Interior

The new Sportage’s interior focuses on innovation of technology and spaciousness – the high seating position makes for easy access and all-round visibility, while the ergonomic dash with well-laid out instruments and switchgear maximises driver comfort.

The high-tech look is followed through to the sporty 3D-style instrument cluster and thick-rimmed leather steering wheel complete with tilt and telescopic adjustment function. All grades feature the now-familiar, Kia red-illumination on all electrical displays and systems within the cabin.

For added differentiation, the upholstery varies throughout the range, starting with full black cloth on entry models; progressing to black part cloth & leather on mid-grade models, and finally moving to full black leather on all top-grades. Both mid and high grades feature front and rear heated seats for maximum comfort.

Audio

New Sportage audio features Bluetooth, AUX iPod & USB connectivity & remote steering control

The main feature of the dash is a stylish centre console stack featuring a superb audio system with an RDS Radio and CD player and USB/AUX ports for external MP3 connection.

All models feature steering wheel mounted audio controls as well as Cruise Control and Bluetooth with Voice Recognition. Not only can drivers safely receive calls wirelessly and hands-free, but the innovative voice recognition functionality also allows the driver to safely place calls remotely.

Safety

A number of new electronic features have been added to the Sportage, increasing safety for on-road driving and the car’s capability for those owners who wish to opt for an All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) model and venture off-road or live in areas where bad weather and poor driving conditions are facts of life.

Standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) counteracts any tendency for the car to understeer or oversteer in hard cornering or adverse conditions. It is linked to three additional systems similar to those on new Sorento – Downhill Brake Control (DBC), Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) and a Roll-over Sensor.

DBC ensures the car maintains a steady and controlled speed of 5mph when descending steep slopes, whilst HAC has the reverse effect, preventing slip-back when setting off uphill and eliminating the possibility of wheelspin.

The Roll-over Sensor detects when the car might begin to roll over in the event of an accident and deploys the side and curtain airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners accordingly so that occupants are fully protected.

The overall safety package is further enhanced by 6 airbags, Front active head rests, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Brake-Assist System, ISOFIX preparation, All-round 3-point seatbelts (height adjustable for the front seats), and Child safety rear door locks.

All-Wheel-Drive (AWD)

New Sportage features the option of All-Wheel-Drive

The Intelligent AWD system (where equipped) is an innovative system which continuously monitors driving conditions and anticipates when all-wheel-drive will be needed, whereas many other competitor systems simply only react to changing conditions. With the AWD system, new Sportage is always in the correct drive mode for the prevailing circumstances.

Under normal driving conditions 100% of engine torque is delivered to the front wheels, but it can be redistributed up to a maximum of 60:40 front-to-rear to enhance cornering stability or if road surfaces deteriorate. For off-road driving, owners can manually select lock mode, which gives a 50:50 torque split at speeds of up to 25mph.

In the next post we’ll look at other features of the new Sportage including: the new Panoramic sunroof, new seating design, engines and security.

The Sportage First Edition petrol is all-wheel drive, just like its diesel counterpart, and powered by Kia’s Theta-II 2.0 petrol engine.  Mated to a 5-speed manual transmission the new petrol Sportage produces 161bhp @ 5,200rpm and 194Nm torque at 4,600rpm.  Top speed is an impressive 113mph with a sprint time of 10.3 seconds from rest to 60mph. Equally impressive is fuel consumption with a combined cycle of 35.8 mpg.  CO₂ emissions are 188g/km with insurance groups to be confirmed shortly.

Specification is indentical to that of the diesel, which includes: Black leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, 18” alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers and a colour rear parking camera system integrated into the rear view mirror. Four exterior colours are available on this version: Clyde Blue, Phantom Black metallic, Silver Storm metallic and the striking Techno Orange metallic.

The new Sportage First Edition 2.0 AWD is priced at £19,495 ‘On-The-Road’ and, as with every new Kia, comes with a fully-transferable seven year warranty. Customer ordering is open now and deliveries will begin in October.  The full new Sportage line-up, including 2WD and lower capacity engine versions, will be available later in the year.

Visit our new Kia Sportage website for more information on prices, colours and specification.

The move follows the successful sponsorship of this years V festival, where the new Nissan Juke wowed festival goers. The Juke Arena set the stage for a wide range of acts including the Pet Shop Boys, Ellie Goulding and La Roux. The new show will be titled Nissan Juke presents Virgin Red Room and will unite Virgin’s irreverent spirit with infectious energy.

The best moments from each show, six in total, will be woven into a monthly highlights show. Longer versions will be available for syndication through other companies in the Virgin stable. Nissan will provide a Red Room branded Juke which will be used by the presenters to find the most interesting artists and music events wherever they are in the UK.

Ahead of the official launch in early October, presenters Laura Jackson and DP Fitzgerald interviewed artists at V Festival, including Scouting For girls and Groove Armada. The interviews all feature the Juke and will provide content for 14 episodes aired in quick succession on Virgin.com and social media platforms. See an extract from the video below.

