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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
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Manufacturer | 1 Comment »

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
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Manufacturer | No Comments »

Fancy a Classic?

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Today we’re blogging about all cars classic. Here on the MotorMouthBlog we’re big petrol heads, and we love a good classic! Whether it’s a bare knuckle MKII Escort RS200, or a refined, sophisticated Aston Martin of the DB variety (5 or 6), we welcome them all!

Classic motoring is a somewhat British past-time, and if you venture out onto the roads on a Sunday afternoon, do not be surprised to come across all types of classic car. The amount of MG’s, Triumph’s and Austin Healey’s I’ve seen cruising around our great British roads is staggering.

Classic Alternatives

With cars developing more and more these days in all sorts of different ways, sometimes it’s nice just to hark back to the raw pleasure of driving. Getting out on those clear country lanes and opening up a rare classic can be a thrilling experience.

Classic cars, it seems, are becoming more popular these days also, especially as an increasing number of people look at cheaper forms of motoring. A small second hand classic could work out to be cheaper than a new, modern alternative. Furthermore, car insurance quotes for classics may just turn out to be cheaper also.

What would you have?

Of course, not all classic cars are about leather driving gloves and relaxing country lanes. There are those that will rattle your bones and shake your teeth. The Lancia Delta Integrale for example, or the Lancia Stratos. Both of which will kick you in the back whilst firing flames out the tailpipes.

Meanwhile, the Ford RS200 and the Renault 5 Turbo are both all out speed demons that derive from rallying thoroughbreds and they both need taming each and every time you get behind the wheel. Such cars offer a slightly different experience of traditional classic motoring therefore. These are cars that are perhaps better suited to track day experiences in order to really see what they’re about.

Personal Favourite

However, my all time favourite classic car has to be the Ferrari F40. Okay, so it’s a bit of a step up to the aforementioned machines, but it was first built in 1987, and so does indeed fall into the classic car category. It’s also a car that most owners would only take out on a Sunday for a cruise, or indeed to the track to pound some laps in.

What I love about the F40 is the true, honest nature of it, the fact that there is absolutely nothing inside apart from a steering wheel, a manual gear shifter, and a couple of seats. It’s a very simple car with true, honest engineering and no electronic wizardry. It was so far ahead of its time also, and was built by Ferrari in an attempt to go one better than their rivals, Porsche, who had recently launched the 959.

Furthermore, the F40 was by no means perfect. It had terrible turbo lag and the designers couldn’t even be bothered to hide the glue that held everything together, because of course covering the glue would mean adding weight. And that attitude to just build a true speed machine rather than care for silly little details is another reason why I love the F40.

It represents every petrol heads thoughts and feelings of what a true, performance car should be like. And the fact that it is now a classic, and that, in my opinion, it is the King of all classics, shows that there has never been anything quite like it!

Tags: Car Insurance Quote, Classic Cars, Classic Motoring, Ferrari F40
Posted in Car Insurance, Classic Cars | 1 Comment »

Excitement for the Year Already High

Friday, January 6th, 2012

Here at MotorQuoteDirect we like to keep you up to date with all the latest in the motor industry, and at the start of a New Year it only seems right that we should look ahead to the fun and games that will inevitably be had this year in the world of motoring.

Petrol heads (including myself) all around the UK will be eagerly anticipating a whole host of motorsport events and new car launches this year, and so we thought it would be a good idea to have a general rundown of some the events and cars to look forward to!

The British GP

Naturally, we have to start at the home of British motorsport: Silverstone! This year will see the 67th British Grand Prix take place at Silverstone, deep in the heart of rural Northamptonshire. Now whilst there has been a lot of controversy and unrest surrounding the television rights for the F1 in the UK, this year’s Grand Prix is certain to be a sell out and one of the highlights of, not just the F1 season, but the year. I for one will hopefully be there! Who else is coming?

