Author: stephane schlesinger

Cadillac and Corvette back in the UK
After a failed attempt between 1998 and 2003 (only 3,000 cars sold), Cadillac and Corvette are being relaunched in the UK. This time, Cadillac’s range seems more competitive, including the Sweden-built executive sedan BLS, the luxury saloon CTS and the huge SRX, an enormous SUV. Even if those brands are still part of GM, they will be commercialised by an independant importer, the Dutch run Kroymans group.
They assume they number of dealers will amount to 20 by the end of 2008, which should allow to sell 7,000 cars over this period.
Prices will start at £20,000 for the BLS (available with an excellent diesel engine designed by Fiat), £24,850 for the 2.8 V6 CTS and £ 29,850 for the 3.6 V6 SRX.
As for the Corvette, it’s been separated from Chevrolet and form an independant brand within the GM galaxy. The 186mph 400bhp C6 coupe is priced at £45,850 and the convertible at £51,850.
Fortunately, this time, these cars will come with a right-hand drive (excepted the SRX before 12 months and the Corvette) even if the BLS is not expected before May 2006. Then we’ll see if the it can actually take BMW’s remarkable 3-Series.

October 14, 2005
Shake off an M5 with your Vectra
This is possible with the new Vauxhall Vectra VXR for contrary to the BMW M5, its top speed is not governed. Indeed, its turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 developping 255ps allows it to reach 161mph vs 155 for hot BMW! Anyway, you’ll have to catch the driver of te M5 by surprise after a long acceleration on a deserted autobahn because with only a slight pressure on the throttle, he can remind you of his 507bhp…
Anyway, at £23,995 (£24,995 for the estate), this sporty Vauxhall remains somewhat affordable, a price that includes a sophisticated dual-processor electronically controlled damper system. It’s even £1205 cheaper than a Ford Mondeo ST220. For an extra £500, you can get 19” alloys while Vauxhall’s Advanced Forward Lighting ( a nice name for sophisticated headlamps) costs £850 more.
September 7, 2005
Saab refurbishes its 9-5
After a career of 7 years, Saab’s executive sedan gets a new front end, inspired by the 9X concept car. Under the bonnet the all-turbo line-up includes a new 150 bhp 1.9 TiD diesel (designed by Fiat and soon available in the new Cadillac BLS), a BioPower engine that can run on a high-blend mixture of bioethanol fuel and petrol (E85), and increased power for the top-of-the-range 260 bhp Aero 2.3 model. In the mean time, the suspension has also been improved. All this should help this characterful but ageing car to keep up with such opponents as the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class or Audi A6, which is vital for this car maker whose production might very well be transferred to Germany for lack of profitability.
The facelifted 9-5 will be launched at the oncoming Frankfurt Motorshow, on September 12, where further specifications will be revealed.
August 31, 2005
Grande Punto to mark Fiat’s renewal?
Fiat call their new supermini ‘Grande Punto’, and they’re damn right for it has considerably been sized up. Being 4m03 long, 1m68 wide and 1m49 high, the Punto even oversizes the Clio III. We can guess not only accomodation will benefit from this increase but also resistance against shocks, Fiat targetting a five star rating at the EuroNcap crash-tests.
Since this new car is vital for Fiat’s future, they have got everything right, especially in terms of styling, a task that was granted to Giugiaro. He did a good job indeed, featuring the Punto III with a Maserati-like front end, thick wheel arches making it look steady and a funny new Punto logo.
Under the bonnet, we find 2 petrol and 4 diesel units. The first 2, a 1.2 and a 1.4 respectively delivering 65 and 77bhp, seem somewhat disappointing for lack of power, especially as the car must have put on weight. Let’s hope Fiat will release the 1.6 180bhp that has been rumoured, which would allow the Punto to compete with the Clio III RS or the future Peugeot 207 RC.
There are 2 diesel blocks, a 1.3 16V Multijet outputting either 75 or 90bhp and a 1.9 Multijet, coupled with a 6-speed gearbox, delivering either 120 or 130bhp, the latter being mounted in the Sporting version.
The Punto III shares its underpinning with the new Corsa, which will be launched in 2006.
The new Punto will hit the showrooms in September in Italy and by the turn of 2006 in the UK. In the mean time, Fiat will continue to make the Punto II, perhaps to make a smooth transition to the more expensive Grande Punto.

July 29, 2005
Lamborghini unveils limited edition Gallardo SE
Of course, any Lambo is by definition an exclusive car, but now you can access a higher degree of exclusiveness with the Gallardo SE. What’s special about it? First, only 250 will be made. Second, it’s characterized by a 2-tone body paint, to be sure not to remain unnoticed. Third, the main colour of the body is repeated around the dials as well as on the door panels. Fourth, the engine is now visible from the outside, under glass hood, just like the Ferrari F430. Fifth, the gearbox receives new ratios. The Gallardo SE can dash from 0 to 62mph in 4 seconds and reach 195mph, exactly like a Ferrari F430. The mystery of facts and figures… Too bad, it’ll be available in September only: you’ll have to wait until summer 2006 to show off on the French Riviera. There’s a good side to it though: you have one more year to gather 141,500€ (approx £100,000) to purchase it, a price that does not include VAT, of course.. Then, you’ll be able to choose between two grey shades to be combined with 3 colours: yellow (Giallo Midas), orange (Arancio Borealis) and green (Verde Ithaca).
Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke did a great job with the Murcielago and Gallardo, but then, in my mind, they look too soft when compared to the Miura, Diablo and Countach. And it’s not a matter of paintwork.

