Peugeot's New 108 Comes With Added Sophistication

How do you make a small car look premium?

That was the challenge facing Ivo Groen, project design director at Peugeot Design, and his team as they collaborated with Citroen and Toyota to develop the 108/C1/Aygo replacement.

Greater European Input For Future Hondas

Honda's new European developed and UK-built Civic Tourer, on sale from mid-February, is expected to herald a new era of greater European input into Honda's vehicles, including the next generation Civic, due in 2017.

Volkswagen Confirm Large SUV For Production

The biggest news from Volkswagen at Detroit concerned a car that isn't there.

The CrossBlue concept, a large SUV which VW North America regards as vital if it is to hit its 2018 target of 800,000 sales a year, has been confirmed for production.

The CrossBlue was unveiled at the same venue 12 months ago, and VW's American sales people could barely contain their excitement at the possibility of adding it to their line-up. It is a car which would primarily be for the US market, although China and Russia are two other countries which could be interested.

It is still to be decided where the production version will be made, but it will be in one of VW's North American plants - Chattanooga, Tennessee or Puebla, Mexico. Unlike Chattanooga, Puebla is already equipped to use the platform which will underpin it, but the plant is currently working to capacity.

VW sold only 476,000 cars in the US last year, hampered mainly by an ageing Jetta and Passat and the absence of the latest Golf. The new Golf arrives this year but is a relatively small volume car in the US. The CrossBlue, a seven-seat family SUV larger than the Touareg, would make a major contribution towards VW hitting its 800,000 sales target.

The new cars on display at Detroit include a Passat BlueMotion powered not by a diesel engine but by a variant of the 1.4 TFSI unit, and the Beetle Dune concept, a raised and more rugged version of the latest VW Bug. VW says it is production-ready, but its prospects will depend on whether it could pay for itself.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.com).

Volvo XC Coupe Shows Face Of The Brand

Volvo is showing the face of the 2015 XC90 on its XC Coupe concept at Detroit.

The lights, grille and front-end styling are what will be seen on the large SUV replacement, while the rear lights are also close to those that will appear on the XC90.

The XC Coupe is the second of three concept cars Volvo has developed to illustrate the flexibility of its new product architecture, which will underpin an entire range of 60, 70, 80 and 90 series models. It follows the Concept Coupe unveiled at Frankfurt last September. The last of the trio will appear at Geneva in a couple of months.

Although none of them is planned for production, Volvo says they are important in getting people used to how its design language will change with the new XC90, and the versatility of its new SPA (Scaleable Product Architecture) platform.

There will also be a set of advanced safety features, including the world's first animal detection and crash prevention system. As he introduced the car at Detroit, Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Cars, highlighted Volvo's key focus on saftey: "Enjoying a car with great power and capabilities, at the same time as you are safe and protected, gives a great feeling of joy and freedom".

The current XC90 has been around for 13 years, but will go out of production this summer and the new model goes into production next year.

Along with the new architecture, Volvo is developing a new family of powertrains which will make it independent of former owner Ford within four years. They will include a development of the company's current diesel plug-in hybrid drive system.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.com).

Suzuki iV-4 Crossover Teased

Words by Rob McSorley

Suzuki have released two teaser images of their upcoming iV-4 concept that it set to be launched at the 65th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show from 10th September 2013.

Set to slot in the range below the recently launched SX4 the new crossover is likely to rival Nissan’s Juke and Vauxhall’s Mokka in the fast expanding supermini-crossover sector. The increase in dimensions and push upmarket of the new SX4 has left Suzuki with a slot for the new car.

Set to fall in line with the styling cues of the rest of the Suzuki range the teaser images clearly show a distinctive five bar grill, bold bumper mounted lower lighting and slim door mirrors. There also appears to be lighting on the iV-4’s roof, plenty of ground clearance and small front and rear overhangs. Suzuki describe the concepts design as “Conveying a sense of modernity and innovativeness”

The new model is likely to launch in Europe in late 2014 and is one of five new models planned to join Suzuki lineup. The next models to appear will be a larger supermini and new city car to replace the Splash and Alto.

