels.

The model tested here is the most powerful of the diesels, the 181 bhp 120d, which was the only one available to drive at launch. It is pleasantly surprising that a car with this power output and performance, and equipped with an automatic gearbox, ducks below the 120 g/km emissions barrier to qualify for a free first-year tax disc and £30-a-year subsequent discs.

It is worth noting that the car has a decent towing capability, good for 1,200 kg braked towing weight.

Tom Daley Attends The MINI Drivers Course

Tom Daley At The MINI Drivers Course

Tom Daley took part in the MINI Drivers course at Goodwood, a specially designed programme to introduce young people to driving. The MINI Drivers course runs all year round and allows teenagers to gain the skills to become a safe driver.

Currently, Tom is learning to drive in his MINI One D Hatch which he received as part of his role as a member of the BMW London 2012 Performance Team.

Tom said: "With the amount of travelling from home to the pool that I have to do, I'm obviously desperate to get my licence as soon as possible so it's great that MINI are helping me on my way to that as well as on my journey to London 2012. The Mini Drivers @ Goodwood course was a brilliant way to learn and I'm looking forward to coming back for more."

The Skoda Octavia vRS Officially Achieves 227mph

Skoda Octavia vRS

The Skoda Octavia vRS is now officially the fastest 2.0 litre supercharged production car in the world, with the 600hp 'salt spec' model having achieved an official top speed 227.070 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flat in Utah.

The model is a modified version of the production Skoda Octavia vRS hatch, having been prepared by Skoda UK, the team spent the week leading up to Speed Week putting the car through a rigorous dyno programme, supported by performance software and tuning outfit specialist REVO Technik.

The previous record, set in August 1998 was 216 mph, now beaten by journalist Richard Meadon, who set speeds throughout the week and beating the 200mph barrier on six previous runs.

The Skoda Octavia's runs consisted of two official runs on the five mile course, at 225.513mph on 18th August and a return run at 228.647mph on 19th August 2011.

Robert Hazelwood, Director for Skoda UK, said: "This is a truly stunning achievement. Our goal was to break 200 mph as a celebration of 10 years of vRS, and we have achieved that, and significantly more. The success is a tribute to everyone who has worked so tirelessly and with such passion to make Skoda a world beater."

The New Limited Edition Nissan Juke Kuro

Limited Edition Nissan Juke Kuro

Aimed at the most fashion conscious drivers, the new Nissan Juke Kuro - meaning black in Japanese - is a limited edition model with a dark look.

The limited edition Nissan Juke Kuro is based on the top of the range Tekna grade, adding new ten spoke 17 inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black and black door mirrors and handles. Two metallic paint options are available: Pearl Black or Force Red.

Numbers will be limited to 700 in the UK, with a special numbered plaque fitted to the centre console.

Prices start at £17,395 for the 1.6 litre petrol Nissan Juke Kuro, moving up to £18,995 for the 190hp turbocharged DIG-T model.

The limited edition Nissan Juke Kuro is available to order now, with deliveries expected from 1st october 2011.

Features and Figures of The All New Kia Rio

New Kia Rio

On sale from 1st September 2011, the all new 4th generation Kia Rio sees style and quality upgrades across the model range, alongside reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Two petrol and two diesel engines will be available for the all new Kia Rio, including a 1.1 litre three cylinder turbodiesel which boasts lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than any other non-electric car on sale, including hybrids and rival companies.

Complete with Kia's EcoDynamics fuel saving technologies, such as Intelligent Stop & Go engine technology, low rolling resistance tyres, a drag-reducing front grille, gearshift indicator and rear spoiler - this model can achieve 88.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 85g/km. The engine offers 74bhp and 170Nm of torque from 1500rpm.

All new Kia Rio diesel models will feature EcoDynamics technologies as standard, including the 1.4 litre models, which will be added to the line up shortly after launch. The 1.4 diesel four cylinder engine produced 89bhp and 220Nm of torque with fuel efficiency of 70.6mpg on the combined cycle and 105g/km of CO2.

The petrol engines for the Kia Rio sees the 1.25 litre Kappa engine develop 83bhp and 121Nm of torque and the 1.4 litre Gamma engine which develops 107bhp and 127Nm of torque. Manual and automatic gearboxes are available.