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The Koori pack is available on both the Mazda 2 3dr and 5dr models with 0% APR* or low rate finance available on every model.

Originally launched in 2007, the Mazda2 created a unique offering in the B-car segment, especially through its distinguished design and outstanding driving performance. Since then, it has been highly acclaimed throughout the world, most notably, being selected as the ’2008 World Car of the Year’ award winner.

Special finance offers until 30 September 2010
We are are currently offering three finance packages on Mazda 2. These are available for retail sales only, until 30 September 2010:

• Typical 0% APR* finance on Mazda Conditional Sale (with a 50% minimum deposit) up to 36 months.
• Typical 3.9% APR** finance on Mazda Conditional Sale and Mazda Personal Contract Purchase (no minimum deposit) up to 24 months.
• Typical 5.9% APR** finance on Mazda Conditional Sale and Mazda Personal Contract Purchase (no minimum deposit) up to 36 months.

During this period, we are also offering a Mazda deposit contribution of £1,250 on Sport models, £300 on the Mazda2 Takuya and £750 on all other models in the Mazda2 range to customers purchasing their car with Mazda Personal Contract Purchase finance.

To find out more about the Mazda 2 TS with air-conditioning and the Koori pack, the rest of the Mazda range, or to arrange a test-drive, please call into one of our Mazda branches at Durham or Darlington.

Kia launched a limited number of First Edition models, before production begins of the full range.  2.0 Petrol derivatives should start in September, followed by the rest in time for October/November delivery.

The line-up includes 4 engines, including brand new highly efficient 1.6 litre direct-injection petrol and 1.7 litre turbodiesel units; the choice of front-wheel drive or intelligent all-wheeldrive (AWD) and manual and automatic transmissions. All 1.6 GDi and 1.7 CRDi versions will display the ‘EcoDynamics’ logo as they feature Kia’s Intelligent Stop-and-Go (ISG) technology, which shuts down the engine when the car is stationary in traffic to help save fuel and reduce emissions. The system restarts instantly as soon as the driver is ready to move off again and selects first gear. Together, these measures ensure new Sportage is as environmentally sound as it is stylish and fun to drive.

The 16 models consist of 3 trim grades – badged 1, 2 and 3 in line with the rest of the Kia range, with all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions at the mid and high grade level given the familiar KX preface. All models are exceptionally well-equipped, as customers come to expect from Kia and are covered by the pioneering 7-year warranty.

In addition for the first-time ever in the Kia line-up, there are special flagship ‘Sat Nav’ versions of the high grade ‘3’ and ‘KX-3′ models which offer factory-fit integrated satellite navigation systems. Featuring an industry-leading 7” full-colour touch-screen system, linked to an upgraded audio & Bluetooth system as well as an advanced reversing camera display, the unit offers full European mapping, intuitive programming and ultimate convenience for customers.

Please visit our Kia Sportage website for the full model range, prices and colours. Technical specification will follow shortly.

This car has a usual waiting time of 3-4 months as a factory order, but you can jump the queue and take immediate delivery.

The Peugeot RCZ Sport 156 is a compact 2+2 sports coupe designed for maximum driving pleasure. With its reduced weight, finely honed aerodynamics and the use of the latest engine technology, the RCZ offers an innovative blend of performance and environmental protection.

The RCZ Sports engine is all new and – a world first for a 4 cylinder engine – features a number of unique technologies which allow it to attain a very high
level of efficiency, both in terms of performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

This turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine achieves a remarkable synthesis of performance (240Nm from 1400 to 4500rpm, 156bhp at 5800rpm) and fuel economy (43.1mpg; and 155g/km of CO2 with the 6-speed manual gearbox).

Specification is generous and includes the following:

• 18″ Alloy Wheels
• Sports cloth front seats
• Folding rear seat
• Automatic dual zone air conditioning
• Rear parking aid
• Deadlocks
• Selective unlocking of vehicle access points
• Locking wheel bolts
• Ultrasonic Alarm and immobiliser
• Driver and front passenger side airbags
• Driver and passenger front airbags
• Electronic Stability Programme and Traction Control (ESP and ASR)
• Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD)
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
• Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
• Black roof panel

For more information call our Peugeot team on freephone 0800 9804532.

By launching the world’s first diesel full hybrid vehicle – the 3008 HYbrid 4 – Peugeot will be
writing a new chapter in motoring history. The combination of a fuel efficient 2.0 litre 163 bhp
HDi diesel engine and a 37 bhp electric motor is the optimal combination for a hybrid vehicle
that delivers economy and performance with upto 74.4mpg and 200bhp.