More details of the Suzuki iV-4 concept car are likely to be release closer to the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

New Ranger Rover Sport a Hit Even Before Going on Sale

Land Rover already has 15,000 orders for the new Range Rover Sport, even though it is not yet available anywhere in the world.

It will be in showrooms in Europe this autumn and in other markets soon afterwards, with other models that will further broaden its appeal scheduled to be la
unched in 2014.

In the UK it will initially be available with 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel and 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol engines, priced from £51,550. A less-powerful V6 diesel and a 4.4-litre V8 diesel will be added around the turn of the year, and Land Rover has a diesel hybrid with CO2 emissions of only 169g/km under development.

Land Rover has also confirmed that in time there will also be a model with a four-cylinder engine. This is likely to be seen in 2015.

While a four-cylinder power unit might outwardly be seen as feeble for a large sports-luxury SUV, the new Sport's all-aluminium monocoque construction - in place of the steel body on frame of the previous model - makes it viable. The new Sport is up to 420kg lighter than its predecessor, and a four-cylinder engine will take this to more than half a tonne.

Land Rover has not confirmed whether the four-cylinder engine will be a petrol or a diesel - it has both in its armoury and available in the Freelander and Range Rover Evoque - but the favourite would be the 2.0-litre petrol unit. This would significantly lower the price of the car by making the most of the taxation structure in the all-important Chinese
market. 

Although the Sport is based on the new body architecture of the regal Range Rover, there are significant differences between the two beyond their styling. The Sport, which is the better-selling and more family-oriented of the two, now offers five-plus-two seating, with a pair of electrically movable flat-folding child seats. It also has a one-piece tailgate in place of the split affair on the Range Rover, and a lower ride height - although improved on that of the previous car.

The suspension has also been significantly retuned and offers a Dynamic mode in the Sport, and there are two all-wheel-drive systems tailored to the degree of off-road challenge owners are likely to subject the car to.

Land Rover is also hinting that there will be additional versions of the Range Rover and Sport, including a long-wheelbase version of one or both of them targeted at the chauffeur-drive Chinese market. Although not confirmed, Land Rover admits there are "always customers who want even more space".

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

Renault Patiently Waiting on EV Sales

Renault says it might have to be as patient in trying to establish electric cars on the market as Toyota was over the introduction of hybrids.

"You only have to look at sales of the Prius in the beginning," says Beatrice Foucher, vice-president of the French company's electric vehicle programme. "It took eight years to show any volume."

Renault has 50% of the European electric vehicle market, although there is currently only a handful of competitors and the company's cumulative EV sales since introducing the first of four models 18 months ago are still only 29,000.

But Foucher believes EVs will start to gain more credibility this autumn when the Germans enter the market through BMW and Volkswagen and Ford also joins the fray.

She is also encouraged by the early success of the Zoe, which has notched up 6,000 sales in its first three months on the market - almost two-thirds of them in France - and is now available in 11 countries.

"In France, everything coming from the customers is positive," she said. "The key word they are saying is 'refined'. They say they are buying the car for driving pleasure and design - the same words they are using for a car with an internal combustion engine."

Zoe brings down the cost of EV ownership because it has been designed to use the same components as the new Clio where possible, and to go down the same production line at the Flins factory to the west of Paris.

In several countries there are also sizeable government handouts to encourage take-up. France offers buyers €7,000, while in the UK there is a £5,000 grant which brings the start point of the range down to £13,995. The Scandinavian countries are also helping to boost EV sales.

"When technology is new it is more expensive. The battery is expensive, the motor is expensive and the charger is expensive," says Foucher. "We need to have bonuses otherwise we cannot sell at a competitive price."

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

Skoda Rapid Spaceback Revealed

Words by Rob McSorley

What do you think you would end up with if you took Skoda’s budget Rapid and lop the rear overhang off? You would think a less balanced hatchback with less interior space. Skoda will tell you otherwise.

Riding on the back of the largest product offensive in Skoda's 118 year history the brand have revealed their latest creation the aptly named Rapid Spaceback. Cleverly it swiftly provides Skoda with the ideal rival to the big-hitting Ford Focus, Kia Cee’d and VAG’s own VW Golf. 

