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The highly anticipated 2018 VW Up! GTI is now available to order in the UK, all set to take the hot hatch market by storm. Granted, it is a supermini and not a hatchback. But the Up! GTI is so good at what it does, and at £13,750 it is so well-priced, it renders all those expensive, over-powered hot hatches out there silly.  I mean, if space is not really an issue for you, 2018 VW Up! GTI is a much better proposition than its own big brother, Golf GTI. And we know full well that the Golf is the king of all hot hatches. With the Up! GTI it is not about how much power you have. It’s the whole package. Yes, it only has a 999cc turbo engine with 115 PS and 200 Nm of torque. But on the upside it does 58.9 mpg and emits no more than to 110 g/km of CO2. And as for performance, 0 to 62 mph is dealt with in 8.8 seconds with a top speed of 122 mph. [embedded content] 2018 VW Up! GTI is all about the joy of driving, and a big part of that is the price. Yes, it is kind of expensive for a supermini, but it’s a bargain for what it offers. And because it is cheap, you can beat on it every day, drive it fast and hard, and not worry about breaking the bank. It is not in vain that Volkswagen com, ...ادامه مطلب

The days in which SUVs were symbols of high fuel consumption and air pollution are long gone thanks to cars such as 2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid. These offer the same practicality and performance of a regular SUV, but with a frugal-ish engine. Of course, this much goodness is going to cost you.  2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid is priced from $52,100 MSRP to which you will have to add a $995 destination and handling fee. Still, considering the badge and how much kit you receive in retu for your cash, that sounds like good value. The biggest highlight of this model is the three-motor Sport Hybrid Super Handling-All Wheel Drive system which is basically the same powertrain they use in the NSX supercar. Here it generates 321 hp and 289 lb.-ft. of torque. The EPA rating for this system is 26 / 27 / 27 mpg City/Highway/Combined. Now, that doesn’t sound particularly brilliant, but you have to realize it’s 45 percent better than a non-hybrid MDX. [embedded content] Features-wise, 2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid is as luxurious and well-equipped as any Acura. You can choose between Technology Package ($53,095) and Advance Package ($59,145) trims, with both model benefiting from unique interior, ...ادامه مطلب

The official U.S. pricing for the all-new 2018 Hyundai Kona crossover has been announced, and as you would expect the value-for-money element is strong. This quirky little sport utility starts at just $19,500 for the base model, rising up to $28,700 for the fully-loaded model.  In America the 2018 Hyundai Kona is available with two engines and transmission choices. There is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbo (Limited and Ultimate trims only) with a seven-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission offering 175 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines can be had with all-wheel-drive system. A well-chosen trim will also get you such advanced safety systems as Lane-Keeping Assist system, Blind-Spot Collision Waing, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Waing, Lane Change Assist, Parking Distance Waing and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection. [embedded content] 2018 Hyundai Kona MSRP & Trims: Model Engine Transmission Drivetrain MSRP SE 2.0L 4-cyl. 6-Speed Automatic SHIFTRONIC® FWD $19,500 SE 2.0L 4-cyl. 6-Speed Automatic SHIFTRONIC® AWD $20, ...ادامه مطلب

This year’s Geneva Motor Show will see the debut of something rather special from Land Rover, something we haven’t seen since the 70s. It’s called the Range Rover SV Coupe, and it’s a two-door version of the full-size luxury SUV featuring a “seductive” design and an ultra-refined interior.  They have only released a photo of the interior so far, but that is enough to make us long for this Range Rover SV Coupe. The original Range Rover launched in the 1970 as a two-door model, but that form kind of went away, featured only on a version of the Evoque. The SV, though, it’s not a downsized Range Rover or anything pathetic. It’s full-size, they say, and it’s going to blow you way with its sexiness, luxuriousness, and overall coolness. Range Rover SV Coupe will not appeal to those who buy a SUV because they need the practicality… because it’s just not going to be as practical as the four-door variant. That’s just a fact. It also has four seats instead of the usual five.This car will be the SUV of choice for those who buy a Rolls-Royce Wraith instead of a Phantom, and an AMG S65 Coupe instead of a Maybach. It’l become like a must-have accessory for the rich and famous. So you can expe, ...ادامه مطلب

