Final 2011 ILMC venue

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup organiser, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, has now confirmed that the Zhuhai International Circuit will host the Chinese round of the series.



Built in 1996, Zhuhai is in Guangdong Province close to Hong Kong and Macao. Perhaps the choice of venue isn’t too much of a surprise considering it was the location for the final event in last year’s inaugural ILMC.



However, it seems that there was impressively stiff competition from Shanghai this time around - so much so that the ACO is now talking about having two Chinese races in 2012.



Meanwhile, the Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours race will now take place on Saturday 7th May, not Sunday 8th May as previously advised.

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 2011
Round	Event	Country	Date
1	Sebring 12 Hours	USA	19th March
2	Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours	Belgium	7th May
3	Le Mans 24 Hours	France	11th - 12th June
4	Imola 6 Hours	Italy	3rd July
5	Silverstone 6 Hours	UK	11th September
6	Petit Le Mans (Road Atlanta)	USA	1st October
7	Zhuhai 6 Hours	China	12th November

Hyundai Blue2 FCEV

Hyundai has unveiled the Blue2 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle at the Seoul Motor Show.

Powered by hydrogen, the Blue2 (say it ‘Blue Square’ not ‘Blue Two’, apparently) is a mid-size saloon that generates 120 bhp (90 kW / 122 PS). That name is an amalgamation of ‘Blue Drive’ - Hyundai’s eco sub-brand - and H2, the chemical symbol for hydrogen.



Other features on the Blue2 are pure show car, and include cameras instead of rear-view mirrors, a transparent organic LED screen in place of a conventional instrument binnacle, and an automatic door opening system.

It’s not known whether the Blue2 is going to lead to a production version, or if the design language will transfer across to future models. Dubbed ‘Intersected Flow’, Hyundai claims it’s innovative and dynamic, although it seems to borrow elements such as the Saab 9-5’s glasshouse and the Vauxhall / Opel Ampera’s headlight treatment.

Jaguar XF 2.2 litre diesel

Jaguar’s XF saloon will soon be getting a 2.2 litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, a crucial addition to the range that should help steal further sales from its competitors.

Connected to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, the longitudinally mounted 187 bhp (140 kW / 190 PS) motor is claimed to be good for a 0-62 mph (100km/h) time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 140 mph (225 km/h).



The car’s target customers - especially fleet users - are probably going to be more concerned about efficiency rather than performance, though. And they shouldn’t be disappointed, because the XF will manage 52.3 mpg (5.4 l/100km) on the combined cycle while producing 149 g/km of CO2.



Fuel saving devices include an intelligent stop-start system, which has been engineered to reduce the time taken during the shut-down and start-up phases, and high seventh and eighth gear ratios that effectively act as an overdrive facility.



But how does the new Jaguar compare to some of its diesel rivals? Well, judging by the figures, it seems right on the money, although the BMW 5 Series remains marginally quicker, more frugal and less polluting.

Manufacturer	Jaguar	BMW	Volvo	Mercedes-Benz
Model	XF 2.2 Diesel	520d Auto	S80 D5 Geartronic	E 220 CDI Auto
Capacity (cc)	2,179	1,995	2,400	2,143
Power (bhp / kW / PS)	187 / 140 / 190	181 / 135 / 184	202 / 151 / 205	167 / 125 / 170
Torque (Nm / lb/ft)	450 / 332	380 / 280	420 / 309	400 / 295
Acceleration 0-60 mph (100 km/h)	8.5 secs	8.1 secs	8.0 secs	8.8 secs
Top Speed (mph / km/h)	140 / 225	140 / 225	140 / 225	141 / 226
Fuel Consumption (mpg / l/100km)	52.3 / 5.4	54.3 / 5.2	44.8 / 6.3	48.7 / 5.8
CO2 Emissions (g/km)	149	137	166	154
UK Company Car BIK Rate*	22%	20%	26%	23%
*2011-12 tax year.

The introduction of the 2.2 litre XF will coincide with a facelift for the car, hence the disguise seen in the image.



Full production specifications and market launch dates are due to be announced at the New York International Auto Show, which opens to the public on the 22nd of April.