Essentially a shorter version of the already launched Rapid Liftback the new model is 180 mm shorter with a more upright rear window line and additional rear quarter window for improved visibility. Described as a Skoda’s “young compact car” the Spaceback is all-new from the B-pillar rearwards with larger rear light units. Buyers will have the option of a prolonged rear window in conjunction with a panoramic roof that extends all the way down to the rear number plate recess adding a dash of individuality.

Despite the slightly misleading Spaceback name the new car has a smaller boot than its sister car at 415 litres but it still manages to dwarf all other C-segment rivals and also offers class leading leg and headroom at 64 mm and 980 mm respectively. It shares the same 2,602 mm wheelbase also.

Prices have yet to be announced but the Spaceback is likely to command a small premium over it’s already established sister-car so expect the range to start from around £13,500 when it hits UK roads. Engine and trim options are likely to mirror the Liftback but the Spaceback will buyers the choice of a range of personalisation options which will help increase appeal to younger buyers.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

Citroen DS3 Cabrio Racing Revealed

Words by Rob McSorley

Ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show in September Citroën have decided to reveal its new DS3 Cabrio Racing at this weeks Goodwood Festival of Speed. 

At the moment it's strictly a concept car but there is a strong possibility that the ca

r will reach production in small numbers just like the DS3 Racing hatchback launched in 2010. Citroen say that the DS3 Cabrio Racing blends the best of the DS3 Racing hatchback with the sophistication of new DS3 Cabrio.

Tuned by the multi-WRC title winning team, Citroën Racing the DS3 is custom-built with plenty of performance and sporting looks. The DS3 Cabrio Racing features special gloss black 19” alloy wheels, a bespoke Moondark matt textured grey paintwork and Black Chrome inserts on the door mirrors, boot trim and handles.

Citroen say that the concept has a bold identity and is DS through and through. To enhance the bespoke look the b

rake callipers, wheel hubs, doors and parts of the lettering and badges are coloured in dynamic Carmin red. The brands distinctive DS pattern appears both on the black canvas roof  and also engraved on the door mirror housings.

Inside, DS3 Cabrio Racing mirrors the successful, stylish and sophisticated look of the rest of the DS3 range. In addition there are sporty bucketed seats available in three different types of fabric (Napa full-grain leather, DS-embossed leather and Alcantara). Special DS pearl top-stitching also features in the Carmin shade on the seats, dashboard and gearshift. The Carmin colour continues on the seat housings and dashboard, mirroring the door side strips.

Performance figures have yet to be released the the DS3 Cabrio Racing features a 1.6-litre turbo-charged petrol engine producing 202 bhp. It will enable the new model to reach 60 mph in under 7 seconds thanks to a weight increase of just 25 kg over the hatchback. Citroen are confident that the driving experience will be lively and agile thanks to uprated suspension and brakes.

  

For those who like to accessorise the DS3 Cabrio Racing concept also has a matching child seat coordinated to the seats and even a pair of co-ordinated rally helmets. Whether these will appear on the production model remain to be seen.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

Subaru Slashes XV Crossover Prices

Words by Rob McSorley

We may be in difficult times thanks to the recession but Subaru UK have announced massive price reductions accross the entire XV range.

Due to a more favourable exchange rate between Pound Sterling and the Japanese Yen price cuts of £2,300 are available on every variant in the XV range. The new pricing allows motorists to drive away in a new XV from just £18,995 on the road. Subaru are confident that the new pricing for the crossover will attract new buyers to the brand and alligns the XV closer to its competitors.

Haydn Davies, Marketing Director, Subaru UK, said: “Compared to rivals, the XV is one of the most robust and most economical cars available. We have taken the first opportunity to re-price the model given the changes to exchange rates and believe the  price reduction now gives customers the greatest value for their money.”

When we got our hands on Subaru's XV at the beginning of the year we praised it's peerless off-road ability, supreme comfort levels and practical cabin. When fitted with the world-first boxer diesel engine it is also capable of a very competitive 50.4 mpg combined and emits just 146 g/km of CO₂.  With its lofty ground clearance buyers get class-leading off-road ability, while Subaru’s trademark low centre of gravity makes the XV grip the road and handle incredibly well expecially compared to its rivals.

