2008 Mazda Kazamai Concept Hits Moscow Review

Kazamai, which means “swirling crosswinds” in Japanese, expresses the powerful yet nimble image of a stylish and compact crossover. The concept is based on Mazda’s long-term vision for technology development ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom’ which aims to provide a unique balance between sporty driving fun, and superior environmental and safety performance.

The evolving Mazda design language ‘Nagare’ is evident on Kazamai’s exterior, with panel lines inspired by crosswinds in nature which evoke visual lightness, fused with aerodynamic proportions. The bold five-point grille, accentuated front wheelarches and sleek roof line, combined with large 22-inch diameter wheels, endow Kazamai with high emotional appeal.

Sporty to look at, Kazamai is designed to be spirited and fun to drive, with compact dimensions. The concept’s four-wheel drive Mazda powertrain will consist of a next-generation direct-injection engine and a newly-developed transmission. It is also aerodynamically efficient, with an evolved lightweight and robust body structure that also contributes to the vehicle’s dynamics and safety.

If it were to be built, Mazda’s latest showcar would deliver exciting driving dynamics, frugal fuel consumption and greatly reduced CO2 emissions.

The Mazda Kazamai promises to be another ground-breaking show car from Mazda Design, winner of this year’s Grand Prix du Design in Paris. Created especially for the Moscow International Automobile Salon, Kazamai gives a good indication of where Mazda is going with a possible future compact crossover.

In Russia’s growing automotive market, compact SUVs are the second-largest segment, representing about 13 percent of all new car sales. Consequently, the 2008 MIAS will also mark the Russian debut of Mazda’s CX-9 SUV, which was crowned 2008 North American Truck of the Year in February.

Complete information about Kazamai will be made available immediately after Mazda’s press conference at 10:15 hrs local time, on 26 August.

2008 Zagato GTZ & Spyker Aileron Join Forces Review

Broughtons Specialist Cars, the ‘luxury retailer of the world’s most exclusive cars’, will give UK car enthusiasts their first opportunity to see the sensational Zagato Bentley GTZ and Spyker C8 Aileron when The British International Motor Show opens at ExCeL in London’s Docklands next week.

In total, Broughtons will be responsible for displaying seven supercars at the Show: the Zagato Bentley GTZ, two Koenigseggs and four Spykers. The models will be exhibited in the Ultimate Collection and the Ultimate Collection Public Gallery for the duration of the event – from 23 July to 3 August.

One of the largest privately owned luxury car retailers in the UK, Broughtons is proud to be the exclusive UK Ambassador for Italian Atelier, Zagato and the sole distributor within the UK for the Dutch manufacturer Spyker and Swedish brand Koenigsegg.

Hand-crafted in Milan by Zagato, the new Bentley GTZ is based on the 200mph, 600ps W-12 engined Continental GT Speed and only nine examples will be manufactured. Mechanically true to Bentley’s original vision, the GTZ features many Zagato trade-mark characteristics, with a rounded tail, new rear lamp clusters, narrowed side windows, double-bubble roof design, deeper front grille, full-width lower front air intake and two-tone paintwork.

The Dutch-built Spyker C8 Aileron continues the company’s signature architecture with a mid-engined configuration and aluminium spaceframe chassis, clad in aluminium panels. For the C8 Aileron, the wheelbase is stretched 100mm and the unique glass canopy is extended rearwards – increasing cabin space and reducing aerodynamic drag. The headlamp units have been redesigned to blend more closely with the body lines and feature LED indicators as well as Xenon headlamps.

For the C8 Aileron, the double wishbone suspension is all-new, the AP Racing braking system can be upgraded with (optional) carbon ceramic discs, and the 400ps 4.2-litre V8 engine can be now be specified with a 6-speed Getrag manual or 6-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Founded in 1946 in Cheltenham as a Bentley dealer, Broughtons has grown to represent five of the world’s most glamorous automotive brands – Aston Martin, Bentley, Koenigsegg, Spyker and Zagato – retailed from dedicated showrooms at locations in Cheltenham, Berkshire and Surrey. Further information on Broughtons can be found online at www.broughtons.co.uk.

2008 NICE Ze-O EV Europe Launch Review

Affordable, practical, with low running costs and zero emissions; NICE Car Company today presents the first image of the all-new Ze-O. Making its global debut at the British Motor Show next week, this MPV is the first all-electric car available within a family budget.

