2008 Ferrari Joins Le Mans Heritage Parade Review

At 7.30am on Saturday 14th June, the morning of the Le Mans 24 Hours, some 60 Ferraris took to the circuit for the Heritage Parade, organised by Motor Racing Legends. This gives Le Mans-goers the unique opportunity to drive three high-speed parade laps of the full, 8.5-mile race circuit in their own cars, just a few hours before the start of the world’s greatest endurance race.

This year, the Parade was specifically for Ferrari owners and the early morning spectators looked on in amazement as F40s and 355 Spiders, F430s and Challenge Stradales, 328 GTBs and 550 Maranellos – a vast range of models from the Prancing Horse – swept by at full chat.

“There are very few people who get to drive the full circuit, with all the public roads closed, unless they’re actually racing there,” said Peter Everingham of the Ferrari Owners’ Club. “It’s a fantastic experience and a great privilege.”

Among the Parade participants was none other than the great racing driver Jack Sears, at the wheel of his own Ferrari 328 GTS, which he bought new in 1989. “We had a wonderful few laps,” said Sears after the Parade, “a really flowing journey round the circuit.”

Speaking to the Ferrari drivers at their post-Parade breakfast in the heart of the Le Mans circuit, it was clear that – for many – hurtling down the Mulsanne Straight was the highlight of the whole experience. Everyone seemed to know exactly what speed they’d reached: “We topped 250km/h,” said Peter Everingham, who’d been sharing David Edwards’ 550 Maranello. David himself, who had driven his Ferrari all the way from Australia – a trip of some 8000 miles – described his laps of Le Mans as “mind-boggling”.

Next year, Motor Racing Legends will be throwing open the Heritage Parade to a much wider range of marques – giving more people than ever the chance to drive the full Le Mans circuit on the morning of the 24 Hours. Applications will be accepted from drivers of both classic and modern cars, wherever the marque has a traditional link to Le Mans: Ferrari, Lagonda, Jaguar, Bentley, Austin-Healey, Riley, Morgan, Aston Martin and so on.

2009 Volkswagen Scirocco UK Offers Pre-Order Review

Customers keen to be among the first to drive away a new Scirocco can officially add their names to the waiting list as the car becomes available to order at Volkswagen Retailers across the UK today. Prices for the new car, which goes on sale on 1 September, have also been announced and start at £20,940 RRP on the road for the launch model, the Scirocco GT 2.0-litre TSI with 200 PS.

The original Scirocco was first seen 34 years ago, and over two generations and 19 years a total of 77,460 Sciroccos were sold in the UK. Now the new model blows in, with equally distinctive coupé styling, a practical hatchback boot, four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive – yet this is the most technically advanced production coupé that Volkswagen has produced.

All UK models benefit from Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) which operates via a set of four electrically adjustable dampers to alter the car’s suspension, steering and throttle response set-up, and allows the driver to choose the most appropriate setting for the journey. Normal is the default; Sport adds firmer suspension and sharper responses for twisty roads or track driving; while Comfort offers a smooth and controlled ride best suited to motorway trips.

At launch, all Sciroccos will be powered by a 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS engine with either a six-speed manual or automatic DSG gearbox. Versions with a DSG ’box will command a £1,330 premium over their manual counterparts. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine – already popular in the Golf GTI – produces 207 lbs ft of torque from 1,700 rpm and allows the Scirocco to achieve a 0 to 62 mph time of 7.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 146 mph. The combined economy figure for the vehicle is 37.2 mpg, with CO2 emissions of 179 g/km.

Early in 2009 a further two engines will join the Scirocco line-up: a 1.4-litre TSI 160 PS petrol and a 2.0-litre TDI common rail diesel unit with 140 PS and a combined economy of around 52 mpg. Both will come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.4-litre TSI will also be offered with Volkswagen’s new seven-speed DSG ’box.

Two trim levels will be available – standard Scirocco and Scirocco GT. The launch engine is only available in combination with GT trim, giving customers a high level of standard specification which includes ABS with ESP, six airbags, touchscreen CD autochanger, climate control, 18-inch ‘Interlagos’ alloy wheels, front foglights and a multifunction steering wheel among a host of other items. Options are set to include a panoramic tilt sunroof, leather trim and touchscreen satellite navigation.

Volkswagen UK predicts sales of 3,350 Sciroccos this year, rising to around 9,000 in 2009 when a full line-up is available. Already over 11,000 people have signed up via www.volkswagen.co.uk to receive email updates on the new Scirocco model.

2008 Renault Clio Sport Tourer Defined Review

New Clio Sport Tourer has arrived in the UK, offering competitive pricing, impressive standard equipment, innovative features, greater load space and practicality, combined with the all the style and exterior good looks Clio is renowned for. The Sport Tourer version is a compact estate without compromising on interior space.