Silverstone will also host the exciting action that the MotoGP brings. With the tragic end to last season when Marco Simoncelli sadly lost his life, all in the MotoGP world will be keen to honour Marco’s memory in fine style by doing what he loved best – racing, hard and fast!

Goodwood Festival of Speed

Another event that should be penned in petrol head’s diaries is, of course, the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This is always a brilliant weekend when everyone can get up close and personal with iconic racing machines and motorsport heroes from all around the globe. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button love meeting and greeting the fans that turn up and this year should be no different.

The famed climb up the Goodwood hill is also definitely worth turning up for as the drivers that take part are sure to put a show on. A particular memory of mine is watching Petter Solberg in his World Rally Championship winning Subaru Impreza from 2003 blast up the hill whilst rally-style-drifting round every corner. The word exciting doesn’t cover it.

Of course, in addition, there will also be the Rally GB, the Goodwood Revival, and several notable days out at Santa Pod.

Now the Cars

In terms of some of the most exciting cars arriving on our shores this year, the Pagani Huayra should, hopefully, finally get released. It has been delayed since 2010 whilst Pagani iron out every little detail. The Huayra will pack over 700 horsepower thanks to its V12 powerplant. Getting a car insurance quote on such a machine may well prove expensive with that sort of power. Nonetheless it will all be worth it when you get behind the wheel!

Bugatti’s new Galibier is also set to launch in 2012 and I have picked this out of a bunch of cars because it is basically a four door Veyron. It will have over 1000 horsepower and will probably weigh over two tonnes. Price tags are thus far unknown, but expect them to be near, if not over, the seven figure mark!

There is so much more to look forward to this year in the motoring world, and we will be sure to blog about those big events as they happen, and those special cars as they are launched. Stand by ladies and gentleman for another fuel injected year!

Tags: British Grand Prix, Car Insurance Quote, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Silverstone
Posted in Car Insurance, Events | No Comments »

New Mercedes SL Announced

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

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…

Tags: Car Insurance Quote, Mercedes SL, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz SL, motor insurance quotes
Posted in Car Insurance, Motor Insurance | No Comments »

Councils prepare to pay back millions as motorist wins his case

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

The actions of one disgruntled motorist in the borough of Richmond, London may result in thousands of motorists getting a cash windfall and dozens of councils across the UK having to repay millions of pounds worth of revenue gained by traffic penalty charges.

Motorist challenges legitimacy of mobile CCTV

The penalty charges relate to fines being levied by councils using CCTV cameras to identify motorists illegally parking or driving in bus lanes. The challenge by motorist Nigel Wise on the fine levied on him by Richmond-upon-Thames Council has been upheld by the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (PTAS) and his success looks certain to open the flood gates for similar claims by thousands of motorists.

Full refund plus damages

Mr Wise based his claim on the fact that the Department of Transport had not approved mobile CCTV units to issue tickets for parking and wrong lane use and that the tickets were unlawful. Not only did he get his parking refunded he also won £50 damages. The case has been closely followed by other councils who adapted smart cars to act as mobile CCTV units and by motoring groups who have supported Mr Wise in his actions.

Devil in the detail

The dispute comes about following the Traffic Management Act 2008. The act allowed councils to use the cameras to levy fines but hidden in the detail was a clause saying that any council using the cameras would need formal approval before unleashing them on the motorist. Motoring groups have been against the cameras from the outset saying drivers were already saddled with high fuel prices, spiralling car insurance quotes and higher parking fees. They were particularly upset by the tactics used by the mobile units who they said often contravened traffic laws in their quest to catch out other motorists.

Other councils watch and wait

Richmond Council now believe they could be saddled with a bill of over £1 million if they have to refund all tickets that have been issued by the mobile units over the last two years. Other councils including Bolton, Plymouth, Bournemouth and Basildon will be watching very closely on how Richmond deals with the problem as they have utilised mobile units in exactly the same way. Meanwhile many motorists will be anticipating a nice little windfall that will go towards their over motoring bills such as any driver car insurance cover and maintenance charges.

