Mazda Alive At Frankfurt Show

Mazda will present an exciting Zoom-Zoom design concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September with the world premiere of the Mazda SASSOU (‘saso’) – a small, lightweight, three-door hatchback powered by a turbocharged, three-cylinder, 1.0-litre MZR DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) gasoline engine. The Mazda Sassou design concept indicates a possible direction Mazda might take for a future B-segment vehicle.

Sassou is joined by the exciting Mazda MX-Crossport concept, which is making its European motor show premiere. Also on stage is the new facelift version
of the Mazda 2 and two all-new vehicles on the eve of European launch – the third-generation Mazda MX-5 roadster and the high-performance flagship of the Mazda 6 line up, Mazda 6 MPS, as well as the recently launched Mazda 6 upgrade and Mazda 5 Compact-Multi Activity Vehicle.

Mazda Sassou – Mazda Alive Conceived and designed at Mazda’s European R & D centre in Oberursel, near Frankfurt, Mazda Sassou is a lightweight, three-door hatchback that provides young, first-time buyers with a vehicle that makes urban driving fun, highly practical and economical.

The exterior design evolves Zoom-Zoom design language to communicate the dynamic potential Mazda design is known for, and mixes this with lightness and surprising hidden features never seen on a Mazda concept before.

The Mazda Sassou design concept is based in part on the “Shoji” principle. Shoji screens are thin Japanese doors that partially hide what is behind them. Opening them for the first time can reveal something surprising, which is also true of a first encounter with Mazda Sassou.

For instance, an ingenious use of translucent plastic hides the front and rear lamps, which only become visible once the car is unlocked, with light pulsing around the exterior light graphics in a way that makes the car seem to come alive.

The Shoji principle is carried over into Mazda Sassou’s interior, an experience that begins when opening the door. The concept’s interior systems are conceived to be used with a universal serial bus (USB) stick key that functions in place of a traditional key and includes a remote central locking function.

Using this as an interface, the driver can operate all the important functions through a screen in the centre stack. When a function is selected, light circuits illuminate a path to the selected feature, enhancing the Mazda Alive aspect of the concept even further.

The USB stick key also provides new levels of convenience, as it can be downloaded at home with music and favourite hot spots, which can then be uploaded onto the car’s hard disc drive and navigation system. Mazda Sassou also has advanced comfort and room for either three or four occupants. It employs a rear seat morphing system that uses compressed air for seating one passenger in the middle of the back seat area, or two passengers.

Mazda MX-Crossport – Advanced Frontier Design Frankfurt also sees the European premiere of the Mazda MX-Crossport, an exciting crossover concept that combines sports car styling motifs from the Mazda RX-8 with the more practical packaging of a Sport-Utility Vehicle (SUV) – taking Zoom-Zoom to an “advanced frontier” where Mazda Motor Corporation has never before ventured.

Mazda MX-Crossport has a low roofline compared to traditional small SUV-type vehicles and has an aggressive off-road look. Its sporty lower grille opening and powerful front bumper are similar to that of the Mazda RX-8 and achieve a unique balance between the evolutionary nature of the concept and Mazda’s recent sports car tradition.

The interior is surprisingly roomy with a “floating” seat construction, with each seat mounted to a “monorail” system in the floor, which allows slide adjustment fore and aft. Mazda MX Crossport also features an advanced information and entertainment system, including a separate screen for the front passenger that shows four different views of the driving experience using five cameras.

Hyundai Pulling Out Of New MPV

It looks like Hyundai have pulled the plug on development of its new MPV for 2007. The new Hyundai MPV was going to be called the Entourage and be based around the popular Kia Sedona.

It would appear Hyundai don't want to compete in a market where it seems sales are tailing off and with the Kia Sedona doing well, will instead concentrate its efforts on the larger 4X4 market with a seven seater Sport Utility Vehicle.

The Kia Sedona has aleady established itself as one of the most popular selling MPV's in the UK taking the title of "Best Selling Retail MPV" in 2005. Hyundai's current offering in the form of the Trajet, has seen lukewarm sales and with the over saturation of Multi Purpose Vehicles on the market, it makes sense for Hyundai to focus on the growing demand for SUV's.

Hyundai are already developing a larger version of its Santa Fe for 2007 and already have the Hyundai Tucson challenging the likes of the Toyota Rav 4 and Honda CRV.

I think this is good news as Hyundai and Kia need to take slightly different design directions so as to not trip over each other.

Mazda RX8 MPS?

With the Mazda 6 & 3 MPS firmly on their way to the market, how long will it be before we see a Mazda RX8 getting the Mazda Performance Series treatment? And if Mazda do produce it, will that put to an end the rotary version altogether.

I ask this because of the growing number of Mazda RX8's back on the second hand market in such a short space of time. Lets hope this great car doesn't take the title off the Suzuki Vitara as the UK's number one novelty car?

Rumours abound from dealers and customers is that the engine is just too quirky and unpredictable for the normal everyday use. I have driven this car extensively and I honestly believe it is one of the best pieces of car engineering to come out this decade, and the Rotary engine has not given me one ounce of trouble.

One theory behind this sudden slow down is that when Mazda pulled an industry first with the RX8's unique pillarless design, the incredibly low price point lured not only sports car enthusiasts, but also attracted a lot of buyers unfamiliar with the Rotary engines long history and of those buyers were a lot people with young families. The problem is the Rotary engine was not designed for short trips to the school and back and its also a huge oil burner, so the added chore of having to top up the oil every 2 tanks of fuel, may be asking a bit too much of some its customers, especially in today's car market where fiddling with an engine is virtually unheard of.

