2009 Mazda3 four-door to be unveiled in LA

This November's Los Angeles Auto Show is shaping up to be Mecca for enthusiasts. The 2010 Ford Mustang is due to be revealed in the City of Angels, Volkswagen will supposedly unveil a mid-engine roadster to rival the Elise and it's been all but officially confirmed by Nissan that the 370Z is on its way – two of them, no less.

So with all that rear-wheel-drive hotness on display, the redesigned Mazda3 sedan might have to struggle for attention. Then again, it might not. As suspected, spied and rendered, the next Mazda3 will be taking cues from the recently released Mazda6, including flared wheel arches, swept back headlamps and a gaping air dam. The illustration above (courtesy of AutoCar) is yet another derivation of a reoccurring theme we've seen before, and with the same C1 Ford Focus chassis, the 2010 Mazda3 will have the looks to back up its performance.

As for engines, European consumers will get a choice of gasoline powerplants ranging from 1.4- to 2.0-liters, along with 1.6- and 2.2-liter oilburners. In the U.S., we can expect engines ranging from 2.0- to 2.5-liters, while the Mazdaspeed version is expected to be packing the turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder from the Focus ST. The five-door will debut at the Bologna Motor Show in December, and sales are expected to begin in Europe and North America early next year.

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart priced at $26,490

Mitsubishi has just released pricing on the all-new 2009 Lancer Ralliart and for $26,490, you can get behind the wheel of the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Evo Lite. Equipped with the same 4B11T/C as the Evolution X, the Ralliart is putting out 237 hp through a modified version of the Evo IX's AWD system. That includes an Active Center Differential, along with front and rear mechanical LSDs and settings for Tarmac, Gravel and Snow. Active Stability Control is part of the package, as is Traction Control, but unfortunately, Ralliartists have to make due without the Active Yaw Control equipped on its big brother.

The optional Recaro Sport Package will set you back an additional $2,750, and includes front Recaro buckets, HID headlamps, a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system with a six month subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio.

Owner ships Lambo from Qatar to London (and back) for oil change

A wealthy Arab man, thought to be a Sheikh, recently had his black and gold Lamborghini LP640 flown 3,250 miles to London via Qatar Airways and trucked to a certified UK Lamborghini dealership last Friday for a fluid change, which cost him a paltry £3,552 compared to the £20,000 round-trip flight. That's a grand total of £23,552 ($46,644 USD) for a friggin' oil change.

Environmentalists are obviously not pleased with the owner's wanton display of conspicuous consumption. Airport workers at Heathrow also blasted the owner's excess after watching the car get the royal treatment on the runway. One commented, "This car doesn't have a carbon footprint - more of a crater," and another pointed out that it would've been much cheaper to just fly certified Lamborghini technicians to Qatar to do the service.

This type of behavior begs the question of how far one's personal choice extends in the face of the greater good. We're told the Earth is dying beneath our feet and it's all our fault, so should a Sheikh be allowed to ship his car around the world for an oil change while the rest of us stick compact flourescent light bulbs in our lamps and wait in line to buy a Prius? Perhaps the only act that could be more environmentally egregious than this is if he just threw out his exotic and bought a new one every 3,000 miles.

[Source: The Sun]

2009 Ford Ka officially revealed

We're less than a day away from the official unveiling of the 2009 Ford Ka, but as is often the case, more cracks are appearing in the dam. This latest leakage comes courtesy of AM-Online, with two new images showing the Ka's new rear end and, more importantly, the interior.

Ford's "Kinetic" cues carry over to the Ka, with a slanted stance, large C-pillar and miniscule spoiler below the rear window. The interior has undergone a thorough update, including a new three-spoke steering wheel with brushed aluminum accents that tie into the door handles and curvaceous center stack. The new IP is a subtle blend of simplicity and functionality, with a high-mounted shifter similar to that found on the EP3 Civic Si, along with two-tone thrones that match the turquoise hue of the exterior.

Earlier reports suggest that motivation will be provided by a choice of three powerplants – a 1.4-liter or 1.6-liter gasoline engine or a 1.6-liter TDCi diesel – and a ST variant will likely follow, powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter.

