A new show of strength for AUDI Q7 S-Line Edition Models

Already purposeful stance of Audi luxury SUV is further emphasised in new S line Style Edition and S line Sport Edition versions

• New S line Style Edition specification now available for Audi Q7 at a premium of £1,500 over top S line Plus trim line
• S line Sport Edition also builds on S line Plus specification at a premium of £3,000
• Features include unique wheel designs and exclusive version of the offroad styling package
• Available in conjunction with 3.0 TDI 245PS and 4.2-litre TDI 340PS engines priced from £52,975 OTR to 64,100 OTR

The Audi Q7 already cuts an imposing figure, but new S line Style Edition and S line Sport Edition versions of the acclaimed seven-seat, air-suspended luxury SUV ramp up their visual impact even further through striking styling enhancements. The new S line Edition models are available now priced from £52,975 OTR to £64,100 OTR.

The S line Style Edition specification is available in conjunction with 3.0-litre V6 TDI 245PS and 4.2-litre V8 TDI 340PS engines, and adds £1,500 to the price of the equivalent Q7 S line plus model in each case. In the S line Style Edition, the standard 21-inch five-segment-spoke alloy wheels are replaced by five-arm rotor design matt titanium-finish wheels of the same size which are exclusive to this model in the Q7 range. These sit beneath a body which looks even more rugged thanks to the addition of an upgraded offroad styling package which includes stainless steel underbody protectors and extended wheel arches flowing into special bumpers with modified lower sections  - uniquely in the Edition models these are painted in
body colour.

Q7 S line Style Edition models include solid, metallic or pearl effect paint as standard in a choice of seven colours – Night black, Teak brown, Lava grey, Orca black, Graphite grey, Daytona grey or Scuba blue.

The particularly muscular look of the remarkable 500PS Q7 V12 TDI of 2010 provided inspiration for the S line Sport Edition specification. Also available in combination with 3.0-litre TDI 245PS and 4.2-litre TDI engines, it carries a premium of £3,000 over S line Plus models. It adds a titanium finish for the 21-inch five-segment-spoke wheels, and a sport styling package including body-coloured wheelarch extensions, enlarged front air intakes with high gloss slats, lower bumper spoilers, stainless steel underbody protection and dual oval exhaust tailpipes integrated into the rear bumper. S line Sport Edition specification includes a no-cost choice from all thirteen of the solid, metallic or pearl effect paints available for the Q7 range.

On the top rung of the ladder, the S line Plus specification on which these special edition models are based is fittingly all-encompassing in itself. As well as an upgrade to a 21-inch wheel, it includes features  such as privacy glass from the B-pillar rearwards, xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, supple Verano leather upholstery, stainless steel side running boards, powered tailgate operation, HDD satellite navigation, the Audi parking system advanced with visual and acoustic guidance, the Audi Music Interface and Audi connect bringing the many benefits of the Internet to the car.  All Q7 models offer features such as adaptive air suspension, double glazing and a seven-seat configuration as standard.


More sports kit for the Audi Q7 – Even more imposing new S line Style Edition and S line Sport Edition versions of the acclaimed Audi Q7 luxury SUV are now available priced from £52,975 OTR to £64,100 OTR.

USA - 2015 Lincoln Navigator, better interior, better looks and more powerful engines.

• A redesigned exterior, updated interior, more powerful engine, additional customer-focused technologies and new luxurious appointments elevate Lincoln Navigator in the full-size luxury SUV market
• A new 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost® engine delivers more power; available Lincoln Drive Control with Continuously Controlled Damping provides a smoother ride; electric power-assisted steering improves handling; and puddle lamps that create a “welcome mat” below both front doors offer a new level of elegance
• An available Reserve Package includes 22-inch wheels and ultra-luxurious leather with premium Ziricote wood trim

The Lincoln Motor Company introduces the new 2015 Navigator, offering a fresh interpretation of a classic vehicle that has long defined the full-size luxury sport utility segment.

At the Chicago Auto Show on Feb. 6, the public will get its first look at a new Navigator that takes on a changed presence for the 2015 model year. Exterior design changes are accentuated by the reintroduction of Lincoln’s iconic split-wing grille. Interior enhancements include luxurious leather and additional customer-focused technologies. The more refined appearance complements enhanced power and hauling capabilities that Navigator customers demand.

The sleeker front end includes a newly designed hood, and the reimagined back end features a power up/down tailgate. On both ends, the vehicle wears jewel-like light-emitting diode (LED) lights, as well as high-intensity discharge (HID) adaptive headlamps with LED accents.

“We knew what our customers wanted,” said Elaine Bannon, chief engineer of the 2015 Navigator. “Navigator has always had great features, and we were able to keep those things. I’m proud that we were able to give our customers so much more.”

Navigator comes standard with 20-inch, machined aluminum wheels, while Reserve Package vehicles are equipped with 22-inch, polished aluminum wheels. Reserve Package Navigators also offer optional chrome-accented running boards.

As with current-generation models, the 2015 Navigator will be available in standard-length (207.4 inches) and extended-length (222.3 inches) versions.

Luxuriously appointed interior
Navigator has long been synonymous with large-scale luxury. On the 2015 Navigator, the Reserve Package introduces a new level of luxury to the vehicle’s interior, providing customers with:

• An updated cabin that extends ultra-luxurious leather to all three rows of seats, as well as to the armrests, center console and transmission shifter
• A hand-wrapped, leather instrument panel with contrast stitching and leather glove box door
• Premium Ziricote wood trim, a luxurious natural-grain wood new to the automotive industry, most commonly used as an accent in yachts

Navigator comes standard with the new Lincoln steering wheel, introduced on the recently revealed MKC premium small utility. The Wollsdorf leather-wrapped, wood-trimmed wheel features a thicker grip and softer touch for a more dynamic driving experience.

Designed to seat up to eight people, Navigator offers buyers second-row options that include two captain’s chairs, with or without a center console, or a fold-flat bench. Due in part to Navigator’s patented independent rear suspension, which allows for true fold-flat, PowerFold® third-row seats, extended-length and standard wheelbase models are projected to deliver segment-leading cargo volume.

Extended-length models provide 128.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row, 86.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, and 42.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row; standard wheelbase models deliver 103.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row, 54.4 cubic feet behind the second row, and 18.1 cubic feet behind the third row.

“We have this iconic vehicle with untapped potential,” Bannon said. “Now it’s got more of what our customers want. It’s got the new Lincoln design DNA on the exterior, a redesigned instrument panel, a leather Reserve Package, 22-inch wheels. Once we were able to include all of those elements, I knew we had a winner.”

A smoother, more powerful ride
Replacing the 5.4-liter V8 that has powered Navigator for years is a more powerful and fuel-efficient 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine.

The twin turbocharged, direct injection engine is projected to deliver at least 370 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque, according to preliminary test data. Final numbers will be available closer to production. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost is also projected to deliver best-in-class towing.

Navigator features a six-speed automatic transmission with Lincoln’s SelectShift, which allows the driver to manually control gears if desired. The vehicle is available in both four-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive configurations. The available Control Trac Four-Wheel-Drive system enhances traction on slippery surfaces, helps improve handling on dry roads and enables off-road capability.

Helping make this the best-handling Navigator ever is the addition of standard electric power-assisted steering. This allows for more consistent and precise control of the vehicle through a range of speeds while simultaneously making it easier to maneuver at low speeds, and in particular making it easier to park.