Could it be that new Renesis Rotary Engine has inherited the same problems that plagued the RX-7? On short journeys, the engine just doesn't get hot enough, leaving the plugs damp with fuel and the car difficult to re-start. I am reliably informed that this happens on the new Renesis engine but only on short journey's where stopping and starting over short distances is involved. But if the car is in regular use and driven to its true potential, then the car appears to be fine. So this problem may not apply to a petrol head like me, but a young mum with children is hardly going to red-line it on the way to nursery.

When the car was first launched, you couldn't get a test drive never mind buy one, now the second hand market is flooded with them and they appear to be difficult to move on unless they are at a bargain price, something Mazda will definately not want to publish. So is this why the car has suddenly slumped in the sales arena causing ownership to be shorter than normal? It would be interesting to hear from any current or previous RX8 owners if they have experienced such problems.

If the engine is the problem then it seems logical for Mazda to overcome this with the introduction of an MPS version of what is truely a fantastic sports coupe car. The MPS (Mazda Performance Series) technology utilises a newly developed direct-injection turbocharged 2.3-liter engine, used in the Mazda 6 Sports as a normally aspirated variant, and develops an estimated 274 bhp. Its also conventional in design and should not have any quirks that the Rotary presents. Sounds like a perfect partnership to me, in fact it might just provide the perfect solution for Mazda.

Around The World In A Kia Sorento

Christer Gerlach, the record breaking Swedish driver and adventurer, will begin a remarkable journey, where he will drive solo around the world — completing the first ever crossing of Siberia by car in the process — in a Kia Sorento 4X4.

Gerlach will leave Sweden this month and drive across Europe, Russia and the largely unmapped terrain of Siberia. After driving through Asia — stopping over Korea — he will travel to the US and traverse Route 66 to New York, before coming full circle and returning to Europe.

Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive VP and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, who traveled to Sweden to personally hand over the keys to the Sorento to Gerlach, said: "We are proud that Mr. Gerlach has chosen Kia as a partner to attempt his journey and we wish him a safe and successful trip."

"We feel that by helping Gerlach to undertake this expedition, we are bringing to life our brand slogan: ‘The Power to Surprise.’ The trip will allow us to demonstrate to the world the quality and excellence of our cars," Kim said.

Chrisler Gerlach, who is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the first person to circumnavigate the globe by car, said, "No one has managed to drive a car around the world via Siberia, and Kia seemed to be the perfect partner for this trip due to the quality of its vehicles and its commitment to safety and reliability."

Although other round the world expeditions by car have taken place on previous occasions, this will be the first time that such journey has been attempted solo, using just one stock vehicle, Kia Sorento, and without any customization, not even the tires.

Previous expeditions supported by other manufacturers have involved multiple vehicles and drivers, customized vehicles for difficult terrain, or extensive transport by sea. By contrast, Gerlach plans no service or maintenance work in his Sorento, other than having the oil changed during his stopover in Korea.

VXR Power Comes To The Zafira

THE Zafira is the latest Vauxhall to get the VXR treatment, resulting in a seven-seat mini-MPV with 237bhp and a top speed of 144mph.

The Zafira VXR goes on sale in October with a price tag of £21,995. It has a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine which will accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds, using a six-speed manual gearbox. It has uprated chassis and brakes and the usual VXR styling cues such as a honeycomb front grille, bigger alloy wheels and a bodykit.

The Zafira VXR costs £220 more than the equivalent GSi from the previous range, but has an extra 39bhp.

Vauxhall are not the only manufacturer to be maxing out their everyday showroom models to draw more sales from the more expensive marque's such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi. In fact Mazda are hot on thier heels with their forth coming Mazda 6 MPS and 3 MPS hot hatchback. So with this in mind, don't be suprised to see the all new Mazda 5 MPV getting the Mazda Performance Series treatment anytime soon.

Don't forget you read it here first!

New Look For Peugeot 307 CC and HDi Power

The new revised Peugeot 307 cc now comes with a HDi 136 bhp turbo diesel engine, a first for the french manufacturer.

Changes to the styling of the CC echo those of the new 307 Hatch, Estate and SW. The restyled grille and dramatic headlights are indicative of Peugeot's new face, first seen on the 407. The revisions underline the sporting abilities of the model on which Peugeot's World Rally Championship contender is based.

One feature that hasn't changed is the CC's ingenious folding roof. At the touch of a button, the entire structure lifts and folds, before concealing itself behind a solid cover. The whole process takes no more than 25 seconds and allows the 307 to offer the security, refinement and weatherproof qualities of a coupe, with the wind-in-the-hair sensations of a true open top. In Britain's changeable climate, it makes perfect sense. Lowering the roof also draws attention to the spacious interior, which offers comfortable seating for four adults. The CC's cabin also benefits from the wide-ranging improvements that have enhanced the rest of the 307 line-up, including the addition of a sophisticated new air conditioning system with dual zone climate control as standard.

The 307 CC is available in two trim levels, S and SE, and both offer impressive standard equipment. Alloy wheels, a leather sports steering wheel, sports seats, front fog lights and a high-grade CD stereo are standard on every model. The SE adds half-leather trim, rear parking sensors, automatic wipers and a facia-mounted 5 CD changer.