BMW updates M models for 2009

BMW's lineup of M-fortified vehicles now numbers nine, which is the largest it's ever been in the sub-brand's 30-year history. Munich has tweaked the lineup for 2009, and while nothing groundbreaking has been added, the additions and changes are worth noting. For instance, the BMW M3 Sedan gets a new rear end that sports updated taillights with two LED light clusters, and the entire M3 line gets some minor interior tweaks, new colors and crash-active headrests. The M5 and M6 soldier on with larger sideview mirrors, though BMW mentions that regenerative braking and an uncoupling air conditioner compressor – both fuel saving technologies – are right around the corner.

Of course, all M models are now offered with the latest generation of the automaker's much maligned iDrive control system. We haven't had the opportunity to sample the new version yet, so we'll refrain from making fun of its user interface for now. A new, impressively large 8.8-inch nav screen is, however, available with the optional Professional navigation system package and each system has moved from being DVD-based to storing all the info on an in-dash 80GB hard drive. This fall, BMW will also be offering ConnectedDrive, the first application of unrestricted internet access in a car, across the M lineup and iPhone integration has now been worked out, as well.

Perhaps the most significant addition is the arrival of a Competition Package for the M6 Coupe. The Competition Package includes a newly tuned performance suspension that lowers the car 12 mm up front and 10 mm in the rear, an adaptable suspension control system and double-spoke forged alloy wheels. BMW claims this will be the most athletic M6 you can buy and that there will be visual distinctions to set it apart from a standard M6. Unfortunately, BMW refrained from showing us what those visual distinctions will be.

F1 teams meet, form new association in Maranello

In the highly competitive world of Formula One racing, the only thing teams can agree on is money -- they want more of it. To that end, they've set up the new Formula One Teams Association.

Unlike the previous Formula One Constructors Association – which represented only the independent teams and came, somewhat ironically, to be dominated by Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley when they were team owners – the new group has the backing of all the teams (both independent and manufacturer-owned). The association was founded this week in a meeting of team representatives at Ferrari headquarters in Maranello, also including the participation of Formula One rights holders Bernie Ecclestone and Donald McKenzie. The Formula One Teams Association will represent the interests of the constructors (grand prix-speak for teams) in negotiating the final terms of the new Concorde Agreement, which determines profit sharing among the parties involved in the sport. Speaking with one voice, the teams surely hope to be able to secure a bigger share of the revenues from the grands prix. Little wonder then that Ferrari, in the short statement after the jump, called the meeting "extremely constructive".

[Source: Autosport and Ferrari, Photo: Lluis Gene/Getty]


PRESS RELEASE

F1 teams meeting at Maranello

Maranello, 29th July 2008 - All the Formula 1 teams met today in Maranello and held an extremely constructive meeting, in the presence of Bernie Ecclestone and Donald McKenzie.

The teams have subsequently agreed unanimously that they will establish the new Formula 1 Teams Association to work with the FIA and FOM to agree upon regulations and commercial conditions which will provide a framework for a strong and dynamic sport.

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX: 265 hp, retuned suspension, STI tweaks

It's official folks. Those of you that picked up a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX have been had. The road-going rally rocket gets an update for 2009 and with it comes a retuned 2.5-liter boxer four-pot producing 265 hp and 244 lb.-ft. of torque – a 41 hp and 18 lb.-ft. increase over the outgoing model. Power will be sent to all four wheels through a five-speed manual – the only transmission available -- with low-profile 225/45R17 summer tires replacing the 205/50R17 rubber of the 2008 model.

The suspension has been revised to include stiffer springs, uprated dampers, upper strut mounts cribbed from the STI and larger anti-roll bars fore and aft. The Aero package is no longer an option – it's standard – and includes an STI-inspired grille on both the sedan and hatch, while the five-door receives the STI's rear spoiler and underbody diffuser.

Impreza obsessives that ran out to buy a 2008 model might be miffed, but Subaru had to make adjustments to keep the WRX competitive, particularly with the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart becoming a serious contender in the turbo'd sedan segment.

