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Mercedes Reveal Performance Duo

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Yesterday’s Formula 1 test in Barcelona was also the scene of the unveiling of a very important new Mercedes performance car: the SL63 AMG. And the reason why I state that it is a car of some importance is because it is, quite simply, a sledgehammer of a machine!

Will they be able to keep up?

The new SL63 AMG will be available to buy in the UK this summer and it was revealed before a frenzy of excited press representatives in the Barcelona pit lane alongside the new Mercedes MGP WO3 F1 contender.

This was clearly a display of authority from Mercedes-Benz, who are coming under increasing pressure to perform and win on the grandest stage of all.

This is the third season the silver arrow will compete as a works team at the top level in the modern era and so the pressure is seemingly on for the pairing of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg to get results.

Previous Challengers

BMW, one of Mercedes’ biggest rivals pulled the plug on their F1 involvement after a disappointing 2009 season. They believed that poor results were detrimental to the company’s image and, ultimately, their car sales. Let’s hope Mercedes’ bosses are not thinking the same thing and instead they stick to their F1 programme. At the end of the day a continued F1 presence will benefit the development of the road cars whilst hopefully leading to race wins.

AMG Features

Anyway, I digress! Back to the new AMG Merc.

It will be fitted with a 5.5 litre V8 powerhouse that produces 529bhp. The engine is one that has been used in previous performance models such as the E63 and S63 amongst others. However, for the new SL63 AMG, it has been tweaked and tuned and will now also offer 30% greater fuel economy. This, if true, will result in great fuel savings and may also see the car placed in a slightly lower insurance group, which could, ultimately, lead to a lower motor insurance quote.

Extra Details

The new car is also lighter than its predecessor by 125kg thanks to its aluminium and magnesium structure. The new body kit that was developed by AMG also looks rather brutish with aggressive flares, a deeper front bumper and large cooling ducts. There are also lashings of AMG and V8 Biturbo badges.

Inside there are much the same gadgets as you get on the previous model, however the new SL63 AMG will also come with the automatically tinting Magic Sky Roof system. An aluminium folding hardtop roof is also included.

The new car will be publicly revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Will you be in attendance? And do you fancy a new SL63 AMG?

Let us know what you think of Mercedes’ new machine and what you think of their F1 prospects this year by commenting below.

Tags: F1, Mercedes-Benz, MGP WO3, motor insurance quote, SL63 AMG
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Porsche Announce the New Macan

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Porsche has announced that they are to design and build a new SUV and it will be called the ‘Macan’. It will basically be a baby version of the Cayenne, a car that already divides opinion. For me, the Cayenne doesn’t really work. Porsche’s are all about being light on their toes and, above all, fast. The Cayenne is more a luxury cruiser, and one that I personally don’t think looks great either. From the rear it is a very good looking 4×4, however the front end is certainly not to my taste and it spoils the overall appeal of the car.

Interesting Name

However, let’s not right the new Macan off before it’s even on the production line. Porsche have stated that the name comes from the Indonesian word to mean ‘tiger’. Perhaps they are hoping to emulate the ferocious and savage characteristics of a tiger. Something that can be difficult in a 4×4 as such qualities are more associated with a lightweight sports car, such as, the 911 GT3RS for example.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what Porsche come up with; they’ve promised “suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics”. Let’s wait and see…

Serious Contender

The Macan will be built from next year onwards in the Leipzig factory. This is a factory that has just received €500 million of investment which should give us some understanding of just how important this model is to Porsche, and to further boost that understanding, Porsche has announced that they hope the new Macan will double their overall sales volume.

It would seem Porsche are hoping to attract those that have previously bought, or looked at buying, the BMW X3 and the Audi Q5.

Limited Details

So far there have been very limited details offered by Porsche, however we imagine the engine will be smaller than that in its big brother, the Cayenne. This should mean that it will be possible to purchase cheaper car insurance quotes on the Macan, which could also be a big selling point for potential customers.

This is an interesting step by Porsche for sure, but currently it seems to do very little for me. Surely those that are after the best 4×4 on the market will look no further than a Range Rover and surely those that want a Porsche would opt for the much more appealing 911?

