Bonkers Juke R Launched

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Steve

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.

New Boxster Announced

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Steve

Porsche has revealed that they are due to launch an “all-new” Boxster…who’s guessing it will look much like the original then? The third generation Boxster despite still very much resembling the original Boxster, has however undergone some redesign work. The front and rear overhangs are now shorter and the wheels are bigger. The side of the car has also been re-sculpted for aesthetic appeal, rather than performance reasons.

Performance Improvements

So, it’s not exactly an innovative redesign is it? Porsche’s main work, as always, comes under the skin. They have worked hard on trying to improve efficiency and performance. To start with, the new model is much lighter than its predecessor, just how light exactly is yet to be announced however.

There are now two shiny new flat six engines available also. The entry level model will be fitted with a 2.7 litre unit, which despite being smaller than the 2.9 litre entry level Boxster of the previous model, squirts out 10bhp more (261bhp), and will get to 62mph in a quicker 5.7 seconds. The smaller engine is also likely to be cheaper to run, fuel wise, whilst resulting in lower motor insurance quotes too.

The S Model

The beefier, Boxster S will come with a 3.4 litre power plant that will have 311bhp and a 0-62mph sprint time of a flat five seconds. So Porsche’s little roadster will be very nippy indeed, and in true Porsche style, will handle well also, which will make a fun drive! This is the reason Porsche Boxster’s have been so popular over the years. They don’t cost a fortune, and will put a smile on the drivers face. They are also, undoubtedly, very pretty to look at.

Styling

Which brings me to my next point. At the beginning of the article I stated that the new Boxster is likely to look very much the same as the original Boxster, well of course it will, why fix something that isn’t broke? Porsche got it right with the original, and they’ve realised this and so kept the design essentially the same over the years because it is a very pretty car, and probably the prettiest in its class, apart from, perhaps, the Audi TT, which I personally think is gorgeous.

Anyway, I digress, back to the new Boxster!

New Additions

Both new versions will come with rear wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox, however a seven-speed PDK twin-clutch gearbox is an optional extra. Furthermore, the larger wheels are not just for aesthetic appeal as they are said to enhance the dynamics of the car while an electro-mechanical power steering system that has been fitted to the 911 will now be used on the Boxster too.

Prices start at £37,589, but if you want the top of the range S model with all the added extras, you will be looking more in the region of £50,000. Any takers?

New Honda NSX Looks Innovative

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Steve

We bring you some exciting news today! That is the news that a new Honda NSX is to be built. The original NSX was a thrill ride that cornered tremendously and went like stink, yet it only had 270bhp; staggering really when you think that it was the best Japanese supercar for a number of years. Now, of course, one has to consider the Nissan GT-R as the King of Japanese supercars…but for how long?

Old Meets New

The new NSX will likely be fitted with a fantastically high revving V6 once again which gets the thumbs up from us here! Furthermore, it will be a very clever hybrid in a bid by Honda to mate classic V6 reliability and performance with new technological ingenious. The fact that it will be a hybrid will also help reduce motor insurance for those looking to buy one. The NSX will include two small electric motors at the front in order to control independent drive in each wheel whilst also enabling the driver to tighten, or indeed loosen, the cornering line the car will take.

There will also be an electric motor embedded within the gearbox in order to enhance the power from the brilliant V6. It seems that Honda are approaching the new NSX with the very same attitude that they approached the first; handling and performance favoured over raw power. This is likely to be a lap time conqueror!

New Tech Will Benefit Overall Package

Honda’s boss, Takanobu Ito, has been commenting on the clever hybrid system, saying: “The NSX will enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.” So basically, the hybrid qualities will add to the overall brilliance of the car, as the new technology will work hand-in-hand with some traditional engineering. This isn’t going to be a traditional hybrid however by any stretch of the imagination.

The NSX will also be very fuel efficient as the car will use a type of kinetic energy recovery system as it will reclaim braking energy, and thus save on fuel usage. The weight distribution will, naturally, be very good also with the engine and battery pack being mid-mounted and the overall weight of the new NSX is promised to be low, much like the original aluminium model.

Do you think the new NSX will better than the original? And more interestingly, will it knock the Nissan GT-R off its perch?

Survey Reveals We Do Not Understand Our Cars

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Steve

Whilst searching around the daily motoring news and views I came across the news that motorists are increasingly unaware of what all the lights and information on their dashboards actually meant.

It is in some ways quite amusing, but mostly it is not surprising at all!

Cars Increasingly More Complex

Cars are becoming increasingly more complicated both under the bonnet and inside too. A number of weeks ago I was riding in the passenger seat of a new Honda Insight, and I have to say, I had absolutely no idea what the futuristic dashboard was telling me without reading the manual. Which to be honest, most people don’t.