On the 70th anniversary of the iconic Defender, and with an all-new model currently in the works, Land Rover decided to treat the fans of this car to something rather special. The Classic Defender Works V8 is a tribute to the early V8 models, and the most powerful version of the SUV ever built.  The 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V8 powertrain featured in the Defender Works V8 chus out 405PS and 515 Nm of torque. That is a far cry from the standard Defender which has to make do with only 122PS and 360 Nm. As a result, this V8 version is a limited, collector’s edition of just 150 copies, and the only one capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds with a top speed of 106 mph. [embedded content] The performance highlights of the V8 Defender include eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with sport mode, uprated brakes and handling kit (springs, dampers and anti-roll bars), plus exclusive 18-inch diamond-tued Sawtooth alloy wheels and 265/65 R18 all-terrain tyres. Distinguishing features of the Land Rover Defender Works V8 on the outside include Santorini Black roof, wheel arches and front grille, aluminium door handles, fuel filler cap and Defender bonnet let, ...ادامه مطلب

Detroit Motor Show this year sees the debut of the new 2019 Ford Ranger pickup truck. The favorite of mid-size truckers comes with upscale, handsome looks and a lot more tech features than before. What’s more, it is one of toughest vehicles in its class thanks to its “Built Ford Tough” construction.  Basically, what Built Ford Tough means is that the 2019 Ford Ranger is built to take some serious punishment. It features a rugged high-strength steel frame backbone and has been torture-tested alongside Ford F-150 trucks. The muscular and athletic body reflects the rough and tumble soul of this car. So whatever your business or adventure is, the new Ranger should be able to take care of it for years to come. [embedded content] Mechanically, the truck launches with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine and class-exclusive 10-speed automatic transmission. These are complemented with available FX4 Off-Road Package provides additional trail capability with off-road-tuned shocks, all-terrain tires, a frame-mounted heavy-gauge steel front bash plate, frame-mounted skid plates and FX4 badging. 2019 Ford Ranger boasts Dana AdvanTEK independent front and solid rear axles on both 2WD and 4WD models. , ...ادامه مطلب

90 grand is a lot of money for what’s, in its essence, a BMW 5 Series saloon. But then this is no ordinary saloon car. The new 2018 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo is, in the tuner’s own words, the most affordable 200 mph production car in the UK. Now that is some good justification! We have to point out the £89,000 is for the 2018 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo sedan. The Estate version kicks off at £91,000. But as you may have already guessed, it is the fastest wagon out there. Powering both of these German monsters is a 608 horsepower Alpina-tuned BMW V8. This engine is altogether sweeter and more civilized than the one you get in BMW’s own M5. It is also capable of generating 670 Nm (494 lbft) of torque, swelling to an astonishing 800 Nm (590 lbft) from 3,000 – 5,000 rpm. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission also improved for this car. As a result the B5 Bi-turbo Saloon will hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, with the Touring just 0.1 seconds behind, before clocking 205 mph flat out. Other performance highlight of the 2018 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo include Active Rear Steering, active roll stabilisation (Dynamic Drive), ALPINA light-weight 20” forged alloy wheels and ‘ALP’ labelled Pirelli P-Zero, ...ادامه مطلب

Just in time for Christmas JLR has announced an “ultra-versatile” version of the Disco in the UK market. The new 2018 Land Rover Discovery Commercial is the ideal car to carry lots of boxes of presents, or tow a huge Xmas tree. The only problem the car won’t be released until the second quarter of next year.  But they, that gives you an excuse not to get a tree this year, and limit the presents to small, cheap items. What are yo gonna do, your regular Discovery does not enough room! You can promise your kids next year you will get the Land Rover Discovery Commercial which has up to 1,856 litres of flexible load space and can tow up to legal UK limit of 3.5 tonnes. To put these numbers in perspective, Land Rover actually fitted 300 boxes of Bloom & Wild mini Christmas Trees into this car: [embedded content] Design-wise, while the overall looks are standard Disco, rear window concealment panels are masked by privacy glass so Discovery Commercial can be undistinguishable as a commercial vehicle if desired. 2018 Land Rover Discovery Commercial can be ordered with JLR’s Ingenium 2.0D SD4 240HP and 3.0D TD6 258HP engines. The all-wheel drive, Terrain Response and multi-link , ...ادامه مطلب