The use of diesel hybrid technology also brings a range of other benefits:

• High performance combined with excellent driveability
• Freedom and simplicity of use with the possibility of choosing four different operating
  modes: ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle), Four-wheel drive, Auto and Sport
• Peace of mind offered by the safety inherent in a four-wheel drive vehicle
• Environmental friendliness with CO2 emissions from 99g/km

The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 is designed to appeal to demanding, technophile customers who are in search of a rewarding and original vehicle. In terms of performance, the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 benefits from the combined power of the HDi diesel engine and electric motor during acceleration and when an immediate surge of power is required (the “boost” function).

The maximum combined power output is 200 bhp, 163 bhp from the 2.0 litre HDi FAP diesel engine and 37 bhp from the electric motor. A maximum torque of 500 Nm is available, split with 300Nm at the front from the HDi diesel engine and 200 Nm at the rear generated by the electric motor.

The 3008 HYbrid4 will be produced in France (in Sochaux and Mulhouse) and available in the autumn of 2011 in UK.

Juke production starts at Sunderland

Full production volume is expected to take only two weeks, which is a record by any standards, with the capacity to produce up to 100,000 Jukes each year making it the plant’s second highest volume model behind the phenomenally successful Qashqai.

The majority of Jukes produced in Sunderland will be exported into mainland Europe with the remainder destined for dealers across the UK and Ireland.

Customers will be able to choose from three trim grades and three engines, including a 190 PS flagship turbocharged option.

Like Qashqai, JUKE will be available in two-wheel drive versions as well as the range-topping all-wheel drive model produced at Nissan’s plant in Oppama, Japan, which also supplies JUKE to the domestic Japanese market, the US and overseas markets.

For more information on the Juke call Nissan Durham on freephone 0800 0787390.

The ‘VR-7′ MY2011 special edition is available on Cee’d 5-door and Pro_cee’d 1.4 petrol manual models only and offers the high-level of specification offered on the previous ‘Strike’ special edition, including:

• Air conditioning
• Remote central locking
• 16” Alloys
• Body coloured door handles and mirrors
• Front Electric Windows
• Bluetooth functionality with iPod cable

In addition, a number of extra features are added to the VR-7 including:

• A reversing sensor warning system is added which consists of 4 bumper sensors. This provides an effective safety feature and assists the driver in parking by emitting an audible warning signal when identifying objects and obstructions to the rear of the car.
• Front power electric windows with auto up and down function and anti-trap safety function, providing safety and convenience to the driver and passengers.
• Body coloured door mirrors which are also heated and can be electrically adjusted are added, not only providing a sleeker exterior look but added convenience to the driver.
• Tweeter speakers will be added to the current 4 speaker system. These are designed to produce high frequencies resulting in a clearer, audible 6-speaker surround sound system.
• Leather trim will be added to steering wheel, gear shift, parking lever and the floor console/front arm rest. A metal trim finish will be added to the remote steering wheel controls, the gear knob and the parking lever button. This further enhances the interior look providing a more luxury feel.
• Euro 5 emission standards will be applied as on all Cee’d models. Changing the emission standard from Euro 4 to Euro 5 is an upcoming EU regulation, with Euro 5 standards helping to reduce and restrict harmful engine emissions.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Hill Start Assist Control (HSC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) becomes standard as it is on all Cee’d models. VSM connects the ESC and steering systems, improving the safety of the vehicle by detecting and minimising skidding by controlling over-steer in adverse conditions and helping to reduce the risk of accidents. HAC assists the driver in moving away on a steep or slippery slope. The HAC holds the brake for three seconds preventing the vehicle from rolling backwards in the interval between moving the foot from the brake to the accelerator.

Colour Variations
Four exterior colours are available – Arctic White (solid), Silver Storm (metallic), Tempest Gray (metallic) and Phantom Black (metallic). Tempest Grey is a unique exterior colour not offered on any other Cee’d 5-door or Pro_Cee’d model. The metallic premium is £415 including VAT.

MY11 Special Edition ‘VR-7’ Pricing
Despite the significant additional items of specification and changes being implemented the pricing for MY11 special edition model will be as follows:

• 1.4 Pro_cee’d VR-7 Special Edition – £11,695
• 1.4 Cee’d VR-7 Special Edition – £11,995

MY 2011 cars will available to order from 23rd August with deliveries expected to start from late October.

Nissan intend to preview the new launch models in and around garden centres from August through to September. They will then move on to shopping centres in October before officially launching the car in November.

Bespoke Micra structures have been built to highlight all of the new model’s key features and specialists will be on hand to show how these benefit the driver. Visitors will also be able to drive the new car and experience the Micra’s new parking system through “manoeuvre demonstrations”.

The tour
Celebrity gardener, Diarmuid Gavin, will be making an appearance at seven garden centres, assisting in the parking challenge as well as give two 30 minute demonstrations on gardening in small spaces.

The tour starts at Peter Barratt’s Garden Centre in Gosforth, Newcastle this Wednesday 26th August reaching its final destination at Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Dudley on 28th October.