Hot Cars

All-new Mazda2 Boasts Exceptional Standard Equipment

When it goes on sale in the UK from 8 September, the all-new Mazda2 range of five‑door hatchbacks will offer customers a three-strong model line-up with a choice of three powertrains and three equipment levels (TS, TS2 and Sport). Prices will start from a highly-competitive £8,499 (on-the-road) for the new Mazda2 TS model undercutting rival vehicles, while boasting excellent standard equipment that is either optional or not available on those competitor cars.

Standard equipment on the 1.3-litre, 75ps Mazda2 TS will include: 15-inch steel wheels, ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, driver and front passenger airbags, remote central locking with deadlocks, electric front windows, driver seat height adjust, CD radio with AUX jack and two speakers, multi-function glovebox with magazine rack, Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser and electric door mirrors.

The new Mazda2 TS2 with 1.3-litre, 86ps petrol engine will be priced from £9,999 (OTR) and will have 12 additional equipment items including: 15-inch alloy wheels, side and curtain airbags, electric folding door mirrors, four audio speakers, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, leather steering wheel and gear knob and air‑conditioning.

Topping the petrol launch range will be the new Mazda2 Sport, with a 1.5-litre 103ps engine and a full sports styling kit, priced from £11,799 (OTR). This model will also gain 12 extra items of equipment, including: 16-inch alloy wheels, dynamic stability control, traction control, cruise control, fog lights, rain sensing wipers and auto lights, electric rear windows, trip computer, speed alarm, six audio speakers and climate control air-conditioning.

The all-new Mazda2 petrol range will be joined by a 1.4-litre 68ps diesel engine a few months after the September petrol launch. The 1.4-litre 68ps diesel will be available with a choice of two equipment levels TS and TS2 and will include the same specification as the petrol models.

Lexus Announces Prices For New LS 600h

The LS 600h, the new hybrid power flagship of the Lexus brand, will cost from £81,400 when the model goes on sale in the UK on 1 October. Equipped with a more advanced powertrain and more sophisticated array of preventive, active and passive features than any car in its class, the LS 600h will set new standards in luxury motoring. A superb specification will ensure owners enjoy supreme comfort, convenience and on-board entertainment.

The LS 600h features the world’s first full-time, all-wheel drive full hybrid V8 powertrain, combining a technically peerless 5.0-litre engine with a powerful, high-output motor. The result is performance that rivals a standard V12 petrol engine (nought to 62mph in 6.3 seconds) with fuel consumption and emissions that are on a par with the segment’s best performing – and substantially lower powered – diesels (30.4mpg and 219g/km in combined cycle driving). Thanks to the Lexus Hybrid Drive system’s compact but powerful electric motor, maximum torque is delivered from zero rpm, giving the car exceptional performance off the line.

Two versions will be available in the UK: the LS 600h and LS 600h L long wheelbase model. Both benefit from an exceptional specification that includes pre-crash safety systems that can detect collision hazards both on the road ahead and from the rear, permanent four-wheel drive, Adaptive Variable Suspension and the world’s first application of LED technology for low beam headlight illumination. Advanced technologies are dovetailed with the skills of master craftsmen to achieve a high luxury finish in the paintwork, fine leather upholstery, hand-trimmed dashboard and real wood cabin trim features.

The in-car entertainment package includes a 19-speaker Mark Levinson premium hi-fi with six-disc DVD autochanger and a nine-inch ceiling-mounted screen for rear seat passengers.

The LS 600h L can be additionally specified with a Rear Seat Relaxation Pack that provides even higher levels of comfort. The left hand rear seat gains an extending ottoman leg and thigh rest, seat cushion airbag and variable massage function. An independent DVD system, centre console with extending wood-inlaid tray are also part of the pack, together with a more advanced climate control system that uses body temperature sensors to determine optimum performance.

Lexus LS 600h prices

Model OTR Price

LS 600h £81,400

LS 600h L £83,645

LS 600h L with Rear Seat Relaxation Package £88,000

Ferrari At Salon Privé 2007

Ferrari will take centre stage at Salon Privé’s Private and Luxury Super Car Show, opening Wednesday 11th July at The Hurlingham Club, London. In its second year, Salon Privé is a unique high-society event where VIP-guests can admire the most beautiful luxury and sports cars in the immaculate grounds of one of the UK’s most prestigious private members club, The Hurlingham Club.

For this special event, Ferrari will display a unique selection from its range of V8 and V12 models. The 4.3 litre, 490 hp Ferrari F430 represents the Prancing Horse’s class leading technological know how and sports car soul and will be displayed together with its ‘sister’ - born for the track - a F430 Challenge in Team Vertu Racing livery. This car is currently racing in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series as part of the Ferrari Challenge Dealer Team GB.

