Hot Cars

Introducing The New Credit Card From Smart

Smart, the iconic automotive manufacturer, is launching a new credit card in support of the brand, in association with DaimlerChrysler Financial Services and HBoS Card Services. The smart credit card made its debut at the London to Brighton smart run on Sunday 24 September 2006: the largest annual gathering of smart owners and enthusiasts in the UK.

Being true to the brand’s environmental ethos, smart has agreed a partnership with the Woodland Trust, whereby new cardholders can off-set their carbon emissions for one year, simply by using their credit card. Every cardholder who activates their card generates the planting of five new trees, offsetting the 1091 kilograms of CO2 generated by a smart fortwo coupé pure during one year’s driving*.

Sam Bridger, Head of Marketing for smart, said: “The smart credit card complements our customers’ commitment to the environment and I am delighted that the Woodland Trust has agreed to be our partner on this venture. We hope to plant over 5000 trees before the end of 2007 as a result of launching this unique initiative.”

With CO2 emissions of 113g/km, the smart fortwo is one of the lowest CO2 emitting cars on British roads.

Maintaining the “green” theme, the smart credit card is made from plastic PETG, which contains virtually no chlorine or other highly toxic chemicals that are contained in standard PVC credit cards.

The new smart card will offer 0% pa on both balance transfers and purchases fixed for the first six months, free online Fraud Protection and an APR of 14.9% on the Platinum Card.

Karl Mitchell, Director of Development at the Woodland Trust, said: “While the answer to climate change is cutting our carbon emissions, we recognise that most people can’t get to zero, so planting trees is a helpful way to offset those residual emissions. The new native woodland that smart credit card holders help to create will provide many benefits for both people and wildlife.”

Alex Watkins, General Manager Marketing and Product Development at DCFS, said: “We believe the smart credit card represents a unique place in the market and are pleased to be able to offer customers such a competitively priced product which is friendly to the environment too.”

Jaguar XK Makes Its Manheim Auction Debut

One of the most exciting new cars of 2006, the Jaguar XK, made its used debut in a special closed sale held by Manheim last week at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, UK. Underlining the importance of this sale, nearly 70% Jaguar’s UK dealers were represented at the auction to bid for and buy 12 stunning used examples of the new XK plus 62 other Jaguar models.

All the XKs were snapped up with star performers including a 2005 XK 4.2 Coupe in Liquid, having covered 3,000 miles selling for £62,000 and an 8,000 mile Convertible in Ultraviolet which made £64,000.

The Jaguar sale also showcased Manheim’s latest theatre style, visual technology, which allowed dealers to view still and moving images of the Jaguar models on large plasma screens in the sale room. Only the new XKs were physically on view at Berkeley Castle, with all other lots displayed through the new imagery medium.

All 74 cars were sold on the day, totalling nearly £2 million and achieving an average CAP clean value of 111%. These included an X-Type 2.0 SE Petrol 4dr in Platinum with 9,000 miles on the clock, which sold for 127% of its CAP clean value and a 11,000 mile Satin Silver XKR Convertible which sold for 115% of CAP Clean.

Nick Speed, Used Car Sales Manager, Jaguar commented, “The reaction to the sale has been fantastic. The essence of the XK has really been captured using advanced new technology exhibited by Manheim and the historic surroundings of Berkeley Castle which combined to create a fabulous atmosphere for this special event.”

Sarah Pepworth, Manheim’s Sales Director for manufacturers added, “This special sale and the new XK debut was a great platform to launch our unique on-screen auction technology. The feedback from Jaguar and their dealers has been extremely positive and we are already planning a series of similar events in the near future

GM: Succumbs to Green Community Pressure’s

GM Corp. will build 100 hydrogen-fuel cell SUVs next year, for drivers on the east and west coast. This move from GM is seen as a step to counter the severe criticism they have been facing pertaining to GM vehicles using too much off gasoline, causing environmental problems such as global warming and heightening.

The 100 SUVs to be produced will emit only water (vapor) and they will be a part of the 1000 hydrogen powered cars on US roads by 2010 (committed earlier by GM).

Not only are the environmentalists demanding the green vehicle production, even the buyer’s want vehicles that are fuel-efficient. This change in demand pattern, with fuel efficiency as the priority is a consequence of high Gasoline prices since the last two years and the government’s new rules require less pollution and better mileage.

These SUVs are slated to hit the markets by July next year. With Toyota and Honda reaching new hybrid heights, it’ll be correct to term GM a loner at this point in time , but , seeing the monetary strength they posses , they will hardly take any time to catch up the others, as it is , they have already spent $1 billion and they have plans to invest another billion.

Toyota Announces Pricing For Toyota Racing Development FJ Cruiser Package

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Special Edition package for the 2007 FJ Cruiser sport utility vehicle.