XV sales in Europe have been strong and was Switzerland’s best selling car in August 2012, beating the mighty Volkswagen Golf from top spot. It has won numerous awards including  4x4 Magazine's ‘SUV of the Year’. 

Standard equipment isn't in short supply either with all models benefitting from a knee airbag, 17-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights, heated front seats, wiper de-icers, CD player and a comprehensive Multi-Function Display. Moving up the range the popular SE model adds rear view safety camera, cruise control, dual zone air conditioning, powerfold mirrors and Bluetooth stereo connectivity.

For added piece of mind buyers also get a comprehensive 100,000 mile, five-year warranty with all models.

The new pricing for the Subaru XV is as follows:

Diesel models
2.0D S	£21,995
2.0D SE	£23,995
2.0D SE Lux Premium	£27,695

Petrol models
1.6i S	£18,995
1.6i S Lineartronic	£20,415
1.6i SE	£20,995
1.6i SE Lineartronic	£22,415
2.0i SE	£21,995
2.0i SE Lineartronic	£23,495
2.0i SE Lux Premium	£25,795
2.0i SE Lux Premium Lineartronic	£27,925

Check out the DriverVIBE Verdict of the Subaru XV

2014 Kia Rio GT & Picanto GT

Images by Theo Chin

Words by Rob McSorley

Further to Kia hinting at future sporty GT models if the newly launched cee'd and pro_cee'd GTs are a success it got our mind wondering how further models could turn out. The most natural models that would suit the GT treatment in our eyes would be the Picanto city car and Rio supermini both of which are very decent so should be a good starting point.

To crank up the driving experience both models would benefit from lowered, hardened suspension with stiffer springs and firmer dampers. To further boost agility thicker front anti roll bars would tighten loose chassis movements when cornering. Beefier steering weighting and a quicker rack would give drivers a more connected feeling with the road. Bigger brakes would also feature to reign in the extra performance on offer.

With an arsenal of engines at their disposal the natural choice for the Rio would be the 1.6 Gamma T-GDI (C4FJ) petrol unit which offers 183 bhp and 195 lb ft of torque between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm. Placing it between the Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 for power. Given the Rio's kerbweight of around 1,250 kg it would sprint to 60 mph in around 7.5 seconds. 

The Picanto could also feature the normally aspirated 1.6 Gamma II MPi (C4FC) which would just fit under the smaller cars bonnet. Power output is 128 bhp and 116 lb ft of torque at 4,850 rpm. This would place the Picanto GT just behind its Renault sport Twingo rival with a 0-60 mph time of around 8.8 seconds considering it's 1,050 kg kerbweight.

Visually thanks to our resident photoshopper Theo you can see that both models have larger alloy wheels with low profile tyres that are considerably wider than the Rio and Picanto's standard rubber. To help boost the models road presence lower side skirts and more aggressive front bumpers create a more butch look. At the rear a sporty diffuser, prominent tailgate spoiler and twin exhausts would finish off the look nicely.

In line with the already launched GT models the new cars cabins would come with plenty of standard equipment and deeper bucket seats that would offer passengers improved stability when cornering. 

Kia would most likely price both models competitively with their closest rivals in a similar way to the cee'd and pro_cee'd. This would ensure they receive plenty of attention from those considering their rivals. The advantage over the competitive however would be Kia's industry leading 7 year warranty.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

Skoda Yeti to get bigger brother

Skoda will add a second SUV to its line-up, larger than the Yeti, as part of its plans to increase global sales by 50% over the next few years.

The Volkswagen Group, of which Skoda is a part, is aiming to be the world's largest auto-manufacturing conglomerate in the world by 2018. To help reach that target, Skoda will increase sales from just under a million last year to 1.5 million. A second SUV is seen as a vital cog in that plan.

Skoda is currently embarking on a product renewal and expansion programme. A new Octavia estate, the third stage of the plan after the launch of the Rapid and new Octavia hatch, went on sale in the UK in June priced from £16,790. The estate range includes front- and four-wheel-drive versions.

