April/May News 2009

 
I’m afraid there’s no news for you this month due to the recession we can no longer afford to bring you news every month! ……………. ……………. Only joking, it’s an April fool!
This month sees a request from many people to get the government to go ahead with the proposed car scrapping scheme which I mentioned about in March. Meanwhile some popular magazines have come together to find the Best Looking Car of 2009, you decide!
Find out more on www.autoexpress.co.uk (this in not a link)
  CHECK OUT THE IMPROVED PRODUCTS REVIEWS SECTION!
 
  World’s Cheapest Car To Come To Britain!
The Nano will now be coming to Britain; it will feature a new more powerful 1.0 litre engine, ABS and anti-lock brakes, airbags to improve safety and better quality cabin. (See Below)

  This will push the price up to around £4,500, similar to the Perodua Kelisa which is currently the cheapest new car on sale in Britain.
The TATA Nano should be on sale here by 2011 & first impressions look promising!
Golf GTi Gets A Diesel Engine!
The latest Volkswagen Golf is now a sale, I actually spotted a MKVI Golf recently an ‘09’ reg one.
Now it’s been confirmed they’ll be a ‘GTD’ version, this sees the return of the badge from 80’s Golfs. It will have a 2.0 litre turbodiesel engine with 168nhp and 350Nm of torque.
The car will feature a silver front radiator grill rather than a ‘GTi’ red one. It should be on sale in the summer shortly after the ‘GTi’ goes one sale.
Saab To Go Independent?
General Motors are considering the brand’s future which could include selling it, Saab say if the worset happens and Saab go under the warrenty will still be vailid as this is to do with the individual dealer not the manufacturer. There are some great deals to be had some Saab dealers are offering over £1,000 off new and nearly new Saab 9-3 and 9-5 models.
Saab’s model range is due to grow soon with the introduction of a saloon/SUV crossover model to take on it’s German rivals it’s called the 9-3X and goes on sale later this year!
Fiat 500 Gets Eco-friendly Technology!
The Fiat 500 was launched last year, a Abarth version has since gone on sale, Fiat are very busy!
Yet there’s still time for to add their stop & start technology to the basic 1.2 litre Pop model.
The technology simply cuts off the engine when the car is idle to save fuel, great when in traffic.
 
In the Fiat 500, it acts as a genuine fuel saver increasing efficiency from 55.4 to 55.8 miles per gallon!
The 1.2 litre Pop ‘Start&Stop’ model cost £9,500 and is on sale now.

TV WATCH……
 The Used Car Roadshow is on ITV4, the website is www.itv.com/usedcarroadshow
 Red Dwarf Returns! Three New Episodes over Easter on digital channel Dave!
 Ashes To Ashes Returns! 2nd Series begins on 20th April, 9pm on BBC 1, look out for trailers

NEW CARS THIS MONTH….
Seat’s Exeo is now on sale it’s based on Audi’s A4, costs around £18,000. Peugeot 308 CC and Citroen’s new small MPV C3 Picasso. Hyundai’s i20 is now available with three doors, Nissan’s 370Z is due on sale near the end of the month.
 COMING SOON…..
Toyota’s Urban Cruiser is on sale next month whilst a fresh faced and sharper Volvo S80 and the new Mazda 3 arrive in June.
In July Nissan’s 370Z arrives and also the more efficient and all-new Toyota hybrid, the Prius.

MAY NEWS

Welcome to another month of news from the world of motoring. This month in the mist of the so-called doom and gloom of the recession, new cars sales seem to be on the increase. This comes after last month’s Budget confirmed that the £2,000 scrappage scheme had got the go ahead, on the other hand this month hasn’t been so good for Alistair Darling and other MP’s, but let’s not talk about politics let’s talk about cars……..
Prepare For 24 Hour Car Deals!!
If reports are true car dealers may be forced to be open around the clock! Dealers in Germany had to resort to this when their scrappage scheme took hold.
In the UK car makers are already reporting rising demand for new cars Hyundai’s order’s are up by a massive 400%, with increased demand for their i10 model.
This means you may have to wait for several month’s for popular city cars, which have had increased demand.   Special JCW Mini Will Join The Celebrations!
Mini is set to unveil some special edition models to celebrate 50 years of the Mini!
The original was on sale for 41 years and was launched in 1959. It was designed by Alec Issigonis who also designed the Morris Minor. The Mini was intially available in Austin Seven & Morris Mini Minor versions, the Morris version was dropped and the Cooper version was launched in the early-sixties.
 
The MINI United event takes place at the Silverstone track in Northants from 22-24th May. The star of the show will be an upgraded John Cooper Works Mini, with F1 badges and unique British Racing Green Paint. Chrysler Goes Down!
The game is up for the General Motors owned Chrysler! Owner of Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge.
A new deal would see Fiat take over 20% of Chrysler for no cost, and this could rise to a controlling stake once the American Government loans are re-paid, it the Italian giant can help to build new efficient engines and platforms.As long as GM doesn’t go under it will focus on four key brands- Chevorlet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC in it’s home market!
The End of The Road For LDV?
As the recession bites many companies are facing an certain future and closer to home LDV’s future looks bleak, the van maker is set to go into administration on the 6th May.
This is because the last minute bid to buy it from it’s Russian owner GAZ has failed. The move would see 840 staff at their Birmingham factory out of work.
   Vauxhall’s Plans For 20 New Cars!
Vauxhall has a bold plan to launch 20 new cars over the next 3 years. The new Astra is one of these new cars which will have sleeker styling and a new range of engines. A new Meriva and three door version of the new Astra will follow in 2010 and a facelifted Corsa is due to be on sale in 2011.
  THIS MONTH’S NEW CARS….
We begin with sports cars as the Lotus Evora is due on sale this month. It’s a V6 engined coupe with 2+2 seating, costing around £45,000, a convertible and supercharged version are expected to join the range a later date. Alfa Romeo’s 8C Spider, Aston Martin V12 Vantage, Mercedes 2.5 litre diesel C-Class, Chevorlet Cruze and Toyota’s Urban Cruiser
COMING SOON….
Maserati’s new improved Quattroporte, a face-lifted Skoda Octivia VRS, new Mercedes E-Class and Nissan’s Pixo city-car are set to join us next month. The Skoda Fabia Scout, Nissan Pixo and VW Golf MkVI GTI will follow over the next couple of months!
TV WATCH…
 Formula 1 will be in Spain and Monaco this month on the 10th and 24th May respectively.
 Ashes To Ashes continues this month, Mondays, 9pm on BBC One. (some strong language)
 Episode 4 of 8- Supermac tries to close the team’s investigation, what is he hiding? Will Gene Hunt’s transfer go ahead, could the team really lose their DCI? (11th May)
 Episode 5 of 8- Alex and the team investigate a burglary at the house were her future husband lives. Alex meets the mystery person who’s been leaving her roses. (18th May)
 Episode 6 of 8- The team investigate a murder their prime suspect is a local loan shark, but the evidence soon takes the case in an entirely different direction. (25th May)
 Text GENE to 81010 for a link to free Ashes To Ashes downloads for your mobile including wallpapers and sounds from each episode so far!!
 NOTE: The elections are coming up soon so watch out for Party Election Broadcasts in between your favourite shows!
 Top Gear is due to return to our screens for a new series next month, I can’t wait!!