“All-electric sports car prototypes are eye-catching and interesting,” said Julian Wilford, co-founder NICE Car Company. “However, we all know customers want practical electric cars and they want them sooner rather than later. The Ze-O is a genuinely spacious and affordable car; it’s coming to the UK this Autumn and to the rest of Europe during 2009. We expect to be very busy at the motor show.”

Styled in Europe and manufactured by NICE’s partners in China, the entry level Ze-O will have a range of up to 65 miles in city driving and top speed of 55 mph. Optional, longer-range lithium-ion battery options will be available soon. Emissions free, the car will be exempt from road tax, congestion charge and boasts running costs of a few pence per mile. That’s a fraction of the cost of a conventional petrol or diesel model.

First picture of £14k, all-electric MPV from NICE Car Company
To be unveiled at British International Motor Show on 22 July 2008
Neither a concept nor prototype; the Ze-O is coming to Europe this year

2008 Peugeot Electric Taxi Unveiled Review

Taxis will be propelled into a new era at this year’s British International Motor Show with the launch of the UK’s very first electric taxi. Launched by Glasgow based Allied Vehicles which builds thousands of taxis each year, the new E7 taxi appears in the electric pavilion for the duration of the motor show.

The electric taxi will be available from October 2008 and is the result of three years research and development by Allied, which is already looking for local authority partners to install recharging networks locally to help drive down urban emissions.

However, a recent snub by Transport for London’s taxi licensing division, the Public Carriage Office, means the UK’s first zero emission taxi will not be appearing on the capital’s streets anytime soon.

The E7 is powered entirely by cutting edge Lithium-ion batteries which have been developed and supplied by Europe’s leading independent manufacturer, Dundee based Axeon Holdings plc. These give the electric E7 a range of up to 100 miles from a single charge and a top speed of 60mph.

Producing no carbon, particulates or other pollutant emissions, the E7 is eligible for a 100% discount from vehicle excise duty, as well as lower daily running costs.

With rising fuel prices an increasing problem for taxi drivers, the electric E7 is cheaper to run than a traditional black cab*. Allied’s confidence in the technology is underlined with batteries featuring a six-year warranty and the base vehicle boasting a two-year unlimited mileage Peugeot warranty.

The electric E7 also provides full wheelchair access. Thanks to its large rear-passenger area wheelchair users can enter the vehicle more easily and be turned into the correct position for travel, before being secured safely with high-quality wheelchair restraints and passenger seat belts.

Each taxi is equipped with retractable side-steps and a specially designed, under-floor wheelchair ramp to further improve accessibility for disabled passengers.

The new E7 taxi combines the comfort and safety required by the modern taxi driver including a driver’s airbag, a feature which is unavailable on traditional black cabs.

“Taxis and their drivers have a hard life and with the rising cost of diesel at the moment, it is only going to get worse,” said Gerry Facenna, Chairman of Allied Vehicles.

“For the majority of taxi drivers, the key issue when buying a new cab is usually the cost to run, service and maintain their vehicle. In the current economic climate drivers are looking for ways to reduce costs and electric power offers an ideal solution, especially for congested urban areas where traffic is stop-start for much of the day.

“We’ve had a positive response to electric vehicles from many local authorities, both in the UK and in Europe. However it’s a shame that London looks set to miss out, especially since its famous taxi fleet is currently responsible for 4% of all emissions in the capital,” he added.

The E7 will cost £39,450. To put this into perspective, a London style black taxi based on a TX4 silver automatic is in the region of £35,455 on the road.

2008 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Confirmed Review

Production of the new MINI began in 2001 in Oxford and soon after, the Cooper Car Company in East Preston launched a wide range of John Cooper Works tuning kits and accessories for MINI. This gave MINI owners, obsessed with personalisation and performance, an even greater opportunity to create their perfect MINI. John Cooper’s achievements in world motor sport laid the foundations for the John Cooper Works brand. Now in 2008, fans of MINI and the John Cooper Works brand have something new to lust after: the new MINI John Cooper Works, hot off the production line at MINI Plant Oxford.