An Integral Leather trim option, which includes the dashboard, is available on both S and SE adding even more luxury, and Peugeot has introduced two exciting new technological features. A Bluetooth hands-free kit integrates with the CD radio system to allow the driver to make convenient, legal calls through a standard mobile phone. Slightly more indulgent is the new JBL hi-fi upgrade which provides exceptional sound quality even with the roof down.

Offering outstanding tax efficiency and superb economy, the new 307 CC HDi 136 offers an exciting opportunity for company car drivers. With a six-speed gearbox helping to maximise its 320Nm of torque, the HDi 136 blends real refinement with effortless thrust, 0-62mph takes just 10.3sec and, where permitted, the CC HDi 136 will top 129mph.

The Peugeot 307 Coupe Cabriolet range starts from just £17,000 on the road for the 1.6 S. Prices for the new HDi 136 range from £19,900 for the S trim level to £21,000 for the lavishly equipped SE. Whichever model you choose, you can be assured of an unbeatable combination of style, sophistication, versatility and sheer desirability.

Kia Used Car On-line Auction Huge Success

Kia UK are celebrating their first ever used car on-line auction. More than a quarter of the dealer network logged on and a total of 38 used Kia cars were sold and and the prices averaged 104% of CAP (Current Auction Price) clean.

BCA who managed the auction on behalf of KMUK said the auction was a huge success and Kia have promised to repeat this in the future. Manufacturer on-line auctions are nothing new and Hyundai have run successful auctions for many years now, so it was only a matter of time before Kia followed suit.

SUV's On The Rise

Despite the rise in fuel across Europe, consumers are splashing out on SUV's and 4 wheel drives according to Neil Hall, market analyst at car industry tracking firm JATO Dynamics.

A Popular choice in this the ever growing segment is the new Land Rover Discovery, a Ford based product which has taken on a complete revamp and totally revitalised sales of the much critised Land Rover range. Although its not just the heavy weights that are having it all their own way as Hall went onto say: "The new Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are bringing new customers into the segment by selling a car-like product at a car-like price so you get a product that is tall like an SUV without any of the compromises."

According to Jato, SUVs were the fastest-growing segment of the western European market in the first half, with sales up 11 percent to 49,817 units while sales of minicars fell by 7 percent.

Hyundai Aim For The Big 5

According to the September issue of Bloomberg Markets magazine, Hyundai are aiming to oust Toyota to become one of the five largest car manufacturers in the world within the next four years. However analysts say that increasing volume will not be enough and that Hyundai will have to start charging a premium in order to sustain its profits, an obsession that Chairman Chung Mong Koo has had since taking over the company five years ago.

Hyundai Motor Company currently produce 4 million cars annually and they want this to increase 25 per cent to 5.5 million units by 2007. It is not clear whether car production from Kia, a Hyundai owned company, is included in this figure, but with low market share in the US, South Korea's individual consumer credit card debt and inconsistent global production rates, this is a tall order.

However the South Korean giant which had a 15 percent gain in sales, claimed July was its best U.S. sales month ever and things are no different in Europe where Asian brands continue to take market share from its European rivals. Although in the case of the UK market, Hyundai need to think a little more carefully when choosing names for future models, especially where the Getz is concerned. Perhaps they should listen to its dealer network more in the future. That said, the up and coming Getz facelift and proposal to change the name for Europe to the 'Click' should go a long way to resolving that.

Despite the name, the Hyundai Getz is a fine car with generous equipment levels, excellent build quality, bullet proof warranties and aggressive pricing. Add to that the Whatcar? Budget Car 2004 Award and Scottish Car of the year 2004, its been a good start for Hyundai.

New Seat Leon Prices And Specification

Seat released specification and pricing for their all new Seat Leon which is due for UK launch on 17th September 2005. 12 models, five engines and five trim levels will be introduced for a model which Seat engineers describe as an intelligent blend of sports coupé looks with five-door practicality.
Following the same design ethos of the Altea and Toledo (its getting difficult to tell them apart now), the new Seat Leon also uses the same badges with Essence, Reference, Stylance and Sport being the trim line up.

The second generation Leon is wider, longer and higher than the previous model and has some unique design features like Alfa Romeo-style rear handles incorporated in the c-pillar, which give the practical 5dr a racy three door appearance.

Five engines will power the Leon, including a new 2.0-litre 185PS TFSI unit, a first for Seat, but commonly used by Audi (see picture) in their new A3 & A4 series. TFSI which stands for turbo fuel-stratified injection, takes advantage of the less stringent emissions regulations in Europe and provides superior fuel quality allowing the engine to run "lean" with more than 14.7 parts air to each part of fuel. This saves fuel but increases NOx formation. This engine will not be available until November, where it will make its debut in the Leon Sport.

The rest of the engine line up consists of a 1.6 102PS and 2.0 FSI 150PS petrol and a 1.9 TDi 105PS and the 2.0 TDi 140PS diesel. Both the 2.0 FSi and 2.0 TDi are mated to 6-speed gearboxes. Triptronic automatic is optional for petrol models and Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) are available for diesel.