Tags: Car Insurance, Cheaper Car Insurance, New cars, Porsche, Porsche Macan
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There’s a New Mini About

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Since BMW took over the design and production of the much loved Mini there have been a number of new variants, and now there’s another! The Mini Roadster Cooper S.

So what is it?

The Roadster is basically a soft-top version of the Coupe as it shares very similar styling to the Coupe but also incorporates the Cabriolet’s collapsible roof.

However, unlike the Cabriolet, the Roadster aims at enhancing the driving dynamics of the little Mini, and the fact that it comes with the Cooper S badges will undoubtedly mean that it will feel good to drive, or at least it should! That’s the unwritten promise from the famed Cooper badge – you’re almost guaranteed a fun drive.

What engine to have?

The best engine to go for will likely be the 181bhp turbocharged 1.6 litre with a six-speed manual gearbox. This gives the little Mini plenty of power and torque for its size and makes it a very entertaining car to drive indeed! However, the reservation is, how will it cope without a roof? One hopes it will not wobble and shake like many previous cars that have had their roof replaced by the soft top variety.

Hole in the market?

The Roadster will come with the very same range of petrol and diesel engines that the Coupe comes equipped with, which will also undoubtedly offer some variety on your motor insurance quote. So it really does currently seem to be a cross between the hugely popular Coupe and the Cabriolet. A hole in the market has perhaps been identified by BMW…

However, for me the Roadster isn’t really filling a hole in the market, it’s more a confused mix of two different cars. It has the performance and pedigree of the Coupe under the bonnet, but looks much like the Cabriolet and may unfortunately drive much like the Cabriolet too. My view is, if you want a soft top Mini then buy the Cabriolet, if you want the hard and sharpened Mini then go for the Coupe Cooper S. The Roadster Cooper S sort of feels like too much of a money making exercise. But then again I may be wrong. What does everyone else think?

Tags: Cooper S, Mini, Mini Roadster, motor insurance quote
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Alfa Giulietta TCT Looks Impressive

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

There is a new Alfa Giulietta on the market. It’s the Giulietta TCT. This new Alfa combines the existing Giulietta with the twin-clutch TCT transmission that was previously only offered on the Mito. The new model comes in both petrol and diesel, and we recommend the 1.4 litre turbocharged “Multiair” engine with 168bhp – a very respectable amount in such a small car.

New Gearbox

The aforementioned TCT system is currently exclusive to Alfa, although the Fiat group are looking to use it throughout in the future, however, Alfa are proud to be developing the technology.

The TCT transmission is a dry clutch system, which is more economical than oil powered “wet clutch” boxes. It also has electro-hydraulic operation, and one clutch engaging odd-numbered gears, and one clutch engaging even-numbered gears.

The system is said to weigh around 81kg and will also improve fuel economy and improve acceleration times. CO2 emissions are also decreased as they are now down from 135g/km to 121g/km when compared to the manual gearbox.

Any Criticisms?

Slight criticisms of the transmission are that there are noticeable pauses between selecting a new gear and receiving a new gear, however, by all accounts the Giulietta’s new gearbox, on the whole, drives very well indeed, and what we must remember is that the TCT transmission system is still being developed and it will inevitably get better and better as it moves from one car to the next.

The new Giulietta will set prospective owners back £21,855 which is a bit of a bargain when you consider that the new, five door, DSG equipped VW Golf GT is on sale for £23,255. The Giulietta is also more economical too. The new cars are however likely to be similar when requesting car insurance quotes.

The Giulietta, I have to say, is a fantastic looking car, but then again most Alfa Romeo’s are. It is beautifully built, and looks the part. It is therefore sure to sell well!

Alfa are now looking to roll out their TCT transmissions across future Alfa models, as they claim they can build 150,000 transmissions a year.

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, car insurance quotes, TCT transmissions
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Bonkers Juke R Launched

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Nissan have built some incredible cars over the years, but nothing quite as bonkers as the Juke R. Let me explain if you haven’t already heard about this fire breathing concoction of a thing.