Including my very own mother who has owned her Vauxhall Corsa for three years and only last week found out that the windows can be controlled from outside the car by holding down the buttons on the key fob to make the windows go up or down, depending on whether you are opening or locking the car, and she only found out because we were at a Vauxhall dealer looking at newer models and the salesman explained it was a feature that had been around for a while now!

Study Reveals Shocking Stats

Furthermore, a recent survey that was carried out revealed that we spend around 360 hours in our cars every year and yet nearly half of us could not name some of the basic warning lights. It would seem that men are slightly more knowledgeable than women in this area with around 39% of men being able to identify where the main beam hazard was compared to just 28% of women.

The figure that concerns me is that only 12% of women and 7% of men could point out the handbrake warning light. That is worryingly low, and the handbrake warning light, you would have thought, is quite an important thing to be aware of.

Costly Damage

By not knowing the simple warning lights, someone could potentially be driving around unaware that there is a fault with their vehicle, which could increase the likelihood of a driver having an accident, which could in turn lead to them having to pay out on an excess on a motor insurance claim if the accident is proven to be their fault. In addition, by driving around with a fault it is also likely that the issue with the car could develop and thus end up costing owners thousands of pounds more to have the problem repaired.

The moral of the story here is quite obvious: we should all take time to read our car manuals and familiarise ourselves with all aspects of the car before setting out on our first drive in a newly purchased car. Whilst some people may indeed not be too interested in the particular features of a car, it is still very important to know what all the lights on the dashboard mean!

A Positive Year for Motoring

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Steve

It has been claimed that 2011 was a very significant year for British motoring, and if you have read our previous blog posts about sales increasing for the likes of Bentley and the fact that car production has been rising, then you too will hopefully agree!

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have again been discussing the state of the UK motor industry.

Impact on the British Economy

The Chief Executive of the SMMT, Paul Everitt, has been speaking about the plans that have been announced by global vehicle manufacturers to invest a whopping £4 billion into Britain’s economy. Now of course this money isn’t in order to bail us out of the financial crisis.

It is instead to be spent on a whole variety of different projects. Such projects will range from the introduction of all-new vehicles to the development of sustainable and low carbon technology; something that will therefore be beneficial to the economy and the environment simultaneously.

Mr Everitt has been quoted saying the following: “Despite the uncertainty within the Eurozone, these decisions demonstrate real confidence in the future of UK manufacturing and its role within a rebalanced economy.” Mr Everitt also seems to get more vocal space on our MotorMouthBlog than he does elsewhere!

Positive Prospects

It is apparent that much of the investment has come from international sources which suggest that the country’s future prospects could also look to be improving. The influx of money will also surely lead to more and more jobs being created which in turn would hopefully lead to the reduction of unemployment. In addition, hopefully the public will then begin investing further in new cars over the next twelve months, whilst also then requiring more people to purchase motor insurance. Further positives for the economy, and the country in general there then!

The news about the £4 billion influx has come after individuals and organisations have been invited to put themselves forward for this year’s Transport Achievement Award. The award ceremony will be announced at the International Transport Forum’s summit in Germany.

Let’s hope 2012 will see things improve further for the UK motor industry and the economy as well.

Fewer Cars on the UK Roads

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Steve

It seems that the number of cars on our roads has been declining in recent years. So, what could this be attributed to? The high cost of motoring? More and more people becoming aware of the impact of global warming? Or, should we not be reading into these statistics quite so deeply anyway?

Statistics

The Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed that the volume of motor vehicle traffic in Great Britain has fallen for a third successive year. In 2010 the total motor vehicle traffic on Britain’s roads amounted to 308.1 billion miles, a 1.6% decline on 2009’s figure. That fall followed the 1% drop between 2008 and 2009, and the 0.8% decrease between 2007 and 2008.

Reactions

There have now been various articles written on the subject with various viewpoints flying around. For example, the Association of British Drivers has accused the Coalition Government of continuing with the “War on the Motorist”.

Furthermore, the figures were accompanied by more calls to reduce the level of fuel duty. In 2010/11 about £27.3 billion was raised through fuel tax. That’s a huge amount of money, yes; however the government is still, seemingly, struggling to raise cash as the global economy plunges deeper into financial meltdown. Well, perhaps not meltdown, but finances are indeed tight.

Meanwhile, Luke Bosdet, a spokesman for the AA, has been commenting: “People are being priced off the roads, and it is those on low incomes and those in rural areas who are worst affected. There is a real danger that motoring is being wound back to the 1960s and 70s, when it was by and large the preserve of the middle classes.”