Overview of models and specification:

Essence:

• 1.6
  
• £11,295
• Radio FM/AM single CD with 6 speakers
• ABS (Anti-lock braking system)
• DSR (Dynamic Steering Response)
• Remote central locking with deadlocks
• TCS (Traction Control System)
• Driver's and front passenger's airbags, front side airbags and two curtain airbags
• 3 button folding key (lock/unlock/boot release)

Reference as Essence but including:

• 1.6 and 1.9 TDi
  
• £11,995 - 12995
  
• Air conditioning

Reference Sport as above but including:

• 2.0 FSI & 2.0 TDi
  
• £14,220 - 14,995
  
• Leather steering wheel and gear knob
• Front fog lamps
• Sports suspension
• 6-speed gearbox
• Sports seats
• 16" alloy wheels

Stylance based on Reference plus:

• 1.6 , 2.0 FSI , 2.0 FSI Tiptronic and 1.9 TDi diesel
• £12,995 - 15,995
  
• Trip computer
• Radio FM/AM single CD with 8 speakers (steering wheel control)
  
• Electrically adjustable door mirrors with park function
• Dual zone climate control
• ‘Coming Home’ headlamps
• Cruise control
• Locking wheel nuts
• Electronic Stability Program
• Electronic Brake Assist

Sport as Stylance plus:

• 2.0 TFSI 185PS (november) and 2.0 TDi
  
• £15,995 - 17,295
  
• 6-speed gearbox
• 17" five-spoke light-alloy wheels
• Sports suspension
• Exclusive sports interior trim

Recommended On The Road Prices really are comprehensive. They include delivery, number plates, Value Added Tax, 12 months Vehicle Excise Duty based on the CO₂ emission levels and Vehicle First Registration Fee charge as applicable at the time of supply. VAT is calculated at 17.5%. In common with other motor manufacturers, SEAT UK reserves the right to revise prices without notice. This price list dated 08/05 supersedes all previous price lists.

Current specification of all models reflect model year 2006 specification.

Hyundai Terracan goes green

NEWS IN BRIEF: Hyundai have added a new exterior paint colour to their Terracan range. The colour will be called Prime Green and is a Mica paint. Cars are already consigned and are waiting for distribution at Tilbury.

Driving Schools targeted by Daihatsu

Daihatsu is targeting driving schools with its manoeuvrable new Sirion supermini, offering free ‘He-Man’ dual controls worth £400.

The Japanese compact car specialist believes the new Sirion is ideal for learner drivers thanks to its tight 9.4 metre kerb-to-kerb turning circle which beats all key rivals such as the Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio.

In addition, the new Daihatsu Sirion offers excellent visibility, a height-adjustable steering wheel and height-adjustable driver’s seat on all models involved in the promotion together with electrically-adjustable door mirrors.

And, in order to keep both instructors and pupils cool, air-conditioning is standard. Meanwhile, driver, passenger and side airbags add to the impressive safety tally which already includes anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution.

The free dual controls are available on every model except the Sirion 1.0S which means instructors can choose between the 1.0 litre SE at £7,695 on-the-road or various 1.3 litre versions which start at £7,795 OTR for the 1.3S.

All Sirions offer a three-year unlimited mileage warranty with roadside assistance plus an eight year anti-perforation warranty, while fuel economy is outstanding at 64.2 mpg on the Extra Urban Cycle for the 1.0 SE with ultra-low emissions of
118 g/km.

Mazda Sales Up In 3rd Quarter

Mazda Motor Europe began the third quarter of this calendar year with the best July sales volume in over a decade - so far this year, Mazda has sold 166,957 units.

In the UK, Mazda volume of just over 3,600 units represents the best July result ever. Sales rose versus last July by 6 percent on the island, and Mazda’s market share is projected to be at 1.8 percent. Another monthly record for volume was set in Russia with 1,661 units sold in July. Mazda sales there were up by 111 percent over last July with a projected market share of 3.3 percent.

Mazda sales in Italy and Spain continue to be strong, as both markets hit July records for volume and market share. Italy sold 2,052 vehicles and had a projected market share of 1.0 percent, while in Spain 1,574 units found owners and market share was an estimated 0.7 percent. Other markets having good months were Greece where sales were up 12 percent and Sweden, up 7.5 percent compared to last July. Germany had a good month as well, selling 6,000 vehicles. Volume in Mazda’s largest market represented 27 percent of total European volume for the month.

Mazda 3 continues to become more popular every month in Europe. Sales of the Mazda3 were up 33 percent in July and it was Mazda’s best-selling vehicle for the month, accounting for one third of the total sales volume. Once again in July, Mazda captured a large chunk of the sports non-premium segment in Europe, with Mazda MX-5 and Mazda RX-8 combining for a projected 18 percent segment share.

Asian brands continue to take market share

According to latest figures, the Japenese and Korean carmakers are steadily squeezing the life out of their European competitors. After years of re-organisations, quality improvements and revitalised model ranges, the European's should be in good shape. Yet evidence suggests that once again they are losing out to Asian car manufacturers in their home markets.

In the past, quality and inefficiency were the key area's as to why the Europeans lost out to the Asian's, although these have now been addressed, a quick look at the profits of Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and Honda appear to dwarf those of their western competitors.

Ironically, the car companies that are now being accused of under-pricing are American: both GM and Ford are selling cars to US consumers at the discounted price they sell to their employees. The result? GM lost $1.5bn in the last three months alone.

In the last five years, Asian brands have added 5 percentage points to their UK market share, that's 100,000 + units per year. Although European brands have enjoyed a period of record sales, these have shrank slightly in comparison. However Asian brands don't always paint a rosy picture as Proton and Perodua are testiment to that. Similarly Subaru and Mitsubishi (globally) are struggling to make headway.

