Double F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, has assisted one of Red Bull F1’s leading sponsors, Infiniti, in developing their latest creation: the Infiniti FX. And at first glance, the FX looks absolutely awesome. Even if you are not a fan of SUV’s, or even cars, it’s easy to appreciate that the FX is a good looking car. It looks like a bigger version of a hatch back, doesn’t it?

What’s it Like?

The new FX is also packed with precisely what you’d expect a car that’s been developed by an F1 champion to be packed with, a big engine! It comes with a 415bhp 5.0 litre V8 which will get the big SUV from a standstill to 62mph in 5.6 seconds before then going on to 186mph. Mr Vettel insisted that the speed limiter that the previous model had should be removed! Infiniti were only too happy to take note and make the changes.

Further Edits

It’s not just the engine that has been tinkered with however. The car is now fitted with stiffer springs and comes with up-rated front dampers. It is also 20mm lower than its predecessor and has a 5% lower coefficient of drag. It weighs 46kg less too. Furthermore, it sits atop some very stylish black alloy wheels. Red Bull have designed the carbon fibre bodykit, which explains the 5% reduction in drag.

The Infiniti is looking like the SUV for true enthusiasts, but what about the casual motorist? Well, it’s pretty big inside, as you’d imagine, which allows good space for kids and dogs. The FX as a vehicle will also be rugged and easy to use every single day. A great way to get from A-B in comfort!

But, there is a catch: its price tag! The Infiniti FX will set prospective owners back £100,000 and it will almost certainly cost a fair amount when it comes to maintenance and motor insurance quotes. So, it’s certainly not cheap! Perhaps this really is just one for keen enthusiasts then? You tell us! What do you make of the new Infiniti?

For so many years Lotus were considered one of Britain’s quiet little motoring companies, simply going about their day to day business designing and building cars that handled brilliantly but always failed to compete with the big guns in the industry.

Then, something happened. His name’s Dany Bahar and he has a vision. His vision is to take Lotus to the very top of the automotive pile. He wants to compete with Ferrari and Lamborghini for supercar supremacy, and hat’s off to the man! He has ambition, something, pre-Bahar, Lotus seemingly lacked as they would, every now and then, produce cars that struggled to sell.

New Dawn

With Bahar’s vision and direction, Lotus have a clear path laid out for the future. A path that looks really quite exciting. Since the charismatic CEO took over, Lotus have looked punchier and more passionate about their cars than they perhaps did in years gone by, as a consequence of this they’ve managed to run into controversy in recent months, not least the PR disaster at the beginning of April. However, this month, they’ve pushed that all aside and they’ve got the automotive world talking about their latest creation; the fantastic new Exige S.

The Exige S is the Lotus that everyone in the industry has been waiting for: it handles like a Lotus and goes like a Ferrari. However, it comes in at a snippet of the price of a Ferrari and will also be cheaper when it comes to car insurance quotes and general maintenance.

The Figures

Let’s start with the exciting bit, the engine. It’s the 3.5 litre supercharged V6 that you get in the Evora S and it is very quick indeed. With the Exige S only weighing around 1100kg, it will accelerate from a standstill to the magic 60mph in just 3.8 seconds, which puts it immediately in competition with top line supercars.

Then, when you get to the twisty stuff, the new Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) system will slingshot you out of the corners. The DPM system works similarly to a Ferrari 458’s onboard computer – you have four settings, Race, Touring, Sport and Off. When playing around with these settings it’s possible to tell the car to learn the surface of the road along with the type of tyres you’re using for future reference. Very clever indeed!

The image surrounding Lotus has certainly changed since Bahar arrived, they will have gained fans, but they may also have lost fans. Tell us what you think of Group Lotus by leaving a comment below.

1. Fingerprint Starter

Losing your keys will never be a problem if your car starts with the scan of a fingerprint, yours to be specific. This technology has been available for a few years now and it can be used as a security measure as well as a key. With fingerprint identification technology, only authorised drivers can start the engine and enable/disable the alarm. One of the most respected brands of this technology is “Identisafe” whose head office is located in the birthplace of many advanced technologies, Silicon Valley.