The MINI John Cooper Works will go on sale in the UK from 22 July 2008, priced at £20,995 on the road. First deliveries of the Clubman edition will not take place until early in 2009, when a bespoke aerodynamic kit will have been developed for that model, giving it an even more dynamic presence on UK roads. Pricing for the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman will be confirmed nearer the time.

Both Hatch and Clubman derivatives will be assembled at MINI’s Plant Oxford site. The John Cooper Works models will seamlessly integrate into the production schedule alongside other Hatch, Clubman and Convertible MINIs. Sixty per cent of MINI suppliers are UK-based and with body panels from MINI’s Plant Swindon and engines from Plant Hams Hall, the MINI Production Triangle is a thriving asset to UK manufacturing.

Fastest ever production MINI* is the torque of the town…and track
A strengthened, larger version of the award-winning twin-scroll turbocharger, partly responsible for the grin on the face of every MINI Cooper S owner, is the heart and lungs of the new MINI John Cooper Works. Developing 211hp and an impressive 260 Nm of torque, turbo boost can be extended even further to 280Nm on deployment of the car’s Overboost system. This gives the MINI John Cooper Works the highest peak torque figure ever of any open production MINI. Because full boost is available between 1,850 and 5,600rpm, the car is an outstanding performer on road or track.

A race car for the road…with a conscience
The engine, transmission and braking system of the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch and Clubman models is adapted from the MINI CHALLENGE race car. Little wonder then that a 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds is the result of extensive performance tuning. All this and a potential 40 miles per gallon. Have your cake and eat it!

The difference is in the differential
To ensure power is transferred to the wheels with minimal fuss and maximum dynamic performance, every MINI John Cooper Works car is supplied with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) as standard. ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Hill Assist complete the line-up of chassis management technologies fitted to the John Cooper Works cars.

Strength of appearance
Making the MINI John Cooper Works stand out from a standard MINI Cooper S is a range of specific styling and performance features. An aerodynamic kit, bespoke 17” alloy wheels, John Cooper Works badges, large disc brakes with upgraded bright red performance calipers and large twin tailpipes denote this car has something special under the metal. A full range of John Cooper Works styling accessories is available from all MINI dealers or online at www.mini.co.uk

MINI John Cooper Works highlights
• On sale in the UK from 22 July 2008 priced at £20,995 for the Hatch model
• Engine modifications produce 211 hp and give the MINI John Cooper Works a 0-62 mph time of 6.5 seconds
• 132 hp per litre
• 40.9 mpg
• Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) as standard
• Engine, brakes, suspension and transmission tuning adapted from the MINI CHALLENGE race car

2006 MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit official 0-62mph time was also 6.5 seconds. UK sales of this car were limited to 454 units.

2008 Maserati GranTurismo S First Drive Review

A stellar array of supercars kicked off the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday with manufacturers showcasing the very latest – and fastest – performance icons. Maserati lovers and fellow spectators were treated to the first UK glimpses of the trident marque’s two latest additions: the Quattroporte S and the GranTurismo S.

The Quattroporte S, the latest incarnation of Maserati’s iconic flagship saloon, drew admiring glances thanks to its scintillating performance on the track and its inimitable style in the paddock. The Quattroporte S has a dual soul as a luxury saloon with sports-car performance and is fully responsive in all driving conditions whilst cosseting the driver in its luxurious and distinctive ‘Made in Italy’ interior. It’s equipped with a 4.7 litre V8 delivering a maximum power output of 430 CV at 7,000 rpm, accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds and has a maximum speed of 174 mph.

The GranTurismo S flew up the hill with supermodel Jodie Kidd behind the wheel on Saturday while celebrity chef and car collector, James Martin, took to the track on Sunday. The GranTurismo S is the ultimate expression of the Trident’s sportiness. Its 440 hp V8 4.7 litre engine, electro-actuated gearbox with fast MC Shift, transaxle layout, sporty exhaust and dual-cast brakes make the GranTurismo S a true ambassador for Maserati’s sporting flair, with acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds and a maximum speed of 183 mph, the highest ever reached by a standard production Maserati.

Official prices for Maserati’s latest models, which will reach the UK showrooms in September were also announced. The new Maserati Quattroporte will be on sale at £79,000 and the Quattroporte S at £85,000. Prices for the GranTurismo S will start at £89,900.