But the overall picture is one of success as Asian manufacturers now use their financial muscle to develop cars, on the back of their reputations for dependability, and add a European style and flair. Take the Toyota Yaris for example, for years European journalists and consultants had been trying to explain that worthy and dull was never going to succeed once the Europeans sorted their cost and quality problems.

Toyota also took that on board and turned the heat up even more as the Yaris increased Toyota's supermini sales from 10,000 a year in the late nineties to more than 35,000 by 2004. Now Toyota wants to do even more. Its committed to increasing European sales from 900,000 per year to 1.2 million by 2010 - and Toyota never missed a published target yet.

A couple of weeks ago, however, a Toyota executive said it could meet that target by 2008 and go on to 2 million sales by 2015. If Toyota did achieve that, it would account for all the expected growth in the total European market.

Growth has been consistent - between 1-1.5% every year since 2001 - model related. For Japenese and Korean brands, the attitude of the consumer seems to have been: "Ok we trust the brand, now give us the products." Radically improved designs like the Hyundai Getz and Mazda 6 have made a huge impact.

With growth also coming from Kia, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai, mainstream European brands could spend the next 10 years in decline.

New Rio vital to Kia's UK growth

The new Kia Rio is a vital car for Kia. The South Korean manufacturer has massive growth ambitions in the UK - 5% market share or 100,000 units by 2010. This year it might, with a fair wind nudge 50,000.

It's also just signed Reg Vardy, Pendragon and Arnold Clark, the three biggest retail groups in the UK. And they'll be wanting their money's worth.

Kia has just set its brand slogan (or rather, parent Hyundai set the slogan) as 'the power to suprise', which is aimed at embodying its "exciting and enabling" brand values. Does the Rio conform to these principles, and can it make an impact?

It's in a segment of the market that is fiercely competitive, one in which Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault, Citroen and Fiat dominate. And there's no shortage of value brands, with Chevrolet, Diahatsu and Suzuki prominent. But one thing is immediately transparent: the new Kia Rio has been designed for European tastes.

Every aspect, from aesthetics and ride to looks, residual value and even the fine-tuning of the dealer network, has been scrutinised to prepare the car for Europe.

Kia indentified four key requirements for success in the B-sector. Its research revealed customers wanted low cost of ownership, high equipment levels, a 'modern' package and protection from big, unplanned bills. The issue of low running costs was further broken down into the sub-sections of engine size, fuel economy, road tax, insurance and servicing costs. The car definately fulfils the 'enabling' brand value.

Paul Williams, managing director of Kia Motors UK, says: "We are hugely committed to bringing down the cost of ownership, while providing excellent standard specification and comprehensive warranties." By keeping a close eye on the relationship between the sticker price and the transaction price, Williams claims the new Rio can achieve strong residual values and sustainable growth. "Where not about the numbers," he says. "The standard of representation for the brand has to be there. We have worked extremely hard to reposition the brand and improve the dealer network."

The all new Kia Rio goes on sale in October with a choice of two engines (1.5-litre diesel, 1.4-litre petrol) and will be backed by a national marketing campaign in January. Next year Kia expects the new Rio to take 2.0% of the B-sector market, equivalent to 15,000 units. Good looking, well equipped, and likely to be priced around £8,000, its a compelling package.

Add in the Kia three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, plus pan-European roadside assistance and the Rio is set to become a key weapon towards Kia's growth ambitions.

New Kia Rio Road Test.

Kia Free 7-day Drive Away Insurance

Kia have come up with a novel idea to help dealers get around that tricky period that comes when trying to organise a new car delivery to co-ordinate with an insurance cover note.

Basically every new Kia model in the kia range comes with free insurance, subject to terms and conditions of course, for the first 7 days so that you can drive away your new Kia today without the hassle of having to obtain a cover note.

This seems like a great idea and I'm sure it will be a caught on by other manufacturers.

Kia Sedona SE +

Kia UK have launched a new special edition Sedona to replace the SE. Now badged as the SE +, prices will be retained at £19,295 OTR for the manual and £20,295 OTR for the automatic.

The new SE + will be available in a choice of colours including Midnight Black Mica, Cool Silver Metallic, Imperial Blue Mica, Champagne Metallic and Glacier White Solid.

To coincide with the launch of this new model will be a Free DVD campaign. As of the 1st July 2005 all Kia Sedona models registered will be fitted with a DVD system at no extra additional cost.

Specification on the SE + is typically generous with:

• Leather Upholstery
• Aluminium Side Steps
• Reversing Distance Sensors
• Air Conditioning
• Alloy Wheels
• Privacy Glass
• Front Fog Lamps

Kia Sorento Free Servicing and Big Discounts

With the new Kia Sorento XT replacing the XSE model at a slightly lower price and better specification, Kia UK are offering 2 yrs/20,000 miles free servicing and £2000 discount on the mid-range but highly specified XS.

That means you can now buy a Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XS for only £19,995 on the road.

New Kia Magentis To Make World Premiere At Frankfurt

Kia Motors Corporation has confirmed that the world premiere of its all-new Kia Magentis four-door saloon will take place at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on 13th September. Designed at Kia facilities in Korea, the USA and Europe, the new Magentis marks the latest step in the complete regeneration of the Kia product line-up over the last four years.