Standard features for the entry level Kia Rio '1' includes: daytime running lights, body-coloured bumpers, door handles and door mirrors, speed-variable front wipers, headlamp leveling, front electric windows, 15-inch steel wheels, a height-adjustable driver's seat, two-way steering column adjustment on the petrol model (height-adjustable only on the entry level diesel), a tachometer and trip computer, split folding rear seats, a boot light, a 12-volt power socket and an MP3-compatible RDS radio and CD player with USB and AUX ports. Bluetooth is also standard on the petrol entry model, and on all versions with other trim grades.

The '1 Air' grade is for buyers who want the comfort of air conditioning without upgrading to level '2'.

The '2' is sees 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and a chrome radiator grille surround. On the interior, black cloth upholstery, rear electric windows, a cooling glove box, electrically adjustable heated and folding door mirrors with side repeaters, leather trim on the steering wheel and gearshift and a centre console armrest.

The Kia Rio '3' spec features 17-inch alloys with low-profile tyres, ultraviolet-reducing solar privacy glass, LED daytime running and rear combination lamps, automatic air conditioning with auto de-fog, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, automatic headlights, heated front seats and six speakers.

Safety equipment is the same across the range, including electronic stability control (ESC), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist (EBA) in addition to emergency stop signaling (ESS).

The new Kia Rio also features Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), which prevents the car from rolling backwards when pulling away on steep gradients.

In the event of an impact, the new Kia Rio has a stiff body shell with front and rear crumple zones to absorb and dissipate crash energy minimising the risk of injury to occupants. THe kia Rio also features twin front, side and curtain airbags as well as seat belt pre-tensioners with load limiters for the front occupants.

The new Kia Rio is longer wider and lower than the previous model, with a 70mm longer wheelbase and coupe-like roofline. The luggage area is 100mm wider and overall capacity is 7% larger, at 288 litres. The rear seats fold in a 60:40 split.

The UK Kia Rio Model Line Up Performance Figures

Version	Power (bhp)	Torque (Nm)	0-60 (sec)	Top Speed (mph)
1.25 '1'	83 @ 6,000rpm	121 @ 4,000rpm	12.6	106
1.25 '1' Air	83 @ 6,000rpm	121 @ 4,000rpm	12.6	106
1.1 CRDi '1' EcoDynamics	74 @ 4,000rpm	170 @ 1,500 – 2,750rpm	14.9	98
1.1 CRDi '1 Air' EcoDynamics	74 @ 4,000rpm	170 @ 1,500 – 2,750rpm	14.9	98
1.25 '2'	83 @ 6,000rpm	121 @ 4,000rpm	12.6	106
1.4 '2'	107 @ 6,300rpm	137 @ 4,200rpm	11.1	114
1.4 '2' Auto	107 @ 6,300rpm	137 @ 4,200rpm	12.7	106
1.1 CRDi '2' EcoDynamics	74 @ 4,000rpm	170 @ 1,500 – 2,750rpm	15.5	100
1.4 CRDi '2' EcoDynamics	89 @ 4,000rpm	220 @ 1,500 – 2,750rpm	12.6	106
1.4 '3'	107 @ 6,300rpm	137 @ 4,200rpm	11.1	114
1.4 CRDi '3' EcoDynamics	89@ 4,000rpm	220 @ 1,500 – 2,750rpm	12.6	106

UK Kia Rio Model Line Up Economy and Pricing

Version	Comb. mpg	CO2 (g/km)	BIK band	VED band	Cost (OTR)
1.25 '1'	56.5	114	10%	C	£10,595
1.25 '1' Air	56.5	114	10%	C	£11,395
1.1 CRDi '1' EcoDynamics	88.3	85	13%	A	£11,095
1.1 CRDi '1 Air' EcoDynamics	78.5	94	13%	A	£12,695
1.25 '2'	55.4	119	10%	C	£12,495
1.4 '2'	51.4	128	15%	D	£13,095
1.4 '2' Auto	44.1	150	19%	F	£14,095
1.1 CRDi '2' EcoDynamics	74.3	99	13%	A	£13,795
1.4 CRDi '2' EcoDynamics	70.6	105	13%	B	£14,195
1.4 '3'	51.4	128	15%	D	£13,795
1.4 CRDi '3' EcoDynamics	70.6	105	13%	B	£14,895

The New Volkswagen up!

New Volkswagen up!

Ahead of the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September where the new Volkswagen up! will make its debut, Volkswagen has released the first photos of the new small car.

