Refreshed Hyundai i20 to Hit UK Showrooms in May with Prices

Refreshed Hyundai i20 to Hit UK Showrooms in May with Prices

by translator » Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:54 pm

After revealing the facelifted i20 at the Geneva Salon last month, Hyundai is now getting ready to roll out the supermini across Europe. In the UK, the i20 hatchback will be available in showrooms on 7 May with on-the-road prices ranging from £9,995 for the three-door 1.2 petrol Classic to £14,295 for the 89hp 1.4 CRDi Style model.

The revamped Korean supermini sports Hyundai's new face with the hexagonal front grille, while you'll also find changes at the rear with the redesigned bumper and taillights. Inside, Hyundai says it has improved the quality with soft-touch plastics, plus a revised center console along with updated seat trims.

Under the skin, the new 1.2-litre petrol engine is not only cleaner but also more efficient and powerful than the model it replaces. Peak output reaches 84hp (85PS) instead of 78hp (79PS) while fuel economy has improved from 55.4mpg to 57.7mpg UK on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions have dropped from 119g/km to 114g/km.

The most fuel efficient model in the range is the Blue variant, which is powered by a new 1.1-litre “U-ll” three-cylinder diesel engine combined with Intelligent Stop and Go and low rolling resistance tyres. It emits only 84g/km and is capable of returning 88.3mpg UK on the combined cycle.

The latest i20 is offered in three main trim levels. Beginning with the Classis, it includes remote central locking, six air bags, air conditioning, ESP and, for the first time on the i20, Vehicle Stability Management as standard.

Moving up to the Active grade adds 15-inch alloys, Bluetooth with voice recognition, electric/heated door mirrors, front fog lights, leather steering wheel and gear knob and electric rear windows for the five door models.

Finally, the top of the range Style trim is equipped with 16-inch wheels, automatic headlights, rain sensing front wipers, climate control along with an automatic dimming rear view mirror with an integrated reversing camera.

New 2013 Acura ILX Starts at $25,900*, $10,000 More than the

In about a month's time, on May 22, to be precise, the new 2013 Acura ILX compact sedan will arrive in U.S. showrooms with prices starting at $25,900 and rising to $34,400, not including a destination charge of $895 (*).

Being based on the latest Civic, we can't help but note that the Honda model starts at $15,995, or $9,995 less, though in all fairness, the ILX is better equipped and comes with a 150hp 2.0-liter engine instead of a 140hp 1.8-liter unit.

On the top end of the range, the ILX with the 201HP 2.4-liter engine at $29,200 and the 111HP 1.5-liter Hybrid model at $34,400, approach larger German offerings like the 240hp BMW 328i ($34,900) and 201hp Mercedes C250 ($34,800), with the Hybrid being more expensive than the 211hp Audi A4 ($32,500).

The 2012 Buick Verano, which is a more direct opponent to the ILX, starts at $22,585 rising to $25,965. All Veranos are powered by a 180HP 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

"The 2013 Acura ILX will serve as the gateway to the Acura brand," said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. "At the leading edge of a new, sporty compact segment, the ILX delivers style, value, performance and connectivity to younger buyers looking to move into the luxury market."

The ILX's range starts off with the base model priced $25,900. It is powered by a 150hp 2.0-liter unit paired to a 5-speed automatic transmission and returns 28mpg combined.

The same model is available with a Premium Package that adds leather seats, heated front seats, a power driver's seat, an upgraded 360 watt stereo system with XM radio, HID headlights, foglights, 17-inch alloys, a multi-view rearview camera and an Active Sound Cancellation system, with pricing set at $29,200.

There's also a Technology Package that builds on the Premium Package adding the AcuraLink Satellite Communication System, navigation with voice recognition, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting, AcuraLink Real-Time Weather with radar image maps and HomeLink.

Next up is the ILX with the more potent 201hp 2.4-liter engine linked to a six-speed manual that's priced at $29,200 and includes the Premium Package mentioned previously as standard.

Finally, there's the ILX Hybrid with a 111HP 1.5-liter engine, with prices set at $28,900 for the standard model and $34,400 for the next version fitted with the Technology Package.

New Images of the Fiat Viaggio Sedan

New Images of the Fiat Viaggio Sedan

by translator » Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:58 pm

In a few days' time, Fiat will debut the new Viaggio sedan at the Auto China 2012 in Beijing, but we just got our hands on a fresh pair of pictures that give us a better view of the compact model - not that you're going to be surprised in any way as the Italian saloon is a rebadged Dodge Dart.

What separates the Fiat Viaggio from its newly launched sibling in the U.S. is the bespoke front end sporting different headlamps, a chrome grille and the re-sculptured bumper, while at the rear, the American model's expanded tail lamps give their place to single LED units with chrome detailing in between. The Italian model also gets its own alloy wheel designs.

The Viaggio is the first vehicle that Fiat will produce in China with its local partner GAC.

The Ford Focus sedan-rivaling model will go on sale in China in the third quarter of this year offering buyers a choice of two turbocharged petrol engines, the 1.4-litre T-Jet with either 120hp or 150hp, linked to either a 5-speed manual transmission or the Dual Dry Clutch Transmission (DDTC).