2012 Triumph Street Triple

Updated versions of the Triumph Street Triple and Street Triple R are on their way.

Changes to the middleweight streetfighter are purely cosmetic, with the most obvious being the new headlights. Aping those already seen on the larger Speed Triple, the move away from circular units is bound to divide opinion.



To go with the new lighting are new handlebar clamps and revised instruments, while various components are now finished in brushed steel to add to a de-chromed look. Both versions will feature aluminium handlebars, which previously were only standard on the R spec bike.

Mechanically things remain unaltered, which means the same 675 cc three-cylinder engine as before producing 105 bhp (78 kW / 106PS) and 68 Nm (50 lb/ft) of torque.



The standard model will be available in white, black or - for the more daring - purple, with a price tag in the UK of £6,649.



Alternatively, the higher specification R is going to cost £7,349, and buyers will get a choice of white, black or red paintwork.



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Pirelli F1 tyre colours

Pirelli, sole Formula 1 tyre supplier for the next three seasons, is colour-coding the ‘Pirelli’ and ‘PZero’ sidewall logos so that spectators can determine what compounds are being used.

The colours chosen are:

· Wet – Orange

· Intermediate – Light blue

· Supersoft – Red

· Soft – Yellow

· Medium – White

· Hard – Silver



At first sight, it appears that it’s going to be difficult to tell some of the types apart, with silver and white in particular being hard to distinguish.



However, the rules stipulate that only two compounds of dry weather tyre can be used at each round, designated ‘prime’ and ‘option’. Pirelli’s cunning plan is that there will always be at least one step between the different tyre specifications on offer.



So, that means all the teams will have a combination of either Medium (white) and Supersoft (red) rubber available to them, or - as is the case for the three opening events in Australia, Malaysia and China - Hard (silver) and Soft (yellow). That ploy should encourage some interesting strategic race decisions, as well as averting any potential identification problems.



As per last season, each driver must use both nominated types of dry tyre during a dry race in order to be included in the results. If a dry race is suspended following an incident and cannot be restarted, a 30 second penalty will be added to a driver’s time if only one variety was used.



Also available at every round of the championship will be the Wet (orange) and Intermediate (light blue) compounds, in case of rain.



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Avensis NGTC racers debut

The two Toyota Avensis racers that’ll be competing in the 2011 British Touring Car Championship have been shown off for the first time.



Both were built by GPR Motorsport in accordance with the new Next Generation Touring Car regulations. Series organisers have introduced these to help keep costs down, primarily through the use of standardised components and robust two-litre turbocharged engines developing around 300 bhp (223 kW / 304 PS).

Car #11 will be run by Dynojet Racing for driver Frank Wrathall, the reigning Ginetta G50 Cup champion. However, as his Avensis hasn’t done any test miles yet, the team faces a challenge to get everything fettled before the first race on the 3rd of April at Brands Hatch.

Speedworks Motorsport meanwhile is looking after the #50 Avensis of Tony Hughes, another ex-Ginetta competitor. Although his pre-season preparations are a little more advanced, teething problems such as fuel and power steering pump failures have slowed progress.



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2011 BTCC Chevy Cruze

2011 BTCC entries

2011 BTCC Chevy Cruze

Silverline Chevrolet, the works outfit run by RML, has unveiled its new livery for the 2011 British Touring Car Championship. The new paintjob is similar to that also being used on the team’s WTCC contenders.

While some BTCC competitors are going to be fielding cars compliant with the new Next Generation Touring Car regulations, the Cruze racers remain in Super 2000 specification for this season.



Behind the wheel of the #1 Chevrolet will be reigning driver’s champion Jason Plato, who has decided to stay with the team to defend his title. Completing the unchanged driver line-up is team mate Alex MacDowall in the #20 car.

Images © GM Corp.



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2011 BTCC entries

2011 BTCC entries

2011 will see the biggest grid ever for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship since it switched to a two-litre formula. Despite the presence of only two full factory teams - Silverline Chevrolet and Honda Racing Team - ten manufacturers will be represented this season, including newcomers Audi, Proton and Toyota.



