Hot Cars

Panda 100hp Debuts At MPH ’06

A new breed of Panda will be making its UK public debut at MPH ’06, which opens at the NEC, Birmingham on Thursday 26 October, and then in London’s Earls Court on Thursday 2 November. Panda 100HP is an entirely new sporty addition to the Panda family, featuring a 1.4 litre 16v FIRE engine tuned to develop 100bhp at 6000rpm, and 97lb.ft of torque at 4250rpm, driving through a six speed manual gearbox.

This latest fun-loving Panda represents an entirely usable performance package, with all-round disc brakes, ventilated at the front, together with modified springs, dampers, bushes and compliance. With a modest kerb weight of 1015kg, Fiat Auto’s latest addition to the Panda range possesses lively performance, with 0 – 62mph acceleration in 9.5s and a maximum speed of 115mph, while still offering economical fuel consumption (43.4mpg in the combined cycle) and modest (154g/km CO2) emissions.

Externally, both the front and rear bumpers are a new, sporty design. A chrome tailpipe is standard, as are body coloured door handles and wing mirrors. The wheel arches are enlarged and blend into new sideskirts. Front fog lights and a tailgate spoiler are standard. The 15” alloy wheels are an all-new design, carrying 195/45 x 15 tyres.

Internally, the dashboard is of a new darker grey. A leather steering wheel and gear knob are standard, as are split folding rear seats, height adjustable driver’s seat, automatic climate control, and a new ‘Sport’ button! The latter enables the driver to select the sensitivity of both the steering and throttle – normal or sport. When ‘Sport’ is selected, the steering offers less power assistance to provide improved feedback, and the throttle pedal becomes more sensitive. Bluetooth® hands-free technology is also standard equipment.

At £9,995 OTR, the new Panda 100HP, ‘flagship’ of a revised 2007 Panda range, represents a highly competitive package, with rivals being generally less powerful, less well equipped and more expensive. Panda 100HP goes on sale here in December.

The Lincoln MKX By 3dCarbon

Liincoln’s newest luxury crossover, the 2007 MKX, gets a touch of European flare courtesy of 3dCarbon’s Euro Series body kit. The elegant design exudes the presence of power and luxury sought by the sophisticated buyer.

The all-wheel-drive MKX wears a new front air dam, side skirts, door caps and rear lower skirt, bathed in custom DuPont paint. MagnaFlow stainless steel exhaust tips, light chrome window tint from Sundial and 3dCarbon front fender vents add the extra touches of class.

The Katzkin interior features Invision Revolution DVD headrest monitors. An H&R Special Sport Springs kit drops the MKX over NC Forged seven-spoke, three-piece, 22-inch wheels with floating center caps wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico 265/35/22 tires.

Peugeot 407 Range Enhanced (UK)

The distinctive and popular 407 builds further on its highly-specificied sector advantage with an improved level of standard equipment. The four trim levels now give customers for both the Saloon and SW a wider choice of petrol or diesel engines.

Executive models are now replaced by the new GT designation, and are distinguished with a choice of Mistral Black or Cerbere Red leather interiors and RT3 Colour Satellite Navigation as standard equipment. The outstanding Twin turbo HDi 170 engine, currently only available in Sport trim, is now also specified in GT trim, while the acclaimed HDi V6 is now available in Sport and GT trim, in Saloon and SW bodystyles.

Sport and GT models are also distinguished externally with body colour coordinated bumper and side protection mouldings, complemented with chrome finishers.

All models in the range come with a Satin Argenté silver centre console and white instrument dials. S models also feature a new RD4 radio/CD player with MP3 playback capability, and a three-spoke leather steering wheel. SE models fitted with the HDi 110 diesel engine are distinguished by a new Hortaz 16” alloy wheel design, while Sport models now feature Zino cloth/Mistral Black half leather seat upholstery. Dashboard and door inserts feature an appealing ‘chrome squares’ design.

Brand New Marque-specific Wheels Through Yokohama HPT

The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres and TSW, Mak and Mangels alloy wheels, Yokohama HPT, has announced the addition of three new ranges of replacement alloy wheels to its already impressive portfolio. Each is marque-specific, designed for BMW, Mercedes and Porsche models respectively and is available exclusively through Yokohama HPT and its dealer network.

The two wheels from American tuner brand Bayern are designed for the BMW 3, 5, 6, 7, Z3 and Z4 or the X3 and X5 models. As such, they sit perfectly within the Stuttgart models’ lines and are available with a range of width options for the larger diameters, 18in, 19in and 20in. This is to allow for staggered fitments, where wider rear wheels and tyres are required for aesthetics and traction from the rear-wheel drive vehicles. The Beyern Type5 and the Mesh come in silver, each with a deep, machine-polished lip.