The outgoing model became Europe's best-selling estate for the first time in 2012 with sales of 124,000 - a third of the Octavia total.

A new Scout version of the estate, with greater ground clearance, lower body cladding and SUV-style additions, will be introduced next year to broaden the appeal of the range. Before then the Skoda will add a five-door Sportback version of the Rapid at the Frankfurt Show in September.

But the Czech company will also need new production facilities to reach its sales targets. Last year's sales of 940,000 cars equalled the company's production capacity at its plants in the Czech Republic, China, Russia and India.

Two more factories are being built in Skoda's number one market, China, which will more than double capacity to half a million cars a year, and further expansion in Russia is likely. Skoda aims to make Russia its top market in Europe in the next few years. Currently it sells 100,000 cars a year there - 30,000 less than in Germany. UK sales were around 65,000 in 2012.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

All-New 2014 MINI in Full View

Words by Rob McSorley

Having been caught testing numerous times clad with full camouflage the all-new MINI has been spied in all its glory for the very first time. Our friends over at Autoblog.com have uncovered a series of pictures revealing the new car in both standard and Cooper S trim during a recent photo shoot.

Based on BMW’s UKL architecture which will underpin the soon-to-be-launched BMW 1 Series GT and MPV, the new MINI will get a range of new, more efficient petrol engines that are likely to include three-cylinder units including BMW's 1.5-litre engine that benefits from a twin-scroll turbo, direct injection and variable valve timing. Power outputs for this engine can range from anywhere between 110 to 200 bhp. There will also be various diesel-powered MINI models in different power outputs.

Disappointingly in profile the MINI looks pretty much unchanged with the exception of a less upright windscreen. The rear sees a new pair of oversized tail lamps that will take some getting used to. Although a little hard to tell the all-new MINI, codenamed F56, will be slightly larger than its predecessor in all directions although the increased length appears to have been added to the front overhang which is most likely a result of more strict pedestrian crash regulations.

The new Cooper appears to have adopted flashy LED daytime running headlamps similar to those seen on the well received Rocketman concept. The front grille is now a lot more rounded now with an integrated matt black bumper section. The new cars nose looks much more rounded, with all variants carrying a small but noticeable power bulge (shown here on the S model above the intake slot on the bonnet). 

The cabin is expected to be where the most noticeable changes are to be seen. BMW have made a decision to reposition the speedo of the new car from the centre of the dash to the more traditional location in a binnacle in front of the steering wheel. The dashboard will still centre around a large circle as before but this time it will house the MINI’s stereo or navigation system where fitted. 

Sources have revealed that the old car's biggest criticism, the lack of rear space for passengers, is said to have been greatly improved thanks to the new models more space-efficient design. The boot too is expected to grow a little which should help in the face of more practical rivals from Audi and Citroen. The technology on offer in the new car is also likely to be far more sophisticated with options such as lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control making an appearance for the first time.

The all-new MINI is expected to be revealed in full towards the end of 2013

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

Audi's booted A3 brings style to the small premium sector

The Audi A3 has been given the boot. The three box saloon version will take to the roads in the UK in September as the brand seeks to take over BMW's number one spot in the premium car segment.

Over the past 10 years, Audi sales in Britain have doubled to 123,522 in 2012, around 4,000 shy of BMW's total. Up to the beginning of this month, Audi had snatched the top spot with 61,350 sales against Beemer's 50,924.

It is hoped that the A3 saloon will help maintain the lead. With a distinctive coupe-like styling, this is Audi's first compact saloon in the UK although the car was originally developed for the Chinese and US markets which favour the more traditional three-box styling over hatchbacks.

For the UK, A3 product manager Rob Morris said the saloon will be very much a niche model compared to the hatchback, but it gives the brand a body style none of its rivals have.

He added: "We expect to attract customers moving up from smaller hatchbacks into something more premium as well as those downsizing from larger models. The majority of A3 sales will still be the hatchback with the saloon accounting for around 10 percent annually."