The boosted entry list is mainly down to the introduction of the Next Generation Touring Car technical regulations, which have been brought in to slash car development and running costs. Most of those savings will be achieved through the use of standardised parts including brakes, suspension and gearboxes. Using durable two-litre turbocharged engines in the NGTCs should help make the BTCC more affordable, too.



This year starts a period of transition, with the intention being that existing Super 2000-spec cars should have equal performance to the NGTC entries for the next two seasons, after which the latter will become dominant.

Team Aon Ford Focus: S2000 chassis with NGTC engine.

Good news for spectators is that children will get free admission at every round, while pit lane autograph sessions will continue to be a popular feature of race day.



For television viewers, the live package shown on ITV4 and ITV4 HD is going to be six to seven hours long, backed up by a one-hour highlights programme shown later on ITV1 and ITV4. Excellent terrestrial coverage that other championships would do well to emulate (WRC, that means you…).



The opening race of the series is at Brands Hatch on the 3rd of April.

2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship: Entry List
Full S2000 Specification Cars
No.	Driver	Team	Car
1*	Jason Plato (GBR)	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze
20*	Alex MacDowall (GBR)	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze
8	Robert Collard (GBR)	WSR	BMW 320si
18	Nick Foster (GBR)	WSR	BMW 320si
17	Dave Newsham (GBR)	Geoff Steel Racing	BMW 320si
28	John George (GBR)	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze
29	Paul O’Neill (GBR)	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze
78	Chris James (GBR)	Team ES Racing.com	Chevrolet Lacetti
43^	Lea Wood (GBR)	Central Group Racing	Honda Integra
S2000 Specification Cars Using NGTC Engines
No.	Driver	Team	Car
2*	Matt Neal (GBR)	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic
52*	Gordon Shedden (GBR)	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic
5**	Tom Chilton (GBR)	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus
44**	Andy Neate (GBR)	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus
TBA**	TBA	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus
7	Mat Jackson (GBR)	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus
66	Liam Griffin (GBR)	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus
14	James Nash (GBR)	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra
34	Tony Gilham (GBR)	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra
22	Tom Boardman (GBR)	Special Tuning Racing	Seat Leon
55	Jeff Smith (GBR)	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra
77	Andrew Jordan (GBR)	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra
99	Tom Onslow Cole (GBR)	AmD Milltek Racing.com	Volkswagen Golf
Full NGTC Specification Cars
No.	Driver	Team	Car
11	Frank Wrathall (GBR)	Dynojet	Toyota Avensis
12	David Pinkney (GBR)	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4
13	TBA	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4
42	Daniel Welch (GBR)	Welch Automotive	Proton Gen-2
50	Tony Hughes (GBR)	Speedworks Motorsport	Toyota Avensis
* Eligible for Manufacturer and Constructor championships. All other cars eligible for Independent championships.
** Eligible for Constructor championship.
^ BTC specification.

Top 10: Efficient petrol cars

The one pence reduction in fuel duty announced in today’s UK Budget won’t be enough to stop lots of car buyers searching out the most fuel efficient offerings.



For many, that will automatically mean a diesel or a hybrid, simply because those technologies deliver the best miles per gallon. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that those types of car will appeal to everyone.



For starters, they tend to cost more, which is enough to put off some. Combine that with the higher price of diesel, and it often means that mega miles have to be driven before the extra initial outlay is offset by better fuel economy.



So, for some drivers it will still make financial sense to go for a petrol-powered car. According to the Vehicle Certification Agency, these are the ten models currently on sale that use the least petrol (based on the combined cycle measure).

Most fuel efficient petrol-powered car: The Fiat 500 / 500C TwinAir with Dualogic transmission.

The good news is that all will better 60 mpg (4.7 l/100km), and all except the Suzuki and Nissan emit 100 g/km or less of CO2, qualifying them for zero road tax and exemption from the London Congestion Charge.



However, as would be expected, every one is a small city car which somewhat limits their practicality.

