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Hyundai Grandeur is worth a glance
Replacing the XG, here is the Grandeur, the top of the range Hyundai. Yes, this 489cm-long sedan aims at challenging the Mercedes E-class, BMW 5-series, Audi A6 and Volvo S80. Of course, at first sight, no one would give it a chance: it’s definitely not a turn-head. But then, this car far from being uninteresting, with its spacious and pleasant cockpit, its good overall quality and its discretion. Hyundai’s choice in terms of styling is radically different from that operated by Kia with the gaudy Opirus.
Only 2 engines are available : a 3.3 petrol V6 developing 233bhp and a 2.2 diesel developing 145bhp, which is not enough to make it a dangerous challenger.
Both are coupled with an automatic 5-speed gearbox. As for the suspension, we notice two wishbones at the front and a multilink at the rear. ESP as well as 17’ alloys mounted on 235/55 tyres are standard.
Inside, standard equipment includes a dual zone air-conditioning, a leather upholstery, an Infinty-made stereo and an electrically operated tilt and telescopic steering column.
If it respects Hyundai’s tradition of excellent value for money, the Grandeur might well hope to become more than a confidential executive sedan. If only its diesel had more power…
June 11, 2005
New Corsa in 2006
The new Vauxhall/Opel Corsa should debut in 2006, half a year after its cousin Fiat Punto. Indeed, they will share the same platform, called Gamma, which explains certain similarities, such as the A-pillar. Nevertheless, the raised rear lamps should remain particular to the Fiat.
Another common element will be the 1.3 diesel engine, designed by Fiat. However, GM has kept the right to use Fiat’s diesel technology, so they might elaborate and build a version of their own of this excellent unit. Besides, the new Corsa should be noticeably more stately than its predecessor.
As for petrol engines, they should go on with the "Twin Port" technology, and a sporty turbocharged Corsa OPC developing around 170bhp is expected.
June 11, 2005
New Audi A8 4.2 TDI
In terms of power, the Audi A8 4.0 TDI was surpassed by an unexpected opponent, namely the… Volkswagen Phaeton V10 TDI, delivering 313bhp. A weird situation, for Audi is meant to be the luxury brand of the group.
The new V8 4.2 TDI remedies this problem with a power amounting to 326bhp, thanks to 2 turbochargers and new piezoelectric injectors. Yes, this engine is fitted with a common-rail injection system instead of pump-injectors, more efficient but more brutal too.
Power is one thing, torque another: here there’s no less than 650Nm available as soon as 1600rpm, with the help of the variable geometry of the 2 turbos, whose vanes are electrically actuated.
A question remains: why didn’t Audi choose to use the V10 TDI?
The A8 4.2 TDI keeps the Quattro transmission and receives a particulate filter, requiring no maintenance, along with adaptative xenon lights. How can one tell the difference between the former 4.0 and the new 4.2? The latter, like all the A8s now, is adorned with the single-frame grille first seen on the W12 version
With its new heart, the aluminium-framed limousine can dash from 0 to 62 mph in 5.9secs, its top speed being governed to 155mph. The overall consumption allows one to run no less than 25mph: even those who spend more than £50,000 in their car like to save money sometimes.
Now BMW has just released the 300bhp 745d, we can expect a quick response from Mercedes.
June 11, 2005
Maserati’s sales boosted by the Quattroporte
While Peugeot celebrates the 5 millionth 206, Fiat the 6 millionth Punto, Maserati announce they have built 20,000 cars since 1997, the year Fiat attached Maserati to Ferrari. The 20,000^th Maserati is a grey Quattroporte built for the Italian carmaker’s main market, the USA.
Maserati obtained excellent worldwide sales results in 2004, up by 60% from 2003, with 4,600 cars sold. With 2,800 copies made in 2004, the Quattroporte is the key-element to this achievement, Maserati hoping to increase this figure by 80% this year.
Indeed 2005 is following the right trend, which should allow Maserati to be profitable again.
CEO Karl-Heinz Kalfbell emphasizes the possibility for the customer to customize his car as much as he wants is part of the brand’s success, in addition to the qualitative and technical improvements lead by Ferrari.
Maserati built less than 700 cars in 1998, and now it’s united with Alfa Romeo, its expansion should continue.
June 10, 2005
Nissan takes on Vauxhall’s Meriva with Note
Launched in Japan last January, the Nissan Note should arrive in Europe by the end of 2005. This 399cm long MAV shares its platform with the Nissan Micra, the Renault Modus and Clio III, with a wheelbase stretched to 260cm though.
In the boot, we notice a 25cm deep underfloor cavity. Besides, the cockpit is sprawn with storage spaces, which somewhat compensates its lack of flexibility , if compared to the Meriva’s.
Under the short bonnet, we find a 1.5 petrol engine combined with a CVT transmission. In Europe, a diesel dCi unit coupled with a manual gearbox should be available, as opposite to the 4WD transmission.
Nissan promises the Note will be a very dynamic car: it might become a tough competitor for the Vauxhall Meriva, the Renault Modus and the Fiat Idea.

June 10, 2005
Lancia back in the UK with Delta III?
If you find your Focus, your Astra, your Golf or your Mégane boring, just wait until 2007, the year Lancia should launch the new Delta III.