The Lincoln Drive Control option adds Lincoln’s Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD), a suspension system that monitors multiple vehicle sensors and road conditions every two milliseconds and adjusts the suspension needs accordingly. CCD also provides a smoother and improved ride – best-ever for Navigator – and allows the driver to customize the ride of the vehicle by selecting one of three different control modes: Normal, Sport and Comfort.

Navigator also offers driver-friendly Hill Start/Descent Assist. When parked on a hill with a grade of five degrees or more, the vehicle remains stationary for up to two seconds after the driver releases the brake pedal.

Standard-equipped Navigators will continue to offer Nivomat®, a load-leveling system that automatically raises a loaded rear end to optimum ride height for improved handling. The mechanical leveling system helps reduce uneven wear on front and rear tires and helps maintain better vehicle aerodynamics.

Technology-based luxury
Illuminated “welcome mats” beneath both front doors greet Navigator owners when they press the “unlock” button on the key fob.

A passive entry system allows owners to enter without using a key. The system senses when the key fob is in range of the door and allows for keyless access via a door-mounted button. Inside, a push-button start allows for keyless engine ignition.

The latest SYNC® with MyLincoln Touch™ driver connectivity system is standard. The system allows drivers to use voice-activated or touch screen controls to make phone calls, play music, use the navigation system or set cabin temperature controls. The system includes 4.2-inch LCD displays in the instrument cluster, an 8-inch touch screen in the center stack and traditional knob controls for easy operation.

The available Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) signals when another vehicle is detected in an adjacent lane behind either rear wheel. Standard for 2015, Navigator also introduces a new rearview camera, which displays a color image on the 8-inch touch screen for help when driving in reverse.

Rebirth of an icon
Navigator was wildly popular the moment it hit the streets in the late 1990s, and spent more than a decade as one of the top-selling vehicles in the segment. Featuring seating for up to eight passengers, luxury cues typically reserved for sedans and cargo space and towing capacity to haul virtually anything, Navigator set the full-size luxury SUV standard.

It was an immediate success, accounting for 41 percent of in-segment sales by the 2000 model year. Aiming to recapture that glory, the 2015 Navigator offers nearly two dozen upgrades from the current generation.

“Navigator has retained some of the most loyal following in the segment for more than a decade,” said Jim Farley, executive vice president, Ford global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. “Among Lincoln owners, more than 70 percent have been return customers – purchasing the vehicle for its power, for its beauty and for its capability, and this new Navigator gives them more on all three fronts.”

Production of the 2015 Navigator is scheduled to begin late this summer at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky., and vehicles are due in Lincoln showrooms in early fall.

New FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica is now available to order

• New FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica is now available to order priced from £14,895 OTR
• FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica features a unique look, as well as additional standard features
• UK order books of standard FIAT Panda 4X4 are now almost full with delivery of most new orders expected from March 2014

FIAT is celebrating 30 years and 500,000 sales of its iconic all-wheel drive city car with the special edition FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica. Designed to stand out from the crowd, the Antarctica is only available in white with a black roof, orange detailing, diamond-finish 15-inch alloy wheels and special badges.

Inside, the FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica features grey and orange upholstery with numerous additional standard features such as dark-tinted rear privacy glass, a height adjustable driver’s seat and three-passenger rear seat with 60:40 split/folding backrests. As with all examples of the FIAT Panda 4X4 sold in the UK, the Antarctica edition also features air conditioning, ESC stability control, an electronic locking differential (ELD), specially tuned suspension, mud-and-snow tyres and rugged bodywork protection all as standard.

Powered either by FIAT’s award-winning 85hp 0.9 TwinAir petrol engine or a 75hp 1.3-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel engine, the FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica offers a unique combination of exceptionally low running costs and genuine off-road capability which is unmatched by any competitor vehicle.

Just 300 examples of the FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica will be built for the UK market priced from £14,895 OTR and available on a PCP from just £229 deposit and £229 per month.

Meanwhile demand for the standard FIAT Panda 4X4, recently named ‘2014 Mini 4X4’ by the UK’s best-selling off-road enthusiast publication, 4X4 Magazine, and Top Gear magazine’s SUV of the Year 2012, has been so strong that a waiting list has developed. Customers who order now could expect delivery of their new FIAT Panda 4X4 in March 2014, in time for the new ‘14’ registration plate. In the interim, the exciting new limited edition FIAT Panda 4X4 Antarctica will be available to help satisfy this demand.

Elena Bernardelli, Marketing Director FIAT Group Automobiles UK, commented: “Not only has the FIAT Panda 4X4 been a huge success all over Europe for the past 30 years, it’s in huge demand in the UK too. British buyers really appreciate its nimbleness and efficiency, combined with its immense all-weather capability, all wrapped up in a distinctive and unmistakably Italian package. The new Panda 4X4 Antarctica - with its extra equipment, unique styling features and strictly limited numbers - should prove even more appealing so potential buyers will need to be quick to snap one up this winter!”

Happy 20th birthday to the Toyota RAV4.

The 1994 Geneva motor show marked the arrival of a new kind of vehicle, one that would transform the global car market. At the time few can have anticipated the impact the Toyota RAV4 would make, its world debut setting in train a success story that’s still going on today.

The original Recreational Activity Vehicle with 4-wheel drive pioneered a new segment for compact, highly manoeuvrable SUVs, part of the market that has developed from a niche to become a fundamental feature of the motoring mainstream.

Toyota had modest ambitions for its new model, expecting initial worldwide demand of only around 4,500 units. When 8,000 orders flooded in in the first month alone, production volumes had to be doubled.

In the UK, sales of the “small, light, sporty and affordable” RAV4 kicked off in June. Initially it was available only as a three-door with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Equipped with independent suspension all-round, a monocoque body and measuring just 3.96m long (little more than today’s Yaris), it was unlike anything else on the market.

The public had an appetite for the newcomer, however, and the following year – RAV4’s first full year on sale – almost 6,800 were sold, quickly establishing it as the fourth best-selling model in Toyota’s 14-strong UK line-up.

Where it all began

The first evidence of the direction Toyota was taking to create a compact SUV was the RAV-FOUR concept, unveiled at the 1989 Tokyo motor show. It may have been just a design study, lacking the detail of a genuine development model, but it was warmly received by the public. Two years later Toyota gave the project the green light, and work began in earnest on creating the first RAV4.

The development challenge

Chief Engineer Masakatsu Nonaka soon discovered he had a tough job convincing other Toyota departments of the feasibility of creating a mass production car for a market segment that didn’t yet exist. The term “sport utility vehicle” wasn’t in common use, and many people within the business found it hard to understand the concept of such a compact 4×4.

At one point the project ground to a halt, only to be revived thanks to intervention from an unexpected source. Toyota’s Japanese and European sales divisions came to the rescue, their close contact with the market convincing them that the time was right for this new type of car. Together they put the project back on track, and soon had their faith rewarded.

From niche model to global car

Toyota can rightfully claim to have created the compact SUV market with RAV4’s introduction in 1994. That year it sold 53,000 worldwide; the following year saw double that number reach the road, and by 1995 the total had tripled.

Global sales have grown with each of the four generations of RAV, with more than five million now having been sold – 1.3 million in Europe and more than 167,000 in the UK. As a testament to Toyota’s reputation for building hard-wearing, reliable vehicles, more than 90 per cent of the RAV4 ever sold are still on the road today.