For Audi globally, the A3 is certainly an important model accounting for 20 percent of the brand's total sales according to product marketing chief Benjamin Holle. Since its launch in 1996 some 3.5 million have been sold.

The car comes to the UK at launch with 1.4- and 1.8-litre petrol engines and a 2-litre turbo diesel with prices aimed at undercutting key competitors. The range will start with Sport specification as standard and priced at £24,305, around £50 cheaper than the Mercedes CLA 180 sport and well below the £28,285 Volvo T3 R-design. It is also faster than both and at 109g/km has the lowest emissions.

A 1.6-litre turbo diesel will follow in December and the hot S3 quattro saloon is due in the first quarter next year.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

The Volvo that can park itself

Imagine pulling up outside an airport and heading for the check-in desk while your car goes off to park itself.

It will send a message to your smartphone once safely tucked in a bay, and come to pick you up on your return - all without a driver on board.

Science fiction? No. Volvo is already demonstrating an autonomous parking system in a V40, and is serious about having it in a production car before the end of this decade. And Volvo is not alone. Audi demonstrated a similar idea at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas at the start of the year.

The prototype self-parking V40 is even smart enough to recognise when another car pulls out into its path, or if a trolley-wielding pedestrian has stepped out in front of it, and come to a gentle stop.

It works through a highly sensitive camera with advanced exposure control and a radar sensor which will form the basis of other Volvo safety advances in next year's new XC90.

"Customers will soon be ready to embrace autonomy in cars and pay for it," says the senior technical leader for Volvo safety technologies, Erik Coelingh.

But while autonomous parking can be made to work, there are a couple of major issues to resolve before it is ready to be offered to customers. The first is that it can only work if the car is able to recognise vacant parking spaces, so a vehicle-to-infrastructure link has to exist. "The one piece of vital information is 'is there a parking space available'," says Coelingh.

The second obstacle to commercialisation is that, under current legislation almost everywhere in the world, totally self-driving cars are not allowed. The car which parks itself would be legal only in private parking areas.

But when up to a third of all people who drive in cities are just looking for somewhere to park - wasting time and fuel adding to their stress levels - Volvo believes it is only a matter of time before legislation catches up with technology and lets the car take the strain.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

Kia UK hinting at more sporty GT models

Kia's first sporty hatchback, the pro_cee'd GT, goes on sale next week, but already the company's UK operation is clamouring for similar performance and styling upgrades to be applied to other models in the range.

A GT version of the five-door cee'd will be added at the start of 2014, but UK bosses are convinced that a full line-up of more performan
ce-oriented models would help them maintain the momentum which has produced five straight years of record sales.

Top of their wish-list is a GT version of the Sportage crossover, which is now Kia's best-selling model in Britain, but they believe sporty versions of the Rio and Picanto would also go down well. UK leaders think there is a good chance of a performance version of the Sportage appearing in a couple of years or so.

Performance models are relatively low-volume sellers - Kia is expecting to sell between 500 and 750 pro_cee'd GTs in the UK in a full year - but they have an important halo effect on the mainstream cars they are based on. In Kia's case they would also help to elevate public perception of the brand.

Kia sold 66,000 cars in the UK in 2012 and is on course to top 70,000 this year - the total for the first-half of the year is expected to be around 37,000. But with only one all-new car to come between now and 2015 - a replacement for the Soul early next year - additional sporty derivatives would give a sales boost to the current range.

"The pro_cee'd GT was driven by demand from Europe and with its arrival we are moving on to the next chapter in our history," says the company's UK president and CEO, Paul Philpott. "In Europe, brands like ours are defined by their C-segment cars, and we now have a model which adds excitement to the range. We took it to Motorexpo in London last week and spent the whole day taking city bankers for test drives."

There will be two versions of the pro_cee'd, priced from £19,995, plus a limited run of 500 high-specification '1st Edition' models at £23,995. Fifty of these are coming to the UK.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

New Top Gear Reasonably Priced Car

Words by Rob McSorley

We at DriverVIBE absolutely love BBC2’s Top Gear, not because it offers an accurate representation of the motoring world for your average Joe but for the sheer entertainment it provides. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May travel the globe to bring viewers the most outrageous reviews and group tests of both new cars and models they have purchase themselves.