Land Rover to Spice Up Evoque with Victoria Beckham Special

Now that Victoria Beckham has found some time to finish her work with Land Rover, the British automaker is ready to introduce the first special edition version of the Evoque compact crossover named after the former Spice Girl.

More precisely, Land Rover tells us that the new model is called the "Range Rover Evoque Special Edition with Victoria Beckham", though we'll have to assume that the company will probably put a disclaimer somewhere in the fine print saying that Posh Spice is not actually included with the car…

The special edition of the Evoque will make its world debut at this month's Auto China 2012 in Beijing. For now, you can head over the break to watch the teaser video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLdN54B9B8c&feature=player_embedded

Hyundai Aims to Sell Over 150,000 Santa Fe SUVs This Year, C

Hyundai Aims to Sell Over 150,000 Santa Fe SUVs This Year, C

by translator » Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:01 pm

Hyundai is pretty confident about its brand new, third generation Santa Fe crossover that made its first public outing at this month's 2012 New York International Auto Show.

Speaking to the press in South Korea, Hyundai CEO Kim Choong-ho told reporters that the company targets to sell around 152,000 examples of the regular and the long-wheelbase seven-seater versions of the Santa Fe globally this year, including 42,000 domestically and 110,000 in overseas markets.

The 2013 Santa Fe is planned to go on sale in Europe this June followed by the United States in July and in China in October.

Hyundai said in a statement that it has already received more than 15,000 pre-orders in its home market, and this despite the fact that foreign brands have significantly increased their share in the country after Seoul signed free trade agreements with Europe and the United States ending years of protectionism.

According to Reuters, sales of imported cars accounted for more than 10 percent of the market for the first time in January this year, compared to less than 1 percent in 2000.

The company added that it aims to deliver around 385,000 Santa Fe vehicles globally in 2013, the first full year of sales.

Choong-ho said that the new Santa Fe is more premium than its predecessor and will be in competition with Audi's Q5 model.

"We are confident about positioning Santa Fe as premium model both at home and in the overseas markets," said Choong-ho. "It boasts very competitive fuel mileage of 17 km per litre and a bold design."

Mercedes-Benz Announces Details on New G63 V8 and G65 V12 AM

After the release of a handful of pictures on its website on Wednesday, Mercedes-Benz has now published detailed information on the new AMG variants of its refreshed 2013 G-Class series that will make their world premiere at next week's 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

For the new model year, there are two AMG models, including the G63 AMG that replaces the G55 AMG, and the limited production G65 AMG, which we're not sure if it will be available in the States.

The G63 AMG sports Mercedes' 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged and direct-injection V8 engine with a start and stop function that produces 536hp (544PS) and 760Nm (560 lb-ft) of peak torque.

A seven-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system with three separate differentials that can be manually locked transfer power to the wheels.

All this power enables the new G63 AMG to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds (0-60mph in 5.3"), with an electronically limited top speed of 210 km/h (130mph). The boxy SUV returns an average fuel consumption of 13.8lt/100km (17mpg US or 20.5mpg UK).

If having a V12 engine running under you hood means a lot to you, Mercedes offers the G65 AMG. Power comes from a 6.0-liter bi-turbocharged V12 delivering 603hp (612PS) and a monstrous peak torque of 1,000Nm (737 lb-ft). As in the G63 AMG, a 7G‑TRONIC automatic transmission is responsible for driving all four wheels.

The first ever G-Class to be equipped with the new V12 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.3 seconds, and has a limited top speed of 230 km/h (143mph), while returning a combined fuel consumption of 17lt/100km (equal to 13.8mpg US or 16.6mpg UK).

Both the G63 and G65 AMG benefit from an upgraded chassis with bespoke suspension and brake bits as well as a raft of styling parts such as the vented front bumper, side mounted tail pipes and unique interior trim.

In Europe, the two models go on sale this June with prices in Germany including tax set at €137,504 (US$180,900) for the G63 AMG and €264,180 (US$347,500) for the V12-powered G65 AMG.

New BMW M3 Coupé Frozen Silver Edition Limited to 100 Units

The car U.S buyers came to know as the M3 Coupe Competition Edition is being launched in Britain as the new M3 Coupé Frozen Silver Edition. Regardless of the name, it's the same special edition model that was created in celebration of BMW M GmbH’s 40th anniversary year.

BMW says the M3 Coupé Frozen Silver Edition adds nearly £9,000 (US$14,400) of equipment to a standard M3 for an on-cost of £4,000 (US$6,400). Only 100 examples will be made available in the UK with the first cars arriving on 1 June.

While the special edition keeps the regular model's 414hp (420PS) V8 engine linked to a seven-speed M DCT transmission and variable M differential, it comes with a 10mm lowered suspension featuring a three-stage Electronic Damper Control, matt black 19-inch light alloy wheels and a revised DSC+ system.

On the styling front, the car features a bespoke Frozen Silver metallic paint, 'Dark Chrome' exhaust, side gills and kidney surrounds, and Jet Black bonnet intakes along with a 'High-gloss Shadowline' exterior trim.

Inside, you get Blackk Novillo leather with contrast stitching and Palladium leather armrests and inserts, Alcantara steering wheel, carbon fibre trim and a plaque with the number of the vehicle.