The sales performance is all the more noteworthy given the increase in competition. By 2010 other manufacturers had followed Toyota’s lead, increasing choice in the compact SUV segment to 10 models; today there are 19.

This reflects the fact that the segment is one of the few to show sustained growth in Europe, with sales rising by 36 per cent in the last five years. Last year it attracted 848,000 sales in Western Europe, with a further 387,000 in Russia.

Fourth generation

The compact SUV market hasn’t only grown since 1994, it has also evolved and matured in line with customers’ changing requirements and preferences. At the outset this new type of car was regarded as an alternative to sporty hatchbacks and coupes; today its popularity is among families wanting an alternative to MPVs and estates that’s more fun and fashionable.

In each development of RAV4, Toyota has worked to keep the model firmly at the heart of its segment, without sacrificing the fun-to-drive quality that defined the original model. When it came to creating the latest, fourth generation modeel, it talked to existing RAV4 customers around the world to understand what the liked best about their car. They cited its good manoeuvrability, ease of access, elevated view of the road ahead, ingenious packaging, versatility and reassuring capability, even when the going gets tough.

As a result, today’s RAV4 reflects a stronger emphasis on family use, while retaining the core values of handling, versatility and on and off-road performance that have underpinned its continued popularity. The result is a car that is stronger and more sophisticated with sharper styling, a more spacious cabin and loadspace, greater comfort and higher levels of safety and versatility.

Customer choice is wider than ever before, with the UK range extending to nine models, offering both two and all-wheel drive, four diesel and petrol engines and three transmissions. Its all-wheel drive capability is more sophisticated than ever before, with Toyota’s Integrated Active Drive System developed to offer a more engaging “sport” mode, with Dynamic Torque Control monitoring and automatically adjusting the amount of drive torque distributed between the front and rear axles.

Toyota RAV4 milestones

• 1994 The first generation RAV4 makes its debut at the Geneva motor show. It’s powered by a transverse-mounted, 2.0-litre, 127bhp petrol engine and has full-time all-wheel drive. Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission is available, but with no transfer box or low-range ratios. The car has a unitary, monocoque construction and features independent suspension front and rear.
• 1995 A five-door model is made available in the UK.
• 1997 Production of an electric-powered RAV4 is launched, continuing until 2000. A number of RAV4 EV are recruited for tourist transport on Jersey.
• 1998 A three-door soft-top RAV4 is offered in the UK.
• 2000 The second generation RAV4 is introduced. The three and five-door models are longer than their predecessors (+55mm and 40mm respectively) and are available with 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines. The AWD system adopts a limited-slip centre differential, with a Torsen LSD provided as an option on the rear axle.
• 2002 The first diesel RAV4 is launched.
• 2006 The third generation RAV4 is built on a new platform and is exclusively a five-door model, but with different wheelbases in different world markets. The car is significantly longer: +190mm for the short wheelbase version and +475mm for the long wheelbase. It features a new AWD system  with an electronically controlled coupling; Downhill Assist Control and Hill-start Assist Control are also introduced.
• 2010 A new RAV4 EV concept is developed in the USA with Tesla.
• 2013 The fourth generation RAV4 is, again, a five-door only model, offered with a single wheelbase worldwide. It’s longer by 235mm compared to the previous SWB model. The latest model marks the debut of the Dynamic Torque Control AWD system.

Jaguar Land Rover delivers best ever full year global sales performance retailing 425,006 vehicles in 2013, up 19%

• New sales records set in thirty eight international markets for both brands
• Jaguar delivers strongest full year performance since 2005 retailing 76,668 vehicles, up 42%
• Land Rover sets another full year record retailing 348,338 vehicles, up 15%
• Jaguar is the fastest growing brand in Germany, India and the USA
• Global sales success driven by range of new and award winning product introductions
• Jaguar and Land Rover models receive more than 195 international awards with the Jaguar F-TYPE the most decorated vehicle

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles has delivered its strongest ever full year global sales performance thanks to the introduction of a series of multi award winning new vehicles in 2013. Full year retail sales stood at 425,006, up 19%, with strong growth in all major regions and new records set in 38 markets, including Russia, Brazil, Korea and Canada. Regional performance for the full year was as follows: Asia Pacific and the China region up 30%, North America up 21%, the UK up 14%, Europe up 6%, and other overseas markets up 23%.

Commenting on the company’s sales performance, Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO said: “2013 has proven to be a very positive year for Jaguar Land Rover thanks to continuing strong demand for vehicles across the range. Our unrelenting focus on design, technology, innovation and quality has seen Jaguar Land Rover reach global consumers in more markets than ever before thanks to its most desirable product line-up, enriched further in 2013 by the Jaguar F-TYPE and all-new Range Rover Sport”.

2013 Awards 

Jaguar Land Rover‘s enhanced stable of products received 195 awards in 2013. Jaguar received 80 awards with its most decorated model, the F-TYPE earning the World Car Design of the Year, Germany’s most prestigious award, The Golden Steering Wheel award for the Cabriolet & Coupe Category and BBC Topgear magazine Convertible of the year. Notably Jaguar also received coveted recognition from J.D. Power, being named the UK’s number one automotive brand in the Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Survey (VOSS) and the highest ranking manufacturer among luxury brands in the US J.D. Power Sales Satisfaction Index Study (SSI).

Land Rover’s full range of vehicles received 115 honours in 2013 with Range Rover topping the Land Rover awards table with 55 accolades including, Luxury Car of the Year by What Car? in the UK, Women’s Luxury Car of the Year by the Women’s World Car of the Year jury and Best Luxury SUV from Edmunds.com and Forbes. Range Rover also achieved the Highest APEAL Score of any model in the J.D. Power 2013 APEAL survey – the first time a model outside the large premium car segment has ranked highest among all models in the industry. The Range Rover Sport, launched in 2013 also received a host of awards including, SUV of the Year by Topgear magazine, Guangzhou Daily in China, Bloomberg.com and EVO magazine in the Middle East.

Jaguar 2013 Sales Performance

Jaguar recorded a 42% year on year increase in sales, selling 76,668 vehicles in 2013 - its strongest full year sales performance since 2005 with new records set in 17 markets including, Brazil, India, Russia and China. The iconic British motoring marque also emerged as the fastest growing premium brand in the USA, Germany and India in 2013. This strong global performance was primarily driven by F-TYPE introduction and a new annual record for XF retailing 47,391 saloon and Sportbrake derivatives. XJ also delivered its best full year performance for ten years with 19,677 vehicle sales with particular strong demand from North America and China thanks to the introduction of the All-Wheel Driveline and an enhanced engine line up which includes the 3.0 V6 and 2.0 4-cylinder petrol engines.

Jaguar delivered year on year increases in every major region with North America now the brand’s top selling region. Full year regional performances were as follows: the China Region up significantly, North America up 44%, Asia Pacific up 33%, Europe up 17%, the UK up 15% and other overseas markets up 31%.

Land Rover 2013 Sales Performance

Land Rover set a new full year sales record retailing 348,338 vehicles in 2013, up 15% on the prior year following record sales of the Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque and an incredible performance from all- new Range Rover Sport which was close to equaling its prior record set in 2007, despite having only been on sale for part of the year. The Freelander 2 also delivered a very strong full year performance, up 20% on the prior year.