[Image Credit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwRd1cDRmfA]

2. Touch Screen Dashboards

With smartphone apps and access to countless sources of entertainment and information within reach of many people’s fingertips, car manufacturers are now creating ways for drivers to access practically everything from their car. These dashboards of the future do so much more than their predecessors. They allow drivers to easily view the status of their car (i.e. battery and fuel level), access the internet, use voice activation and navigate the roads, eliminating the small battle of sticking a satnav to your windscreen. It has reinvented the interior appearance of a car and makes small, bright LCD screens an increasingly common sight in everyday life. These dashboards are still under development to include even more tools and functions, so there’s no telling how much they can potentially do.

[Image Credit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hVd_ABhNBA]

3. Semi-Autonomous Driving

This technology is surely bringing us one step closer to robots. For many years companies have been trying to create cars that essentially drive themselves with little input from the driver. The SARTRE (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) project has been funded by the European Commission to develop a semi-autonomous driving system that reduces congestion, fuel consumption and journey times in Europe. Using video and radio technology, a lead truck is driven which keeps a line of vehicles behind it that follow its entire journey. This allows drivers to sit back and read a book, enjoy a snack or simply watch the world pass by. SARTRE is reaching the final stages of development and should be completed at the end of the year.

In addition, the autonomous Google car has, just this week, been launched in Las Vegas – this literally is one big robot as it can drive itself. It makes use of a Toyota Prius with some very advanced tech. Will you be looking for a car insurance quote on a robotic car anytime soon?

4. Wireless In-Car Charging

There has been talk of cars featuring wireless charging for a while now but Mopar have made it a reality. The new 2013 Dodge Dart is the first car to feature a wireless charging area for compatible smartphones. The car dashboard includes a small charging bin with a wireless grid that charges your phone once the two are touching. Little has been revealed on the more specific details of this handy technology but it certainly looks like a promising feature. The fear of leaving your charger at home would no longer be an issue and it begs the question if wireless charging will be introduced to the home at some point.

5. Active Seat Belt Buckle

Now it’s not the most exciting technology, but it’s a practical one which increases passenger safety. It was developed by Mercedes-Benz and the buckle has a small motor that allows it to extend out of the seat and retract back into it. It activates during critical driving situations as well as when the rear doors open, so passengers can easily locate and lock-in their seat belt. The motor in the buckle will force the seat belt to reduce the amount of slack around the pelvis and thorax during moments of possible collisions, making passengers more firmly secured in their seat. It also lights up which is pretty cool!

[Image Credit - Mercedes Benz]

Did you know that 60% of women feel emotionally attached to their precious wheels? Whilst 24% of British men value their car above their family pets (something my girlfriend did not take well when I agreed!) Such statistics simply make a motor insurance quote all the more important in this day and age, especially when you consider the fact that 33% of men spend longer looking for their car than a potential girlfriend, it’s certainly an investment that needs protection!

What I also love about this infographic is the fact that it reveals that 6 out of the 10 favourite names for a car begin with the letter ‘B’ – what is it with our obsession with names such as Betty and Betsy??

Do you have a name for your car? If so, what? Let us know with a comment below! (keep it clean please)

Finally, could you ever part with your current car? 25% of Brits cried when they parted with their wheels, we’re an emotional bunch! Let us know what you drive and how precious it is to you!

1. Batman’s Batmobile

Bruce Wayne created his alter ego to prevent criminals from terrorising the residents of Gotham City. Being heir to a ridiculously large fortune, you expect he’ll travel the roads in style and the Batmobile never failed to impress. Surprisingly, the first time the car was introduced in the comics it was a conspicuous shade of red. When the Batman films came round from 1989 onwards a distinctive sleek, black design was used although the overlook varied from film to film. The current design for the Christopher Nolan trilogy, resembles a tricked out army tank and has the added feature of converting to a Batcycle/Batpod.

