Car News

Classics that stretch your budget

There are some cars that are classics from the day they roll off the production line, some that become classics through motorsport or public fame, and others still that just fade away until they become classics by obscurity.

smart forfun²: two iconic vehicles combined

smart has developed a fortwo with monster ambitions. The forfun² has the body of a smart fortwo mounted on an all-terrain Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406 series.

Watts wins races; Faulkner and Quaife win titles

While Danny Watts took two impressive race wins in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Brands Hatch over the weekend (23/24 September), Damien Faulkner clinched the overall drivers' title and Phil Quaife secured the Pro-Am category crown.

Mazda RX-8 Nemesis – the third special edition

Mazda is introducing a third special edition model of its Mazda RX-8 rotary powered four?door sports coupé. Called the ‘Mazda RX-8 Nemesis’ the latest model builds on the success of the earlier Mazda RX-8 Evolve and Mazda RX-8 PZ. The ‘Nemesis’ features unique paint colours and interior trim, plus an exclusive accessory package, all at the extremely attractive price of £22,995 (on-the-road), £330 less than the model on which it is based – when similarly specified.

AB Volvo to acquire Nissan’s remaining 6% stake in Nissan Diesel

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd, has announced that AB Volvo will acquire its remaining 6% stake (equivalent to 18,211,000 shares) in Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd, dissolving Nissan's capital relationship with the medium- and heavy-duty Japanese truck maker. This agreement follows Nissan’s divestiture of a 13% stake in Nissan Diesel to the Swedish truck maker in March this year.

Honda demonstrates the FCX concept vehicle

Honda has held a demonstration drive of the next-generation FCX Concept fuel cell vehicle. The FCX Concept features a newly developed compact, high-efficiency Honda FC Stack as well as a low-floor, low-riding, short-nose body. It offers a comfortably large cabin and futuristic styling along with significant improvements in power output and environmental performance. Limited marketing of a totally new fuel cell vehicle based on this concept model is to begin in 2008 in Japan and the U.S.

Honda develops flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) system

Honda has announced that it has developed a new flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) system that enables gasoline engine-based power plants to operate on either 100% ethanol or a wide range of ethanol-gasoline fuel mixtures.

Honda develops next-generation clean diesel engine

Honda has announced it has developed a next-generation diesel engine that reduces exhaust gas emissions to a level equal to a gasoline engine. Honda’s next-generation diesel engine employs a revolutionary NOx catalytic converter that enables a great reduction in NOx emissions sufficient to meet stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier II Bin 5 emissions requirements (based on Honda’s internal calculations). This catalytic converter features the world’s first innovative system using the reductive reaction of ammonia generated within the catalytic converter to “detoxify” nitrogen oxides (NOx) by turning them into harmless nitrogen (N2).

Honda develops advanced VTEC engine

Honda has further advanced its VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control System) technology with the development of the Advanced VTEC engine, which achieves high performance along with outstanding fuel economy and lower emissions. The new engine combines continuously variable valve lift and timing control with the continuously variable phase control of VTC (Variable Timing Control). Honda plans to release a production vehicle equipped with the new engine within three years.

Honda unveils next-generation power plant technologies

Honda has unveiled a key element of its global initiative to reduce CO2 emissions: next-generation power plant technologies.

Grande Punto – 1st class

Fiat Auto UK has just released a limited edition postage stamp to celebrate the sales success of its Grande Punto supermini. In conjunction with the Royal Mail, it has produced a stamp which depicts the dramatic front view of the car on a 1st class stamp.

Goodwood gets involved with The Official Beaujolais Run 2006

Goodwood will be involved for the first time ever in The Official Beaujolais Run 2006, being held between 14-16 November, to benefit two very worthwhile charitable causes; the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.