Longer, wider and higher than the previous model, with an extended 2720 mm wheelbase, more spacious interior and larger trunk, the stylish new Magentis is a thoroughly modern design, engineered to give Kia a strong challenger for D-Segment sales around the world. New Magentis measures 4735 mm long, 1805 mm wide and 1480 mm tall.

“Through hard work and dedication, we have totally transformed our product range in recent years,” commented Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation. “Starting with the Sorento 4x4, followed by the Picanto small car, the Cerato, the Sportage compact SUV and most recently the new Rio, we have demonstrated Kia’s determination to deliver a modern, highly competitive range of cars with immense customer appeal. With every new Kia model we have also demonstrated the growing ‘Power to Surprise’ of our developing global brand.”

As well as attracting customers with its stylish exterior and comfortable interior, new Magentis will come with a generous level of active and passive safety equipment, including
ABS and ESP stability control, rear parking sensors, front, side and curtain airbags, and active (anti-whiplash) front seat head restraints – depending on model. Magentis will be backed by a fully comprehensive 3-year warranty.

In Europe, part of Kia’s sales success is attributable to the introduction of class-leading diesel engines across the range. New Kia Magentis will be available with a new 2-litre diesel engine in Europe, as well as two petrol engines. “Like its sister Kia cars, new Magentis has been created with European consumers in mind,” revealed Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Europe.

“With the Magentis launch, we will have competitive models in the A, B, C and D-Segments as well as the MPV and SUV sectors, maintaining the momentum of our rapid growth and our ability to attract more and more new customers to our brand,” concluded Mr Lievens.

FORMULA ONE STAR DONNELLY JOINS MAZDA ENDURANCE TEAM FOR SILVERSTONE 24 HOUR RACE

Mazda will be entering two Mazda RX-8s in the September 24-hour endurance race at Silverstone, both cars will carry the livery reminiscent of the rotary powered Mazda 787B that won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1991 and will have one of the strongest driver line-ups on the grid.

The team consists of regular drivers Mark Ticehurst and Natasha Firman, who have notched up five wins and three second places from eight races so far this season. Joining Mark and Natasha will be former Formula One driver Martin Donnelly, sportscar and touring car specialist Ian Flux, ex-FIA GT driver and now Auto Express motoring writer Owen Mildenhall, freelance motoring writer Andrew Frankel, Autosport staff writer Marcus Pye and Tuscan champion Steve Guglielmi.

The race will take place on the Silverstone GP circuit on 10th and 11th September as part of the Production S1 Endurance Series. Starting at 4pm on Saturday the cars race around the clock finishing at 4pm on Sunday, over the 24 hours the two Mazda RX-8s are expected to cover more than 2,000 miles, around 600 laps of the 3.94 mile circuit.

Both Mazda RX-8s are standard production cars with uprated suspension to account for cornering forces, slick tyres and standard race safety equipment. The engine and gearbox are the same as the road going version and have not been modified. In this standard trim the Mazda RX-8 set 40 FIA records over a 24-hour period in Papenburg, Germany, last year at an average speed of 132 miles an hour.

The team is confident of success at Silverstone with the strong driver line-up and is looking forward to 24 hours of challenging racing.

"We know the Mazda RX-8 is capable of running faultlessly for 24 hours," commented Natasha Firman. "We proved that in Papenburg last year, we now have to translate that speed and durability into race success here at Silverstone."

"We have had a 100% reliability record this year over eight endurance races, the Mazda RX-8 really is a great car in standard form, it is reliable and extremely good on the track, the only unknown is how Mark and I will adapt to 24-hour racing but we are both fit and really looking forward to the challenge. The team is incredibly strong with some outstanding drivers so we are very confident of a good result, we just have to stay out of trouble as it will be very busy out there with over 70 entrants."

Mazda Maintains Momemtum As Mazda 5 Hits Showrooms

Mazda maintained its momentum for sales in July as the all-new Compact-MAV (Multi Activity Vehicle) Mazda 5 hit the UK market. Total sales for July exceeded 3,300 units bringing the year to date figure to over 28,000 units. Market share year to date for the manufacturer that brought us Zoom-Zoom is 1.88 per cent keeping the Japanese car maker on track for an end of year sales target of around 50,000 units.

Mazda 3 sales are up 38 per cent over July 2004 at 849 units as popularity for this fresh alternative for the C-segment continues. Mazda's baby of the range the Mazda 2 B-segment vehicle improved sales by 27 per cent on last July as consumers take advantage of free servicing and 0 per cent finance offers valid until the end of September.

The world's most popular roadster continues its popularity with less than a month of availability left on the current vehicle. Mazda MX-5 sales were 7 per cent up on last July at just over 500 units.

Prices for the all-new third generation Mazda MX-5 were announced on 1 August, at £15,600 to £18,900 on-the-road, three months ahead of the November on-sale date as sports car fans flock to the preorder website to place their order at www.mx5liveit.co.uk.

Mazda 6 remained the volume seller in July at just over 1,000 units, as Mazda introduces the new upgraded model to dealer showrooms.

Kia extend Picanto free insurance

Kia UK have extended their 1 yrs free insurance programme to include the price leading 1.0 GS model up to the 31st August 2005.

Previously the campaign only applied to LX & Glamour models, but recent feedback from dealers have suggested some customers are refusing the free insurance offer as they have partners or other named drivers who fall outside the eligibility criteria.