Mercedes-Benz to cut output by 40K plus

After announcing that its plant in Alabama would be slashing production of its slow-selling SUVs, Mercedes-Benz has decided to cut overall output by more than 40,000 units over the next four months. While the slowdown of SUV sales are anything but surprising, even the top-of-the-line S-Class sedan has been hit with a downturn of sales. Reportedly, the German plant in Untertürkheim will also be reducing its output of V6 and V8 engines.

In order to remain profitable in these tough times, three-pointed-star prices are expected to rise and the brand's smaller models are being considered for the U.S. We'd imagine that Dr. Z and the rest of the board's future plans for Mercedes-Benz, which includes a switch to boosted engines, hybrids and electric cars, can't come soon enough. We also wouldn't be a bit surprised to see an even larger shift to diesel power from the German automaker.

Shocking! See F1 mechanic getting zapped by KERS system

Anybody who wants to know why Formula 1 teams are reconsidering using the Kinetic Energy Recovery System, or KERS need only watch the video embedded after the jump. So far, there have been two incidents of KERS failures, the first requiring the U.K. Red Bull team to make a call to the local Fire Department and the second, as seen in the video, sending a BMW mechanic to the ground. The KERS system recovers energy that would be lost to braking so that it can be reused on the next straightaway. We aren't in the business of finding enjoyment from the suffering of others, but since the mechanic was basically unharmed, let this be a reminder that high voltage hurts.

GM employees to get sneak peek at production Volt

Pending white collar cuts and dismal sales data have resulted in morale problems at General Motors. That's going to put a damper on the Detroit automaker's centennial celebration, so the General plans on showing employees a near-production-ready Chevy Volt to give workers hope. The (hopefully) game-changing extended range electric vehicle will be shown internally around the September 16th centennial, and employees who see the Volt will, of course, have to check their cameras and phones at the door. That doesn't mean the public won't soon get an eyeful of the car, as GM sources report that it'll be shown in production trim at this year's LA or Detroit Auto Show. Don't forget also that it's also been rumored that Volt could show up in Paris in October.

GM has 200 engineers and 50 designers working long hours to make the ER-EV happen by its late 2010 production target, and there are another 400 people working on components. GM is also constructing a new 530,000 sq-ft facility to build the Volt's 1.4L engine and working on getting incentives for the planned construction.

Tata may resurrect Daimler

Although Daimler is the name of Mercedes-Benz’s corporate parent, it is also a prestigious English car brand. Tata acquired the rights to this brand when it bought Jaguar. At one time Daimler made its own separate cars, but for the last forty years, Jaguar has mainly used the Daimler name for ultra-low volume premium versions of the XJ cars and aristocratic limousines. Now Tata may use this name to give Jaguar it own ultra-premium brand in the same way Mercedes has Maybach or BMW has Rolls-Royce.

The quick history of the brand is that at the end of the 19th century, a British company acquired the local rights to sell engines developed by German engineer Gottlieb Daimler, under his name. British Daimlers became competitive in racing and the preferred transportation for British royalty. By 1960 it was acquired by Jaguar, and British Motor Company acquired Jaguar a few years later. Since then Daimler has lived on mainly as a company that sells thinly re-badged Jaguars at a premium price. Meanwhile, Gottlieb Daimler’s own company, over a succession of merges, became the present-day Daimler AG, the parental conglomerate of Mercedes as well as other vehicle manufactures. As an interesting note, when DaimlerChrysler divested Chrysler and wanted to call the company only Daimler, they had to get permission from Ford who acquired rights to the name when it bought Jaguar.

Aston Martin DB9 to get Caparo brakes

It's been a while since we heard anything about the Caparo T1 supercar. One of the most extreme applications of the "F1 for the road" theme, the project originally began independently under the name Freestream before being acquired by component manufacturer Caparo as a rolling demonstration of the latest in automotive technology. Part of that tech is now finding its way into another British sportscar: the Aston Martin DB9.



Reports now indicate that Aston Martin will be upgrading the brakes on its V12 sportscar with units developed for the Caparo T1. In the place of the 355mm front discs currently employed will be a set of 378mm discs, gripped by four-pot calipers each machined from a solid piece of cast aluminum. The new stoppers, developed by the 18-man team at Caparo AP Braking, promise to deliver a 24% reduction in fade while reducing peak temperatures by 18% in return for 30% less pedal force required. Interesting that Aston Martin decided to outsource a new set of brakes for the DB9 instead of adopting the carbon-ceramic units from the top-of-the-line DBS.