Sales were up for Land Rover in every major region with annual sales records set in 42 markets, including the UK, USA, Brazil and India.  Full year regional performances were as follows: Asia Pacific up 29%, the China Region up 17%, North America up 15%, the UK up 13%, Europe up 4%, and other overseas markets up 22%.

Commenting on the sales success, Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Group Sales Operations Director said: “2013 has been a great year in which we have seen some incredibly exciting new models launched to customers across the world. The Range Rover Sport, F-TYPE, new engines and drivetrains, and a number of 14 Model Year enhancements to our existing line up have seen Jaguar Land Rover continue to build strong sales momentum in every global region.

It is not just our customers who are delighting in our strongest ever vehicle line up, international journalists bestowed almost 200 awards on our vehicles in 2013 with the F-TYPE, our star performer receiving more than 59 accolades. This recognition is a demonstration that Jaguar Land Rover’s focus is on delivering cars that surpass customer expectations.”

Kia brings in the new year with some great retail offers.

• Up to £2,000 off selected models
• Care-3 for just £99 on new VR7 range
• Existing cee’d owners eligible for up to £3,000 loyalty offer
• New 2014 Sportage available to pre-order

Kia Motors (UK) Ltd is starting the New Year with a range of customer offers across the entire line-up including newly introduced models.

All customers can save up to £2,000 on selected models across the range. The pocket sized Picanto is available with up to £1,250 off the retail price, meaning the entry level ‘1’ three-door starts from just £7,795. The Rio hatchback has up to £1,000 customer saving and the Venga B-MPV has a £1,600 saving on the entry level ‘1’ and ‘1 Air’. All other Venga’s have a £1,000 saving. The Soul is also available with a £1,000 customer saving across the line-up meaning the entry level 1.6 GDi ‘1’ starts from just £12,800.

Kia’s large SUV, the Sorento, starts at just £24,695 with a £2,000 saving (this £2,000 is available on all models). A top-level ‘KX-4’ 2.2 CRDi 194bhp six-speed auto seven-seat model has been added to the popular SUV line-up. With 19-inch alloy wheels, Parallel Park Assist, driver’s memory seat, two rear sun blinds and a silver front grille as standard, this standout model is also available with a £2,000 customer saving and starts from £34,495.

Savings on the cee’d family are equally generous with an up to £1,000 saving for new customers on the cee’d five-door, pro_cee’d and Sportswagon, whilst existing Kia customers are entitled to a loyalty offer of up to £3,000 in lieu of all other offers. The cee’d line is eligible for a £1,000 deposit contribution with the 4.9 per cent PCP deal from Kia Access. All these offers exclude the GT and GT Tech models.

Special edition VR7 models are now available on the Picanto, Rio and cee’d family line-ups. Standard features across all models include air conditioning, alloy wheels, reversing sensors, Bluetooth connectivity and leather trimmed steering wheel and gear shift as well as electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, USB and AUX ports and front and rear electric windows (except on 3-door models). All models across the VR7 range are available in white, silver, black and red.

Not only do these models offer a great level of specification but also a great deal – with prices starting from just £8,795 for the Picanto 3-door, with a £750 customer saving. To top it off all VR7 models are available with Kia’s Care-3 all-inclusive servicing package that includes the first three services for just £99.

The new 2014 Sportage is available to pre-order from January with vehicles arriving in dealerships from February. They feature a revised grille design and a rear combination light restyling that offers enhanced illumination and therefore better visibility. New-style alloy wheels and a shark-fin antenna finish off the exterior changes.

Inside, the model benefits from a new soft ‘nano’ paint finish on the dash and centre console as well as new-style instrumentation and a premium Infinity audio system fitted to high-end models.

New technical features have also been added to the 2014 Sportage – Trailer Stability Control is fitted as standard and Kia’s Flex Steer system and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is fitted to selected models.

The Carens 7-seat MPV is available with a range of customer offers. All derivatives are available with 4.9 per cent Kia Access PCP and Conditional Sale finance offers. A £750 deposit contribution is available to new customers whilst all petrol models get £1,500 off the list price and diesels get £1,000. Current Kia owners benefit from an up to £3,000 loyalty offer.

To make getting into a new Kia even easier there’s 4.9 per cent PCP from Kia Access, as well as 4.9 per cent Conditional Sale finance across the entire range and even zero per cent finance available on Venga and Soul models. Picanto and Rio ‘1’ models are eligible for a £250 and £350 Kia Access deposit contribution respectively.

Range Rover Sport conquers Empty Quarter Desert - Exclusive Land Rover video

• New documentary film shows the new Range Rover Sport’s 800km dawn to dusk drive across the Empty Quarter desert – setting the fastest recorded time for the crossing of 10 hours and 22 minutes
• Film live on Land Rover’s YouTube channel from today
• Features behind-the-scenes footage with off-road racer Moi Torrallardona as he pilots the standard production vehicle to victory
• Second installment of the Driven Challenges - follows the new Range Rover Sport setting the production SUV speed record at Pikes Peak back in June

Land Rover has today revealed an exclusive new documentary film charting the new Range Rover Sport’s challenge to complete the fastest recorded crossing of the Empty Quarter desert, which it achieved last month.

The video, which can be seen on Land Rover’s YouTube channel here tracks the team’s 849km journey from Wadi Adda Wasir in Saudi Arabia to the border of the United Arab Emirates. The team completed the challenge on November 3rd 2013, finishing in 10 hours and 22 minutes at an average speed of 51.87 mph (81.87 km/h), and the documentary charts the journey from beginning to end.

The short film features spectacular footage from inside and outside the vehicle, as well as epic shots of the barren environment that the team faced as they tackled the largest sand desert in the world.  Viewers will see the new Range Rover Sport pummel the desert flats at full speed, tip toe down the steepest sand dunes and navigate the myriad of obstacles that the desert threw up – including rogue camels appearing from nowhere. Sand storms, immense heat and punishing jumps are just some of the challenges that pushed man and machine to the limit.

Behind-the-scenes footage shows the man behind the drive - 47 year-old Spanish off-road racer Moi Torrallardona – and charts the physical and mental endurance that led to his success. Torrallardona said: “The Empty Quarter was an incredible challenge and one that will live with me for the rest of my life. The Range Rover Sport was the ideal tool for conquering the desert and it is great to be able to relive the challenge through this short documentary. The Empty Quarter provided a unique test for a standard production vehicle and thanks to the ability of the Range Rover Sport we came out victorious.”

The challenge was completed in a standard production new Range Rover Sport with a 510PS 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine, running standard tyres. The only modification to the vehicle was the fitment of an underbody protection plate. This vehicle was displayed at the Dubai Motor Show on the 5th November, just two days after completing the desert crossing.

The class-leading, genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability, breakthrough lightweight suspension design and innovative dynamic chassis technologies all helped the new Range Rover Sport conquer one of its toughest challenges yet.

The challenge is the second that the new Range Rover Sport has completed in recent months, following its record hill climb for a production SUV at Pikes Peak back in June, the short documentary of which can be viewed here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaPiM_mish4

These feats are part of a series of global driving challenges in which the Range Rover Sport is pushed to new limits.

The video and further shots can be downloaded from www.uk.media.landrover.com

The Empty Quarter

The Empty Quarter spans four countries in the Arabic Peninsula: Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Temperatures regularly rise above 50°C and any crossing, no matter how well organised, must be approached with extreme caution.

