Aston Martin is still coolest

Seemingly the arrival of the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet hasn’t harmed the reputation of Aston Martin too much, because the firm has just retained the title of the UK’s coolest brand. That’s according to the 2011/12 CoolBrands survey, which gauges the opinions of an ‘Expert Council’ of various glitterati, as well as over 2,000 members of the public.

Harley-Davidson was declared the coolest motorcycle brand, and it also achieved an impressive third spot in the overall results. The only other automotive brands that made it into the top twenty were Ferrari, which also appeared last year, and new entry Maserati. Mini, however, dropped out.

2011/12 CoolBrands Survey - Top 20 Brands
Position	Brand	Category
1	Aston Martin	Automotive - Cars
2	Apple	Technology - General
3	Harley-Davidson	Automotive - Motorbikes
4	Rolex	Fashion - Accessories, Jewellery, Watches
5	Bang and Olufsen	Technology - General
6	BlackBerry	Technology - Telecommunications
7	Google	Online
8	Ferrari	Automotive - Cars
9	Nike	Sportswear and Equipment
10	YouTube	Online
11	Alexander McQueen	Fashion - Designer
12	Dom Perignon	Drinks - Champagne
13	PlayStation	Leisure and Entertainment - Games and Toys
14	Ray-Ban	Fashion - Accessories, Jewellery, Watches
15	Chanel	Fashion - Designer
16	Nintendo	Leisure and Entertainment - Games and Toys
17	Vivienne Westwood	Fashion - Designer
18	Agent Provocateur	Fashion - Lingerie
19	Tate Modern	Leisure and Entertainment - UK Attractions and The Arts
20	Maserati	Automotive - Cars

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2012 Ford H-D F-150

Ford has confirmed that the Harley-Davidson F-150 pick-up will remain in its range for 2012.



Changes for the new model year are restricted to the fitment of 22” aluminium wheels with painted accents, a White Platinum Tri-Coat colour option, revised body graphics and snakeskin leather for the interior.

Standard specification includes a 4.2” LCD ‘Productivity Screen’ (full marks to the marketing guys for coming up with that term) that sits between the speedometer and tachometer. Controlled via a five-way steering wheel-mounted button, it displays items like fuel consumption, off-road performance and towing information.



Also on the equipment list is a voice-activated satellite navigation system, remote starting, second row heated seats, a powered moonroof and SiriusXM Satellite Radio.



Being an F-150, features such as a live, leaf-sprung rear axle mean that technically things aren’t particularly advanced. Similarly, the engine is an iron-block, two valves per cylinder 6.2 litre petrol-powered V8 with a single overhead camshaft.



It does however manage to produce 411 bhp (306 kW / 416 PS) and a massive 588 Nm (434 lb/ft) of torque, although unsurprisingly the result is a prodigious thirst. With all-wheel drive, fuel economy is just 12 miles per US gallon (14.4 mpg imperial / 19.6 l/100km) on the City cycle, while the Highway rating is not much better at 16 mpg US (19.2 mpg imperial / 14.7 l/100km).



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CVO Road Glide Custom

Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations has unveiled the new 2012 CVO Road Glide Custom.



With a planned production run of just 2,100 units, the obvious distinguishing characteristic of the CVO bike is its paintjob. Buyers will have a choice of White Gold Pearl and Starfire Black, Maple Metallic and Vivid Black or Candy Cobalt and Twilight Blue, all of which come with the powertrain finished in black gloss powdercoat.

But it’s not just the colour scheme that sets the CVO apart from a standard Road Glide. It gets Harley-Davidson’s most powerful V-twin engine, the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110 motor that produces 165 Nm (122 lb/ft) of torque from its 1,803 cc (110 cubic inches).



Also included is quite a sound system, based around a Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio radio with CD/AM/FM/WB playback. It’s linked to a fairing-mounted amplifier that gives 100 watts of power per channel, and there are two main speakers and two in-dash tweeters. Completing the package is an 8GB Apple iPod Nano, an iPod radio interface and an iPod holder fitted into one of the saddlebags.



Among the other items of standard equipment are anti-lock brakes, cruise control, chrome Agitator Custom wheels, a Wind Splitter smoked windscreen and a low-profile tank console.



The 2012 CVO Road Glide Custom has an MSRP of $30,699 in the United States. In the United Kingdom, it’ll cost £29,199.



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2012 Dyna Switchback

2012 Dyna Switchback

Harley-Davidson has given its new 2012 Dyna Switchback a split personality. It can be either a tourer or, with the saddlebags and quick-detach windshield removed, a cruiser. So, two bikes for the price of one, which seems like rather a good idea.

As with all of the 2012 Touring and Softail ranges, plus most other Dyna models, the Switchback is powered by a new Twin Cam 103 V-twin engine. Replacing the Twin Cam 96, the larger 103 cubic inch (1,691 cc) fuel injected motor delivers 135 Nm (100 lb/ft) of torque, although the European EEC/95/1 testing method rates it at a slightly lower 126 Nm (92 lb/ft). Drive is via a six-speed Cruise Drive transmission.