The Volkswagen up! is a new design and with a footprint of 3.53 x 164m, is designed for city driving. Launching in Europe in December 2011, three versions of the Volkswagen up! will be available, the entry level take up!, the comfort-focused move up! and the top of the range high up! There will be two models available based on the high up! at launch, the up! black and up! white.

The new Volkswagen up! will be powered by a new generation of three cylinder petrol engines, offering outputs of 60 PS and 75 PS. The 60 PS BlueMotion version with Stop/Start technology offers fuel consumption of 4.2l/100km on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of under 100g/km. Volkswagen also has plans for an electric drive Volkswagen up!.

the new Volkswagen up! has the option of the City Emergency Braking system, which is automatically active at speeds of less than 18mph and can detect the risk of an impact using a laser sensor. The City Emergency Braking system can reduce accident severity and avoid crashes with the use of automatic brake interventions.

The Volkswagen up! is 3.54 metres long and 1.64 metres wide and has a height of 1.48 metres, making it one of the smallest four seater cars. The car features short body overhangs and a long wheelbase of 2.42 metres. The Volkswagen up! offers 251 litres of bootspace, increasing to 951 litres with the rear seat folded.

Equipment line of the Volkswagen up! will specify whether decor paint or body colour will be used for the interior including the dashboard fascia.

The maps + more system - a mobile Personal Infotainment Device (PID) - is available for the first time in a Volkswagen. Developed in cooperation with Navigon, it features navigation, telephone, information and entertainment in one device, which can be snapped into place above the centre console. The system can be controlled and viewed via the maps + more touchscreen and can also be used to display vehicle information and used with the Volkswagen up!'s parking sensors where fitted.

Mitsubishi Intelligent Motion Vehicles At EcoVelocity

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Mitsubishi will join IMIE and the METRO newspaper to launch the EcoVelocity motor show, taking place at Battersea Power Station in London between 8th and 11th September 2011.

EcoVelocity will host vehicles which provide no-compromise, low and ultra low emissions, aiming to provide prospective buyers with an insight into the new technologies.

Mitsubishi will showcase its Intelligent Motion range, which will include the first pure-electric vehicle to the UK market, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.

Based on the Mitsubishi i-car, the i-MiEV will be available for visitors to test drive on a specially constructed circuit at EcoVelocity.

Also at the event will be the Mitsubishi Colt supermini, ASX compact crossover and the medium sized crossover, the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Lance Bradley, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK's Managing Director said: "We're delighted to be taking part in the EcoVelocity event and have been working with organisers and partners to ensure that we highlight the practicality and importance of more efficient, cost-effective, lower carbon vehicles."

Event founder and organiser Giles Brown commented: "In the absence of the British Motor Show in 2011, EcoVelocity will be the most important and definitely not to be missed motoring event of the year, showcasing the best real-world cars for real-world motorists at a single location… It is going to be of great interest to motorists learning what the industry has to offer them right now and in the future."

Land Rover Hands Over A Fleet of Vehicles For The Rugby World Cup 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011 Official Vehicle Handover Ceremony

Land Rover has handed a number of special fleet vehicles to the Rugby World Cup Tournament at an Official Vehicle handover ceremony at Eden park Stadium, Auckland.

30 Land Rover vehicles including Range Rover Sports and Land Rover Discoverys, have been provided to organisers and officials and will be used throughout the Tournament by RWCL and RNZ 2011. The vehicles feature special RWC 2011 branding, number plates and commemorative badging to celebrate the association throughout New Zealand.

The Land Rover fleet was presented to Kit McConnell, RWC 2011 Tournament Director at Eden Park, where the first game will be hosted on 9th September 2011. He said: "Rugby World Cup Limited is delighted to have a long term partnership with the globally renowned Land Rover brand.

"The provision of the Official Vehicles by Land Rover is key to the successful running of Rugby World Cup 2011 and will be put to good use to ensure that the Tournament is run smoothly over the next few months."

James Yates, Group General Manager, Land Rover New Zealand added, "We are extremely proud to be supporting Rugby World Cup 2011 this year in New Zealand by providing a fleet of vehicles to help with the organisation of the Tournament. These special vehicles will be on sale to the general public once the Tournament has finished in November."

Land Rover is also Primary Sponsor of the Official RWC 2011 App, providing fans with up to date Tournament information. The app is expected to downloaded more than one million times.

Yates continued, "Rugby fans from all nations will be able to get exclusive Rugby insight from Land Rover Rugby ambassadors via the Official RWC 2011 App. Land Rover is giving Rugby fans the opportunity to engage directly with current and former Rugby players through 'Tackle the Pros'. This feature will allow fans to upload their own questions and Land Rover will then put these to the Rugby experts".