All-new Range Rover Sport

Developed alongside the highly-acclaimed Range Rover, the new Range Rover Sport delivers the brand’s best-ever on-road dynamics together with class-leading, genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability. It presents customers with a more assertive and muscular exterior, more luxurious interior and the flexibility provided by the option of occasional third row seating.

Exploiting Land Rover’s breakthrough lightweight suspension design and innovative dynamic chassis technologies, the all-new Range Rover Sport’s first-in-class aluminium architecture achieves a weight saving of more than 420kg.

Designed and engineered at Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, the new model is produced in a state-of-the-art low-energy manufacturing facility at Solihull, UK.

USA - Chrysler issues recall notice on a number of its products.

Chrysler Group LLC will recall an estimated 5,663 cars and trucks to inspect their automatic transmissions.

Output shafts installed in some model-year 2013 vehicles were shaped using a two-stage forging method employed during early production. The resulting components may be subject to fracture in rare circumstances.

The process has been replaced by a single-stage forging method.

Chrysler Group is unaware of any associated injuries or accidents.

The recall is limited to certain Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Ram 1500 models equipped with a specific set of features and equipment: 4x4 or all-wheel drive, an 8-speed transmission and a V-6 engine. Chrysler Group will inspect and test their transmission output shafts and, if necessary, replace their transmission assemblies at no cost to customers.

Affected customers number approximately 4,194 in the U.S., 1,424 in Canada and 45 outside the NAFTA region. They will be notified when to schedule service appointments with their dealers.

Customers who have concerns may call 1-800-853-1403.

Value - Practicality - Equipment - Space - Towing capability, that will be a Ssangyong then !

• Prices from just £14,995
• Contemporary new front styling
• Completely redesigned interior
• Greatly improved NVH
• 5 year limitless mileage warranty

SsangYong is giving its Italian designed Korando crossover a fresh new look for 2014.

Already noted for its great value, high level of equipment, space and 2 tonne towing capability - the Korando SE recently won The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Award 2014 for vehicles under £16,000 - the car now gets a makeover inside and out, and enhanced driving refinement.

Externally, the front receives an all-new treatment - a slimmed down, black mesh radiator grille, more contemporary headlights and a wider, low level air intake are the principal enhancements.  The new headlight units now comprise projection lamps and LED daytime running lights for increased visibility and safety, surrounded by a stylish black and aluminium bezel.  Further illumination is provided on the ELX4 model with neat round fog lamps set discreetly within the lower bumper.

At the rear, the design changes are focused on enhanced style with detail improvements such as the rear light cluster, which now includes LED lights for improved visibility.

There are new designs for both the 16-inch and 17-inch wheels, and three new exterior colours - Sunrise red, Cosmic blue and Carbonic grey as well as Space black, Grand white and Silent silver.

The interior of the car has also been given a significant re-design, and now combines an attractive and comfortable ambiance for the driver and passengers alike.  There is a completely redesigned dashboard featuring soft-touch materials for a greater sense of luxury, complemented by natural matt wood grain insets, and abundant storage space that includes enlarged cup holders, a mobile phone tray and flip-down sunglasses tray.

The new Korando is powered by a modern yet well-proven 2.0-litre Euro 5 engine.  The top of the range ELX4 automatic is matched with the powerful, smooth and efficient 175ps e-XDi200 diesel engine with a maximum power output of 175ps/4000rpm and peak torque of 360Nm/2,000-3,000rpm.  Models featuring manual transmission get the 149ps e-XDi200 engine which delivers the same maximum power and peak torque as the automatic, and is perfect for lively driving as well as for going off-road and towing.

Korando offers two transmissions: a 6-speed manual with high fuel efficiency and smooth gear shifting, and a 6-speed automatic with optimum gear ratios for smooth, comfortable driving.

Great advances in reducing NVH (noise, vibration & harshness) have been made to this new car, with particular attention focused on its engine mountings.  Stronger, reinforced mounting brackets are used which effectively reduce engine noise levels by up to 9.3%.  Korando is fitted with Macpherson struts to the front and multi-link suspension to the rear to provide excellent ride comfort, and the three point mountings to the rear axle effectively minimise noise and vibration.  New rubber bushes have been fitted to the car’s reinforced sub frames, further helping to minimise intrusive vibration and noise from the road surface and engine.

Three of the four new models come with four wheel drive, and unlike its competitors a very high percentage of customers choose their Korando with 4x4, an intelligent and advanced all-wheel drive (AWD) system based on SsangYong’s highly regarded four wheel drive technology and years of experience.  The torque-on-demand system senses the road surface and driving conditions and distributes the power to the wheels that need it most.

Under normal driving conditions, 100 per cent of the engine’s torque is delivered to the front wheels so that the car runs with optimised fuel efficiency.  On icy or slippery roads or when driving on wet off-road conditions, power is distributed to both the front and rear wheels to ensure a safe, stable and dependable drive.  The technology also works perfectly to give a smooth and safe departure when driving away from a standstill on a steep slope, while a lock mode distributes power equally between the front and rear wheels at speeds below 25mph to optimise traction.

With a ground clearance of 180mm, an approach angle of 22.8 degrees, 28.2 degree departure angle and a ramp angle of 18.5 degrees, the new Korando is as at home off-road as it is on the road, and a highly capable off-roader.

In conjunction with the standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with emergency brake assist and four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), the four-wheel drive system provides the best possible grip and control whatever the conditions.  Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Active Roll-over Protection (ARP) also feature.

The new Korando offers the practicality and convenience of an SUV and the creature comforts of a saloon car.  Its generous proportions and wide interior space make this the perfect vehicle for both everyday use and leisure activities.  In the rear, there’s sufficient shoulder room for three adults to travel in complete comfort.  The seat back - which splits 60:40 - can be reclined up to 17.5 degrees, while the flat floor and generous legroom make it ideal for long journeys.  Lift the tailgate and you’ll find one of the largest load areas in this SUV sector (486 litres with the seats up and 1,312 litres when folded).  The rear seats fold completely flat, while there’s also an under-floor tray for storing valuables out of sight.

The new look Korando is a genuine SUV offering great driving performance both on and off-road together with a 2-tonne towing capability.  There are four models in the range with a comprehensive level of equipment and at prices many of its competitors fail to match. 

Cars arrive at dealers before the end of the year and are available to order now.

Jaguar, Land Rover posts huge sales increases across the board

• Jaguar Land Rover North America increases 37 percent in November, for its best November sales result since 2005
• Jaguar continues industry-leading growth streak with 103 percent growth in November on new XF and XJ All Wheel Drive models and F-TYPE sales
• Land Rover brand has its best ever November sales increasing 25 percent on strong Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque demand

Jaguar Land Rover North America today reported November 2013 U.S. sales: Jaguar sales were 1,446 units, 103 percent up from 713 units in November 2012; Land Rover sales reached an all-time November high of 4,601 units, up 25 percent from 3,687 units in November 2012. Jaguar Land Rover North America November U.S. sales for both brands hit 6,047 units, a 37 percent increase from 4,400 units in November 2012.

Year to date through November, Jaguar Land Rover North America is up 21 percent, with Jaguar up 41 percent and Land Rover up 15 percent.

"Jaguar Land Rover's U.S. business is growing for both brands and across SUVs, sports cars and luxury sedans," said Andy Goss, Group Sales Operations Director, Jaguar Land Rover. "The Jaguar brand has doubled its November U.S. business and Land Rover had its best U.S. November sales ever. We look forward to a strong end-of-year as we strive for benchmark annual results for both brands."