A big benefit of using the Dyna as the basis for a touring bike is that it’s going to be lighter, and the Switchback tips the scales at 326 kg (718 lbs). That’s still a lot of bulk, but not compared to the Road King which weighs 368 kg (812 lbs).

Standard equipment on the Switchback includes black five-spoke aluminium wheels with highlighted rims, mini-ape handlebars, full-length footboards and a one-piece touring seat designed for two. The saddlebags, which have a capacity of 13 kg (30 lbs), are colour-matched to the bike’s paintwork.



Available in Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver Pearl or Ember Red Sunglo, the 2012 Dyna Switchback is priced from $15,999 in the United States and £13,499 in the United Kingdom.

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New Harley 1200 Custom

Harley-Davidson has announced a revised version of its Sportster 1200 Custom.

Characterising the 2011 model are chrome, five-spoke cast aluminium wheels, both of which are 16” in diameter. To accommodate the increased wheel size, the front suspension has had to be retuned and the forks set wider apart. However, it looks like UK spec bikes will be getting 16” chrome lace-spoke wheels instead.



Other changes to the 1200 Custom include a reshaped ‘eyebrow’ over the headlight, pull-back handlebars and a smaller LED tail light. Power continues to come from the air-cooled, fuel injected 1200 cc Evolution V-twin engine, which produces 107 Nm (79 lb/ft) of torque.

Prices for the Sportster 1200 Custom have been confirmed as follows:

Paint finish	US MRSP	UK price
Standard - Vivid Black	$10,299	£8,295
Colour option - Brilliant Silver Pearl	$10,589	£8,495
Two-tone option - Sedona Orange / Vivid Black	$10,799	£8,745

The introduction of the revamped 1200 Custom also sees the launch of Harley-Davidson’s H-D1 factory customisation programme.



With H-D1, buyers of a new 1200 Custom can choose from a range of items that will be fitted as it is being built. The seven option categories involved are wheels, paint, engine finish, handlebars, foot control position, seat and the security system.

Altogether, there are in excess of 2,600 specification combinations, so the chances of ending up with an individual bike should be quite high.



The bad news - for European customers at least - is that H-D1 is currently only available in the US and Canada.

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Harley-Davidson Blackline

Harley-Davidson Blackline

Harley-Davidson has unveiled a new addition to its Dark Custom range.



The Blackline Softail ‘celebrates three fundamental elements of motorcycling: mechanical beauty, internal combustion, and the long black line of the road ahead.’

Fair enough, but even without the marketing spiel the result is a neat looking bike with a notable lack of chrome.



Other design highlights include the rear coil-over dampers, which are hidden beneath the power train to give a hardtail look, a bobtail rear mudguard and the lowest two-up seat ever seen on a stock Harley. With a rider on board, its height is just 24 inches (609 mm) from the floor.



The overall effect is completed by the Black Denim powdercoated frame and swingarm, spoked wheels with black anodised rims, mini 5.75 inch (146 mm) headlight and Split Drag handlebars.



Power comes from a rigid-mounted, counter-balanced, fuel injected Twin Cam 96B V-Twin engine that generates peak torque of 89 lb/ft (120 Nm). Drive is via a 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission.



In the United States, the 2011 Blackline Softail has an MSRP of $15,499 which excludes taxes, licenses, freight, dealer preparation and other fees.



A price for the UK has yet to be confirmed.

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Aston Martin is coolest

For the fourth time in five years, Aston Martin has been named the UK’s coolest brand in the CoolBrands survey. The 2010/11 poll, which sought the opinions of members of the public as well as a panel of experts, placed the British car maker ahead of brands such as BlackBerry, Google and Dom Perignon.



The other automotive companies that made it into the top twenty were Harley-Davidson (6th), Ferrari (9th) and Mini (16th).



Speaking of the award, Aston Martin CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez said, “Once you can define precisely why a brand is cool, then it no longer has the magic that earns it that label. There has to be an element of mystique, something that eludes definition. In order for a brand to have that quality, it needs people behind it with a passionate, creative vision who care for and nurture it.”



Quite right too. Let’s see if Aston Martin can retain the title after the Cygnet arrives.



The 2010/11 CoolBrands Top 20:

1. Aston Martin (Automotive - Cars)


2. iPhone (Technology - Telecommunications)


3. iPod (Technology - General)


4. Blackberry (Technology - Telecommunications)


5. Bang & Olufsen (Technology - General)


6. Harley-Davidson (Automotive - Motorbikes)


7. Nintendo Wii (Leisure & Entertainment - Games & Toys)


8. Google (Online)


9. Ferrari (Automotive - Cars)


10. Dom Perignon (Drinks - Champagne)


11. BBC iPlayer (Online)


12. Vivienne Westwood (Fashion - Designer)


13. Apple (Technology - General)


14. Tate Modern (Leisure & Entertainment - UK Attractions & The Arts)


15. YouTube (Online)


16. Mini (Automotive - Cars)


17. Chanel (Fashion - Designer)


18. Ray-Ban (Fashion - Accessories, Jewellery, Watches)


19. Alexander McQueen (Fashion - Designer)


20. Jimmy Choo (Fashion - Footwear)