430 Scuderia Michael Schumacher

430 Scuderia Michael Schumacher. test driver of ferrari 



Even in racing retirement, Michael Schumacher still has one of the best careers in the world, currently completing the track

Lamborghini Gallardo smashed up (UK)

A supercar destroyed in a country lane crash may have been driven by a man who hired it for a weekend wedding reception. The white Lamborghini convertible was badly damaged when it hit a tree in Shropshire on Sunday 27th July.

Escaping serious injury, the idiot was picked up by another car and abandoned his luxury vehicle, according to police.

He was one of a group of men who told drinkers in a nearby pub, The Cider House in Wootton, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, that they had been to a wedding reception and had hired three Lamborghinis and a Bentley for the weekend. A man who saw the group commented: "I was down the pub having a quiet drink with a few friends when three Lamborghinis and a Bentley raced up the quiet country lane and onto the car park."

The driver of the white Lamborghini sat in the car park "for a while, just revving it until it was hitting the limiter", he said. Two hours later, he was looking at the crumpled bodywork of the crashed Lamborghini, which people had stripped of its badges, centre caps and gear stick knob, said the onlooker.

A spokeswoman for West Mercia Police said: "The driver was seemingly not seriously injured as he was picked up by another vehicle and his car was abandoned. "Inquiries are under way to identify the driver and we are appealing for any information which might assist."

She could not comment on whether the crashed car was rented or not. Brian Jarvis, the licensee of The Cider House, said that the pub was co-operating fully with the police and had made their CCTV available to officers.

He said he could not confirm whether the group had visited the pub on Sunday as it had been "packed".

Another day, another moron damaging an expensive car...

Renault Kangoo B-Up uncovered

The Renault Kangoo will receive a younger brother dubbed Kangoo B-Up later on this year. The regular Kangoo will launch in Spring 2009 in the UK, while the 3dr Kangoo B-Up will go on sale in 2010.

First spied in Southern Italy heavily disguised, this production model, which was caught on a photoshoot, reveals how the newcomer will look.

Engines and equipment levels will be very similar to the 5dr Kangoo. Expect sales to kick off around Autumn 2008, after a debut at October's Paris motorshow.

Via Autoweek.nl > Renault Kangoo B-Up spy video

Related link:

New Car: 2008 Renault Kangoo

Motorists leave their cars at home (UK)

More than half of British motorists are leaving their cars at home due to the increasing cost of fuel, according to a new survey.

Out of the 15,300 people involved in the AA poll, 55% had made a conscious decision to cut back on the number of car journeys they take as a result of pump prices – up from 37% in April.

This figure cooled to 77% when including those who had continued to use their car but had cut back their expenditure in other areas.

Almost half of those questioned, 47%, said they are cutting back on leisure activities such as eating out or going to the cinema, while one in 10 had cut back on car servicing, a decision which could result in more breakdowns.

Mazda3 sedan shows up in Death Valley

Updated: 24/08/08

The new Mazda3 has been spied undergoing hot-weather testing in Death Valley, CA. To date, only the sedan variant has been spied but European engineers have let the hatchback variant out in the wild, in the Austrian Alps.

Despite being on the market for a long time, the Mazda3 is still looking fresh after 6 years. The newcomer is based on the next generation Ford Focus and blends these proven underpinnings with chassis expertise from the MX-5.

Refinement and cabin quality are high on the agenda for Mazda, so expect plenty of soft-touch cabin plastics and a layout inspired by the bigger Mazda6. Launch engines will come from the Ford stable, with petrol units ranging from 1.4 to 2.0 litres and diesels from 1.6 to 2.2 litres.

As engineers made the latest 2 lighter than its predecessor, the new 3 is set to weigh less, too. Add in the liberal use of biodegradable materials, and it will be one of the greenest hatchbacks around.

The MPS performance model will feature the 2.5 litre five-cylinder turbo from the Ford Focus ST. In the Mazda, which is due in 2010, this will offer around 250bhp. And the discreet look of the current 3 MPS is set to be axed in favour of a more menacing design.

