Top 10: Irish car sales 2011

Despite continued bleak economic conditions, the Irish car market managed to grow slightly during 2011. Figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show that total registrations were 89,904, an increase of 1.7% compared to the previous year’s 88,373.



Around 12,000 of 2011’s sales were due to the scrappage scheme, which closed at the end of June. This gave Vehicle Registration Tax relief of €1,250 per new car, provided that the customer’s trade-in was at least ten-years-old.



While the Focus was the most popular model, Ford slumped to third place in the manufacturers’ rankings. That left Toyota to take the top spot, closely followed by Volkswagen.

Ireland's most popular car in 2011: The Ford Focus.

BMW slipped into the top ten, thanks mainly to 2,163 new 5 Series registrations. The entire Mercedes-Benz range combined couldn’t beat that performance, which contributed to BMW achieving a massive 37.7% year-on-year sales upsurge.



Even that wasn’t quite enough to beat rivals Audi, though, because it too experienced an impressive growth rate and ended the year with 3,464 registrations.



The other stand-out success was Hyundai, which posted 1,052 extra sales compared to 2010.

Top 10: Irish Car Sales 2011 - By Manufacturer
Position	Manufacturer	2011	2010	+/-	% +/-
1	Toyota	11,812	10,660	1,152	10.8%
2	Volkswagen	11,247	10,301	946	9.2%
3	Ford	10,519	11,215	-696	-6.2%
4	Renault	8,580	9,746	-1,166	-12.0%
5	Nissan	6,763	5,494	1,269	23.1%
6	Opel	6,387	6,603	-216	-3.3%
7	Škoda	4,651	4,915	-264	-5.4%
8	Hyundai	4,011	2,959	1,052	35.6%
9	Audi	3,464	2,723	741	27.2%
10	BMW	3,433	2,493	940	37.7%
Figures provided by SIMI Statistical Service

Top 10: Irish Car Sales 2011 - By Model
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Focus	4,242
2	Volkswagen	Golf	3,980
3	Toyota	Avensis	3,661
4	Renault	Fluence	3,016
5	Volkswagen	Passat Saloon	2,975
6	Ford	Fiesta	2,953
7	Nissan	Qashqai	2,653
8	Toyota	Corolla	2,592
9	Renault	Mégane	2,530
10	Toyota	Yaris	2,311
Figures provided by SIMI Statistical Service

Related posts:

Top 10: UK car sales 2011
Top 10: Irish car sales 2010

2012 NACTOY winners

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has been declared the 2012 North American Truck of the Year.



Awarded 254 points by the jury of fifty automotive journalists from across Canada and the United States, the Evoque achieved an emphatic victory over the other two finalists. The second-place Honda CR-V scored 142, while the BMW X3 managed a modest 94.

2012 North American Truck of the Year: Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.

It was a much closer contest for the 2012 North American Car of the Year title. The Ford Focus and Volkswagen Passat secured 155 and 161 points respectively, but the Hyundai Elantra emerged as the eventual winner with a score of 174.

2012 North American Car of the Year: Hyundai Elantra.

Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY nominees
2012 NACTOY finalists
2012 Euro COTY candidates
Volt is Car of the Year

2012 Euro COTY nominees

The original thirty-five candidates for the 2012 European Car of the Year award have been whittled down to a list of seven nominees, following a first round of voting.

2012 European Car of the Year Nominees
Manufacturer	Model
Citroën	DS5
Fiat	Panda
Ford	Focus
Range Rover	Evoque
Toyota	Yaris
Vauxhall / Opel / Chevrolet	Ampera / Volt
Volkswagen	Up!

Given that there have been some dubious winners in the past (the Simca / Chrysler Horizon in 1979 and Fiat Bravo / Brava in 1996 are obvious examples), it’s good to see that the jury has decided on a strong group of finalists.



Perhaps the one exception is the Toyota Yaris, which really doesn’t deserve to triumph over any of the other six contenders. Arguably, the Citroën DS4 or even the Porsche 911 ought to have taken the Toyota’s place instead.



A second ballot will now take place to determine the overall winner, and the result will be revealed on 5 March 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show.



And which model should be named 2012 European Car of the Year? Either the Citroën DS5 or Range Rover Evoque.

