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Ford has upgraded its entire Fiesta range, giving every model standard electronic stability program (ESP) and retuning many of the engines.

There are upgrades to some of the trims: Studio models now get electrically adjustable/heated door mirrors, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, auxiliary entertainment socket and two additional speakers.


Flagship Titanium models also now get Bluetooth and USB connection as standard (previously worth around £200).

All models now have a new paint option called Ink Blue. The Titanium model can now be specified with a cheaper Titanium X pack. This consists of leather seats, 17” alloy wheels and rear electric windows for £750 (£1k previously), however, this pack is only available on the 1.6 litre petrol engine whereas it was also available on the 1.6 TDCi engine.

Ford has also retuned or altered much of the Fiesta's engine range. To comply with Euro V emissions standards, all diesel engines now have a particulate filter fitted, including Econetic models.

Power for the 1.6 TDCi diesel engine is also raised from 89bhp to 95bhp. Petrol engines have been tweaked as well to lower emissions:

• 1.25 litre 80bhp

CO2 emissions - 129g/km. Previously 133g/km, saving 4g/km

• 1.6 litre 95bhp

CO2 emissions - 107g/km. Previously 110g/km, saving 3g/km

• 1.6 litre 118bhp

CO2 emissions - 134g/km. Previously 138g/km, saving 4g/km.

The changes place the 1.25 litre engine into a lower VED band (D), lowering the tax from £110 to £90 a year.

The revised Fiesta is on sale now from £11,645 for the entry-level Studio 3dr and £11,945 for the Studio 5dr. While that sounds steep, discounts of upto £4k + off the list price are available.

The price of Impreza WRX has also been reduced by £95, and now costs from £18,995, while the STI Type UK starts at £27,590.

Toyota Prius production is to be ramped up, with Toyota building a third factory in Japan despite falling sales caused by the recent global recalls.

Demand in Japan has outstripped supply since the car was launched - the car is built at two factories and waiting lists were at six months - and while Toyota will have to cut production by about 10%, it predicts demand will rise again.


The main drop-off has been in the U.S, where Prius sales are reported to have fallen 40%. In the UK, more Prius's were sold than ever before, while it has been the best-selling car in Japan for the past 9 months.

SEAT's next-generation Ibiza Ecomotive could beat the Toyota Prius to become Britain's lowest polluting car.

Sources at SEAT say it will use the Polo Bluemotion's 1.2 TDI 75bhp to achieve its target 85mpg fuel economy figure while emitting less than 89g/km of CO2 - all without relying on a complex hybrid drivetrain.


Instead, SEAT engineers will optimise the Ibiza aerodynamics to cut drag, add 15” steel wheels to reduce rolling resistance, lengthen the car's gearing and add stop/start plus regenerative braking.

Against the clock, the Spanish baby is expected to mirror the Polo's performance figures hitting 62mph from standstill in 13.9 seconds and topping out at 107mph.

Pricing has yet to be announced for the Ibiza Ecomotive, which is expected to go on sale early next year, but it should be less than the Polo with prices kicking off at around £13,000 for the 3dr SC model.

As well as the new diesel, the brand also confirmed it will add a punchy 1.2 TSI 105bhp petrol engine to the range. The flagship non-FR engine is expected to boast some impressive statistics, averaging over 55mpg while emitting less than 120g/km of CO2. Against the clock the new engine should ensure the Ibiza posts a 0-62mph time of less than 10 seconds.

Nissan has altered its Pathfinder SUV with additional equipment and a new look. The Pathfinder now gets re-designed alloy wheels, new bonnet, grille, rounded bumpers and reshaped headlights.

The interior has also been upgraded with revised door trims, new seat fabric and new instrument dials. Practicality has also been improved due to new door storage bins that can now hold an A3 map book and a 1 litre drinks bottle at the same time.

Nissan is also offering a new integrated navigation, communication and music system called Connect Premium. It's an optional extra costing £1,300 and features live traffic updates and points of interest.

There will be a choice of two diesels; the revised 2.5 litre dCi and an all-new 3.0 litre V6.

The 2.5 litre engine now produces around 190bhp, while pulling power increases to by 47Nm to 450Nm. Nissan claims CO2 emissions have fallen by 40g/km to 224g/km, which drops it two tax bands from the most expensive band M to band K. It also means showroom tax drops from £950 to £550 at current rates.

Nissan has stated the 3.0 litre V6 diesel will produce around 231bhp and will have a maximum pulling power of 550Nm. The engine will be available from June on 2011 MY Pathfinders.

The Pathfinder range starts from £28,495 on the road and is on sale now.