From the V12 family, the 599 GTB Fiorano continues Ferrari’s tradition of Gran Turismo Berlinetta models, which includes some of the most iconic cars of Ferrari’s history, like the 250 GT, the 275 GTB, the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, and the 575M Maranello. The 599 GTB Fiorano, the most powerful production car Ferrari has ever made, has 620 hp, a specific output of 103 hp/l, a maximum speed of over 205 mph and reaches 0-62 mph in just 3.7 seconds.

Top of the range is the 612 Scaglietti, Ferrari’s flagship Grand Tourer, featuring the finest Italian craftmanship and a range of Carrozzeria Scaglietti personalisation options which allow customers to truly tailor the car to suit their individual tastes. For Salon Privé, the 612 Scaglietti appears in a special Police livery; this car was driven over 1,500 miles by Police forces across the UK to lead the UK Leg of Ferrari’s 60th Anniversary Tour and to promote road safety messages including the danger and enforcement implications of using a mobile phone whilst driving.

The Ferrari 60th Anniversary Tour started in Abu Dhabi in January and finished in Maranello, Italy, at the end of June with an extraordinary parade for customers, drivers, VIPs and Ferrari Tifosi.

All Salon Privé guests will be welcome at the Ferrari display, which is situated in the Luxury and Super Car Gallery.

Suzuki Splash

Suzuki Motor Corporation, the world leader in the compact car segment, introduces Splash, an all-new compact model aimed at building on the success of the loveable Swift. Following Swift, Grand Vitara and SX4, Splash is the fourth all new Suzuki model within just three years, and it epitomises Suzuki’s ‘Way of Life!’ philosophy, underpinning its strategy of building cars that excite customers all over the world.

Splash for Europe will be built in Esztergom, Hungary, by Magyar Suzuki Corporation, a Suzuki subsidiary that already builds Swift, SX4 and Ignis. Suzuki will also be manufacturing the second generation Agila for Opel/Vauxhall at this plant. With identical engineering, the main visual differences between Splash and Agila include different styling at front (bonnet, wings, headlamps and bumper) and rear (tailgate, tail lights and bumper).

Suzuki is targeting annual sales of approximately 60,000 units throughout Europe. Opened in 1992, the Esztergom factory has produced over one million Suzukis to date.

Splash cannot be considered to be the successor of the Wagon R+, the enlarged version of the Wagon R which in 1993 was originally developed for the Japanese market, and later also introduced in Europe. “Based on completely different criteria, Splash’s design is mainly tailored to the requirements of European customers,” explains Toshihiro Suzuki, the project’s Chief Engineer. Splash comes with attractive styling, compact dimensions, responsive handling, very good build quality and a high degree of environmental compatibility.

While the focus of Phase One of Suzuki’s “World-Strategy” was on sportiness, Splash is the first model in Phase Two which will focus on young families as its main target group. Apart from fresh and sporty styling, young couples with and without children attach great importance to attributes such as spaciousness, flexibility and economy.

Rather than a purely functional box shape, the designers have endeavoured to provide Splash with styling that lives up to its name, epitomising youthfulness, freshness and zesty, energetic performance.

Splash will make its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September, with sales commencing in Spring, 2008. Customers will have the choice of three engines – two petrol and a diesel. The petrol units are 100% Suzuki designs, a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder unit producing 65 PS (48 kW) and a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder engine developing 86 PS (63 kW). Both are of advanced four-valve-per-cylinder design, offering a sophisticated combination of smoothness, low-end torque and fuel efficiency.

Audi R8

The new Audi R8 has made a flying start, with Audi customers being able to take possession of the company’s sporty top model since the start of June.

1.500 units of the 420 bhp mid-engined two-seater have already found their way to dealers and buyers. Craft-scale production of the R8 is now running at top speed in Neckarsulm: the maximum possible number of 20 vehicles is being produced per day.

It has been possible to order the R8 since September 2006 – and several thousand customers did so without even test-driving their dream sports car. In the German market, the entire production capacity for 2007 is sold out.

Additional wishes for top levels of individuality can now be fulfilled: the Audi exclusive programme from quattro GmbH offers a host of optional extras which give the Audi R8 an even more exclusive look and feel. For example, a range of leather packages in high-quality fine nappa leather or Alcantara/leather allied with carpet and headlining in fine materials with exclusive colours.

A tailor-made offer for the R8 is a five-piece luggage set in high-grade leather, which is colour-coordinated with the interior of the Audi R8 ordered.

2008 VW Tiguan First Official Pictures

First photos of the upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan are finally revealed. Scheduled to be officially presented to the public this autumn at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, the Tiguan will try to offer both the compactness of a hatchback and some off-road capabilities of mid-size SUVs.

The compact crossover will be equipped with a choice of highly fuel-efficient turbocharged direct injection engines, including 140 and 170 hp Euro V oil-burners and 150, 170 and 200 hp gasoline motors.

The VW Tiguan, which is sharing its platform with the Golf/Rabbit hatchback, will have to compete against such mid-size crossovers as new Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Nissan X-trail.