The Mazda3 variants are due in 2009. Like the current model, it'll be better equipped and cheaper than the Focus. The sedan should be at the Los Angeles motorshow in November, while the five-door hatchback will be launched at the Bologna Show in Italy in December.

Fiat 500 production expands for the 3rd time

For the 3rd time since the 500's launch last year, production of the popular city-car will be expanded to 200,000 units + annually to cope with European demand.

Fiat’s initial plans in 2007 where to sell approximately 120,000 units this year, however high demand saw the Italian carmaker raise the target to 140,000 earlier this year. According to a report, between the 500’s July 2007 introduction and the end of June 2008, Fiat dealers have received in excess of 230,000 orders.

Related links:

Fiat 500 Abarth deposits taken online

Fiat announces 500 cabrio

Fiat 500 sold out in the UK

FIAT 500 at 2008 F1 Grand Prix

FIAT 500 UK pricing

FIAT 500 production expands again

FIAT 500 crash test results

Private importers import FIAT 500 in UK

FIAT 500 production expands

FIAT 500 goes off-road

FIAT 500 Abarth expected in Tokyo

FIAT 500 goes on sale in France & Italy

FIAT 500 commercial shoot pictures

2009 Ferrari California

Welcome with Ferrari California. Position the song of Eagles, because the cover was finally released from the newest caracolante offer of horse 'of S, and it 's what you 'd you wait until it is -- another powerful, expensive, and ultra-exclusive offer of Maranello.

Not, California isn 't Ferrari moins-cher in the tradition of Dino -- the manufacturer of cars stiffened with these comparisons during months now, shouting with all with range of voice that their newer model not to be cheap. Indeed, one expects that California, a machine of before-engine with a hardtop yielding out of aluminium, is more expensive than the F430 spider, which sells with the detail with approximately $210.000.

But mission of California 'of S is slightly different that other Ferraris; the model all-nine is aimed more one purchaser before whom cannot have considered Ferrari, one which wants high efficiency and the high luxury at end.

For this purpose, California comprises small back seats and space of luggage which makes echo the large philosophy of tourism of the 612 Scaglietti. It 's obtained more late in navigation, the communications, and the options of entertainment. And the top yielding was optimized in order not to disturb to the top of these $500 cuts.

Not, the didn of Ferrari 't forgets the execution. The power for California comes in the form of 4.3L V-8, which is based on the mill of F430, but with technology from direct injection. The power in horses is evaluated by Ferrari with 460 @ 7500 t/mn. The engine is joined to the new transmission of Ferrari 'of duel-clutch seven-speed of S -- the application of beginning of the new gear box. Gone up to the back, transmission of duel-clutch will be probably faster and smoothing tool that high-speed the F1 unit existing, and will make it possible Ferrari to compete with Porsche 'gear box of S new Dopplekupplung which beginning on the 2009 911. According to evaluations, 0-62 M/H concerns inside four seconds above, and when you must stop, Brembos carbon out of ceramics of standard-equipment will slow down California downwards but quickly.

Other interesting developments on California include a suspension of back of multilink instead of an installation of double-fork, and in addition to the aluminium roof, the major part of the body is also wrought in metal, using the same techniques of construction as F430 and 599 GTB.

Model external of California 'of S, parked by Pininfarina, naturally, is immediately recognizable like Ferrari. But him 's also distinctive beside Maranello 'of S of other offers. The car seems rounder with far and run that Ferraris recent. The apparent device is in advance the air intake designed in the cap, a selection of heritage no doubt originating in traditional Ferrari 250GT California. A fold in front of character starts with the version of passage on side of triple-hearing (smaller, replaced that found on the moose California) and above the handle of door, flattening outside above the aft wheels. The piled up exhaust ports dominate the left side and right of the back of the car, and the lid of trunk comprises a lip in front of spoiler.