Tags: Car Insurance Quote, Parking and Traffic Appeals Service, Richmond Upon Thames, Traffic Management Act 2008
Posted in Car Insurance, Parking | No Comments »

Manufacturers winning the war against car thieves

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

With the news that vehicle manufacturers are at long last winning the battle against car thieves, prospective buyers may find getting a cheap car insurance quote on a brand new car is easier than on one that is a few years old. The soaring cost of car insurance over the last 12 months has been in the headlines for some time now and if car security items can bring the price down, many motorists will be interested.

Thieves shy away from new models

Of the 107,000 vehicles stolen in the UK last year the great majority of them were over 3 years old. The reason for this is simply that car manufacturers are making new vehicles tougher to steal. Industry experts now say that unless a thief manages to steal the key to a car they are almost impossible to be taken away without the owner’s consent. Tracking devices, immobilisers, alarms and toughened glass now protect the majority of new cars, thieves have realised what they are up against and have turned their attention to older models.

Drop in crimes dramatic

The drop in stolen car figures is dramatic. Twenty years ago over half a million cars were stolen each year, in 2008 the figure had dropped to less than 150,000 and guests at the 2011 British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards were told that last year’s figure of 107,000 was testament to the work modern technology had introduced to new vehicles.

Security levels good on most new cars

The awards also demonstrated that it is not just top of the range supercars that are secure against theft; award winners at the show included the new Audi A1, the Volvo C30 and the Citroen C5. Overall winner of the manufacturer’s award was Volkswagen with Audi and Volvo filling the runners up places. Vauxhall will have been delighted to win the award for most secure van manufacturer after their poor showing in the JD Power/What Car car of the year survey.

Onus on car owners to do their bit

Motor insurance research experts Thatcham say the investment by car manufacturers on security is now paying dividends and at the moment they are staying one step ahead of thief’s but it is an ongoing battle. They now say that car owners must play their part and if they do then car thefts may well drop below 100,000 in the next 12 months for the first time in many years.

Tags: Car Crime, Car Insurance Quote, Car Security, Car Thefts
Posted in Car Security | No Comments »

Select Committee taken aback by the cost of motoring

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

At long last the Government seem to have woken up to the fact that the motorists of the UK are facing motor insurance quotes that don’t just make them gulp, it takes their breath away.

MPs enter the real world

The Commons Select Committees foray into the exhaust fumed fog of the motor insurance business produced a report called the Cost of Motor Insurance, and believe it or not they have discovered what most motorists have known for a long time, that insurance premiums for drivers are rocketing upwards.

A step in the wrong direction

According to the report the average cost of a car insurance policy has gone up 30% in the last 12 months and now stands at an incredible £792. It is well documented that young drivers, and in particular young men, face insurance charges that are frankly absurd, the report quotes an average of £2,457 for males aged between 17 and 22 with an average for females of the same age coming in at £1,423. At least the select committee’s counterparts in Europe have done something about the ridiculous charges young women are charged, they have introduced a bill that will see them pay the same as young men, there’s democracy at work for you!

Why is insurance going up?

The MPs on the committee did ask some pertinent questions though. They wondered why charges were going up while accidents and injuries were reported to be coming down. The committee was also told that fewer drivers were now driving around the roads of the UK without insurance. One would imagine that this would contribute to bringing the cost of insurance down.

However, according to insurance companies, they are now paying out 20% more in claims then they are bringing in through the collection of monies via premiums. They do obviously benefit from motorists willing to pay interest on their premiums to stretch the cost over 12 months and pay by monthly debits. It is also suggested that referral fees from accident management companies prove to be a lucrative source of income.

How can I find low cost car insurance?

It seems as though drivers must look around to get the best car insurance deals they can and not settle for just paying out on their renewal quote. It is well worthwhile sitting down at a computer for five minutes and filling in a form that can easily save you hundreds of pounds.