Finally, the new, mode-day Alpine is ready to hit the roads, going on sale in five days. We’ve waited a long time for this thing, but all the evidence suggest 2018 Alpine A110 is well worth the wait. I’m afraid, however, the privilege of enjoying one is a bit costly, as the sports car starts at €58,500. The good news is though, that is the base price for the limited edition 2018 Alpine A110 Premiere Edition. Regular models will be less expensive. But the launch model is the really irresistible one, if just for the fact that they are making only 1,955 units of it. That is a tribute to the year Alpine was founded. The A110 Première Edition come as standard with lightweight 18-inch O, ...ادامه مطلب

Everybody in the car world was waiting to see the new BMW i8 Roadster in production form. And although we have to admit the whole thing was a bit anti-climactic given the build-up, the hybrid sports car is still a hugely desirable thing. The new model, and the latest version of the i8 Coupe, benefit from increased range as well.  The optimized BMW eDrive powertrain with its turbocharged three-cylinder and electric motors delivers 369 hp in the BMW i8 Roadster – and of course the 2018 Coupe, but it’s hard to focus on that with the Roadster in the center of things. That power propels the BMW i8 Coupe from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds while the i8 Roadster accelerates in 4.4 second.Both , ...ادامه مطلب

Land Rover has released the first details of the new 2018 Range Rover SVAutobiography ahead of the luxury SUV’s debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The range-topping version of the new facelift series will become available to order tomorrow (Nov. 29) with unmatched levels of luxury and refinement, priced from £167,850. Powering the 2018 Range Rover SVAutobiography is the new 404hp plug-in hybrid electric-petrol powertrain that makes RR SUVs among the greenest in their class. But since most people who are interested in the top-of-the-line trim have little regard for economy and all that, a 565hp V8 supercharged petrol engine is also available. The SVAutobiography comes exclusively in, ...ادامه مطلب

The good old Beetle receives a number of updates for the new year, hoping it can regain some of it past glory with more features and a reasonable-ish price tag. The 2018 Volkswagen Beetle costs in America from $20,220, excluding an $850 dest, ...ادامه مطلب

Putting their fuel cell plans aside for a while, Honda is going to focus on stepping up their hybrid game in America. And so on December 1 they will launch the new 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, a decidedly green-looking sedan that start, ...ادامه مطلب

The orders book are now open for the 2018 Vauxhall Grandland X SUV and you can have yours from £22,310. That sounds like good value, even if just for the fact that the Grandland is a sizable thing – 20 centimetres longr than Mokka X and Crossland X. It is also pretty well-equipped and fairly capable when the going gets rough.  The list of standard kit on the 2018 Vauxhall Grandland X include such items as LED daytime running lights, camera-based lane departure waing, road sign recognition, intelligent cruise control, and air conditioning with particulate and odour filter. It also comes with standard OnStar and optional IntelliGrip traction control system which ensures optimum road grip in diverse driving situations through torque distribution. The driving modes this system offers include normal, mud, snow, sand, and ESP off. [embedded content] As for the engines, launches with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol with 130PS (urban 44.1-47.1mpg, extra-urban 57.6-62.8mpg, combined 51.4mpg-55.4mpg, 127-117 g/km CO2) and a 1.6-litre turbo diesel with 120PS (urban 55.4-60.1mpg, extra-urban 67.3-80.7mpg, combined 61.4-70.6mpg, 118-104 g/km CO2). Both turbo units can be combined with either the six-speed manual or a friction-optimised six-speed automatic transmission and come with Start/Stop as standard. So the Grandland has frugality on its side, too. “Our goals for the Grandland X were to create a rugged yet dynamic design, while also managing to balance style and functionality,” said , ...ادامه مطلب

It does not come as a surprise that Range Rovers are good at tackling small ponds and rivers. But what this new 2018 Range Rover Sport has achieved is quite remarkable, even by their standards. This hybrid, sporty, urban SUV raced two open-water swimmers across a flooded causeway. And it won.  The water challenge for the 2018 Range Rover Sport was actually a thorough test of its off-road capab, ...ادامه مطلب