Rank	Manufacturer	Model	Transmission	CO2	mpg (l/100km)
1	Fiat	500 / 500C TwinAir Dualogic	SAT5	92	70.6 (4.0)
2	Fiat	500 / 500C TwinAir	M5	95	68.9 (4.1)
3=	Smart	fortwo coupé (MY 2011) 71 bhp mhd w/ Softip & 15" rear wheels	5 AMT	97	67.3 (4.2)
3=	Hyundai	I10 Blue 1.0 litre SOHC	M5	99	67.3 (4.2)
5=	Smart	fortwo cabrio (MY 2011) 71 bhp mhd w/ Softip & 15" rear wheels	5 AMT	99	65.7 (4.3)
5=	Smart	fortwo coupé (MY 2011) 71 bhp mhd w/ Softouch & 15" rear wheels	5 AMT	98	65.7 (4.3)
7=	Suzuki	Alto 1.0 SZ-L / SZ-2 / SZ-3 / SZ-4	M5	103	64.2 (4.4)
7=	Toyota	iQ (MY 2011) 1.0 VVT-i 5 speed manual	M5	99	64.2 (4.4)
7=	Smart	fortwo cabrio (MY 2011) 71 bhp mhd w/ Softouch & 15" rear wheels	5 AMT	100	64.2 (4.4)
7=	Nissan	Pixo 1.0	M5	103	64.2 (4.4)

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Chevrolet Colorado concept

Chevrolet has unveiled a concept version of its next generation Colorado pickup truck, a vehicle that should provide some stiff competition to the forthcoming Ford Ranger.

The public’s first chance to see it will be at this month’s Bangkok International Auto Show, a fitting location given that Thailand is the largest global territory for mid-size pickups, as well as being one of the countries where the Colorado is built.



Under the bonnet of the show truck sits a 2.8 litre turbo diesel engine. A broad torque band is promised from it, but specific output, performance or economy figures haven’t been disclosed yet.

Chevrolet claims that the interior will provide a premium environment. Whether certain features such as the ice-blue lighting make it to production remains to be seen, while others such as the leather trim and 7” LCD display screen will probably be consigned to the Colorado’s options list. The instrument panel has been designed to create a dual-cockpit feel, but the assertion that the instruments are motorcycle-inspired is probably stretching the hyperbole a bit too far.

Sales of the new Colorado are set to begin in Thailand before the end of the year. There’s no word from Chevrolet on whether it’ll make it to Europe, but expect launches in Australia and New Zealand under the Holden brand to replace the existing model sold in those markets.



Images © GM Corp.



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C 63 AMG coupé revealed

Hot on the heels of the facelifted C 63 AMG saloon and estate, Mercedes-Benz has announced a coupé version to complete its C-Class performance line-up.

Under the skin, the coupé uses the familiar 450 bhp (336 kW / 457 PS) 6.2 litre V8 engine, connected to an AMG Speedshift MCT seven-speed multi-clutch transmission. On paper, performance is exactly the same as the saloon, which means a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 4.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). Even a combined fuel consumption figure of 23.5 mpg (12.0 l/100km) and CO2 emissions of 280 g/km are identical to what the four-door achieves.



The AMG Performance Package Plus will also be available for the C 63 AMG coupé, an unsurprising move given its popularity with buyers of the saloon and estate. Output rises to 480 bhp (358 kW / 487 PS), but that increase doesn’t seem to translate into more performance: the 0-62 mph time is only reduced by a tenth of a second and top speed remains unchanged.

However, those figures may mask a useful improvement in mid-range response, plus the package also includes composite front brake discs, red painted brake calipers, a bespoke AMG steering wheel and a carbon fibre boot lid lip spoiler.



Market launch of the C 63 AMG coupé is scheduled for July 2011, and its arrival should give prospective BMW M3 Coupé and Audi RS 5 Coupé owners something to think about.

Although UK prices have yet to be confirmed, in Germany they are €72,590 for the standard car and €77,231 for the ‘Edition 1’ version, including 19% VAT. The AMG Performance Package Plus is an extra €7,116.20.



While many manufacturers will use special editions to help shift run-out models, Mercedes-Benz appears to have done the opposite by using the ‘Edition 1’ to support a product launch. Technically there’s no difference, but it does come with some extra kit including leather upholstery, piano black lacquer trim, a different steering wheel and a matt black finish for the alloy wheels.



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BAC Mono launched

The BAC Mono is a barely-disguised race car for the public road. It even has just the one seat, as if to make the point that passengers just add unnecessary weight and upset the balance.