Contrary to what many think, Lancia is neither dead nor dying, for they sell as many cars as Alfa Romeo with models that were developed for much less. Of course, after an absence of 16 years on the British market, the return will not be easy, but the Delta III might be very convincing.
Elaborated on the same platform as the next Fiat Stilo’s, the long, long awaited new Delta should be fitted with the excellent JTD engines and take over Lancia’s new styling, which counts for more than nothing in the mere success of the new Ypsilon and Musa. The prototype Lancia Gran Turismo has obviously been a source of inspiration.
Nevertheless, the future of Fiat Auto (the owner of Lancia) relies on the success of the oncoming Punto III.
June 9, 2005
Fighting pollution with satellites ?
Traffic congestion is a major problem in the UK, especially as it contributes to pollution. To some extent, reducing the number of cars on the roads by 5% could address the problem.
So, to achieve this goal, Transport Department Secretary Alister Darling has unveiled an ambitious project consisting in charging drivers for every mile they drive. How? With the help of satellites! Since they can tell you your route, they also could tell the Transport Department the number of miles you drove, where and when. The price of the mile will depend on the hour of the day, the location and the type of road used.
For example, each mile of city driving during the rush hours would be charged £1.30 while driving 1 mile in the country side at night would cost 2p ‘only’.
Of course, this project requires a very sophisticated system including the installation of GPS receivers in cars.
In mitigation, Mr Darling tells fuel taxes and vehicle excise duty would be cut. He plans to introduce a bill making a satellite-monitored charging scheme legal within 2 years. Then, the system would become operational in 2010. After a feasibility study conducted last year, the Department of Transport concluded it cut the traffic by 4%, reducing traffic jams by 46%.
Nevertheless, to be fully efficient, this system has to be supported by the public, which is far from being granted, first because drivers are already laden with taxes, secondly because it would be extremely difficult to make it reliable, given its degree of complexity.
If you think Alister Darling is an extra-terrestrial, then you have to consider his flying saucer might have dropped friends of his in Oregon, for the authorities of this state have been elaborating a similar device since 2002.
June 9, 2005
Nissan Micra 160SR
The cute Nissan Micra gets more power at last, 3 years after its launch. Don’t be fooled by the 160 SR badge: this new Micra develops 110bhp ‘only’ and not 160, this figure recalling the engine capacity, 1600cc.
The SR letters standing for Street Racing, the sporty Micra will find serious competitors on its way: the Citroen C2 VTS, Mini Cooper, Toyota Yaris 1.5 T-Sport and Ford Fiesta Zetec-S.
The Nissan seems very good -but not class leading- on performance, accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 9.8 seconds and reaching 112mph. It returns 42.8mpg on the combined cycle.
Along with the power increase, the Micra 160SR gets stiffer suspensions, an ESP stability system, a new front spoiler, dark tinted headlamps, graphite finished 16’’alloys, aluminium pedals, white dials, side curtain airbags, a 6-speaker CD system and an air-conditionning.
Priced £9,995, the 3-door Micra 160SR is even cheaper than the Yaris T-Sport. The 5-door version costs £10,645. With an extra £375, you can get a sunroof, while the heated 2-tone leather seats are charged £850. A real bargain.
June 8, 2005
A thrifty beauty called Mercedes CLS 320 CDI
What about a diesel Mercedes sedan that doesn’t look like a taxi? Now it’s possible for Mercedes has just released the CLS 320 CDI. Yes, Mercedes’s coupe-looking sedan CLS uses a diesel engine. Not any engine though, for this one is a totally new block, fitted with piezoelectric injectors, due to be mounted in most of Mercedes’s models. Contrary to what its 320 badge might have indicated, this is not a 3.2 but a 3.0, developing 224bhp.
This new block grants the CLS with very decent accelerations (0 to 60mph in 7.0secs), a low overall consumption, for it runs 30mpg, and a top speed of 152mph. On the CLS, it’ll necessarily be coupled with a 7-speed automatic gearbox.
The new CLS 320 CDI meets the EU4 stringent limits without resorting to a particulate filter. Besides, with a torque of 510Nm, available as low as 1,600rpm, its accelerations in top should be impressive.
Waiting for the hypothetical BMW 640d, this Mercedes has no direct rival, so don’t expect the German carmaker to discount this fleet beauty.
June 8, 2005
A new engine for the BMW Z4
BMW has added a 4-cylinder 2-litre 150bhp engine to the Z4 range, so as to give it a lower entry point level. Even smaller, this new engine offers such technological refinements as the Vanos (variable valve timing) and Valvetronic (valve lift) systems so as to ensure a quick response through the gears, as BMW puts it. It allows the Z4 to accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 8secs and to be compliant with the Euro IV norm.
Thanks to this UK-made block, the Z4 is now available for £22,755 on-the-road. A Z4 2.0SE is available too, with the same equipment as the Z4 2.2 SE’s. The Z4 2.0 is cheaper than a Mercedes SLK 2.3 Kompressor, priced £28,055, but more expensive than a Mazda MX5 1.8 Sport, priced £18,000, which is to be replaced very soon. Maybe BMW is anticipating Mazda’s new roadster, seen in the Geneva Motor Show and expected late 2005.
June 8, 2005