Citroën DS5: 2012 European Car of the Year nominee.

Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY candidates
World Car Awards winners
Volt is Car of the Year
Leaf is Car of the Year

Top 10: UK car sales 2011

1,941,253 new cars were sold in the UK during 2011, according to figures just released by the SMMT.



As expected, that was down on 2010’s total of 2,030,846, but the 4.4% reduction wasn’t quite as bad as had been previously forecast.



Some manufacturers did buck the trend though, recording some healthy percentage increases. The biggest winners were Infiniti, Lexus, Alfa Romeo and the rejuvenated MG, but all are comparative minnows with a combined market share of just over 1%.

Of more significance were the rises of 14.2% and 14.0% achieved by Mini and Audi respectively, with the latter also managing the highest unit growth - 13,969 - of any marque. Indeed, Audi finished the year with 113,797 sales, tantalisingly close to archrival BMW’s figure of 116,642.



Needless to say, for many firms it wasn’t a good year. Unsurprisingly, neither Daihatsu nor Saab did well, but shockingly Smart saw its sales slashed by over a third and Mazda’s decrease was of a similar magnitude.

Renault suffered the largest volume drop, with 27,159 fewer registrations compared to 2010. Perhaps that massive 28.4% reduction goes some way to explaining the company’s decision to decimate both its model range and dealer network in the UK?



Despite all the year-on-year movements, there was little change at the head of the manufacturers’ league table, as Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and BMW retained the top four spots.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q4 2011 By Manufacturer
Position 2011	Manufacturer	Registrations	Position 2010	Movement
1	Ford	265,894	1	-
2	Vauxhall	234,710	2	-
3	Volkswagen	179,290	3	-
4	BMW	116,642	4	-
5	Audi	113,797	6	+1
6	Nissan	96,269	8	+2
7	Peugeot	94,989	5	-2
8	Mercedes-Benz	81,873	10	+2
9	Toyota	73,589	9	-
10	Citroën	68,464	11	+1

Ford also excelled in the individual models’ chart, with the Fiesta and Focus occupying the first two positions (as they did throughout 2011).

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q4 2011 By Model
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	96,112
2	Ford	Focus	81,832
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	77,751
4	Volkswagen	Golf	63,368
5	Vauxhall	Astra	62,575
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	46,324
7	Volkswagen	Polo	45,992
8	BMW	3 Series	42,471
9	Nissan	Qashqai	39,406
10	Mini	Hatchback	35,845

Related posts:
Top 10: Car sales Q3 2011
Top 10: Car sales Q2 2011
Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011
Top 10: UK car sales 2010

2012 NACTOY finalists

A panel of fifty automotive journalists from across the United States and Canada has decided the finalists for the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards.



In the North American Car of the Year category, the jurors selected the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat from a shortlist of seventeen models, all of which had to be new or substantially changed in the past twelve months.

Ford Focus: 2012 North American Car of the Year finalist.

Those contenders that didn’t make it through to the finals were the Audi A6, Audi A7, Buick Verano, Chevrolet Sonic, Chrysler 300 / SRT-8, Fiat 500, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Veloster, Kia Rio / Rio 5, Scion iQ, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V and Volkswagen Beetle.



The 2012 North American Truck of the Year title will go to the BMW X3, Honda CR-V or Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. There were only seven vehicles to choose the three finalists from though, with the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mini Countryman, Nissan Quest and Saab 9-4X being the unsuccessful nominees.

BMW X3: 2012 North American Truck of the Year finalist.

A second round of voting is now going to take place to determine the outright winners for each award. The results will be announced on 9 January 2012 in Detroit.



Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY candidates
Volt is Car of the Year

Volkswagen Passat Alltrack

Audi has the A6 Allroad Quattro and Škoda’s range includes the Octavia Scout, both of which are estate cars with jacked-up suspension and all-wheel drive.



Perhaps not wanting to be excluded from that particular niche, sister brand Volkswagen has just announced the Passat Alltrack, which is to be unveiled at December’s Tokyo Motor Show ahead of market launches in early 2012.

Based on the Passat estate, the Alltrack is distinguished by its chunkier bumpers, pseudo bash plates and black plastic extensions for the sills and wheel arches.