Ferrari promises more groups of California throughout the summer bringing first world of car to 's with the Motor-show of Paris in September. The stay granted to motortrend.com as cover gives off the new car slowly

Ferrari 2008

Ferrari is now present on 52 markets in the whole world and exports almost 90% of the cars which it builds.� The imports of the European motor vehicles belongs to Pty of the motor vehicles of Ateco Ltd, Autralasie 'principal importer independent of car of S, and is responsible for Ferrari in Australia and Zealand News.� Imports of the European motor vehicles is invested in providing a superlative experiment of service to the customers and property which matches the single driving satisfaction which is found only behind the wheel of Ferrari.� The devoted service personalized for customers of Ferrari is supported by the support and the equipment of important distributor.

2010 Acura NSX will be priced around $160,000

The Acura NSX is two years away from its official launch, but we can already imagine how it look like, and more than that what engine will get and what price will have.

Inside Line reports the car will have a price somewhere around $160,000, right on top of its rivals: Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Maserati Gran Turismo and Jaguar XKR.

The NSX will get a 5.5-liter V10 generating upwards of 600 horsepower and 433 pound-feet of torque. At low speed the V10 deactivates five cylinders to save fuel and lower emissions. The V10 is bolted to a quick-shifting six-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the rear wheels, while a revised version of Honda’s Super Handling AWD system generates the car’s prodigious grip levels, enabling such a quick ’Ring lap time.

Ford Ka leaks out ahead of Paris

The first image of the redesigned Ford Ka has leaked out ahead of its official debut in Paris this October, and as expected, the new microcar takes all the right cues from Ford's European design language. The headlamps, front fascia and accent lines all ape the new Fiesta to good effect, and with a platform shared by the Fiat Panda/500, the new Ka should still be an engaging means of puttering around town.

Engine choices will initially be limited to two gasoline powerplants (a 1.4- and 1.6-liter), along with a 1.6-liter TDCi oilburner. Further down the line, expect the Ka ST to receive the Fiat 500 Abarth's turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, some suspension tweaks and a redesigned front clip.

Sales will begin in Europe early next year and expect the Ka to make a cameo in the new Bond flick, Quantum of Solace.

Buick Enclave gets passport for sale in China

In addition to getting the coolest Buicks which are not available in America, individuals in China are about to get the best vehicle that Buick has to offer in the States. In a deal which was initially inked ten months ago, the attractive Enclave CUV, built at GM's Lansing Delta Township assembly plant, is headed for China. The U.S. assembled 'utes will make their way by means of Shanghai GM. The exportation of the Enclave to China is only surprising in that it took so long for the General to get the model there in the first place. After all, Buick sells more vehicles in China than anywhere else in the world, with the nation consuming over half of all Buicks worldwide. We can only hope that Shanghai GM returns the favor and sends some of its best designs our way... and soon.

Apa kelebihan dan kekurangan Honda CS1

+ Menggunakan mesin sonic / CBR125 yg sudah teruji
+ Pendingin cair, kompresi bisa dibuat tinggi, sehingga tenaga besar. mesin tegak, tidak seprti bebek honda yg lain yg tidur
+ Karakteristik overbore yaitu bore lebih besar dari stroke (58 x 47mm) sehingga mampu bermain di rpm tinggi dan tenaga menjadi lebih besar. karena ini tenaga puncak CS1 diklaim sedikit lebih besar dari MX (52 x 58mm) yng lebih canggih dan lebih besar kapasitasnya
+ Menggunakan double disc brake
+ Gayanya unik, sporty, campuran sport &bebek, belum ada yng sama

- Mesin lebih sederhana, Hanya menggunakan mesin SOHC, bandingkan dengan satriaFU yg pake DOHC. katup cuma 2 bandingkan dengan MX yng pake 4 katup
- Tenaga puncak 12,6HP, sedikit lebih tinggi dari MX yg 11,4HP tapi masih kalah jauh sama satria FU yng 16,5HP
- Lebih boros bahkan dibanding MX yng kapasitas lebih besar,
- Harus pake pertamax, makin tambah boros pengeluaran
- Bobotnya berat 114kg, mungkin ini motor bebek dengan bobot yng paling berat
- Tampang aneh (menurut gue, tapi ini masalah selera)
- Harganya overpriced banget. jauh lebih mahal dari jupi mx bahkan dari satriaFU yg lebih canggih. tapi namanya honda, biar mahal tetep laku.

Hyundai i20 on British soil

Its not unusual for Hyundai to test cars in the UK. This is the first sighting of the firms new car on British roads, since engineers are currently in the Austrian Alps and Germany.

