Kia eco_cee'd

Kia has announced today that they will be putting their green Frankfurt Motor Show concept car, the eco_cee'd, into production from late 2008, with sales starting in early 2009. Expected to be designated as cee'd 'eco' models, the variant will be available in three, five-door and wagon guise - the economical additions to the line-up 'maximising consumer choice' and retaining the 'lively, spirited drive' of a cee'd while reducing emissions and fuel consumption.

Frankfurt's eco_cee'd hosted a number of small, but significant modifications to the standard pro_cee'd's 1.6-litre CRDi diesel powertrain as well as additional equipment. Through many revisions made to the car, can a reduction in CO2 figures and greater fuel economy be achieved. Fuel consumption has been reduced by 17 percent to 3.9 litres/100km, with emissions data registering at 104g/km (down 8.4%). Engines destined for the production version will already be able to meet Euro V emissions standards, due for a 2011 introduction.

Efficiencies in the car's aerodynamics are made by lowering the suspension, fitting under-floor coverings to aid air flow and 'spoiler' lips around the wheel arches - among other enhancements - reducing the drag coefficient by 11 percent.

Kia will be fitting their 'eco' cee'd models with ISG (Idle Stop&Go), utilising regenerative braking technology, switching the battery off when at a standstill and thus allowing a drop in fuel consumption and emissions during 'typical stop-start city driving'.

The addition of a nifty optimum gear shift indicator (which judges when to shift based on road and engine speed) will be mated to a motorway-friendly new six-speed gearbox, favouring lower revolutions for more economical driving at speed.

“The rapid transfer of the green-performance eco_cee’d concept’s features into production ‘eco’ versions of the cee’d, demonstrates Kia’s vision for the way ahead to a greener future,” enthuses the Senior Vice President of Kia Motors Europe, Jean-Charles Lievens.

Continuing, Lievens states: “Our new ‘eco’ range will confirm Kia’s commitment to creating environmentally friendly and fuel efficient production models – without losing sight of customer expectations for cars with a sporty design and fun-to-drive performance.”

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560

When Audi first got it’s hands on Lamborghini, the afficienados were up in arms. “That’s the end of Lamborghini” they cried. But they were wrong. The first car to come along after Audi took over was the Murcielago (now the LP640). A barn-storming brute of a car. A proper hairy-chested monster. And the only thing Audi actually seemed to do is make sure it was built properly. So, round one to Audi. But the second car was the Gallardo, and the doom-mongers had some ammunition. Not a lot, mind you. The main cry was that Audi had taken away the heart. I think they just meant it didn’t have scissor doors and didn’t break down every other day. But you could sort of see what they meant. It felt ’safe’. Well not any more

The starting point for changes is the bodywork. Round the back it becomes a baby Reventon. It’s squatter than before; more purposeful. The back-end was always my least favourite angle on the Gallardo, and this is a big improvement. The front goes the same route, with new air intakes and a more aggressive look. And all that playing with the Reventon has had a great impact on the carry-over work here. The LP560-4 is over 30% more aerodynamic than the Gallardo. Not only does that help fuel economy (which is improved by 18%, as are emissions) but the LP560-4 is more planted. Add to the mix an extra 32bhp and 23lb ft of torque and this is the car the baby Lambo should always have been.

So now I’ve whetted your appetite, you’re wondering how long the waiting list is. Well, I doubt you’ll get one out of Lamborghini until summer 2009, but we’ve got a build slot for Oct/Nov this year, so if you want to be first - be quick!

Tata and Jaguar, sitting in a tree

Car giant Ford is to sell its luxury UK-based car marques Jaguar and Land Rover to Indian company Tata. Tata, India's biggest vehicle maker, is likely to pay about $2bn (£1bn) in the deal, although analysts will be keen to see the exact price and terms. The lengthy sale process started last June when Ford announced its intention to sell the companies as a package. Jaguar and Land Rover employ about 16,000 staff at plants across the West Midlands and Merseyside. Tata accounts for more than half of the sub-continent's truck market and has about 20% of India's car market.

The car workers union, Unite, has said that Tata was the preferred bidder for the company.Tata will commit to following an existing five-year plan to invest in and develop the car manufacturing businesses. Jaguar and Land Rover require hundreds of millions in investment over the next few years and returning Jaguar to profitability will neither be easy or without risks. Ford will inject £300m into Jaguar and Land Rover pension funds.

Ford has never given any details about Jaguar's financial performance. But it is thought that Ford has invested about $10bn in Jaguar since buying it in 1989, for $2.5bn. Despite that investment, analysts say that Jaguar, which has plants at Castle Bromwich, West Midlands and Halewood, Merseyside, has never made a profit for Ford. However, Land Rover, which is based in Solihull, West Midlands, has been profitable under Ford's ownership.