Flip Side

The DfT’s National Transport Model tells a different story however. It suggests that the reduction in motor traffic seen in the last three years is a mere blip when compared to the overall picture. The DfT has predicted that between 2003 and 2043, we are to see a 43% rise in motor traffic. This would in turn lead to larger numbers of motor insurance quotes being taken out. A 43% rise will also mean one thing else – we will need more roads!

A 43% rise in motor traffic would be alarming and would cause huge amounts of congestion. Imagine a 43% increase in the amount of vehicles on the roads on your way to work every morning. It would take nearly twice as long to get anywhere! If this prediction begins to paint itself in real terms, something is definitely going to need to be done to increase traffic networks.

A 43% rise in motor traffic could, however, be potentially great news for the motor industry, but only if people were buying new cars of course, rather than second hand cars.

Whatever happens in coming years, it might just be a tad premature to begin blaming the decrease in motor traffic on the cost of motoring, whilst motoring is indeed very expensive these days, it does not necessarily mean we are regressing to the 1960s and 70s as aforementioned. For example, more and more people are cycling to and from work due to environmental concerns, and so that has undoubtedly contributed to the reduction in the number of cars on our roads also.

Safety Advice for Motorists

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Steve

I’m sure you will have seen or read somewhere recently about the bad weather that is seemingly already here. The UK, over the past days and weeks, has experienced showers of snow, especially in areas of the country that are further north.

Motoring organisations have now issued advice on driving in tricky weather conditions. Peter Rodger, the Chief Examiner of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), has been quoted saying: “Avoid travelling unless completely necessary, and don’t ignore police warnings or advice to not travel on specific routes. Can you work remotely, or change your schedule?” For many this would be, understandably, a little impossible however.

Concern for Motorists

It seems that there are concerns for motorists getting stuck on the roads, or even worse, endangering themselves and others in icy conditions. Black ice, in particular, can be rather troublesome as it is difficult to notice against the tarmac roads. Motorists would be wise to take their time when driving around side roads and off the beaten track.

Further advice that has been given on driving safely in the difficult conditions includes making sure all your windows are clear and that you have good all-around visibility. It will also be important to take time to ensure that you clear all the snow off your roof, if it does indeed snow!

Motoring organisations have also stated that it would be a good idea to keep your car in a higher gear than normal as this will help maintain better control and it may also be an idea to move off in a higher gear rather than using first. Whilst this may harm the clutch ever so slightly, it will do less damage than wheel spinning on the spot without be able to move off in first gear! In icy conditions it can be easy to spin the wheels in first gear when moving off, so second gear may be a better bet if the roads are very icy.

Be Prepared

If the worst does happen, it has been suggested that motorists should take all the necessary steps in order to deal with the situation as best they can. For example, it will be important to keep track of where you are so that you can tell the breakdown or emergency services where you are located; a fairly obvious point. It could also be beneficial to step out of your vehicle in case someone else loses control and accidently crashes into your vehicle. If this were to happen, you would then need to contact your motor insurance company in order to make a claim.

Driving around in tricky weather conditions can be hazardous, but not if you go about it the correct way. Sometimes just a little preparation and common sense can be incredibly beneficial!

Positive News for the Motor Industry

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Steve

In our article earlier this week discussing Bentley’s increasing sales in 2011, we touched upon the fact that sales in the motor industry have, on the whole, since November 2010, declined by 4.2%, yet they are actually higher than forecasts suggested they might have been.

Rising Production

Since that blog post further information has been released and reported by the BBC. They have reported that in November, car production rose for the sixth straight month according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Last month, there were 136,111 cars produced, which is 8.5% higher than the same time last year. This certainly represents some fantastic progress. Furthermore, it has been reported that engine production rose by 1.7% in November.

The Chief Executive of SMMT, Paul Everitt, has been quoted saying: “UK vehicle and engine production continues to lead a manufacturing recovery. Despite the challenges in the Eurozone, the UK motor industry expects further growth in 2012.” This will be pleasing news for motor insurance companies as the number of insurance policies being renewed, and taken out, will hopefully be on the increase.

All-Time High…Nearly

KPMG, one of the largest firms in London, if not the world, has explained that strong demand from Asian consumers has been helping to drive the production figures up, and John Leech, a partner in KPMG’s automotive practice has been saying: “As a result, the proportion of cars produced in Britain for the export market is close to an all-time high.”

He then went on to add: “Premium manufacturers are performing well at present, notably Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, both of whom are enjoying record years fuelled by Chinese demand for British exports.”