Ideal for customers who need the space and practicality of an estate car, but still want a car with sporty and modern looks, Clio Sport Tourer has 50% more boot space than the Clio and is priced just £850 more than the Clio five-door.

Equally suitable for active lifestyles and family outings, with great levels of comfort and safety you would expect from a Renault, Clio Sport Tourer is available in Dynamique trim priced from £12,095 for the 1.2 16V 75 to £14,495 for the dCi 106.

Prices/ engine range

Clio Sport Tourer is offered with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines. Four of the five available are Renault eco² vehicles, meaning they meet a strict criteria of emissions of less than 140 g/km, are 95% recyclable and are manufactured at plants certified to ISO 14001.

The engine range line-up includes the 1.2 TCe 100 petrol engine which provides the torque of the 1.6 VVT 111 engine, the power of the 1.4 16V and the economy and emissions of the 1.2 16V 75. The dCi 86 engine has CO² emissions of just 117 g/km and a combined mpg of 64.2.

Insurance groups are competitive ranging from 2E to 5E.

Dynamique – high level of equipment

Clio Sport Tourer launches in the ever-popular Dynamique trim, ensuring the interior matches the Clio’s exterior sporty looks.

Core features include equipment you’d expect from a practical estate car such as black roof bars, and the completely flat boot floor and load area that lifts up to reveal a hidden storage area offering maximum versatility.

The Dynamique trim comes well-equipped including the following standard features offered in addition to the core equipment: air conditioning, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, 15” ‘Mahonia’ alloy wheels, cruise control and speed limiter (on the automatic version), split-folding 60:40 rear seat, six airbags, 4 x 15W RDS radio CD with fingertip remote control and double optic ‘See Me Home’ headlights.

The launch of Clio Sport Tourer also includes a Summer Special edition, the Expression, which will be offered in limited numbers and is competitively priced at £11,215 for the 1.2 16V 75 and £12,365 for the dCi 68. Expression’s interior includes a blue centre console and dashboard inserts, and the trim is similarly well-equipped with standard features.

Dimensions

Clio Sport Tourer is one of the most compact estate cars on the market at just 4,202mm long with the same wheelbase as the Clio (2,575mm). Its generous loading space, 60:40 split-folding rear seat and large boot space of 439dm³ which is more than 50% bigger than the Clio, ensure Clio Sport Tourer is every inch an estate car.

The 60:40 split-fold rear seats free up additional loading space of up to 1,277 dm³ (up to ceiling; 239dm³ more than the Clio). With the smaller section folded down, Clio Sport Tourer can accommodate four adults plus luggage offering a load length of up to 1,450mm.

Boot access is exemplary, owing to the shape of the rear bumper and the very low sill height (581mm). Its removable floor ensures its boot is versatile and adaptable. With convenience and practicality firmly in mind, Clio Sport Tourer has a handy compartment for the rear parcel shelf when it is removed, under the removable boot floor. Removing this floor panel can increase the capacity by a further 72dm³.

2008 BMW Celebrates 30 Years of M Review

30 years, 300 000 vehicles and a BMW M3 Coupe – these are the most significant earmarks of a remarkable anniversary. Three decades after commencing with the assembly of their first series production model, the BMW M GmbH has now delivered its 300 000th vehicle. The alpine white BMW M3 Coupe was handed over to a customer in Regensburg. This East Bavarian town is also the location of the BMW plant in which the high-performance sports car is produced.

The anniversary vehicle marks a further milestone in the success story of the BMW M GmbH. The number of customers who choose to purchase a BMW M model still continues to grow. Nevertheless, driving a car boasting the M logo remains an exclusive experience. In the year 2007, BMW M GmbH automobiles accounted for around one percent of the BMW Group’s overall turnover worldwide.

The tremendous success of the BMW M GmbH began with a limited production car. In 1978 the company, which was established six years previously as the BMW Motorsport GmbH, presented a mid-engine racing car, featuring a straight six-cylinder power unit that was utilised in the newly founded ProCar series. The car was also produced for reasons of homologation with a 204 kW/277 bhp road version. The two-seater car, which had long become a legend and which, in its anniversary year, was recently abundantly honoured at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2008 at Lake Como, was the fastest German series production sports car when launched. 445 BMW M1 cars were produced up to 1981, one of them being the Art Car designed by Andy Warhol.

Other models included in the range as from 1984 achieved considerably higher production figures. It was then that the BMW M GmbH corporate philosophy, which is still applicable to this day, was established. The aim was to develop high-performance automobiles, which were suitable for everyday road traffic and would fascinate through discrete aesthetics and drive and suspension technology directly inspired by motor racing. This applied unreservedly to the first BMW M5 with a 210 kW/286 bhp straight six-cylinder power unit for example. Thanks to its performance and its understatement factor, the saloon car was extremely popular amongst business travellers.