2. Green Hornet Black Beauty

The Green Hornet is not the most popular or well known hero but his mode of transport is a thing of beauty. So much so that his 1965 Chrysler Imperial is named “Black Beauty”. This luxury vehicle has many additional features, courtesy of Britt Reid’s (Hornet’s real name) personal fortune and his sidekick Kato’s mechanical skills. Machine guns, missiles and flamethrowers are some of the more destructive weaponry onboard. Cool visual aspects include suicide doors, green headlights, a bulletproof steel body and spikes on the wheels which could damage any enemy car that gets too close. Although you could be far away and still get wiped out by their impressive arsenal of weapons.

3. Tony Stark/Ironman’s Collection

Alright, so Ironman’s mode of transportation is his high powered suit made of a gold-titanium alloy. But with the help of his ingenious engineering ability and Stark Industries, he can fund a life of luxury which extends to his personal collection of cars, which are seen in the 2008 action film. Not a great deal of attention is paid to them, but they are always wonderfully lined up in his garage/workshop like a personal showroom. Stark’s car collection includes a Saleen S7, the 2008 Audi R8, a Tesla Roadster and a 1967 Shelby Cobra which meets an untimely end after Tony crash-lands on it.

4. Fantastic 4 Fantasticar

Often ridiculed and nick-named “the flying bathtub”, when it debuted in the 2007 Fantastic Four film sequel, the original white colour was replaced by a metallic gold/bronze shade. Some argue it’s more aeroplane than car but it hovers over pavements which is good enough. The Fantasticar resembles some sort of UFO but it can split up into 4 independently controlled sections and its features prove once again, knowledge of science and engineering gets you far in the car department. This vehicle has a bulletproof body and accelerates like a spaceship, courtesy of Mr. Fantastic aka Dr. Reed Richards. Possibly its most practical feature has to be the ability to carry solid rock behemoth, The Thing.

[image credit - Ich Selbst on Wikimedia]

5. Spiderman’s Spider-Mobile

Spiderman was asked to build and advertise a vehicle on behalf of Corona Motors (not the best idea for a car company and beer brand to have the same name). Just like the ‘Black Beauty’ this dune-buggy was modified and featured web shooters, ejection seats, the ability to drive up walls and remote control steering. It also has a non-polluting engine which would make the environmentally friendly very happy. However, the one way this car differs from the others in our list is that it was used against Spiderman at one point. It was able to nullify his powers, but in the end, good prevailed and Spiderman’s last words about his temporary four-wheeled companion were, “Good Riddance!”

[image credit - Marvel Comics]

This week, for the very first time, we’re launching our Friday Five. This is an interactive feature that you can get involved in at your leisure.

Every week we shall be running a Friday Five we’ll pick a category and list our favourite five cars within the category. So, for example, this week we’ve been thinking about our top five superhero cars. So, for this week’s Friday Five we’ll be launching a blog post listing our five favourite superhero cars, funnily enough, on Friday!

Have Your Say

Throughout the week, in the build up to every Friday Five, we’ll Tweet about the Friday Five category in order to gather ideas from all you lovely Twitter users. Once we have gathered a list, we’ll narrow it down to our favourite five in order to form the Friday Five – so by following us on Twitter (@MotorMouthBlog) you’ll be able to have your say on what your favourite is and even what categories we should think about each week.

Agree or Disagree

Once we’ve chosen our Friday Five and launched a blog post detailing each of the five we love the most, you’ll be able to tell us whether you agree or disagree. You can even submit your very own Friday Five by leaving us a comment below each blog.

This week we’re beginning with superhero cars, so be sure to follow us on Twitter and look out for our Friday Five on, believe it or not, Friday! Come and join in the fun because here at MotorQuoteDirect we’re more than just car insurance providers – we also love a good top five!