It definitely is not a car in which to tackle any serious off-roading but, in fairness to Volkswagen, that’s not what it’s claiming the Alltrack is for. Rather, the target market is those who regularly find themselves towing, driving on unmade ground, or in other situations where additional ground clearance and some extra traction would be useful.



Even so, it’s still bizarre that on the 138 bhp (103 kW / 140 PS) 2.0 litre turbodiesel version, all-wheel drive is actually a cost option. Without it, what’s the point?



The 4Motion system does feature as standard with the other three engine choices, though. These comprise a pair of TSI turbocharged petrol units - either a 157 bhp (118 kW / 160 PS) 1.8 litre or a 207 bhp (155 kW / 210 PS) 2.0 litre - plus another 2.0 litre TDI that produces 167 bhp (125 kW / 170 PS). The two most powerful engines also come with the DSG dual-clutch transmission.



Specific market availability and pricing for the 2012 Volkswagen Alltrack have yet to be confirmed.



Related post:
CrossPolo not cross country

Polo R WRC begins testing

Volkswagen Motorsport has begun testing the Polo R WRC, ahead of its entry into the 2013 World Rally Championship.



A 1.7 mile (2.8 kilometre) tarmac circuit around the vineyards of Veldenz near Trier - which will be familiar to spectators of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland - was the venue chosen for the car’s first runs. Behind the wheel was Carlos Sainz, two-times World Rally Champion and, more recently, winner of the Dakar Rally driving a Volkswagen Touareg.

Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Volkswagen Board of Management for Technology, also got to have a go (a very nice perk of the job). He later said: ‘The first test with the new Polo R WRC is a special moment and marks an important milestone in the preparations for our entry in the WRC.



‘We’re well on schedule and are now able to start testing our concepts and developments in reality. The WRC is the top category in rally sport and a great challenge for the team, the drivers and the technology. We’re taking on this challenge and will be making efficient use of the time before we start into our first competition.’

The initial testing session covered around 60 miles (100 kilometres), and it was completed without a hitch. Nevertheless, the team acknowledges that the project is still at a very early stage, and a comprehensive development programme is planned that will evaluate different engine, transmission and suspension configurations.



Also on the agenda are assessments on various surfaces including snow, mud and gravel in preparation for the Polo R WRC’s competition debut.

Related post:
Volkswagen to enter WRC

North American-spec Golf R

Volkswagen has released pricing and technical specs for the North American version of its Golf R, which will be available from early next year.



Compared to the European model, there are two main differences. The first concerns the engine, which is still a turbocharged 2.0 litre TSI motor but, instead of the usual 266 bhp (198 kW / 270 PS) and 350 Nm (258 lb/ft) of torque, it has to make do with 256 bhp (190 kW / 259 PS) and 329 Nm (243 lb/ft).



Although performance figures haven’t been revealed, expected EPA fuel economy is 19 mpg US (22.8 mpg UK / 12.4 l/100km) City and 27 mpg US (32.4 mpg UK / 8.7 l/100km) Highway.



The second change involves the transmission. Although 4Motion all-wheel drive remains standard, the only gearbox available is the six-speed manual, as the DSG dual-clutch automatic isn’t going to be offered.

Buyers will be able to choose from three- or five-door hatchback body styles, and both come with revised front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a tail spoiler, a gloss black radiator grille, 18” alloy wheels, uprated brakes and suspension, LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon headlights and various ‘R’ badges. Colour choice comprises Black, Rising Blue, Carbon Steel Gray, Tornado Red or Candy White.



The interior features leather-trimmed bucket seats, aluminium sill kick plates and pedals, a sports steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker audio system with Bluetooth connectivity and several more ‘R’ logos.



Those seeking extra specification can go for the ‘Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation’ variants, which additionally get an upgraded 300-watt sound system, a sunroof, keyless entry with push-button start and the RNS 315 touchscreen navigation system.



In the United States, MSRPs have been set at US$33,990 for the three-door Golf R, US$35,490 for the three-door Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation, and US$36,090 for the five-door Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation. All prices exclude a US$770 destination charge.



For Canada, only one five-door version will be available, which has an MSRP of C$39,675. Volkswagen is planning to import just 500 examples of the Golf R into that market.