One of the most interesting parts of the show has to be the “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car” segment which sees all manner of celebrities clamber behind the wheel of the show’s cheap and cheerful motor tearing around the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey. At approximately 1.75 miles long the track is a real challenge even for The Stig with corners aptly named "Crooner Curves", "Willson Bend","Hammerhead" and "Bacharach Bend" 

All manner of celebrities have rocketing around the track since the shows successful relaunch in 2002 all gunning to beat each other to be crowned the fastest celeb. Stars have included Jamie Oliver, Terry Wogan, Stephen Fry, Simon Cowell and John Prescott. The fourteenth series in 2009 saw an influx of A-list celebrities getting in on the action such as Ryan Reynolds, Will.i.am. Cameron Diaz, Matt Le Blanc and Tom Cruise

A pivotal part of the feature has been the cars chosen by the show that receive a serious thrashing every time they are taken out on the track. Sometimes with hilarious results as many celebrities struggle to stay on the track veering off onto the grass, into the tyres and even managing to damage the car in the process. 

The first “Reasonably Priced Car” was a £9,995 Suzuki Liana saloon. Hardly known for its decent handling it saw Ellen MacArthur crowned the reigning champion at the end of the first seven series’ that it featured with a lap time of 1:14.7. The slowest person to cross the finish line was Richard Whiteley who took a leisurely 2:06.00.

The second car to be used by the show was a Chevrolet Lacetti which was used from 2006 to 2010 and saw Jay Kay crowned the fastest around the track with a lap time of just 1:45.83. The slowest celebrity was Jimmy Carr who spun off during the timed lap earning him a lap time of 2:08.9. At the end of the car’s time with Top Gear it was decided by the team that it would be unsafe to allow the car to be sold on or driven on public roads so it was decided that it had to be destroyed. In true Top Gear tradition crushing the car in the usual way just wouldn't be entertaining enough so the team took the car to the demolition site of the two 550 ft chimneys at Lafarge Cement's Northfleet Works. The Lacetti was placed in the path of the falling towers and was partially crushed rendering it undriveable.

The most recent “Reasonably Priced Car” was Kia’s very decent Cee’d five door hatchback which was referred to by the team as the "See Apostrophe Dee" during it’s time on the show. It was the first car to be driven around the track by more high profile celebrities and saw the Friends star Matt LeBlanc post the fastest lap time of just 1:42.1. At the bottom of the pile was the well known Damian Lewis who returned a time of 2:09.1 which is the slowest time ever recorded by a celebrity. However the track was covered in snow at the time.

Last week it was announced that when Series 20 begins in the Summer Clarkson, Hammond and May will reveal a new “Reasonably Priced Car” to replace the Kia currently used. We thought that we see if we could guess what the new car would be before the big reveal. With new car prices creeping up all the time there are very few cars out there that could be described as reasonably priced. We are hoping that it isn't left up to the trio to decide what the car will be. Their skewed view of what is affordable to the average Joe would most likely see a car such as a Porsche 911 join the popular feature. Below are the three cars that we think would make an ideal “Reasonably Priced Car”.

Dacia Sandero £5,995

Dacia - Renault’s bargain sub brand - recently launched their cheapest model the Sandero in the UK with a starting price of just £5,995. It is officially the cheapest new car in Britain by a fair margin mainly because of a number of cost-cutting measures. Firstly the base spec model has black bumpers, steel wheels, wind-up windows and doesn't even come with a stereo. It comes fitted with a 75 bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine that propels the Sandero from 0-62 mph in 14.5 seconds. More importantly it is a firm favourite of James May who often disrupts Top Gear’s news segment with the latest Sandero news. The little Dacia is our top choice for the next “Reasonably Priced Car”

Suzuki Alto £7,199

Suzuki’s smallest car the Alto costs £7,199 in basic SZ trim and comes with an equally tiny 1.0-litre 68 bhp petrol engine which sees it reach 60 mph in 13.5 seconds. With it’s narrow tyres and low kerb weight it should be very entertaining to see hurtling around the Top Gear test track at higher speeds. In comparison to the Dacia Sandero it has plenty of standard equipment including body coloured bumpers, electric windows and a CD player. It should also prove to be very reliable as Suzuki really have no idea how to produce an unreliable motor. It may be that the Alto is a little too small but we think it could well feature on the new series of Top Gear.