Hyundai i30 vs Kia Cee'd

Which one would you have? And why?

Lotus Europa S

Lotus has finally announced the Lotus Europa S, after spyshots of it being seen around Europe and in Malaysia being test driven along Proton models like the Savvy and the SRM. Alot of speculation has been going on about the name of the new car as well as whether Proton will be offering a re-badge of it.

The Lotus Europa is a 2 seater coupe positioned above the Elise and Exige. The theme for the car is ‘business class’. Much more sophisticated and the lines are smoother and understated rather than the bold sporty styling of the Elise.

The Lotus Europa is only 995kg of course with it being a Lotus. Weight reduction! The car is a mid-engine, and features a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine producing 200 hp at 5400rpm and 263 Nm torque at 4200rpm. 90% of the maximum torque is available from only 2000rpm so acceleration from low engine speeds is great. 0-60mph takes 5.5 seconds and top speed is 140mph.

The Lotus Europa S will start production in Lotus’ Manufacturing Facility in Hethel, Norfolk in the UK.

Subaru Forester

Of the modern-era Subarus, the Forester has been the model that most closely reflects the character that the brand was built on: inexpensive, capable, utilitarian, slightly unconventional, and unconcerned with appearances. A Subaru among Subarus, this grungy earth child has been happily chugging along on the crunchy fringe of the compact SUV market. For 2009, the Forester has undergone a redesign that has made it larger, more SUV-like, and, well, more normal. And although the new Forester looks a lot different from the previous model, it manages to retain many of its predecessors' strengths while expanding its appeal.

With its all-new body, the Forester goes from mutant station wagon to mainstream compact crossover. It's significantly longer, wider, and taller.

All of that makes for additional cargo space (enough for 4590 granola bars with the rear seats up!) and a much roomier cabin. The 3.6-inch-longer wheelbase helps alleviate the formerly cramped rear seat, and access is much improved. The previous model's low cowl is gone, but otherwise Subaru managed to preserve the Foresters best-in-class outward visibility, particularly to the rear. A navigation system and dealer-installed Bluetooth join the options list, while side curtain air bags, stability control, panic brake assist, and an auxiliary audio input are now standard.

As much as the Forester's looks have changed, its driving demeanor really hasn't. The most noticeable difference is that the car seems a lot quieter on the freeway. The output of the base 2.5-liter boxer four is altered only slightly (its down 3 hp, up 4 lb-ft of torque), and the available turbo engine's numbers are unchanged, although its torque curve is flatter.

Despite the new car's 100-to-150-pound weight gain, the base engine is still up to the task of moving it along, and the turbo once again provides welcome and well-integrated extra urge for the Forester XT. Both engines could use an extra gear (or two) for their automatic transmission, which is only a four-speed. The base engine at least can be paired with a five-speed manual; the turbo cannot.

The chassis, which is related to the new Impreza's, switches from struts to control arms in the rear suspension. The new layout no longer impinges on cargo space, but we didn't find any great dynamic benefits, as the Forester understeers readily. It also could use firmer damping and more precise steering. The new Forester has a bit more ground clearance than before (now 8.7 or 8.9 inches, depending on the model), which emboldened Subaru's PR team to have us take a run up a steep, rutted dirt road covered with loose rocks. Sure enough, the Forester churned its way to the top, while a Honda CR-V bogged to a halt halfway up.,

Honda FCX Clarity

It’s got a top speed of 100mph, will sprint from 0-60mph in 10 seconds and costs £300 a month to rent. And it doesn’t use a drop of petrol.

Powered by hydrogen, the long-awaited Honda FCX Clarity doesn’t only represent the future, but the beg­inning, too. That’s because this is the first commercially available fuel cell vehicle in the world.

While it’s no sports car, the Honda certainly moves. Initial acceleration is disarmingly fast and the car gains speed up to and beyond 50mph. The ride is hard, partly because of the stiff anti-roll bars, and on rippled roads it bounces along. However, on smoother surfaces it’s much more comfortable, and the FCX corners well, too.

Yes, the average German saloon would out-handle the emissions-free Honda, but that is missing the point. With oil at nearly $110 a barrel and US petrol prices higher than ever – although still only the equivalent of £1.86 per imperial gallon – green is cool in California, and the FCX Clarity fits perfectly into that groove.

In the future, Honda wants to bring this car, or something very much like it, to our showrooms with a price tag of around £50,000. For some, that can’t come soon enough.