The McLaren F1 was one of the best, if not the best, supercars of the 90s. Fact. Not only was it the quickest car ever launched at the time, reaching speeds of around 230mph, but it was also very innovative with the driver being positioned in the centre of the cockpit with passengers able to sit either side of them. Furthermore, the underside of the engine cover was lined with gold foil as it acted like a heat shield. Meanwhile, the chassis was the first to be a complete carbon fibre monocoque structure. In many ways the McLaren F1 rewrote the rule book regarding high performance supercars, and now there’s a new one on the horizon!

New Model, Existing Trend

This is big news for the car industry on the whole as a trend seems to have been set in recent years with car manufacturers looking to push boundaries and go one better than anyone’s previous attempt. This trend began with Koenigsegg in 2005 as they produced a car capable of hitting 241mph.

Bugatti then eclipsed them later that year with the Veyron which could hit 253mph. SSC Ultimate, an American company, then produced a car that could hit 256mph in 2007 before Bugatti re-engineered aspects of the Veyron in order to achieve 267mph in June 2010. And now, the next McLaren F1 is tipped to be even quicker than that.

Despite all the economic doom and gloom and the increasing costs of motoring, making the need for cheap car insurance all the more important, and the increasing awareness of road safety campaigns designed to slow cars down, manufacturers continue to push boundaries and attempt to produce rocket ships for the road.

Impressive Figures

The new McLaren F1 is said to have around 800bhp (near Formula 1 performance), from a 5.0 litre V8 engine. Further similarities to Formula 1 will be the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that will enable added power and performance whilst also improving the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the new McLaren F1 is apparently said to be able to hit 200mph in just 20 seconds – that’s quicker than some cars will hit 60! The new car is said to cost close to the £1million mark, which is not surprising when you consider that the original McLaren F1 cost half a million pounds when it was launched back in 1993. £500,000 in ‘93 would equate to in excess of £800,000 today.

Did you know the original, 19 year old, McLaren F1 is still the fastest naturally aspirated production car in the world? No turbo’s or superchargers were used and it will be interesting to see if the next McLaren F1 sticks to natural aspiration.

Are you a fan of the original McLaren F1? It’ll be great to hear your thoughts!

Is the F-type set to be a successor to the unprecedented E-type Jaguar from the 60s? Well, at first glances, you can indeed see some vague similarities thanks to the sleek design of the new car and the oval shaped grille.

News

The latest news surrounding the F-type is the fact that Jaguar has confirmed the full engine line up that includes two supercharged V6 engines and one supercharged V8. All three of which should be very exciting, with the latter pushing out over 500bhp.

The F-type is due for launch next Spring, so it’s still a year away from hitting our showrooms, yet the excitement surrounding the car is very high indeed and early orders for the car are sure to flood in, followed by requests for motor insurance of course. Jaguar have also confirmed that a coupe version will follow, likely to be around a year later, whilst prices should begin around the £55,000 mark, albeit the top of the range V8 version will certainly cost quite a bit more.

Would you buy one?

Whether you’re interested in power and performance or luxury and style, the Jaguar F-type is set to cater for all motoring needs. The V6 engines are sure to provide between 300-400bhp, which is more than enough, whilst the car also looks, so far, fantastic. Jaguar have captured a sense of elegance and style as well as, by the sounds of the engines that are due to come with it, having captured a sense of traditional, bare knuckle motoring. Especially if you go for the 5.0 litre V8; expect thrills aplenty with that one and an awesome soundtrack!

The Jaguar F-type is shaping up to be the ultimate Jag – does it tickle your fancy? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the F-type, so feel free to leave us a comment below.

One of the biggest car manufacturers in the world, Audi, has launched a new, sporty version of their popular Q3 at the Beijing Motor Show. It’s called the RS Q3, and whilst it’s officially still a concept car, it already looks set for production!

Audi have a long history of taking an existing model, slapping an RS badge on the back, and making it go faster! And that, essentially, is what they’re up to again with the Q3.