Related posts:
Mégane R.S. 265 Trophy
Golf GTI Edition 35
330 bhp Golf R by APS

Audi TT Coupé 1.8 TFSI

TT Coupé ownership just became a bit more affordable. Previously, the cheapest model was the £27,140 2.0 TFSI Sport, but now Audi has introduced 1.8 TFSI versions which cost from £24,070 on the road.



Offering the smaller turbocharged petrol engine in the Coupé was a fairly obvious move though, as it’s already available in the TT Roadster.

A respectable 157 bhp (117 kW / 160 PS) and 250 Nm (184 lb/ft) of peak torque allows the TT Coupé to accelerate from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.2 seconds and achieve a top speed of 140 mph (225 km/h), while still managing 44.1 mpg (6.4 l/100km) on the combined cycle.



With the optional seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission in place of the standard six-speed manual gearbox, those figures remain the same, except that the 0-62 mph time reduces a little to 7.1 seconds.



Two trim grades will be available with the 1.8 TFSI engine. Sport variants come with leather and Alcantara upholstery, MP3 player connectivity, climate control and 17” alloy wheels. Alternatively, the S line model has sports suspension, 18” wheels, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and a short-shift gearbox on manual cars.



An obvious competitor to the TT Coupé 1.8 TFSI is the Scirocco from sister brand Volkswagen. £24,705 will buy the GT 2.0 TSI, which has the more powerful 207 bhp (154 kW / 210 PS) engine. Consequently it’s quicker than the Audi, with 0-62 mph taking 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph (239 km/h), but average fuel consumption of 38.2 mpg (7.4 l/100km) is worse.



Rear-wheel drive enthusiasts should also consider the BMW 120i SE Coupé. At £23,965, it’s virtually the same price as the entry-level TT Coupé, and its power output is similar at 167 bhp (125 kW / 170 PS). However, a 0-62 mph time of 7.8 seconds, top speed of 139 mph (223 km/h) and combined 43.5 mpg (6.5 l/100km) are all slightly inferior.



For a combination of performance and value, all three of those models are eclipsed by the Renault Mégane Coupé Renaultsport 250 Cup. It costs £24,020, yet boasts 246 bhp (184 kW / 250 PS) and an impressive 340 Nm (250 lb/ft) of torque. As a result, the Mégane will do the 0-62 mph sprint in 6.1 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). The downside is comparatively disappointing consumption of 34.4 mpg (8.2 l/100km).



Related posts:
Mégane R.S. 265 Trophy
Audi TT RS heads for US

Volkswagen Up! UK prices

Volkswagen has confirmed UK prices and specifications for the Up! city car, deliveries of which are due to begin in spring 2012.

Five different trim levels and three versions of the 1.0 litre, three-cylinder petrol engine will be offered:



Take Up! - £7,995 on the road



Don’t expect any luxuries with the entry-level variant. The windows have to be wound up and down by hand, there’s no tachometer or central locking, and various bits of trim including the door mirror caps are black plastic.



It comes with the 59 bhp (44 kW / 60 PS) motor and, although combined fuel consumption of 62.8 mpg (4.5 l/100km) is impressive, CO2 emissions of 105 g/km are disappointingly high given the size of this car.



Another issue is the price. Yes, the Take Up! manages to dip just below £8,000, but that looks expensive compared to the slightly larger Volkswagen Fox, which retails for £7,295 in basic form.



But an even bigger issue for the Up! could come in the form of the virtually identical Škoda Citigo, which according to rumours will cost nearer to £7,000. If that’s the case, going for the Volkswagen instead of the Škoda would be a crazy decision.



Move Up! - £8,970 on the road



For an additional £975, the Move Up! gains some worthwhile extra kit. This comprises body-coloured door handles and mirror caps, electric windows, central locking, air conditioning, an adjustable driver’s seat, a rev counter and different 14” steel wheels.



Move Up! BlueMotion Technology - £9,330 on the road



Eco flagship of the range is the BlueMotion Technology model, thanks to its low rolling resistance tyres, battery regeneration and a start-stop system.



Arguably, those features should be standard across the whole range, as economy from the 59 bhp (44 kW / 60 PS) engine improves to an expected 67.2 mpg (4.2 l/100km). CO2 emissions are also anticipated to be 97 g/km, meaning this version will qualify for a full discount on the London Congestion Charge and be exempt from road tax.