With a svelte carbon fibre body and 280 bhp (208 kW / 283PS) from its 2.3 litre Cosworth engine, the Mono boasts a power to weight ratio of 520 bhp per ton. The car’s manufacturer - Briggs Automotive Company, or BAC for short - claims that that betters the Bugatti Veyron, allowing it to accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) in only 2.8 seconds. The dash to 100 mph (160 km/h) is completed in the similarly impressive time of 6.7 seconds, and top speed is reckoned to be 170 mph (273 km/h).



Drive to the rear wheels is via a six-speed Hewland sequential gearbox, while the chassis features pushrod suspension and brakes from AP Racing. The Kumho tyres have been specially developed, but they remain street legal.



As further befits its track aspirations, the Mono comes with a FIA compliant tubular steel safety cell that incorporates rollover protection. The driver, secured by a six-point Willans race harness, sits in a fixed seat which optionally can be profiled for an exact fit. To accommodate different-sized occupants, both the pedal box and steering column are moveable.

Obviously, it’s not a particularly practical thing. Anti-theft security seems to consist of a removable steering wheel, while a helmet locker is about it for luggage space.



BAC is saying it has the capacity to build between fifty and one hundred examples of the Mono each year. At least an advantage of using a single seat configuration is that separate left- and right-hand drive versions won’t have to be developed.



The UK price for the BAC Mono has been set at £79,950 including taxes. That’s around €91,700 or US$130,400 at today’s exchange rates.

2011 Fleet News Awards

Following a strong showing at the Business Car Awards in January, BMW has been similarly rewarded by the 2011 Fleet News Awards. As well as being voted manufacturer of the year, it also secured four individual vehicle accolades.



There’s no doubt that the combination of badge appeal, driving dynamics and strong residuals make the honours deserved, but surely such ever increasing popularity amongst fleet users risks eroding the exclusivity of the brand?



However, BMW didn’t get everything its own way. The new Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max scooped the company car and people carrier prizes, the former being voted for by Fleet News readers.



Meanwhile, Volkswagen Group secured wins for its Polo, Golf and Superb, while the Kia Sportage was declared the best crossover.



2011 Fleet News Awards winners



Voted for by Fleet News readers



New company car of the year: Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max

Fleet manufacturer of the year: BMW

Fleet News Hall of Fame: Phil Redman

New company car of the year and best people carrier: Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max

Voted for by Fleet News jurors



Manufacturer Awards



Best small car: Volkswagen Polo

Best lower-medium car: Volkswagen Golf

Best upper-medium car: Skoda Superb

Best people carrier: Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max

Best estate car: BMW 5 Series Touring

Best SUV: BMW X3

Best premium car: BMW 3 Series

Best boardroom car: BMW 5 Series

Best crossover: Kia Sportage

Most improved fleet manufacturer of the year: Renault

Green fleet manufacturer of the year: Peugeot

Best boardroom car: BMW 5 Series

Supplier Awards



Environment: The Miles Consultancy

Customer service: Leaseplan

New product / service: Arval

Safety award: Peak Performance

Short-term rental company of the year: Hertz

Leasing company of the year: Arval

Fleet supplier of the year: The AA

Fleet manager of the year: Val South, Xerox



Fleet Awards



Fleet initiative of the year: Balfour Beatty

Fleet of the year (under 250 vehicles): The Independent Group

Fleet of the year (251-500 vehicles): Iron Mountain

Fleet of the year (501-1,000 vehicles): Kelly Communications

Fleet of the year (>1,000 vehicles): Johnson & Johnson



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New Honda BRIO unveiled

Honda Thailand has revealed the production version of its new BRIO, which looks virtually identical to the prototype that debuted last November.

Power comes from a Euro 4 compliant 1.2 litre i-VTEC petrol engine producing 88 bhp (66 kW / 90 PS). As originally promised by Honda, the BRIO will achieve 56.4 mpg (5.0 l/100km) - not bad, but still a fairly mediocre figure for this size of car.



In Thailand, the BRIO is going to be available in either ‘S’ or ‘V’ trim levels, and both will feature a comprehensive list of standard safety equipment including anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and twin front airbags.