U.S. BRAND HIGHLIGHTS

Land Rover
Range Rover sales were 1,292 units, up 267 percent from 352 in its run out month in November, 2012. Year to date, the Range Rover model is up 60 percent from 2012. In the 2013 J.D. Power 2013 U.S. APEAL Study, the Range Rover was the industry's highest scoring model.

Range Rover Evoque increased 21 percent to 1091 units from 904 units in November, 2012.  Year to date, the Range Rover Evoque is up 31 percent.

Year to date, Land Rover brand is up 15 percent from 2012.

Land Rover's 2014 model year line-up features five models: The 240-hp 2.0 liter powered LR2 and Range Rover Evoque; the LR4 powered by the supercharged 340-hp V6; the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover, both available with the 340-hp V6 and 510-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 powertrains.

Jaguar
For the month of November, the Jaguar XF was the Jaguar volume and growth leader with 656 units sold, up 92 percent from 341 sales in November 2012. Year to date, the XF is up 42 percent. The current MY XF lineup includes the new 2.0T model as well as all-wheel-drive and V-6 options.

The Jaguar XJ sales were 465 units, up 75 percent from 266 in November, 2012. All-wheel-drive models now make up approximately half of all XJ sales.

The F-TYPE convertible sports car added 222 units this month.  The F-TYPE Coupe was introduced at the Los Angeles International Automobile Show in November and goes on sale in spring, 2014.

Year to date, Jaguar sales are 15,408, up 41 percent from 10,962 sales, with both XJ and XF sales increasing on the appeal of new powertrains and all-wheel-drive.

For MY14 the transformed Jaguar U.S. lineup includes:

Instinctive All Wheel Drive™ - Available on both the XF and XJ
Supercharged 340hp V6 engines in the XF and XJ
Turbocharged 240hp four cylinder engine available in the XF
Eight Speed ZF® Automatic Transmissions on all XF and XJ models
Auto Engine Stop/Start on select XF and XJ models

The 2014 Jaguar line-up features four models: The Jaguar XJ luxury sedan, powered by a 340-hp supercharged V6 in rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive configuration, a 470-hp supercharged V8 or a 550-hp supercharged V8 in the XJR model. The Jaguar XF sports sedan powered by a 240-hp turbocharged four cylinder, a 340-hp supercharged V6 in rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive configurations, a 470-hp supercharged V8, a 510-hp Supercharged V8 in the XFR, and a 550-hp Supercharged V8 in the XFR-S. The XK coupe and convertible grand touring cars are powered by either a 385-hp V8 or a 510-hp supercharged V8 in the XKR. Jaguar also offers its highest performance models ever, the 2014 Jaguar XKR-S coupe and convertible with a 550-hp supercharged V8.  The 2014 MY Jaguar F-TYPE convertible comes in three variants, 340-hp F-TYPE, 380-hp F-TYPE S and 495-hp F-TYPE V8 S.

Dacia and Yamaha combine to offer 2 4x4 vehicles for one amazing price.

• Dacia launches new ATV (All-Terrain-Vehicle) Pack for Duster. Allows any Yamaha Grizzly “quad bike” to be teamed with a trailer and towbar, fitted to the high-selling SUV, from £5,400 including VAT
• New ATV Pack aimed largely at agricultural community requiring off-road capability. Best-selling Pack combination is expected to be mid-range Duster Ambiance dCi 110 4x4 (£13,695) with entry-level Grizzly 350 AWD, costing £21,495 on-the-road (or more aptly, off it)
• Even more cost-conscious customers expected to opt for Access 4x4 (£11,095) with the same AWD quad bike ATV Pack for well under £20,000 (£18,895). Specifying the Grizzly 125 2WD version of the offer costs only £16,495
• ATV Pack is also available to existing Duster owners
• Duster with optional ATV Pack to debut at the hugely popular Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Mid Wales, 2-3 December 2013

Always fancied a quad bike, but never quite gone through with it? Then now’s your chance. On Monday, 2nd December, Dacia, the home of truly affordable 4x4s, is launching a unique off-roading duo at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair. An ATV (All-Terrain-Vehicle) Pack to go with a Duster, which includes a towbar and trailer fitted to it, plus a quad bike, from as little as £5,400.

The mud-plugging abilities of Duster are widely known, not least by the sizeable collection of 4x4 awards its racked up in less than a year on sale over here. Now Dacia’s looking to plough a new furrow with buyers in rural communities right across the UK.

Chances are a hefty proportion of buyers will end up using their new twin off-roaders for a little weekend fun. In fact, with up to 110hp on tap and weighing a relatively light 1294kg for its size, Duster’s chances against a quad bike in a muddy field drag race might not be quite as clear-cut as you might think. But, there’s a very good reason why they’ve been deliberately let loose at the show in Llanelwedd, which draws in hordes of visitors each year. Which is? The offer’s been cannily timed so that the ATV-equipped Dusters arrive bang on time to coincide with lambing season next February.

Chunky, tough and perfectly at home with the rough stuff, it was probably only a matter of time before Duster was hooked up with a quad bike. In fact, in Access trim, some could say the similarities run even deeper. No radio. Air con. Or, even alloy wheels. But it’s probably the most honest off-roader this side of a Land Rover Defender, wearing its fit-for-purpose style with pride.

Dacia’s flagship model is the perfect workhorse. Even so, just occasionally, its owners might hanker after something just as hardy, but a little more compact. Cue the ATV Pack. Available to buy through official Dacia Retailers, it comprises a Yahama Grizzly ATV, towbar and Ifor Williams P8e trailer with ramp, the offer can be tweaked perfectly to suit customer needs. Having said that, three combinations are expected to account for the bulk of orders. Firstly, the off-roading option, for both modes of transport. For £7,800 (including VAT), Duster customers, be they custodians of a 4x2 or 4x4 version, will be able to add a Yamaha ATV Grizzly 350 4WD. Teaming it with this country’s most affordable off-roader, Access 4x4 (£11,095), brings it in well under 20 grand. Or, £18,895 to be exact. The most popular option is expected to be the Ambiance dCi 110 4x4, combined with the same quad bike for £21,495.

At the other end of the price spectrum, the two-wheel-drive Yamaha Grizzly 125 can be hooked up as part of a £5,400 offer. Adding it to the entry Duster 4x4 for example, would mean a total outlay of just £16,495.

Ensuring that no owners miss out on the fun, the ATV Pack can be specified with any version of Duster, as well as both new and used. A full Yamaha dealer product handover and a free rider training course endorsed by EASI (European ATV Safety Initiative) are also thrown into the deal. Farmers, like all businessmen, will be able to claim back the VAT element of the ATV Pack. Sadly though, not on the car.

Dacia’s Duster SUV has been rigorously engineered to cope with challenging terrain and climates right across the globe. Backing up its go-anywhere ability, is Alliance partner Nissan’s 4x4 system with selectable three modes, 2WD, Auto or Lock. Allied to which is an especially short first gear that helps with hill starts, steep descents and towing.

In contrast, Yamaha’s Grizzly line-up, or quad bike to you and me, is Europe’s best-selling utility ATV range. Its 348cc engine (Grizzly 350) gives it an impressive turn of speed, plus it includes the proven On-Comand® 2WD/4WD system and a towing capacity of 500kg.