High Up! - £10,390 on the road



The more powerful 73 bhp (55 kW / 75 PS) 1.0 litre engine appears in the High Up! There’s slightly more performance - the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time drops from 14.4 to 13.2 seconds, for example - but the downside is slightly worse fuel consumption of 60.1 mpg (4.7 l/100km) and CO2 emissions that rise to 108 g/km.



Specification includes 15” alloy wheels, the ‘Maps and More’ touch-screen navigation and infotainment system, a leather-covered steering wheel, front fog lights and heated front seats.



However, if the Up! is too small, it’s worth bearing in mind that with a £500 discount offer, Volkswagen is currently selling the more practical Polo S A/C three-door for £10,310.



Up! Black / Up! White - £11,180 on the road



Unusually, the Up! is being launched with a pair of rather pricey special editions. Based on the High Up!, they are distinguished by their paintwork, 16” alloys, door stripes, chrome door mirror caps, unique seat fabric and carpet mats. Quite how that lot adds up to a £790 premium over the regular High Up! is anyone’s guess, though.





To complement the standard specifications across the range, eight option packs are also being offered. Among these are the Sports Pack (sports suspension, dark-tinted glass and 16” alloys for £450) and the Leather-look Pack (which is based around ‘leather-look’ upholstery - whatever that may be - for £650).



The Volkswagen Up! is available to order from dealers now.



Related posts:
Mii joins Up! and Citigo
Škoda reveals the Citigo
Volkswagen Up! Revealed
Top 10: Efficient petrol cars
Zero Congestion Charge
Top 10: Cheapest new cars

Top 10: Car sales Q3 2011

The very capable Ford Fiesta remains the best-selling car in the UK. Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows that Ford’s supermini has notched up 77,198 registrations to the end of the third quarter, which equates to just under 5% of the 1,553,094 market total.

Ford Fiesta: Still the UK's best-selling car.

Car registrations in September - the second most important month behind March, thanks to the registration plate change - ended up at 332,476. Encouragingly, that was just 0.8% behind the same month last year, but again it’s the comparatively healthy fleet and business sectors that are preventing a larger decline.



However, continued volatile economic conditions mean that the SMMT is predicting a difficult fourth quarter, and a total of 1.92 million cars are now expected to be registered during 2011.



The ten most popular models, and their order in the league table, are unchanged since Q2.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q3 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	77,198
2	Ford	Focus	67,672
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	60,959
4	Volkswagen	Golf	50,013
5	Vauxhall	Astra	49,042
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	38,386
7	Volkswagen	Polo	36,655
8	BMW	3 Series	33,650
9	Nissan	Qashqai	30,763
10	Mini	Mini	28,097

Related posts:
Top 10: Car sales Q2 2011
Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011
Top 10: UK car sales 2010

Mii joins Up! and Citigo

In an unsurprising move, Seat has followed Škoda by unveiling its take on the Volkswagen Up! city car. The Spanish version has been named the Mii (after the Nintendo Wii and 3DS characters?) and, despite being virtually identical to both the Up! and the Škoda Citigo, Seat is trying to pitch it as the sporty and youthful choice.

2012 Seat Mii. Scroll down for more images.

The Mii’s exterior styling is almost indistinguishable from that of the Citigo, with both cars sharing the same glasshouse and rear end. It’s only really at the front where the Seat is different, thanks to a unique design for the headlights, grille and bumper, plus a slightly re-profiled bonnet. Overall, it’s a neat if fairly anonymous look, but both the Volkswagen and Škoda are more striking.



On the inside things are fairly austere, which is to be expected in the city car segment. The Mii will be available with standard, Reference or Style trim levels, with Style getting ‘luxuries’ such as central locking and electric windows.



Additionally, two equipment packages will be on the options list. Chic includes a chrome trim pack, while Sport consists of stiffer suspension and tinted glass. Both also feature alloy wheels and a leather-covered steering wheel.



As with the Up! and Citigo, power comes from a 1.0 litre, three-cylinder petrol engine that’s available with either 59 bhp (44 kW / 60 PS) or 73 bhp (55 kW / 75 PS). Go for the Ecomotive version, and CO2 emissions are just 97 g/km - not spectacular for such a small, low-powered car, but usefully below the 100 g/km threshold nevertheless.