With a choice of five colours on offer - Fresh Lime Metallic, Taffeta White, Cerulean Blue Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl - prices will range from 399,900 baht to 508,500 baht, equivalent to a surprisingly high £8,130 - £10,340 / €9,300 - €11,830. Nevertheless, Honda is hoping to sell 40,000 units each year.



The chances of the BRIO making it to Europe are almost non existent, but an Indian market version is due to follow later this year. It’s expected to come with less specification than the Thai model, in order to keep costs down.



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2011-12 company car tax

Changes to UK company car tax rules from 6 April 2011 are set to give drivers of very expensive vehicles a nasty shock. That’s because the current £80,000 cost limit which is applied for the purposes of calculating the taxable benefit is to be scrapped.



The underlying principle for working out how much goes to the tax man remains unchanged, so the on-the-road list price in force the day before the car was registered is multiplied by a percentage, which depends on the car’s CO2 emissions. This gives a figure that’s then multiplied by the employee’s tax rate.



Take for example the Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG, which has a list price of £163,580. It emits 334 g/km of CO2, meaning that the percentage applied is the maximum 35%. For someone who pays tax at the higher rate of 40%, their 2010-11 company car tax liability would be:



· £80,000 x 35% x 40% = £11,200



However, for the 2011-12 tax year, the removal of the £80,000 list price upper limit will mean their tax bill more than doubles:



· £163,580 x 35% x 40% = £22,901



Admittedly this measure is going to affect very few people, particularly as those in a position to drive cars such as the S 65 AMG probably already do so in a much more tax efficient way.

However, three other changes for 2011-12 will hit company car drivers at the other end of the spectrum, too:

• The lowest percentage that can be applied to petrol- or diesel-powered models is 15%. In order to qualify for this in 2011-12, a car must achieve CO2 emissions of less than 125 g/km, which is down from the 2010-11 threshold of 130 g/km. This decrease means that drivers of cars such as the Ford Fiesta 1.25 Duratec (127 g/km or 129 g/km, depending on power output), Mini Cooper Hatch (127 g/km), Citroën C3 1.4 VTi 95hp EGS6 (127 g/km), Volkswagen Polo 1.2 petrol (128 g/km) and Fiat Punto Evo 1.4 16v MultiAir Turbo 135 (129 g/km) will end up paying more tax.

• There’s also bad news for those with alternative fuel vehicles. The 3% reduction for hybrid electric cars is going, as is the 2% reduction for gas only and E85 petrol / bioethanol bi-fuel vehicles.

• The 3% diesel surcharge will apply to all diesels, following the cessation of an exemption previously granted to Euro IV-compliant cars registered before 1 January 2006.

A minor consolation is that these alterations make the rules slightly simpler. Instead of today’s eight different vehicle categories, from 6 April 2011 there will only be three: E for electric-only cars, D for diesels and A for everything else.

Honda CR-Z Mugen

Mugen Euro is working on a tuned version of the Honda CR-Z hybrid. Both the 1.5 litre petrol engine and the Integrated Motor Assist system will be fettled to produce more power and torque, and there’s also speculation that fuel economy and CO2 emissions could be improved, too.



So it looks like a win-win situation. Except - for the time being at least - the CR-Z Mugen is only being built as a one-off prototype, set to make its debut at July’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

As well as modifications to the powertrain, chassis improvements will comprise uprated suspension and brakes. To help save weight a carbon fibre bonnet and bespoke alloy wheels are going to be fitted, while replacement bumpers and a spoiler should help the aerodynamics.



Although it’s not scheduled for series production, arguably the enhancements hinted at by the CR-Z Mugen are needed to make the regular CR-Z a more convincing all-round package.



The standard car’s 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 9.9 seconds, top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h), combined cycle fuel consumption of 56.5 mpg (5.0 l/100km) and CO2 emissions of 117 g/km are respectable enough.



However, they’re not outstanding either, especially considering that a conventional non-hybrid such as the BMW 118d Coupé is quicker (0-62 mph in 9.0 seconds, top speed of 130 mph / 209 km/h), uses less fuel (62.8 mpg / 4.5 l/100km) and pumps out virtually the same level of carbon dioxide (118 g/km).



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