The new i20 will replace the aging Getz hatchback when it arrives early next year. This mule was spied on back of a tow-truck between Coventry and Leeds, Northern England.

The Getz replacement will take styling hints off the larger i30 to make it look more distinctive than its rivals. The interior will be improved immensely over the outgoing model. The current models dull, hard, cheap-looking interior will be ditched in favour for soft-touch plastics, upgraded fabrics and silver styling elements to give the interior a posher feel.

2 petrol engines will be available, producing around 80bhp for the 1.2 litre and 109bhp for the 1.4 litre, with an optional automatic transmission. A 1.5 litre 110bhp diesel will arrive and likely to be hooked to a manual gearbox.

The newcomer will premier at October's Paris motorshow in 5-door form. Sales are expected in Spring 2009 with prices starting around £7,500, however, 6 months down the line, the 3dr will arrive.

Related links:

Hyundai i20 undisguised

Hyundai i20 spied in Spain

Hyundai i20 on British soil

Its not unusual for Hyundai to test cars in the UK. This is the first sighting of the firms new car on British roads, since engineers are currently in the Austrian Alps and Germany.

The new i20 will replace the aging Getz hatchback when it arrives early next year. This mule was spied on back of a tow-truck between Coventry and Leeds, Northern England.

The Getz replacement will take styling hints off the larger i30 to make it look more distinctive than its rivals. The interior will be improved immensely over the outgoing model. The current models dull, hard, cheap-looking interior will be ditched in favour for soft-touch plastics, upgraded fabrics and silver styling elements to give the interior a posher feel.

2 petrol engines will be available, producing around 80bhp for the 1.2 litre and 109bhp for the 1.4 litre, with an optional automatic transmission. A 1.5 litre 110bhp diesel will arrive and likely to be hooked to a manual gearbox.

The newcomer will premier at October's Paris motorshow in 5-door form. Sales are expected in Spring 2009 with prices starting around £7,500, however, 6 months down the line, the 3dr will arrive.

Related links:

Hyundai i20 undisguised

Hyundai i20 spied in Spain

2009 Honda Jazz specifications revealed (EU)

Honda's smallest baby, Jazz, has been on the Europe market since 2001. In the UK, the Jazz clocked up over 161,000 sales. The newcomer is set to follow in the predecessor footsteps when its arrives in November.

Surprisingly, there will be no diesel engines under the bonnet as Honda believes the refinement, fuel economy and performance of its i-VTEC petrol engines justify shunning a diesel. So, the 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol engines will power the new Jazz at launch and a hybrid will come during 2009, promising no road tax.

Emissions fall from 129g to 120g/km for the 1.2 litre, which is mated to a 5 speed manual. Instead of 78PS, the 1.2 now has 90PS and returns 55.4 mpg combined. The 1.4 litre emits 124g/km from 137g and 139g and is teamed up with Honda's new 6-speed automated manual i-SHIFT transmission that replaces the previous CVT. A 5 speed manual is also optional. Power is increased from 83PS to 100PS and returns 53.3 mpg combined.

The UK Jazz line-up should consist of the entry-level S, followed by the mid-range SE, ES, and rising to the flagship EX. The 1.4 litre EX receives the heat absorbing, panoramic glass-roof with electric shade.

Set to be officially unveiled at the Paris motorshow on the 17th October, prices for the Jazz will start at £10,000, rising to around £14,000 for the 1.4-litre model.

Press Release:

Honda's all-new Jazz is once again set to redefine the B-segment parameters of practicality and interior space. The 5-door hatchback will achieve class leading interior space and combined it with significantly improved fuel economy and 120 g/km CO2 emissions (1.4-litre i-SHIFT and 1.2-litre). The exterior design is at first glance an evolution rather than a revolution, but this subtle change of appearance is only one small part of the thousands of changes that push the all-new Jazz forward. It retains the concepts of the previous Jazz with its centre fuel tank layout and Magic Seats which gave it world beating interior flexibility.