Jobs Created

This is brilliant news for the motor industry in the UK and it will also help open up jobs for thousands of people across the UK. With unemployment at its highest point since 1996, more jobs being created by the motor industry can only be a good thing for the economy, right?

Japanese manufacturer, Toyota, are also doing their bit for the UK economy and the motor industry on the whole, as they are on the brink of investing over £100 million in the firm’s Derbyshire factory. This will make it the sole European centre for making the new hatchback next year and this will in turn create 1,500 jobs in the area. Yet more great news!

New Mercedes SL Announced

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Steve

Here on the MotorMouthBlog we feel that we write about interesting topics, and subject matters that will appeal to our readers, and so today, we are bringing you the news that any petrol head (which we are) will find interesting. That is the news that there is a new Mercedes SL.

A Reputation to Uphold

Mercedes has recently, in my own personal opinion, produced some of the finest luxury cruisers on the road. They’ve got the styling right, they’ve got the engines right, and to some extent, they’ve got the prices right. The name Mercedes evokes a sense of quality, refinement and class, however, depending on what particular Mercedes you are thinking about, words such as lunacy, joy, excitement and thrilling are also true. The AMG Black models for example are thunderous, bellowing brutes that will etch very wide smiles into your face; and that’s before you turn the key, or push the starter button as the case may be.

What’s the Performance Like?

SL’s of the past have been gracious models, however, the new SL looks to be a rather edgy affair, especially if you go for the SL500 which will kick out 435bhp from the 4.6 litre V8 power-house.

Mercedes claim that this new engine is 22% more efficient than the previous SL500 which had a 5.4 litre V8. Great news then for fuel bills! Whether this improved efficiency will make a positive difference on a car insurance quote remains to be seen, however, when buying a Mercedes-Benz, owners will be aware of the type of price they will have to pay for their car insurance cover.

In terms of the performance, the SL500 will hit 60mph in a blurry, yet refined, 4.6 seconds, whilst the smaller SL350, with a 3.5 litre V6, will get there in just over one second more. Of course, as we expect these days, the Mercedes SL will come limited to 155mph.

Innovation and Detail

Continuing a long line of innovation from Mercedes-Benz, the SL comes with almost an entirely aluminium structure, and the SL is the only car in its class to feature FrontBass. This allows the aluminium structure of the car to be used as a bass woofer.

The new SL is also packed with a range of brilliant features, such as a steel and glass folding roof along with Magic Sky Control which will allow owners to change the tint of the glass. There is also a Magic Vision Control system fitted to the car which is a rather sophisticated wiper system that delivers warm water directly to the wiper blade. The attention to detail never ceases to astonish us!

The new SL is sure to be a hit; will you be making your way to your nearest Mercedes-Benz dealer? Or would you prefer something else? Why not let us know your thoughts…

Sales Increase for Bentley

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Steve

Bentley have seen UK sales increase by over 20% last month according to the latest statistics that have been released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). According to the stats, the Crewe-based firm have sold 65 cars in the UK in November, this is 20.4% more than the same period in 2010.

Sales Figures

So far this year, Bentley has sold a total of 986 cars in the UK. This is up by 4.5% during the same period last year. This is encouraging news for the automotive sector and those more exotic, luxury car makers. The number of luxury car owners looking for car insurance cover has, therefore, increased this year.

The economic recession has hit us all hard and big businesses have been suffering too. Especially those that manufacture luxury products, such as expensive cars, as less and less people feel the need to own one during times of financial uncertainty. Of course, the price for motor insurance on such expensive vehicles will have put many people off during the economic downturn.

A Bentley spokesman has been commenting on the recent revival they have seen however: “Bentley continues to do well, with global sales up around 30 per cent in November, continuing the annual trend which is seeing total sales increase by around one-third in 2011. Chinese growth is relentless as we surpassed 1,500 cars in the region for the first time.” Many car firms have seen great sales in China as the country continues to prosper.

The spokesman added: “However, established markets such as America and Europe are also increasing, reflecting strong demand for the Mulsanne and, in particular, the new Continental GT. The UK was up despite the on-going economic uncertainty but with the new Continental GTC reaching dealers from December, the prospects for the New Year are promising.”

Sales Forecasts

It is little surprise that Bentley will be excited by what 2012 could bring them, with new models on the horizon and increasing sales forecast.

The SMMT has reported that the total amount of UK car sales declined by 4.2% in November to 134,027 units, however, this is still 5,000 units above the SMMT’s forecast. This year, thus far, total vehicle registrations are down by 4.5%, at 1,822,065 units.

The SMMT feel that the market will better its full year forecast of 1.923 million, however, they added that they are remaining cautious for 2012. Nothing can really be taken for granted in such an unstable economy!