The Mandrus range has been created exclusively for Mercedes C-Class, S-Class, SL, SLK, CLS and ML models and comprises three designs, all intended to complement the marque’s famous style and panache. The Mandrus range also provides two width options for the larger diameters – 18in, 19in and 20in - for staggered fitment and has been designed to work perfectly with Mercedes’ Tyre Pressure Management System for additional peace of mind. All three of the Mandrus models, the Millennium, the Emil and the Regenmeister, are available in hyper silver finishes with a machine-cut lip.

Finally, the Victor Equipment range has been designed purely for Porsche models, including the 911, Boxster, Cayman and the Cayenne SUV. Both wheels in the range, the Le Mans and the Turismo, have been engineered to complement Porsche’s own tyre pressure monitoring system and are available in three width options for each of the 18in, 19in and 20in diameters, for the most famous of staggered wheel fitments. The choice also includes a range-topping 22in wheel for the Cayenne SUV. Both models are available in silver or black with a machine-cut lip, giving a subtle or aggressive overall effect.

The wheels from all three ranges are also available in a chrome finish, as a special order.

All three ranges are available exclusively through Yokohama HPT and its dealer network. Prices begin at £150 including VAT (RRP) for the Beyern and Mandrus models and £192 including VAT (RRP) for the Victor Equipment range.

Nissan Qashqai On The Virtual Streets

The website for the new Nissan QASHQAI has now been launched with interactive features. Let your imagination flow by not just designing your own QASHQAI but also the scene around it. From security cameras to mail boxes and dumpsters to pigeons, you can make the cityscape unique so it’s not just the QASHQAI that can call the street its own but you as well.

Customising the QASHQAI and its urban space is just one of the website’s features. Called My QASHQAI, you can choose the colour, the wheels of the car and then your own number plate. Once the car is finished, the urban space that the QASHQAI finds itself in can also be made unique by creating its own ‘spot’. The website allows you to change the surroundings, the road surface and even the backdrop that the QASHQAI is parked in front of by choosing from a range of wall art designs to make the spot truly urban.

The website is also a place to explore what this compact cross-over has to offer. The ‘urban proof experience’ allows you to go round city streets and watch an animated demonstration to discover design features of the car. You can continue the experience by discovering what’s in the cockpit style cabin by taking a look at the panoramic roof, the interior space and the centre console to see what it’s like to be in a QASHQAI.

To drive round the urban streets and discover the QASHQAI log on to www.nissan-qashqai.co.uk. In addition to the interactive features, information can be obtained on the UK launch and a brochure can be ordered.

The Nissan QASHQAI was designed and engineered in the UK and will also be produced at the company’s plant in Sunderland. Described as a new take on the family hatchback, the QASHQAI goes on sale early next spring with a choice of four freshly designed engines and front- or, unusually, four-wheel drive.

Volkswagen Reveals Atacama Crafter Concept

Volkswagen has revealed a striking off-road vehicle based on the recently-launched Crafter van. Named Atacama, after the desert in South America, the four-wheel drive concept is the product of the Design Centre in Wolfsburg, Germany, and could become a limited production vehicle.

‘The Atacama concept is a fresh and modern interpretation of a four-wheel drive Crafter, combining function and individuality,’ says the team leader and exterior designer, Ralf Dekena. The design study gains its striking presence through its proportions. The front end, with slight modifications and the aluminium components such as the radiator, headlights or air vents, also add to the Atacama’s powerful appearance. The side air inlets in the wings lend the Atacama a sporty finish.

For protection during off-road use, the vehicle has been equipped with robust panelling and powerfully modelled wheel arches. Aluminium inserts further emphasise its off-road appeal and give the Atacama a more exclusive appearance. Offsets and stamps are repeated thematically on the wheel arches. The unique side window design demonstrates the integration of exterior and interior.

The designer responsible, Romain Chareyre, explains: ‘The design study shows further potential for the Crafter in the leisure and fun segment.’

The roof railing formed in a U-shape with integrated box is a modern interpretation of a carrier system. To match this element, the team designed the rear ladder which frames the brand logo in its shape and also has the door handle integrated in it.

The member of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles board of management with responsibility for sales, Harald Schomburg, is very enthusiastic: ‘The absolute highlight of the Crafter presentation is the concept vehicle Atacama with four-wheel drive application by Achleitner.

‘It emphasises the strikingly masculine features of the vehicle and is our idea of a Crafter off-road vehicle. I’m very curious about the customer reaction – if it is positive we will build a series of up to 100 vehicles.’