Yet while the best features are retained, including cabin space to rival mid-sized saloons, the new Jazz brings change to every area, raising the bar even further and promising to expand on its success in the supermini segment. The previous generation was given more than fifty awards and has sold over two million around the world since its 2001 launch. A slightly larger, ‘cab forward' style body brings better visibility and means Jazz is even more spacious, benefiting rear legroom and boot space in particular. The Magic Seats now dive down in one easy action and their versatility is now complemented by a new Double-Trunk boot feature in the luggage bay.

There are greater levels of safety equipment including the introduction of Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, active front seat head restraints and VSA. Larger wheels, revised suspension and a longer wheelbase/wider track bring greater agility while enhancing ride comfort. And new 90 PS 1.2-litre and 100 PS 1.4-litre i-VTEC engines deliver better performance characteristics while boosting economy to exceptional levels - 5.1 and 5.3 l/100 km combined, respectively. CO2 emissions for both the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre engines have also been significantly reduced. The 1.2 litre engine now emits just 120g/km (down from 129g/km), while the 1.4 litre produces 123g/km in manual or 120g/km with the i-SHIFT transmission (down from 137g/km)

Greater economy and lower emission from two new engines:

New, more powerful petrol engines, capable of outstanding economy, are designed to appeal to customers who might be downsizing as well as those looking to achieve fuel economy comparable to diesel powered models. Their balance between economy and lively performance are unmatched in the class. Adopting Honda's VTEC technology (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control), the new 1.2 and 1.4-litre four-cylinder engines are connected to either a 5-speed manual transmission or, on 1.4 models, Honda's i-SHIFT 6-speed automated manual transmission which includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Offering 90 PS compared to the 78 PS of its predecessor at a slightly higher 6,000 rpm and torque up from 110 to 114 Nm for improved performance, the 1.2-litre engine nevertheless achieves 5.1 l/100km combined, down from 5.5 l/100km, while CO2 emissions are also improved, reduced from 129 to 120 g/km. It is a similar story with the new 100 PS, 127 Nm 1.4-litre engine. Compared to the previous i-DSI unit which produced 83 PS and 119 Nm, fuel economy is now 5.3 l/100km for the manual model (down from 5.8 l/100km) and an even better 5.1 l/100km when equipped with the i-SHIFT semi-automated manual transmission (5.9 l/100km for the previous 1.4-litre CVT). CO2 output drops to 124 and 120 g/km, respectively (down from 137 and 139 g/km). The new SIL (Shift Indicator Light) fitted to manual models, similar to that found on the new Accord, provides a visual prompt of the best gear shift points to maximise economy.

Transmissions:

The 1.2 and 1.4-litre models are equipped with an evolution of the previous 5-speed manual transmission with gear ratios optimised for a more sporty driving experience while ensuring good fuel economy. Key improvements include a revised clutch pedal stroke, carbon-type synchroniser on third gear to minimise shift load, crisper shifting through reduced clutch disc inertia and improved refinement. Manual transmission-equipped models feature the new SIL (Shift Indicator Light) within the centre of the rev counter, also found on the latest Honda Accord. Providing the driver with a visual prompt of the best gear shift points to maximise economy, it has been demonstrated to provide meaningful fuel economy improvements.

i-SHIFT (6-speed automated manual transmission):

As well as a 5-speed manual gearbox, the 1.4-litre engine can be teamed up with Honda's latest i-SHIFT transmission. The first time a 6-speed automated manual transmission has been offered in this vehicle class, the gearbox offers better fuel economy than is possible with either a true automatic or a CVT (continuously variable transmission). The unit is a development of the system first fitted to the Civic, with improvements made including; reduced gear change times, smoother shifts and more intelligent automatic mode shift logic.

New cab forward styling and increased dimensions:

At 3900 mm long, 1695 mm wide and 1525 mm tall, the new Jazz occupies its own unique niche between superminis and compact MPVs, offering the style of the former and the practicality of the latter. Overall height remains the same, but the length of the new Jazz is up by 55 mm and it is also slightly wider - by 20 mm. A wheelbase increase of 50 mm, and front and rear track increases of 35 mm and 30 mm, respectively, aid handling stability. Despite those increased dimensions, the turning circle at 9.8 m kerb to kerb is no larger than that of the previous Jazz and together with improved visibility, the new car's around town abilities are even better.