It’s a tiny, little Nissan Juke on the outside, and a ferocious, mind boggling Nissan GT-R on the inside. When I say that it’s a Juke on the outside, it, of course, does have some modifications to set it apart from the styling of the standard Juke, such as air vents on the bonnet, wide arches and side skirts, a rear diffuser, a rear spoiler and some pretty big rims. So, it is more like a beefed out version of the Juke with a big engine, and lots of performance!

Performance Figures

Under the bonnet is a 3.8 litre V6 twin turbocharged monster of an engine that produces 480bhp. Such power in something so small will launch it from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds before pressing on to cover a quarter of a mile in 11.9 seconds.

The Juke R however is built in such a way that it is comfortable and easy to drive. Whilst it can turn into a lunatic if you put your foot down, it will also enable smooth and gentle driving too. The interior of the car reflects this as the cockpit is pretty similar to the standard Juke, aside from the front seat being further back and the fact that it is a bucket seat instead of a normal Juke seat, and there is also a roll cage, and there is a distinct lack of rear seats too.

It Must be Light?

Now, with a car of this size you would think it would be light, very light, except it isn’t at all. Instead it is 76kg’s lighter than its big (but surprisingly lighter) brother, the GT-R. This is as a result of the full roll cage and heavily modified floor.

The Juke R is a truly amazing piece of engineering and a great project by Nissan. They have said that only two will be built, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they put a little production line together. Would they sell? I think so!

All Time Favourite

At this point I must indicate that the GT-R is one of my all time favourite cars. This is because it offers astonishing performance at such a reasonable price. They are becoming more common place on our roads too as more and more people are turning to the impressive Nissan as an alternative to a Porsche or a BMW, for example. Whilst the Nissan would offer lower motor insurance quotes, it is also most probably the most reliable and economical in its class too. It also sounds pretty special as it purrs along.

Furthermore, Nissan has shed its boy racer image that was formed by the Skyline as the GT-R is seen as an executive cruiser rather than a street racing wide-boy. If you are currently looking towards that end of the market for a new car, I couldn’t recommend the GT-R enough.

Tags: Motor insurance, Nissan GT-R, Nissan Juke, Nissan Juke R
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Audi A1 Quattro Coming to the UK

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

At the beginning of the week we blogged about the new Porsche Boxster that is on its way, and today we can tell you all about another new offering from Germany’s fantastic motor industry – the Audi A1 Quattro.

UK Bound

Audi have a planned production of 333 A1 Quattro’s, and they have decided that 20 of them will be sent over here to the UK, despite being left hand drive. That shouldn’t put too many of you off however as the little Audi is sure to be popular thanks to its great looks, impressive performance and relatively cheap running costs, including getting a car insurance quote for it.

The Figures

The A1 will be fitted with a 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine that develops 252bhp and 258 lb-ft torque. In a small car those are very impressive figures, and with a four wheel drive system also, the Audi is sure to be a pocket rocket! It will achieve a 0-62mph time in just 5.7 seconds and will go on to reach a very respectable, and in something of such size, quite scary 152mph.

The four wheel drive system will also be one of the best four wheel drive systems out there due to Audi’s history of expertise in producing great four wheel drive machines.

Rich History

Audi have been building brilliantly fun, fast cars for many years now. If we go all the way back to the eighties, they released the original Audi Quattro: a turbocharged coupé that destroyed everything on the Rally scene and was also a great car for everyday use. And more recently, they’ve given us the RS4, the RS6, the R8 and some fantastic little hot hatches, such as the S3 models.

The A1 Quattro, it seems, takes the best elements of the original Quattro and the best elements of the S3 and combines them to be one of the most exciting hot hatches to have been launched in recent years. The A1 Quattro will also be a direct competitor of its bigger brother, the S3 as they have similar performance figures and are a similar size. The A1 will, however, be a rather exclusive Audi due to its scarcity in the UK.

Will you be putting an order in for one of 20 A1 Quattro’s arriving on British shores?