Sales of the Seat Mii are due to begin in Spain during November, with market launches for the rest of Europe to follow in Spring 2012. Next year will also see the debut of a five-door version.



With three such similar models, it will be interesting to see which of the Mii, Up! and Citigo proves to be the best seller. Doubtless relative prices will be a crucial factor, but so will brand loyalty / badge snobbery.

Related posts:
Volkswagen Up! revealed
Škoda reveals the Citigo

Škoda reveals the Citigo

Škoda has unveiled its new Citigo city car. Based on the Volkswagen Up!, it’s due to go on sale in the Czech Republic by the end of this year. Market launches across the rest of Europe will follow in mid-2012.



Both three- and five-door versions will be produced and, although the Citigo is only 3.56 metres (11’ 8”) long, a generous 2.42 metre (7’ 11”) wheelbase means that there should be room inside for four adults. Luggage capacity is 251 litres, but this increases to a sizeable 951 litres with the rear seats folded down.

Unsurprisingly, the Citigo uses the same 1.0 litre, three-cylinder petrol engine as the Up!, and it’ll be available in two states of tune.



With 59 bhp (44 kW / 60 PS), it averages 62.8 mpg (4.5 l/100km) and produces 105 g/km of CO2. Go for the ‘Green Tec’ version though, and those figures improve to a more impressive 67.3 mpg (4.2 l/100km) and 97 g/km.



For those wanting a little extra power, the 73 bhp (55 kW / 75 PS) motor manages 60.1 mpg (4.7 l/100km) while emitting 108 g/km of carbon dioxide, but in ‘Green Tec’ guise it achieves 65.7 mpg (4.3 l/100km) and 99 g/km.



The styling echoes the new design language first seen on the MissionL and Vision D concepts, and it’s typified by the more angular grille with a prominent Škoda badge sitting just above it. While the front end is neat, uncluttered and works well, the rear of the Citigo is perhaps less successful.



Škoda certainly has high hopes for its new arrival, as Board Chairman, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland, explained: “The Citigo is one of the pillars of our growth strategy. It paves the way for tremendous opportunities in a new segment.



“The demand for small cars with low fuel consumption, at a favourable price and with reasonable operating costs, is growing. Škoda’s new small vehicle is a reaction to this trend. We are entering new ground and the Citigo will attract prospects mainly in our European markets.”



Indeed, key to any success in the city car sector will be price, and rumours suggest that Škoda could be looking to charge as little as £7,000 (about €8,000) for the Citigo.



If so, that would make it one of the cheapest cars on sale, easily undercutting rivals such as the Ford Ka and the Peugeot 107 / Toyota Aygo / Citroën C1 trio.



Related posts:
Škoda MissionL concept
Volkswagen Up! Revealed
Škoda Vision D at Geneva
Top 10: Cheapest new cars

Volkswagen Up! revealed

The Volkswagen Up! has certainly been a long time coming. It was first unveiled in concept form at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and now four years later the same event will see the production version’s debut.

2012 Volkswagen Up! Scroll down for more images.

A few of the radical features that were seen on the concept have gone, most likely removed on the grounds of cost, practicality or consumer response. Foremost among these is the engine position, which has now shifted from the rear to a more conventional spot at the front. Also no longer present are the air-inflated seats that, with the exception of the driver’s, could all be folded and taken out of the original car.



In the transition to showroom model the length has grown from 3.45 to 3.54 metres, while the width is virtually unchanged at 1.64 metres. Those dimensions make the Up! shorter, lower and marginally narrower than the Fox, Volkswagen’s current city car offering. It’s still claimed to be a full four-seater though, and luggage space even with the rear seats up is an adequate 25 litres.



Like the Fox, the new arrival relies on three-cylinder petrol power, although the 1.0 litre engines in the Up! are considerably more efficient.



Available with either 59 bhp (44 kW / 60 PS) or 73 bhp (55 kW / 75 PS), Volkswagen is predicting fuel consumption figures of 67.2 mpg (4.2 l/100km) and 65.6 mpg (4.3 l/100km) respectively with its BlueMotion Technology stop-start system fitted. Both motors will emit less than 100 g/km of CO2.



