Ford Fiesta revised for 2010 (UK)

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.

Subaru Impreza receives free upgrades (UK)

Subaru is offering complimentary performance upgrades worth £3,200 to buyers of its top Impreza models.

The Subaru Impreza WRX and STI Type UK will come fitted with the popular Prodrive Performance Pack, which cuts 0-62mph acceleration times from 6.5 seconds to 5.9 and 5.2 seconds to 4.8 respectively.

All this extra speed is down to a high-flow sports exhaust and remapped engine management software. Handling and looks are also improved, courtesy of 18” multi-spoke alloy wheels.

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 to build new factory for Prius hybrid

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 Ibiza Ecomotive set to beat Toyota Prius CO2 emissions (UK)

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 Pathfinder pricing announced (UK)

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.

New Car: 2011 Audi A3/Q7

Audi has revised the A3 for the 2011 model year. The car, which was facelifted in 2008, will see changes to all the variants.

New features on the car include glossy black B-pillars and grille, chrome air intakes, door handles, and side mirrors and a redesigned rear diffuser. Tail-light lenses are tinted on 3dr models.

New exterior colours, like Amethyst Grey, Dakota Grey, Scuba Blue, and Volcano Red will feature. Customers may also choose from two new 17” alloy wheels, and a new 18” alloy wheel design. Inside, the driver will find a redesigned leather wheel and gear lever, black gloss trim elements, aluminium trim inserts, and grey back grounded instruments.

Engines will stay the same. Audi has not yet disclosed when they will take orders on the 2011 Audi A3 and S3.

Audi has announced several mechanical changes for the Q7. For the 2011 model year, the 276bhp 3.6 litre V6 and 345bhp 4.2 litre V8 engines have been replaced by two versions of Audi’s supercharged V6 unit which debuted in the S4.

The lower powered version offers less power than before, at 268bhp, but 40Nm more torque. This powers the Q7 from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds - 0.6-seconds faster than before - and gives it a top speed of 140mph. The more powerful version that takes over from the 4.2 litre engine, delivering 328bhp and 440Nm of torque. This allows the Q7 to reach 62mph from rest 0.5 seconds more quickly than the V8 at 6.9 seconds, and to continue to a top speed of 152mph.

Both versions return the same fuel economy figure of 26.4mpg (10.7 l/100km) and 249g/km of CO2, representing a mpg improvement of 12% over the old V6 and 16% over the V8, and a 40g/km and 55g/km step up respectively.

Also available is an all-new 237bhp 3.0 litre V6 TDI engine which features start-stop technology. The unit returns 38.2mpg (7.4 l/100km) making it 19% more fuel efficient than the previous unit. The engine also powers the Q7 from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds – 0.6-seconds faster than before.

All models benefit from the new 8 speed automatic gearbox which debuted in the new A8. Prices range from £40,135 to £54,055 and the newcomer is available to order now.

Porsche rules out a smaller SUV

The Porsche Cayenne will be the smallest SUV built by the manufacturer, as it fears a smaller SUV would pinch sales from the Cayenne’s sales.


Company insiders have said that they believe that there is strong evidence of the Audi Q5 taking sales from the Audi Q7, and are not willing to follow a similar route. The Cayenne accounts for up to 50% of the firm’s profits, and the new model is due to go on sale on the 29th May. The range will feature a diesel and, for the first time, a hybrid with a V6 petrol engine.

The two petrol models, the S and the Turbo, both use a 4.8 litre V8, with 395bhp and 493bhp. Porsche claims 27.6mpg for the Turbo.

Prices for the new car start at £41,404 for the entry-level model. The diesel costs £44,178, while the S costs from £53,693. The new S Hybrid is the second most expensive Cayenne, at £57,610, while the flagship Turbo reflects on an £81,589 price-tag.