Daewoo may be General Motors’ only established brand in the Korean auto market, but it will soon add another: Chevrolet. GM revealed today at the Busan motor show that it will begin selling bowtie-badged vehicles in South Korea in 2011.

The Alpheon is being positioned in the Korea market as a luxury model at the top of the Daewoo range. It is fitted with a 3.0-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. GM Daewoo said the car will go on sale in the second half of the year.

GM Daewoo says the "Alpheon becomes a stand-alone luxury product brand in GM Daewoo's product portfolio." Much like its Korean couterpart, Hyundai, have made inroads into the luxury sedan segment with the Genesis model.






Press Release

GM Daewoo's All-New Luxury Sedan Debuts at 2010 Busan International Motor Show

Alpheon is GM Daewoo's entry into the upper-midsize segment

Busan, Korea - GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo) unveiled its much-anticipated luxury sedan, the Alpheon, at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show today.

"With the introduction of the all-new Alpheon luxury sedan, we have added another attractive model to our product portfolio and our first entry in the fast-growing upper-midsize segment in Korea," said GM Daewoo President and CEO Mike Arcamone. "I am confident that the Alpheon will surpass the demands of the most sophisticated luxury sedan buyers in Korea."

Another highlight of the GM Daewoo stand is a seven-seat compact multi-purpose vehicle, the Orlando show car, which is making its first appearance at an international motor show in Asia.

In addition, GM Daewoo has on display the Lacetti Premiere and GentraX race cars, and a Matiz mini-car artistically wrapped in pink.

With "Advancing Style" as its theme for this year's Busan International Motor Show, GM Daewoo has 18 vehicles on display that showcase its automotive industry design expertise.

Alpheon - Stylish Luxury Sedan

The Alpheon is based on the same GM global architecture as the Buick LaCrosse, one of the three finalists for 2010 North American Car of the Year.

GM designers and engineers from Asia, Europe and North America targeted the luxury sedan as a global product that would meet the highest quality and performance standards in the most sophisticated markets.

At first glance, the Alpheon's sculpting design flows in all directions, giving the vehicle a tightly wrapped appearance and a fast, coupe-like profile. Its dynamic and elegant body styling is highlighted by sharp side lines, short overhangs and fenders wrapped precisely around large wheel housings, giving it the presence of an upscale large sedan (2,837-mm wheelbase and 4,995mm body length).

With a unique emblem on its front "waterfall" grille, the Alpheon becomes a stand-alone luxury product brand in GM Daewoo's product portfolio.

The innovative design philosophy continues in the Alpheon's interior. The flowing shape of its instrument panel design offers a distinct, confident and upscale impression. The refined look is an integrated center stack design that incorporates ice-blue light-emitting diode (LED) ambient lighting along with premium infotainment features. Adding to the use of soft-touch materials and low-gloss trim panels rather than traditional wood applications is indicative of exceptional and luxurious craftsmanship.

Powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 engine combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Alpheon will ensure responsive performance when it is launched in the second half of this year in Korea.

On a motor show in South Korea company Hyundai absolutely unexpectedly for all has presented new generation of model Avantе. The main difference of new version Avante from the predecessor is, certainly, design. The car shown in Korea is executed in new style of company Hyundai in which earlier have already been made Sonata and Verna.

Photos of interior of the new car for the current moment are not present. But it is possible not to doubt, as here Koreans can surprise. According to the representatives Hyundai, new Avante/Elantra will set new standards in the class. And already European firms should catch up with Koreans, rather the reverse.


Under a cowl of car presented in Korea is 1,6-litre gasoline engine which gives out 140 h.p. But a bit later should appear and other power units. Sales new Avante will begin in Korea already in second half of this year. And the model will get to Europe only next year. Then it becomes clear, how many it will cost, but it is not necessary to count on discounts. Time of "cheap Koreans» has passed.

According to the British magazine AutoCar, company BMW prepares one more crossover. It will receive name BMW X4, and as it is possible to guess, the given model will be intermediate between Х3 and Х5. But, perhaps, another is more important. New BMW X4 is supposed to exhaust only in a three-door body, moreover and with a sloping roof. So it will be possible to name this model the first bonus off-road coupe.

According to representatives BMW the idea about creation Х4 has arisen at once after it became clear that big BMW X6 uses huge demand of buyers. And Bavarians are assured that cheaper X4 is capable to become the present hit of sales.

I call 30 cars buried in cement a new form of "art" called modern mafia cubism. No questions asked.

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Ok so I went a little nuts with the entire thing, I kept finding them. why so many?