The free app will be available for BlackBerry, PlayBook, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Windows Phone 7, available in English, French and Spanish, offering the following features:

• Live match commentary and score updates
• Half time and full match video highlights
• Tournament news, fixtures, results, stats and standings
• What's on in NZ - for fans in New Zealand, find out what RWC 2011 events are happening near you right now
• Stadium information - location and stadium facilities

The Official RWC 2011 App will be available to download for free, from 24th August 2011.

BC-CAR--NASCAR-Michigan,1st Ld-Writethru, CAR

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — Kyle Busch has won his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the year, outlasting Jimmie Johnson in a green-white-checkered finish at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday.

Busch, the series points leader coming into the race, passed Johnson with about a dozen laps remaining and was opening up a comfortable margin when brother Kurt Busch scraped a wall, forcing a caution from laps 198-201. The yellow flag erased much of Kyle Busch's lead, but he was able to fight off a quick move from Johnson after the restart and pull away.

Brad Keselowski finished third, his third consecutive top-three finish and fifth top-10 in his last six races. Mark Martin was fourth.

It was the 23rd Sprint Cup win of Busch's career — and first at Michigan.

Pole-sitter Greg Biffle led for 86 of the first 100 laps, but it didn't last. Busch passed him around the midway point of the planned 200-lap, 400-mile race. Jeff Gordon took the lead not long after that, and Johnson appeared to be in great shape when he made a pit stop just before a caution that started on lap 169.

Johnson was able to stay out on the track while other cars made pit stops under the yellow flag, and he led on the restart.

But Busch was lurking back in third place in his No. 18 Toyota and eventually passed Johnson. Busch also has three straight top-three showings. He was second to Keselowski at Pocono and third at Watkins Glen.

Busch came up short at Watkins Glen in a two-lap dash to the finish. He led the field to the green flag for those final two laps, but couldn't hold off Keselowski or winner Marcos Ambrose.

This ending was much more satisfying, and he got the better of Johnson — for now.

Johnson, the five-time defending Cup champion, has never won at Michigan. He has only one victory on the series this year but is performing consistently enough to be near the top of the standings.

Ryan Newman finished fifth Sunday, followed by Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth. Biffle settled for 20th.

Denny Hamlin, who won at Michigan in June, finished 35th, one spot ahead of Carl Edwards, who had to return to the garage early because of what he thought might have been an electrical connection problem.

Hamlin also had to visit the garage, about two thirds of the way through the race.

Bushwacker Fender Flares

Bushwacker Fender Flares







Bushwacker fender flares are a great way to add a little extra special design to your Truck, Jeep, or SUV.





Fender Flares | Best tops | 4wheelonline | All about car

This Year’s Monterey was Something Amazing to Behold

There are car shows and then there are CAR SHOWS, Monterey is the latter. This show it the crème de la crème of the automotive world. We are not talking about Ponitiac fuel pump and fuel injector units here. This is a no hold barred brawl of the most beautiful and amazing car that the world has ever seen.  As an example there were a number of cars carrying price tags so high that even Steve Jobs might think twice. Yeah lets be honest it wouldn’t phase him to buy one but still 2.6 Million dollars for one car is quite the asking price.

One such insane car is the new SSC Tuatara which is the latest offering from the Shelby company and the word bespoke is used a number of times when this car is mentioned. This car is a space age material covered high speed monster that will be a contender for the fasted production car on the planet for sure. The Tuatara features a 7.0L turbo charged motor creating more than 1300 HP and is looking to not only top the 270MPH barrier but also capture the fastest time for a production car around the Nurburgring. The best part about this car is it looks like something out a movie based years in the future and yes it is the car in the main image of this blog.

Bugatti had one of the more interesting cars that has been shown in many years but not for the reason you may think. This particular car is in fact a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport that has been custom built with porcelain worked right into the pain and while not everyone may agree with the styling of the car it can be said it is quite stunning to behold even if it is just in high def pictures. One last think about the car it has clear tail lamps and cops love to pull people over for clear tail lamps. Over 2 million for a car and a top speed of over 260MPH and you get stopped for something that trivial. Just saying it would be funny.