The TRD Special Edition package adds several exterior performance enhancements to the 2007 FJ Cruiser SUV. Included in the package are TRD/Bilstein off-road tuned, red painted shock absorbers. The special shocks are designed to enhance straight line stability, decrease brake “dive” and acceleration “squat” yaw response, stability and roll feel, body motion characteristics, shock impact and off-road handling. The seamless monotube design provides superior tube strength while maximizing heat dissipation and shock life.

Additionally, TRD has synchronized the locking differential with Active Traction control. The locking rear differential no longer overrides Active Traction control enabling the FJ Cruiser to navigate easier through boulders.

Unique exterior enhancements include an all Black paint scheme with a Black roof and “TRD Special Edition” badges. The Special Edition package will also feature a set of five TRD 16-inch alloy wheels with a gun metal gray painted finish and BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires with wheel locks, TRD performance exhaust and rock rails.

Inside, the Special Edition package is equipped with seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags, and a multi-informational display which includes compass, inclinometer and temperature gauge. The Special Edition package also includes a two-in-one AM/FM audio and six-disc CD changer, quickshifter (manual transmission models only) and all-weather front and rear cargo floor mats with a TRD logo.

Only 3,200 units of the TRD Special Edition FJ Cruiser will be built. The Special Edition package will carry a base MSRP of $7,265 on manual transmission models and $7,250 for models with an automatic transmission. The base MSRP for the FJ Cruiser four-wheel drive models start at $23,090 for the manual transmission and $23,500 for an automatic transmission. The TRD Special Edition FJ Cruiser will arrive at Toyota dealerships in early November, and will also be on display at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in November.

Toyota RAV4 Gains Important Safety Feature For 2007

The all-new third-generation RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) introduced for 2006 gains an important safety system as standard equipment for 2007. Driver and front passenger front-seat-mounted side airbags, along with first and second row roll-sensing side curtain airbags, are now standard (formerly optional).

With significantly improved performance from an available V6 engine, plus enhancements to overall refinement, the larger, more powerful RAV4 is redefining a segment it essentially created a decade ago. The new-generation RAV4 is a logical step up from the popular second-generation model, providing more room from a larger design that is still compact, highly maneuverable and fuel-efficient.

The 2007 RAV4 is offered in three distinct grades – Standard, performance-oriented Sport and top-of-the-line Limited – and with a choice between two engines and either two- or four-wheel-drive. All grades offer a 269-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine, making RAV4 the most powerful vehicle in its segment. Equipped exclusively with a gated-shift five-speed automatic transmission, the V6 RAV4 models offer fuel efficiency comparable with much less powerful four- and six-cylinder competitors.

“Toyota pioneered the car-based compact SUV segment with the first RAV4, and now this type of vehicle is the overwhelmingly most popular choice in the segment,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales executive vice president. “The third-generation RAV4 adds performance without penalty at the pump, and adds room without sacrificing the nimble nature that has made the RAV4 so successful since its introduction.”

Road-Ready Audi R8 Super Car Wows Paris Motor Show

Vorsprung durch Technik infiltrates the rarefied world of the sports car elite this week as the new Audi R8 makes its world public début at the 2006 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris (September 30th to October 15th).

Scheduled to open for UK ordering in late 2006, with prices expected to start from around £77,000. The new ultra-high performance Audi R8 combines the time-honoured hallmarks of the best of the classic sports cars with futuristic construction, transmission and suspension technologies, all underpinned by the steadfast reassurance of the quattro four-wheel-drive system.

Mounted longitudinally directly behind the cockpit of the comparatively lightweight, 1,560-kilogramme aluminium-bodied Audi sports car is a high-revving V8 petrol engine delivering 420PS, and contributing to an exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 269PS per tonne. Spinning freely to its 8,250rpm limit, this acclaimed unit punches the R8 through the 62mph barrier in just 4.6 seconds and, in the right conditions, can carry it on to a top speed of 187mph - an unprecedented high for a road-going Audi.

Driving purists can choose a six-speed manual transmission to channel the 430Nm of torque to the four driven wheels, but they may also be tempted by the racing-inspired R tronic sequential shift gearbox with joystick and paddle control, which uses ‘shift-by-wire’ technology to provide exceptionally rapid gear changes.

By mounting the potent eight-cylinder unit as close as possible to the centre of the new R8, in deference to racing legends such as the Le Mans-winning R8 sports prototype and Auto Union Type C Grand Prix car, Audi engineers have achieved near perfect 44 per cent front / 56 per cent rear weight distribution for optimum handling balance. Dry sump engine lubrication - another racing-derived element - also furthers this aim by enabling the V8 to be mounted as close to the road as possible to lower the centre of gravity.