Dacia, the “smart buy” offshoot of Renault, has made an enemy of the unnecessary and makes a simple range of cleverly designed, high quality vehicles. Its jaw-dropping prices are clear and straightforward, whether you buy its cars online at the Dacia Store on www.dacia.co.uk or through your local dealer.

Halewood celebrates breaking the ONE MILLION production milestone.

• 1,000,000 vehicles built at Halewood since 2001 including, Jaguar X-Type, Land Rover Freelander 2 and Range Rover Evoque.
• Milestone vehicle will be a unique Range Rover Evoque, donated to Cancer Research UK.
• A record breaking 220,000 Range Rover Evoques built in just 24 months brings 1m milestone to Halewood ahead of original forecast schedule.

Jaguar Land Rover is celebrating the production of the 1,000,000^th Jaguar Land Rover vehicle at its Halewood advanced manufacturing facility, near Liverpool, today (25^th November 2013).

The 1,000,000 vehicle is a unique Range Rover Evoque, painted in a special one-off colour combination and will be donated to Cancer Research UK. The vehicle is a Fuji-White, Dynamic with ebony-black alloy wheels and distinctive and unique Firenze-Red contrast roof, matching Firenze-Red mirror scalps and red/black sports seats and interior door panels.

Global demand for Range Rover Evoque has exceeded expectations with 18,000 advanced orders before job 1 on 4 July 2011. With continued demand for Evoque and growing sales of Land Rover Freelander 2, this production milestone was achieved earlier than predicted. Production volume at Halewood has increased significantly over the past 12 months due to 24 hour working, bringing the arrival of the 1,000,000 vehicle ahead of original forecasts.

Between 2001 and 2009, 363,603 Jaguar X-Type and X-Type Estates were manufactured at Halewood. The Jaguar X-Type was Jaguar's best-selling model during much of its production run and was Jaguar's first compact executive car for 50 years. In 2002, the Jaguar X-Type Diesel 2.0 was launched and made history for the company as Jaguar’s first ever diesel model. Also in 2002 the Jaguar X-Type Estate was launched, again making history as Jaguar’s first ever estate vehicle.

In 2003 the X-Type achieved best in class Paint Appearance in the JD Power US survey, a hotly contended and sought after prize, which was retained in 2004 and again in 2006. In 2005 Halewood celebrated another significant manufacturing award, this time with the JD Power European Gold Plant Award in Recognition of X-Type’s excellent quality. In 2006 the 2.2 Diesel was launched and in December 2009 the last Jaguar X-Type drove off the line at Halewood.

In 2005 manufacturing preparation works commenced, following significant investment by Land Rover, for the production of the all new Land Rover Freelander 2. On 25 October 2006 the Land Rover Freelander 2 Job 1 drove off the production line and was welcomed into the world by Premier League footballers from Liverpool Football Club. In May 2012 Halewood celebrated the 300,000 production milestone. The global demand for Freelander 2 continues today and it has been one of Land Rover's most popular models with 381,211 being manufactured to date.

In July 2011 Halewood, and the world, welcomed the arrival of the Range Rover Evoque. The smallest, most efficient production Range Rover ever made. When the Evoque started life it had already generated an exceptional market response with more than 18,000 advance orders from customers worldwide. Waiting lists for the car peaked at 12 months for some markets during the second half of 2011. As a result of this demand, Halewood Operations moved to 24 hour production for the first time in its 50 year history. The Evoque has received over 130 global awards and is the biggest selling Jaguar Land Rover vehicle, breaking Jaguar Land Rover production volume records in both of its first two years of production. Halewood has manufactured 255,186 to date.

Richard Else, Operations Director, Halewood, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating this huge milestone for Halewood. This unique Evoque looks stunning and is a one-off vehicle that will raise money for Cancer Research UK projects here in the North West.”

“Over the past few years many of the families of my growing team have been impacted by various forms of cancer. This milestone vehicle, built with pride at Halewood, will help raise much needed funds to help eradicate this dreadful disease.” 

The 1,000,000^th vehicle will be donated to Cancer Research UK, who will take ownership of the vehicle later in the year. The CRUK team will be placing the car in a special auction event in 2014. Details of the event will be revealed in the new year and funds raised from the vehicle will then be spent on CRUK projects in the North West of England.

Cancer Research UK funds world-class research and clinical trials throughout the North West and last year spent nearly £21 million supporting the work of doctors, nurses and scientists at hospitals and major universities in the region. Every hour more than four people in the North West are diagnosed with cancer.

Head of Volunteer Fundraising at Cancer Research UK, Simon O’Leary, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Jaguar Land Rover for thinking of us and making such a generous gift. Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research, so every step we make towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated. The money raised by the auction of the car will make a real difference in the fight against cancer.”

Mitsubishi's new Outlander PHEV gets into London for free.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is pleased to announce the new Outlander PHEV will be exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

In spring 2014 Mitsubishi will be launching the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) version of its all new Outlander. Outlander PHEV is a 4x4 SUV built without compromise to interior space. The green credentials for the car are particularly impressive. Outlander PHEV can achieve up to 148mpg and only emits 44g/km CO2. This means that customers will benefit from tiny fuel bills, no vehicle excise duty (VED) and, for company car drivers, a benefit in kind (BIK) rate of just 5%. To add to this list of benefits Outlander has also just qualified to be London Congestion Charge exempt.

Before 1st July 2013 all hybrid vehicles qualified to be Congestion Charge exempt. After this date Transport for London (TfL) tightened the rules meaning hybrid vehicles had to be able to travel more than 10 miles using electric power alone and emit less than 75g/km CO2 in order to qualify. The result was that most of the hybrid vehicles in the market, which generally have an electric vehicle range of less than 10 miles and emissions above 75g/km, no longer qualified.

Outlander PHEV is totally different to current generation hybrids. The car can cover a significant distance and reach impressive speeds using just its electric motors (EV mode). In pure EV mode it can cover 32 miles (using both the combustion engine and electric motors range increases to 514 miles) and, where allowed, it can reach 75 mph (using the combustion engine in addition to the electric motors pushes this top speed up).

Outlander easily meets TfL’s new Congestion Charge exemption criteria and once launched will become one of the largest vehicles to get in and out of London for free.

Toby Marshall, Sales & Marketing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said:

‘Everyone at Mitsubishi is incredibly excited about the arrival of the PHEV version of Outlander. Not only is it extremely clean and green, but it is fantastic to drive. Power from the car is delivered quietly and smoothly. It certainly doesn’t hang around either!

With so much already going for it, the fact that it now qualifies for Congestion Charge exemption is great news.’

USA - Long wheelbase Range Rover globally launched at L.A.

• Range Rover Long-Wheelbase to make global debut at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show
• Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black Edition will make its debut at an exclusive customer preview event at a private residence in Beverly Hills
• Long-wheelbase Range Rover vehicle offers customers extended rear seat comfort
• The 2014 Range Rover will be available in standard (SWB) and long-wheelbase (LWB)
• Rear seat luxury and comfort is enhanced by close to eight inches of extra wheelbase
• Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black edition will be launched as the new pinnacle of the Range Rover line-up
• Luxurious new amenities offered in an exclusive edition with distinct leather and veneers
• Ultra luxury rear seat experience includes reclining, extending and massage-equipped seats and custom crafted comfort and work amenities 
• New offering to meet growing demand for an ultra-luxury edition of the Range Rover
• Sales of fourth generation all-aluminum Range Rover up 39 percent YTD, 2013
• The fourth generation Range Rover was the first SUV to ever achieve the highest score in J.D. Power and Associates APEAL survey

Land Rover is extending its family of peerless luxury vehicles with the introduction of long-wheelbase variants of the Range Rover vehicle and the addition of an exclusive new ultra luxury edition- the Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black.