If anyone who could not get into the show it-self was feeling left out there was really no need, the parking lot of the even was any car guys dream. Just in a few short minutes walking around the grass lot that was the parking many Porsche carrers GTs and Lamborghinis can be seen. Enough Ferraris, Rolls Royce and Bentlys to make Rodeo drive loot like the poor house and even a Veyron or 2 all making me think why pay for a ticket. The other thought in my head is what do these people do for a living and how nice it must be to have that kind of speed at your finger tips …well toe tips.

Phil Thompson Serves Breakfast At The Ford Centenary Tour

Michelin Chef Phil Thompson Serves Breakfast To Ford Owners

Two star Michelin chef Phil Thompson was on hand with his mum, a former dinner lady, at an A1 roadside catering truck to serve up 100 free breakfasts for Ford owners taking part in the Ford Centenary Tour.

The bread rolls were made by Phil and filled with dry-cured smoked bacon. Phil describes the perfect bacon butty: "Freshly baked bread and nicely cooked crispy bacon - not too hard, not too soft," he said. "This is not what I usually do but it's great to have mum here helping me out."

Jamie Parnell, one of the 100 customers who sampled the food said: "It was a brilliant start to the day. It's unusual to get a free breakfast, especially one as good as this."

The Ford Centenary Tour is currently travelling the UK visiting Ford dealers, plants and events, finally finishing at the Goodwood Revival between 16th and 18th September 2011.

65 year old Kathy, who helped her son prepare the breakfasts, was a dinner lady for Ford at Dagenham providing meals for thousands of car workers for 43 years.

"I'd rather do 78 covers at the restaurant than be shouted at by mum," Phil said. "She's my toughest critic. She doesn't like anything fancy - her favourite is steak and chips - so I have to make everything as plain as possible. No garnish, no garlic - and even then I'll still probably get it wrong!"

Today, Kathy's daughtersKaren and Tracey are still working within the catering division for Ford, the third generation of Thompsons serving food for Ford workers.

"There are not many canteens in Ford I've not worked in," said Kathy. "Most of the workers started calling me 'mum' and I was cooking for literally thousands of them every day."

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Review

Ford Fiesta Review

You can almost guarantee that any new Ford is going to be a winner and the new Fiesta is no different. With a crop of awards under its belt already, Ford has taken the new format a stage further with the, clean, green ECOnetic version.

The new Ford Fiesta went on sale in October 2008; a month later it was voted Car of the Year by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers and just as the ECOnetic was hitting the showrooms in January, the standard Ford Fiesta was crowned What Car? Car of the Year. So clearly, something is going right.

Not that there was anything wrong to start with. During its 32-year history, the Ford Fiesta has always been at the top of the European best-seller list with over 12 million sold. But it was time for a change and the 'new' Ford Fiesta became 'all-new' from the ground up and, although it was developed in Europe, it is designed for the global market. Marin Burela, Ford's European, Executive Director of Small Cars goes as far as to say that the new Ford Fiesta represents, "a landmark moment for Ford," and that it is, "the most significant global vehicle project since the Model T." It's big talk but, recession aside, the Ford Fiesta is likely to fulfil all expectations.

Certainly, this latest model has a more modern appearance that will appeal to younger buyers with a front end that features a large trapezoidal grille similar to that on the old Zetec S 'specials' and a standard feature of Ford's Kinetic Design ethos. Above this is a neat, narrow grille with a large Ford badge in the centre. Either side are the new slimline headlight clusters that appear to extend to level with the base of the windscreen, giving the car a wider, sleeker and more dynamic appearance.

From the side, strong design lines emphasise the new, upward angle of the lower window line, which is more noticeable in the three door versions due to the extended doors that force the B-pillar back.

The back end couldn't be more different, featuring deep rear wings sliding down to a heavily moulded bumper with a diffuser-effect cut-out, while the whole tailgate and tail-light area, seem to be set higher with new-shaped clusters and a generally more rounded appearance.

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Review | Insight `

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Ford Fiesta Review Road Test Data
Model Reviewed	Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
Body Type	Hatchback
Colour	Vision
Performance ~ manufacturers figures
0 - 62 mph	12.3 Seconds
Top Speed	111 mph
Transmission	5-Speed manual
Fuel Type	Diesel
Economy ~ manufacturers figures
Urban	61.4 mpg
Extra Urban	88.3 mpg
Combined	76.3 mpg
Insurance Group	4
Euro NCAP Rating	5
Warranty	3 Years / 60,000 Miles
Price when tested on the 23/02/09	£12,445