Performance Revisions

The new engine for the Q3 comes directly from the TT RS and RS3 Sportback and consists of a 2.5 litre 5 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. However, it comes with 20bhp more than the version in the TT and RS3 thanks to some clever re-enginerring. The RS Q3 therefore packs a total of 355bhp which gives it a 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds whilst then being able to continue up to 165mph. So, these are some very impressive figures indeed! The RS Q3 also comes with a seven speed S-tronic gearbox which sends the power to a Quattro permanent 4WD system.

In terms of performance, therefore, the RS Q3 has been given quite a hefty boost, this, however, is likely to come at a cost as car insurance quotes will undoubtedly be higher than they would be for the standard Q3 model.

Styling Additions

As you can see, the new RS Q3 also looks quite a bit different. Its aggressive appearance has been achieved by the fact that it’s been lowered by 22mm and is now wider than the original too. It also has sharper, more pronounced bumpers while the rear diffuser is very much in keeping with traditional rear diffusers for the RS models. It’s also benefited from some stylish twin tailpipes.

Inside, there’s lots of carbon fibre around the cabin and a luxurious feel to things.

The RS Q3, so far, has not been given a release date, however prices are likely to begin in the £50,000 region. However, my only reservation is, will those that want an RS model Audi really overlook the more traditional, more focused RS models that have, in the past, rivalled that of the BMW M models?

Furthermore, the Audi/Lamborghini connection has been well documented, and that brings me onto my next point, will the RS Q3 ever end up with a similar type of engine as can be found in the new Urus? Let’s not forget the Audi R8 that started life with a V8 before they transplanted a V10 Lambo powerhouse into it. The same could well happen here…

Let us know your views on the new RS Q3 by commenting below. Looks pretty good doesn’t it?

The Beijing Motor Show is up and running with today being the opening press day as the show runs for the entirety of the week and into early May, and already there’s been a shock. The shock has been caused by Lamborghini as they’ve showcased their latest concept car – and no, it isn’t an Aventador beater or a 1000bhp hyper-car. What it is, is a big 4×4 SUV!

The Urus

Are Lamborghini going down the route that Porsche took with the Cayenne? Well, no, I don’t think they are. For a start the new Urus (name derives from the world of bulls) concept looks fantastic! We’ve tweeted pictures of it today – check them out via Twitter and let us know what you think!

The new concept is, quite clearly, in keeping with what we expect from Lamborghini in terms of styling and aesthetics. The Urus looks edgy and dynamic with strong lines and pronounced shapes all over it. At first glances there’s bound to be a lot of people hoping to get car insurance cover on the Urus once it’s released. Furthermore, the concept sits on large alloy rims that also look the part. So, from the outside the car is a resounding success as it looks great, but what about under the bonnet?

It Packs a Punch

Once again, in typical Lamborghini style, they’ve shoved a rocket under the bonnet! The Urus will come with 600bhp, which is around 50 more than the latest Cayenne Turbo S. So not only does the Lambo look better, but it packs more of a punch too than the Cayenne. Lamborghini have also promised that the Urus will be much lighter than its rivals thanks to a lightweight construction inside and out. The Urus will also feature an intelligently designed height adjustable front spoiler in order to give considerable obstacle clearance whilst also allowing more stability at high speed when lowered.

All in all the Urus concept is shaping up to be a brilliant car both aesthetically and in terms of relative performance – but what about inside the cabin?

Luxuries Inside

Well, the Urus is suitably equipped with toys and gadgets such as a touch-screen centre console and touch-screen display for rear passengers too. There’s also a generous splash of lightweight carbon fibre and some traditional bucket seats to match.

The Urus really does look like the complete package, but how much will you have to pay for it all? Lamborghini have targeted prices to start around the £150,000 mark, so it’s certainly not cheap! However, with Lamborghini identifying the USA, Middle East, Russia, China, Germany and the UK as their target market, they are confident it will sell in its droves.

This isn’t the first SUV Lamborghini have built either – back in the 1980s they produced the LM002. That one wasn’t such a commercial success, who actually remembers such a machine?