Tags: Audi A1, Audi A1 Quattro, Car Insurance Quote, New car models
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Financial Struggles for Peugeot

Friday, January 20th, 2012

This week motorsport suffered a blow as Peugeot announced that they were pulling the plug on all their involvement in sports car racing. They’ve had some brilliant success at Le Mans and in the related endurance series over recent years, however, due to financial difficulties, they’ve had to remove themselves from future events.

The most notable successes for Peugeot came in 2009 when they were victorious in the Le Mans 24 Hours race and in 2011 when they triumphed in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup series.

Shock Announcement

The announcement from Peugeot was therefore, in the light of their brilliant success in recent years, a bit of a shock to all in the world of motorsport, however, it is a necessary action they just had to take at such a difficult time as the French manufacturer said in a statement: “This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe. Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012.”

Peugeot’s car sales have been steadily declining over recent times, and so it is indeed understandable that they are now turning their attention to solely boosting sales through increased marketing efforts and through, of course, producing excellent road cars that will pull in more and more customers. At least that is the plan!

Value for Money?

Recent Peugeot’s have been impressive, the RCZ for example is a cracking looking car and I’ve seen a number of them on the road. They look like a supercar and are priced like a normal family saloon, and so they do offer good value for money.

It’s likely also that you will be able to acquire cheap car insurance on such a model as they only have relatively small engines. A 2.0 litre HDI is the top of the range, which will mean the RCZ will also be economical, which is of course very important and attractive to car owners these days. More of the same this year please Peugeot, and maybe they will indeed see sales increase.

What are your views on Peugeot pulling out of the endurance series, do you care? Or are you not too bothered?

Tags: Cheap Car Insurance, Motorsport, Peugeot, Peugeot RCZ
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Retro Renault to Return

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

We’re always on the lookout for fun little cars here, and this week it’s been announced that French manufacturer, Renault, are thinking about adding to their supermini range. The Clio and the Twingo have somewhat waned in comparison to its rivals. Whilst they both look great, they just don’t seem to provide enough va-va-voom anymore.

The new Clio can be criticised for not being as exciting to drive as its rivals, and the Twingo just hasn’t sold as well as Renault would have hoped. It seems Renault have perhaps realised that they need to inject a bit more fun and creativity to their range. How? By bringing back a fun little classic; the Renault 5.

The Original Supermini

The original 5 was first launched in 1972 and was considered at the time to be the first of its kind, and so it can be seen today as the Great Granddad of supermini’s, and so it only makes sense to bring it out of retirement for one last hoorah.

However, it wouldn’t simply be a case of updating the original with modern technology, as Steve Norman, the global marketing and communications boss for Renault, puts it: “It would be a different type of car, more than a Twingo, and a back up for the Clio. The original 5 made a statement and [it] would have to do the same again. It would be a car to recapture the spirit of the original, but the design would not be retro.”

Redesigning a Classic

So, if the 5 was to make a return, it would almost definitely undergo some redesigns, which is quite necessary and understandable when considering the fact that cars these days need to meet all different types of criteria which are intended to improve safety, and of course they do! These measures may indeed also help to lower a car insurance quote in comparison to a quote for an original 5.

Furthermore, in typical Renault style, we can expect a sporty, hot hatch version of the new 5. Renault did this with the original when they released the Renault 5 Turbo in 1980, and after that the Renault 5 GT Turbo in 1985. Now these are the types of Renault’s a lot of us would want to see return! It would be great to see a new 5 Turbo line up against a new ClioSport.

Concerns

My only query is, how will it stack up against the next generation Clio that is planned for this summer? The original Clio was the successor to the 5, and so, with that in mind, will Renault purposely build the new 5 to be one step down from the new Clio? Mr Norman did indeed comment that it would be “a back up for the Clio”. That surely doesn’t seem right to me however, especially if Renault are hoping to improve their line up.

Surely, if they do indeed go ahead with plans to bring the 5 back, Renault should make the very best supermini they possibly can with all the va-va-voom of old. Why build a half-hearted car to provide back up to a model that is known to have lost some of its passion and integrity? Well, the Clio that is coming this summer is said to “over deliver on design and innovation”, so maybe Renault will restore credibility with the new Clio before they even think about building the new 5.

Tags: Car Insurance Quote, New car models, New cars, Renault 5
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