July 20, 2005
Montoya wins at Silverstone while Alonso strengthens his position
Enthralling: this Grand Prix was everything but this. After a 1-minute silence in memory of Thursday’s victims in London, Montoya passed Button and Alonso at the start while Sato’s BAR stalled. This caused the safety car to come out, for 2 laps, but that’s about it. Sato went back to pit and re-started one lap behind. Alonso remained very close to Montoya during the entire race without managing to pass him, especially as he lost precious seconds behind Trulli, who was one lap behind, before the second wave of pit stops. Indeed, Trulli did not confirm his good position on the grid while once again Raikkonen managed something great reaching the 3^rd position after leaving from the 13^th, for his engine had broken down during tests. Barrichello gradually lost pace and lost positions during his pit stops and finished 7^th . Michael Schumacher managed exactly the opposite and finished 6^th while he had started 10^th on the grid. But then, they were more than one minute behind the leader when the race finished, which is not particularly encouraging. Michael reckons he’s out of the race for the championship. Fisichella, on the second Renault could have been on the podium if his car had not stalled after the second refuelling, which made his team manager Flavio Briatore a bit angry. He finished 4^th, right before Button who did a solid race. 8^th position went to Ralf Schumacher driving a Toyota.
Next race in two weeks in Hockenheim.
1 JP. Montoya McLaren
2 F. Alonso Renault
3 K. Räikkönen McLaren
4 G. Fisichella Renault
5 J. Button BAR
6 M. Schumacher Ferrari
7 R. Barrichello Ferrari
8 R. Schumacher Toyota
July 12, 2005
BMW releases 3-series Touring
Anticipating Alfa’s 159 Sportwagon, BMW releases the estate version of its best-seller. BMW designers, led by Chris Bangle resisted the temptation of a bold styling. This 3 series Touring can load up to 1385 litres of luggage, which exceeds the capacities of a Mercedes C-Class Estate or a Peugeot 407 SW. Nevertheless, a VW Passat Variant or a Vauxhall Vectra offer up to 1850 litres.
BMW has paid a great attention to practicallity, fitting this new version of the 3-series with a reversible boot floorpan, a 12 volt power socket, luggage lashes or a bag and umbrella holder. For a few hundred extra pounds , you can get a waterproof box to store muddy boots for example.
Technically speaking, the Touring is almost identical to the excellent sedan. But beware: the Alfa 159 Sportwagon is underway…
July 5, 2005
Alonso wins Grand Prix de France one lap ahead of team-mate Fisichella
Alonso started the Grand Prix on pole position and won it without any disturbance. None of his opponents could even threaten him, for he was at least one second faster per lap than anybody else, his team mate Fisichella included. The latter was incredibly unlucky once again, losing precious seconds because of the fuel hose or because his engine stalled on the last pit stop. He finished 6^th.
Second on the grid, Trulli did not manage to keep his position and finished 5^th while starting from the 13^th position, Raikkonen managed to make the most of his 2-stop strategy, finishing 2^nd, 16 seconds behind Alonso. Montoya was not quite as successful in the other McLaren for he was forced to abandon because of a hydraulic breakdown.
Michael Schumacher finished much farther behind, he did a good race, committing few mistakes but then he was unable to keep up with Alonso’s pace. His team mate Barrichello ended only 9^th, after a good performance on the first third of the race. But then he was passed but a revved-up Sato who eventually pushed his car too hard and quit the track twice. With more cool-mindedness, he could have done better than 11^th, which team-mate Button brilliantly achieved, finishing 4^th, in the other BAR.
7^th and 8^th positions respectively go to Ralf Schumacher driving a
Toyota
and Villeneuve, who collected the final point in his Sauber-Petronas.
This week-end is another to forget for Williams-BMW. Webber and Heidfeld started 12^th and 14^th and finished in the same positions.
July 4, 2005
Final countdown for 407 Coupé
These recent spyshots reveal that the new 407 Coupé is very close to its launch. Contrary to the 406 Coupé it replaces, the 407 was not drawn by Pininfarina but by Peugeot’s designers, ruled by Gérard Welter. This coupe does not seem as elegant as its predecessor, but then, stringent European norms imposed this heavy front end. The cabin remains very similar to that of the 407 saloon. Accommodation should appear to be asset for this coupe, which should offer the same superb handling and ride as the saloon. As for the engines, the petrol 2.2 160bhp, the 3.0 V6 210bhp and the 2.2 160bhp block may be available. Prices are not known yet but they will surely be competitive.
July 2, 2005
Peugeot 107 gets a diesel engine before C1 and Aygo
The small Peugeot is now available in France with a 4-in-line diesel 1.4 HDI engine delivering 54bhp at 4,000rpm. When mounted in a 206 or a C3, this block offers 70bhp. Of course it does not perform as strongly as the petrol unit, but then, it returns an average 60mpg. Contrary to the 3-cylinder petrol engine, it can’t be coupled with an automatic transmission. The smallest Peugeot HDI has a top speed of 95mph and reaches 62mph from and standstill in 15.6 seconds.
It should be available at the end of the year in the UK, priced at £1,000 over the petrol version.
Anyway, this car has a major drawback: Fiat’s Panda Multijet with its 70bhp.
June 30, 2005