Tags: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Quote, cost of motoring
Posted in Car Insurance | No Comments »

Car makers plan power play for the future

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

Car manufactures are about to start a power play with a difference and one which they are confident will help drivers to cope with the soaring cost of fuel at the pumps and give them something to smile about when getting motor insurance quotes for another year of driving.

Oil prices speeding up new technology

As the ongoing crisis in the Middle East threatens to send fuel prices through the roof or even higher, a new breed of engines is coming and they will be packing plenty of performance while at the same time getting the most out of every gallon of fuel. Korean manufacturer Kia started the trend by revealing their new Rio hatchback will use a three cylinder, 1.1 litre diesel engine which will easily be able to achieve nearly 90mpg in everyday use. Lightweight construction, high pressure fuel injection systems and turbo chargers all mean that conventional engines will soon be delivering excellent economy without any loss of enjoyment for the driver.

Far Eastern manufacturers ready for change

Mazda have already stated they are bringing in the first of its SKYACTIV engines before this year ends. The engines will be up to 20% more fuel efficient as well as generating a similar cut in CO2 emissions. Nissan are going down a similar route with a supercharged one litre Micra which will slash emissions to 95g/km.

Honda has trail blazed hybrid systems but now has its sights set on hydrogen as the fuel of the future. The motor manufacturer best known for its partiality to innovative design and technology see the electrification of cars as a journey that started with their hybrid car of almost yesteryear, progress to plug-in vehicles will end with the arrival of fuel cell vehicles such as the company’s hydrogen-fuelled FC-X Clarity model.”

Motor insurance and Government help?

Nevertheless, the road to zero emissions is likely to be a very long one and while the cars may currently exist in experimental form there is still a lot of work to be done. In the meantime drivers in the UK will be looking for the cheapest car insurance they can find and hoping the Government introduce the much vaunted sliding scale on fuel duty in this month’s budget.

Tags: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Quote, Car manufactures, Oil prices, zero emissions
Posted in Car Insurance, car technology | No Comments »

Fuel price beyond a joke

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

As the price of fuel rises inexorably, the call for the Government to postpone the next rise in fuel duty and actually freeze the levy, continues apace. Motoring organisations unanimously have called for the April fuel hike to be abandoned, and the poor motorist who is still coming to grips with his latest car insurance quotes hardly knows where to turn as his motoring costs escalate.

SMMT ask Government to think again

The latest organisation to weigh in with an opinion is the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) but they are not alone. The Chief Executive of the SMMT, Paul Everitt, spends an enormous amount of his time “bigging up” the motor industry in the UK and he feels the fuel duty rise planned for April could well undo all the hard work the industry has put in over the last 12 months to keep its place in the market.

The SMMT called for the Government to adopt a measured approach in implementing taxes on the consumer but most motorists will feel a measured approach is not exactly what they are experiencing. Petrol and diesel prices are nudging up almost daily and drivers are now past the point of driving around a little to see where the best prices are, it is simply too expensive.

Insurance for drivers going through the roof!

On top of fuel prices, the AA announced last week that the average price a motorist is paying to get car insurance cover is now over £800.

Not exactly the scenario then for hitting the open road and just enjoying the thrill of driving for the sake of it. In fact, thinking about it, when did you last just get in the car and go somewhere to enjoy the drive. Of course living anywhere in the South-east you would actually have to set off in the middle of the night to get anywhere, which would somewhat diminish the view, but joking apart, has the Government forever taken away the last remaining shreds of joy anyone got out of driving.

There is now talk that in the far flung reaches of Scotland the hike in fuel duty may well take the price of a gallon of petrol over £8, and one can imagine the look of anguish on motorists faces up there when they can see the oil pipeline bringing petroleum back to shore from the North Sea as they fill their car up at a petrol station and watch the £ signs flash by.

Tags: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Quote, Fuel price
Posted in Car Insurance | No Comments »