Mazda, Nissan & Daihatsu join Apple

3 major car companies have joined Apple to develop in-car integration of the their best selling iPod.

Mazda, Nissan and Daihatsu Japan will develop car-stereos that allow owners of Apple's mp3 player to play directly through their stereo's, easily access their entire music library and take their music with them wherever the go.

Other manufacturers like BMW, MINI, Smart and Alfa Romeo have been developing their audio systems along with Apple for some time now.

New Hyundai Santa Fe

Spy shots of the new Hyundai Santa Fe have appeared courtesy of car connections and by the looks of the these photo's, Hyundai are getting their acts together and growing up as a car designer.

Sources in the US are claiming the chassis design could be that of the new Hyundai Sonata, but using Kia's highly accomplished Sorento floorpan makes more sense as its a significantly larger vehicle than the current Santa Fe, and would also keep the overall cost of production down.

If these shots are genuine, then rival manufacturers like Toyota, Mitsubishi and Land Rover must be quaking in their boots, as Hyundai have a reputation for price advantage and high reliability and have only been let down in the past, by their quirky designs. But this looks all set to change if these images are anything to go by.

With the new Hyundai Tucson competing against its slightly bigger brother, Hyundai is now free to grow a larger Santa Fe and move it up a size class to compete with larger SUVs like the Kia Sorento and Toyota Land Cruiser. The increased size will allow the Santa Fe to have a third row of seats for the first time.

Production is said to be taking place at Hyundai's new plant in Montgomery, Alabama, and will phase out the larger and much older looking Hyundai Terracan currently on sale in the UK and Europe.

Kia introduce Sorento commercial

Kia UK have introduced a commercial version of their popular Sorento badged as an XE-C. According to dealer reports, this version is built to order, in other words, a conversion to the standard XE is applied once an order has been placed. This will allow dealers to sell from existing stock of the standard XE and save on stocking charges, as well as moving along mainstream models.

Prices of the XE-C start from £14,995 on the road, excluding VAT, but including the cost of delivery to dealer, number- plates, 12 months’ Government Road Fund Licence and DVLA First Registration Fee. Sources in the network seem to think Kia will apply this to the rest of the range if the XE-C proves to be a success as conversion from the non-commercial version is a fairly straight forward process.

Standard specification on the XE-C model includes:

• 2.5 litre CRDi engine with 138bhp
• Air conditioning
• Alloy wheels
• 2 seat cabin with extensive flat load area
• Part-time 4WD with low ratio gearbox
• 5-speed manual or optional 5-speed automatic with manual mode
• CD audio with MP3 player
• Front and side curtain airbags
• Roof rails
• Limited slip differential
• Self-levelling suspension
• 2800kg tow capacity
  

Peugeot 407 Coupe

Peugeot will launch their new 407 Coupe in January 2006 at around £18,000. When it goes on sale, there will be initially two engines, a 160 bhp 2.2-litre and 204 bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol units, followed by a 2.7 litre turbo diesel (HDi) that was developed with Ford.

The new Coupe has been designed to carry four passengers plus their luggage comfortably, a trend that was recently set by Mazda with their unique RX-8.

Although Peugeot will introduce the car to the UK & European shores, there are no plans to launch in the US where anti-French sentiment is still at an all time high.

Subaru Forester gets more power

Subaru have updated their Forester AWD with more power. They've given the Porsche Cayenne battering top model even more clout by boosting the turbo engine from 2.0 to 2.5-litre.

As one of the quickest sports-utility vehicles – the Subaru Forester 2.5 XT – gets this extra power thanks to a new 255 PS Prodrive Performance Pack. According to Subaru, it brings down the Forester’s 0-60 mph time from an already remarkable 6.0 to
5.5 seconds, with the 0-100 mph time slashed from 17.9 to 15.5 seconds.

Equally important is the boost to engine flexibility. Torque grows from a prodigious 236 lb.ft at 3,600 rpm to 272.8 lb.ft at 3,500 rpm. Meanwhile, maximum power is at 5,500 instead of 5,600 rpm for the 211 PS version. The result is a cut in the 30-50 mph time in fourth gear from 5.8 to 5.1 seconds and the 50- 70 mph time coming down from 4.8 to 4.3 seconds. Higher up the speed range the 70-90 mph times are reduced from 5.4 to 4.9 seconds in fourth and from 7.7 to 7.1 seconds in fifth

Kia sales climb 61% over seven months

Booming demand across Europe for its Picanto, Sorento (pictured), Sportage and Cerato models during July, pushed Kia Motors sales up 42% last month to almost 24,000 vehicles. Sales for the first seven months of 2005 reached almost 160,000 (159,925) units - 61% higher than the Kia brand achieved in same period of 2004.

In July, Kia´s popular A-Segment small car, the Picanto, continued to be the marque´s best-seller with deliveries to 7,458 customers. The new Sportage compact SUV (3,521 sales) overtook the award-winning Sorento mid-size 4x4 (3,226 sales). Boosted by availability of the excellent 1.5-litre diesel engine, the B-Segment Cerato attracted 2,512 customers, pushing the Carnival MPV into fourth place in Kia´s own sales league table with 2,381 sales. Total sales for July were 23,556 units.