Two years later, a further M model laid the foundation stone for a new vehicle category. The BMW M3, ancestor of the current fourth model generation, caused a stir both on the road and on the racetrack. It is the most successful touring car ever utilised in motor sports, also becoming a huge commercial success within a very short time. 17,000 first-generation BMW M3 automobiles alone were sold. To this date, the car, which is currently available as the BMW M3 Coupe, the BMW M3 Saloon and the BMW M3 Convertible, accounts for the largest proportion of overall BMW M GmbH vehicle sales.

During the course of the first ten years, around 35,000 BMW M automobiles were put on the road. In 1994, five-digit figures were achieved for the first time within a year. Since then, record sales figures have been consistently achieved, with sales of all BMW M GmbH models continuing to rise further with each new generation. Worldwide purchases of the new BMW M3 alone exceeded 4,000 in the first four months of the current year – even before the market launch of the BMW M3 Convertible and the new M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic. The USA is the most important market for BMW M automobiles, and on the European continent the high-performance sports cars are much coveted in the UK, Germany and Italy.

The vehicle portfolio of the BMW M GmbH currently comprises nine models, all featuring engines with individual characteristics derived from the high-revving concept. The BMW Z4 M Roadster and the BMW Z4 M Coupe boast a straight six-cylinder with 252 kW/343 bhp, the BMW M5, and the BMW M5 Touring, the BMW M6 Coupe and the BMW M6 Convertible all feature a 373 kW/507 bhp V10 engine. Both power units are series winners of the “International Engine of the Year Awards”, which the new 309 kW/420 bhp V8 engine utilised in the BMW M3 was also able to seize in its category this year.

2008 Smart fortwo cdi Set For UK Review

The world’s CO2 champion, the smart fortwo cdi, is coming to Britain.Sales of the new smart diesel model, which boasts the lowest CO2 emissions of any current production car worldwide, just 88g/km, will start next year with manufacturing of right-hand drive models commencing in February.

As well as impressive green credentials buyers will appreciate the car’s remarkable fuel economy. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is 85.6mpg. It means the new smart can travel 670 miles between top-ups, equivalent to a journey from Dover to Prague.

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “The cdi gives customers the whole range of smart benefits when driving in and around the city, with the added bonus of low cost, long distance motoring. Our retailers are reporting heightened interest in the iconic two-seater; registrations are buoyant and we think the addition of the smart cdi to the range early next year will give added momentum.”

The car’s Mercedes-Benz-developed three-cylinder common-rail diesel engine develops a healthy 45hp, offering drivers useful performance as well as economy. The diesel model will be available in both coupé and cabrio versions.

The smart cdi benefits from all the enhancements currently available in the new smart fortwo petrol models, including improved ride and handling, class-leading safety, added protection from head and thorax airbags, a larger boot, more elbow and shoulder room, comfier seats, upgraded trim and a revised dashboard layout with a more efficient ventilation system. There is also a new five-speed semi-automatic transmission offering both fully automatic and manual modes.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Official SEMA Car Review

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, a true 21st century sports car, will be the official vehicle of the 2008 SEMA Show. “The influence that the Camaro has had on the automotive industry and vehicle personalization is undeniable,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA VP of events and communications. “Since the car was introduced in 1967, enthusiasts have fallen in love with the Camaro. It’s simply a great example of the passion and excitement that comes from this industry.”

After 35 years of continuous production, the Camaro was taken off the assembly line in 2002. Chevrolet introduced a concept version of the popular vehicle in early 2006, announcing later that year that a new generation of the Camaro would be forthcoming. That vehicle is set to debut in 2009.

“We are so excited about the return of the Camaro,” said Ed Peper, North America Vice President, Chevrolet. “The Camaro brings technology and great design to consumers early next year, and we are looking forward to bringing this much anticipated vehicle to the show in Las Vegas.”

General Motors, through several of its vehicle brands including Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Saturn, is a long-time supporter of the SEMA Show. The automaker has exhibited at the event since 1996, and also demonstrates a strong commitment to vehicle personalization by collaborating in numerous SEMA programs that make it easier and more cost-effective for its members to develop products for their vehicles. These programs allow SEMA members to obtain vehicles in advance of the public, access confidential drawings and data on new vehicles, and be recognized for their creativity and design achievements.

“We could not be more pleased to be working with the General Motors family at the SEMA Show,” said MacGillivray. “The automaker has a long and deep history with our industry, and it’s evident through the vehicles that they manufacture.”

Also at the 2008 SEMA Show will be a dozen of the world’s leading automakers, where thousands of display vehicles will be outfitted with custom wheels and tires, mobile electronics, performance products, accessories and more. Each year, more than 130,000 industry professionals attend the event, which is open exclusively to automotive professionals.