The Range Rover Long-Wheelbase will make its global premiere alongside the Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black edition at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The public reveals will take place on November 20, 2013 at 10am PST during the Land Rover press conference.

These two new Range Rover variants meet strong global demand for enhanced luxury, rear seat accommodation and exclusivity at the pinnacle of the Range Rover line-up.

Range Rover Long-Wheelbase 

Debuting at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, long-wheelbase Range Rover models have 7.3-inches more rear seat legroom than standard-wheelbase models and when equipped with the optional executive seating package, an increased seatback recline of 17 degrees. Customer deliveries of long-wheelbase range rover models are expected to commence in late Q1 2014.

The additional 7.3-inches of rear legroom has been achieved by lengthening the aluminum unibody in front of the rear wheels. The signature floating roof and distinctive Range Rover silhouette are retained.

Long-wheelbase variants will initially be available on Supercharged and Autobiography trim levels with either a three-across bench seat or individual rear seats with a center console. The individual rear seats can recline to 17 degrees, a full eight degrees more than in the standard-wheelbase. All long-wheelbase vehicles will be equipped with standard powered door blinds and a panoramic sunroof, and carry a distinctive 'L' badge insignia displayed on the lower front door trims.

RANGE ROVER LONG-WHEELBASE AUTOBIOGRAPHY BLACK

New levels of exclusivity with Range Rover Long-WheelbaseAutobiography Black

Land Rover has created a new ultra-luxury flagship, the 2014 Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black, which will make its U.S. debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The new Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black interior has been carefully crafted and tailored to meet customer needs with subtle but distinctive detailing. The interior has been appointed and finished with high quality leathers and materials.

Available in long-wheelbase only for the U.S. Market, the Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black has been designed and engineered by Jaguar Land Rover's 'Engineered To Order' (ETO) division to build upon the exceptional Range Rover with extended levels of luxury, comfort and design in an exclusive offering.

A limited build of around 100 units is planned for the U.S. market in the 2014 model year. The first 25 will be built in Valloire White pearlescent paint.

Subtle and distinctive exterior detailing

A number of exterior elements to the Autobiography Black give it a subtly distinctive character. A unique design and finish has been given to the front grille and side vents along with badging in black enamel and chrome. Signature rear lamps, a chrome accent finish to the tailgate and auxiliary vents to the front add to the unique detailing of this vehicle. A new exclusive 7-spoke 21-inch with a high gloss polished finish further differentiates the Autobiography Black.

"The Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black is the latest step in our transformational journey that moves luxury to another level. This vehicle is an intensely design focused response to our customers' desire for more choice and exclusivity," says Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer. "The highest standards of precision detailing, together with the use of the finest crafted materials, have been achieved inside and out. Autobiography Black represents the pinnacle of desirability in the world of luxury inhabited by our Range Rover customers."

First class travel

The Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black incorporates an individualized front and rear seating package with a bespoke seat cover design. Both front and rear seats have seat memory and climate control available. The sumptuous leather seating is complemented with a massage function and bolsters with adjustable 18-way front seat including upper seat articulation.

This package offers the ultimate in rear seat luxury with two individual fully adjustable seats and a new center console to offer supreme comfort and functionality. Rear passengers benefit from the addition of lumbar massage and powered recline, 10.2-inches Rear seat entertainment screens feature navigation journey displays and the right hand side rear passenger seat is equipped with a powered recliner calf rest for further comfort.

With a new design made exclusively for the Autobiography Black, the rear center console includes electrically deployable tables covered in black leather with integrated USB charging sockets and cup holders. A chiller compartment provides additional space for glasses and bottles and increased stowage is available towards the rear. The headphone storage trim can be removed to reveal a ski hatch while the entire rear console can be illuminated in harmony with the vehicle's mood lighting settings.

Configurable LED mood lighting allows the owner to set the tone by varying the intensity of the lighting from a range of 10 colors. This feature is concentrated on the door handles and stowage compartments, as well as along the lines of the lavish, veneered surfaces on the center console.

Finer details include leather-wrapped rear cargo trim, A, B and C-pillar trim and a perforated leather finish on the door insert. The seat backs, ski hatch, cargo trim and upper D-pillar, are also leather wrapped. Tread plates feature an illuminated 'Autobiography Black' script, while a brushed stainless steel tailgate trim completes the detailing.

Three exclusive interior color combinations are available with the Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black at launch; Ebony/Lunar, Espresso/Tan and Dark Cherry/Ivory, the latter including a unique dual-tone seat.

U.S. Models and 2014 MSRP1: (Pricing Effective Jan 1, 2014)

Range Rover:    $84,195
Range Rover HSE:     $89,195
Range Rover V8 S/C:   $100,995
Range Rover V8 S/C (LWB):     $106,195
Range Rover Autobiography:   $137,645
Range Rover Autobiography (LWB):     $142,995                              
Range Rover Autobiography Black (LWB):    $185,000
Range Rover Autobiography Black (LWB) with Valloire White Paint:    $199,500

1 Price shown is MSRP.  Includes $895 destination and delivery fee.  Excludes taxes, title, license and other local fees.  Actual price set by retailer.  See your local authorized Land Rover Retailer for details.

Jeep celebrates a win and highly commended in 4x4 awards

The legendary Jeep Wrangler continues to demonstrate its award-winning credentials after taking 4x4 Magazine’s 4x4 of the Year, Hardcore class for the second year running.

The award, which goes specifically to the four-door Wrangler, comes from the specialist publication’s panel of expert judges, who put the rugged US-built off-roader above some extremely capable competitors.

In the same awards, Jeep’s new Grand Cherokee received a Highly Commended accolade in the Premiums category.

In awarding it top honours, the 4x4 of the Year competition judges praised the Wrangler’s value for money, comfortable interior, off-roading ability, towing prowess and iconic design.

“The Jeep Wrangler remains 4x4 Magazine’s Hardcore Class champion. It effortlessly demonstrates its off-road capabilities with immense power and torque, while delivering a gorgeously low, first crawler gear for when finesse is needed,” says Nigel Fryatt, editor, 4x4 Magazine.

“All this in a comfortable, well equipped interior. Our only real criticism? There should be more of them around.”

“It's the classic 4x4 vehicle that is instantly recognisable the world over. The Jeep Wrangler is the essence of what Jeep stands for and we're honoured to receive a top award such as the Hardcore 4x4 of the Year," says Steve Zanlunghi, managing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK.

"We're especially happy to win in consecutive years as it speaks volumes for the design and capability of the current generation Wrangler."

The diesel-powered, automatic Wrangler returns 34.9 mpg (34.0 mpg 4-door) on the combined cycle and has a CO2 figure of 213 g/km (217 g/km 4-door). Prices start at £27,315 OTR for the two-door Wrangler 2.8 CRD Sahara, rising to £31,670 OTR for the four-door 2.8 CRD Overland Axle +.

Now with lower emissions of 198 g/km together with fuel consumption of up to 37.7 mpg (combined), the new Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel range also offers real value in terms of running costs. The new Grand Cherokee range starts at £36,995 (OTR) for the 3.0 CRD V6 CRD Laredo, rising to £49,495 (OTR) for the 3.0 V6 CRD Summit.