"Once again Kia´s monthly sales performance in Europe has confirmed how well our modern products are now in tune with the needs and tastes of European consumers," enthused Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. "Our expanding dealer network is attracting more and more customers who are new to the Kia brand and with supplies of the all-new Rio arriving at showrooms this month, we expect to continue our highly successful 2005."

So far this year, Picanto tops Kia sales with a total of 49,534 units delivered, heading the Sorento (24,740 units), and Sportage (23,990).

During July the leading European markets for Kia were Spain (5,011 sales, up 59%), Germany (4,042, 61%), Italy (3,614, 36%), and France (+ 70%). For the seven months of 2005, year-to-date, Kia´s total sales in the leading European countries were Spain (26,642 units, up 75%), Germany (24,201, 45%), Italy (23,999, 61%), the UK (23,097, 29%), the Netherlands (11,873, 45%) and France (10,230, 114%) which achieved the highest growth rate of a major market, thanks to popularity of the diesel-engined Cerato and Sportage.

Mr Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice-President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, com-mented, "Kia´s global sales performance through the first seven months of this year show that we are well on target to meet our annual goal. With the all-new Rio coming on sale in Europe, I am confident we will maintain our sales momentum throughout 2005."

Mitsubishi ready for high-speed action

The Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports WRC team today completed its preparations for Rally Finland, the tenth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, and the crews are firmly focused on targeting the podium on Sunday afternoon. Harri Rovanperä and Risto Pietiläinen have the additional benefit of home support, while “Gigi” Galli and Guido d’Amore are eagerly awaiting their first Finnish outing in a World Rally Car.

“We had a good test for this rally a few weeks ago so today’s shakedown was quite straight-forward for us,” commented Yasuo Tanaka, the team’s new Technical Director. “The crews seem to have a good feeling, we made some small checks to the Lancer WRC05s this morning and now we are looking forward to the start of an event that should hopefully be good for Mitsubishi.”

The popularity of Rally Finland is such that one-fifth of the country’s population turns out to watch their round of the series and hordes of Finns and fans from neighboring Scandinavian and Baltic countries attended this morning’s shakedown test, witnessing the cars in high-speed action for the first time. Harri Rovanperä is, typically, one of the favored local drivers and with no fewer than 12 home outings under his belt the Finn is looking forward to a top performance in front of thousands of friends, family and national supporters.

“All the drivers now know these roads well, so being Finnish doesn’t give you the advantage it used to,” said Harri. “With the jumps and blind crests, the technique is to be on exactly the right line when you land, and then know precisely where you’re going next; you have to have absolute confidence in the car and I think there could be a really tight fight this weekend. I heard there is going to be some rain later tonight, but how much we have to wait and see. Two days ago there was a lot - I’ve not seen rain like that this summer. Some of the stages are already soft, so for sure on the second passage of cars it might not be so good.”

Gigi Galli has less experience of the Finnish roads, although the Italian has competed here five times and took victory in Mitsubishi’s Group N Lancer Evolution last year.

“The Finnish test was my first time on these roads in a World Rally Car and the feeling is still as amazing,” said Gigi. “Shakedown was okay, but we did not need to do too many runs as the feeling was the same as during the test. I’m confident with the car and what we have achieved; I just hope we can show everyone the progress we have made as a team. This is the most particular event in the WRC and I will start at my own pace and see how the feeling is. Here there are a lot of good local drivers, which obviously makes it harder, but it is also good to be able to compare your performance with drivers who know the roads very well.”

Rally Finland kicks off this evening with the popular Killeri super special stage on the outskirts of Jyväskylä, but the real action begins on Friday when the crews contest seven forest stages before rounding off the day’s action back at Killeri. In total, the opening leg covers nine stages and 144.27 competitive kilometers.

Mazda 6 gets upgrade

As reported previously by Auto Community, the Mazda 6 has undergone a facelift and is now on sale throughout UK showrooms.

The ‘upgraded’ Mazda 6 model range for 2005 benefits from much more than a mere facelift and builds on the many virtues that made the original Mazda 6 the Mazda brand’s top-selling model in the UK. Beneath the stylish exteriors of Mazda’s immensely popular saloon, hatchback and estate are a host of major technical innovations and enhancements which demand that the 2005 Mazda 6 models are indeed regarded as ‘great cars which just got even better’.

Some of the changes include:

• 27-strong model range with saloon, hatchback and Estate body styles
  
• Choice of three petrol and two diesel engines – all Euro 4 compliant
• New 6-speed manual and 5-speed automatic transmissions
• Exterior changes highlight the athletic design of Mazda’s mid-sized star
• Interior with even higher levels of comfort, quality feel and lower noise levels
• Four equipment levels – S, TS, TS 2 and Sport, priced from £14,100 (on-the-road)
  

As well as improved performance, there's also better ecomony and emmisions too, with the 2.0 diesel 4/5dr seeing the biggest improvement to fuel ecomony of 43.5 mpg, to 47.1 mpg as well as a fall in emissions from 174 g/km to 165 g/km.

Even the entry-level S model of the upgraded Mazda 6 range comes with generous standard equipment including: manual air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, electric windows front and rear, a radio/CD unit with four speakers, remote central locking, six airbags and ABS anti-lock braking.

On higher specification models, standard equipment can include climate control air conditioning, onboard computer, leather steering wheel and shift lever, cruise control, a Bose® sound system with seven speakers and CD changer, xenon headlights, semi-bucket front seats with increased leg and back support, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Electronic Traction Control (ETC) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) – depending on model.