Skoda Rapid £12,905

Saloons have always proved popular with the Top Gear team as two of the previous three cars have been saloons despite the UK’s lack of enthusiasm for them. Recent Skodas have shrugged off their bargain image and prices have also crept up too but the recently launched Rapid changes that. At a shade under £13,000 it seems expensive compared to the Dacia and Suzuki but it is a much bigger car. It straddles the supermini and compact hatch segments but it still undercuts the latter on price. For your hard-earned cash you get a 1.2-litre 75 bhp petrol engine that results in a 0-62 mph time of 13.9 seconds but can return up to 61 mpg.

If you think you have a better idea of what the next "Reasonably Priced Car" will be we would love to hear from you.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.com).

Refreshed Suzuki Swift Revealed

Words by Rob McSorley

Three years after its original launch images have surfaced of Suzuki's revised Swift supermini ahead its launch later in the year. Details at the moment are a little sketchy but the obvious differences are easy to spot.

On the outside the Swift benefits from a restyled front bumper with more aggressive intakes incorporating LED daytime running lights on higher models in the range. There are similar changes to the rear with a reshaped bumper with narrower number plate recess along with new alloy wheel designs and new wing mirrors housing the turn signals. 

Changes to the cabin are likely to be less noticeable amounting to new trim fabrics and updates to some of the switchgear. Equipment levels across the range have always been generous so its unlikely that this will change when the Swift is launched.

Under the bonnet the engine range is not going to change offering UK buyers a choice of 1.2-litre VVT petrol and 1.3-litre diesel units (in addition to a 1.6-litre petrol in the Swift Sport). Changes to the way the Suzuki drives are also unlikely as the current model rides and handles very well compared to many of its rivals.

The biggest news for Brits is the expansion of the range with the addition of two new models. The first will come in the form of a five door version of the warm Swift Sport offering additional practicality lacking in rival cars from Peugeot and Ford. A five door Sport is already available in other markets but is a first for the UK. 

The second new model will be a four-wheel-drive Swift again already available in other markets. Buyers will be able to choose between two different versions the first with additional body cladding and under body protection and another version without. The more rugged models will rival Fiat's popular 4x4 and Trekking versions of the Panda.

Prices are yet to be revealed but are likely to remain largely the same as the current car but further details will follow in the coming months.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.com).

Revised Alfa Romeo MiTo

Words by Rob McSorley

Alfa Romeo have released first details of its revised MiTo small hatchback before it goes on sale across Europe in the coming months. The new MiTo is going to be advertised through the brand's new "Live Rock" campaign, which is set to debut on 16th June.

Changes to the exterior are limited to a new grill design similar to that found on the larger Giulietta, a new "burnished" finish to the headlight surrounds and revised 15-inch alloy wheels on some models. In addition there is a new Anthracite Grey exterior paint finish.

Further changes have been made inside including revised dashboard trim and three new upholstery combinations designed to freshen up the ageing interior.

Gadget fans will be pleased to hear that the revised MiTo can now be specified with a Uconnect infotainment system that comprises of a five-inch touch-screen display with Bluetooth/iPod/USB/AUX connectivity. The new system will enable Alfa Romeo to compete with rival systems found in Vauxhall's Adam and Audi's A1.

The biggest news however is the addition of a new 0.9-liter Turbo TwinAir petrol engine that develops 105 bhp and up to 145 Nm of torque. It results in a 0-62 mph sprint taking 11.4 seconds and will reach a top speed of 114 mph. Alfa Romeo say that buyers can expect 67.2 mpg on a combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 99 g/km. Compared to the existing 85 bhp TwinAir unit the new engine is 0.9 seconds faster to 62 mph and produces just 1 g/km more CO2 so will still be road tax exempt.

Prices are expected to be revealed closer to the launch of the revised MiTo in the UK

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.com).