Later additions to the line-up will be a 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS) natural gas-powered engine (although this is unlikely to make it to the UK), as well as an all-electric Up! that’s due in 2013.



The Up! gets its European launch this December, and prices and exact specifications are going to be finalised nearer the time.



For now, Volkswagen has confirmed that several trim grades will be available: Take Up!, Move Up!, High Up!, Throw Up! and Cock Up!



Okay, those last two are made up, but there definitely will be special Up! Black and Up! White variants based on the range-topping High Up!

Related posts:

Top 10: Low insurance cars

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Top 10: Cheapest new cars

Top 10: Car sales Q2 2011

Figures just published by the SMMT show that 1,029,638 cars were sold in the UK to the end of Q2 2011, a reduction of 7.1% compared to the same period last year.



Despite the overall drop, the fleet sector remains fairly buoyant, with registrations up by 3.4% versus 2010. Combined fleet and business sales now account for just over 57% of the market.



As a result of that mix, almost half of all cars sold so far this year have been diesels. In turn, the shift away from petrol power will have undoubtedly contributed to average new car CO2 emissions falling to 138.9 g/km during Q2 2011. That’s the first time ever that a figure of less than 140 g/km has been achieved.



The ten most popular cars haven’t changed much since Q1, with the league table once again headed by the Ford Fiesta and Focus. Whether it’s a situation that will continue in the longer term remains to be seen though, as reports suggest Ford is prepared to sacrifice its top seller position in order to be more profitable.

Ford Fiesta: Still the UK's most popular car.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q2 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	51,643
2	Ford	Focus	43,825
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	38,597
4	Volkswagen	Golf	33,118
5	Vauxhall	Astra	32,883
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	25,950
7	Volkswagen	Polo	22,897
8	BMW	3 Series	21,866
9	Nissan	Qashqai	19,992
10	Mini	Mini	18,619

Related posts:

Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011

Top 10: UK car sales 2010

99 g/km Astra ecoFLEX

The Vauxhall Astra is already one of the neatest looking cars in its class, and now it’s among the most economical and environmentally friendly, too.



With a revised 1.7 CDTi diesel engine, the latest Astra ecoFLEX joins a growing list of C-segment models that produce under 100 g/km of CO2.

But while competitors from Volvo and the Volkswagen Group match the Astra on emissions, the Vauxhall boasts lower fuel consumption and a higher power output. On those last two measures, it even eclipses the Toyota Prius and Auris hybrids:

Manufacturer	Model	Fuel Type	CO2 Emissions	Fuel Consumption	Power
Vauxhall	Astra 1.7 CDTi ecoFLEX	Diesel	99 g/km	76.3 mpg (3.7 l/100km)	128 bhp (95 kW / 130 PS)
Audi	A3 1.6 TDIe	Diesel	99 g/km	74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km)	103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS)
Seat	Leon 1.6 CR TDI Ecomotive	Diesel	99 g/km	74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km)	103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS)
Skoda	Octavia 1.6 TDI Greenline	Diesel	99 g/km	74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km)	103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS)
Toyota	Auris Hybrid	Petrol Hybrid	89 g/km	74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km)	97 bhp (73 kW / 99 PS)
Toyota	Prius	Petrol Hybrid	89 g/km	72.4 mpg (3.9 l/100km)	97 bhp (73 kW / 99 PS)
Volkswagen	Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion	Diesel	99 g/km	74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km)	103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS)
Volvo	S40 DRIVe	Diesel	99 g/km	74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km)	113 bhp (84 kW / 115 PS)

Various measures have been employed to help the Astra attain its mix of power and economy.



The engine has been comprehensively reworked, and it now features a new fuel injection system, variable geometry turbocharger and engine management system that lets it operate at a lower compression ratio. A lot of the internals are now low friction, and there’s even an oil cooler bypass that lets the engine get up to its optimum operating temperature more quickly.



Drive is via a specially adapted six-speed manual transmission. Again, attention has been paid to reducing mechanical friction, and it comes equipped with a shift indicator to encourage more efficient driving.



Apart from the drivetrain enhancements, the Astra ecoFLEX comes with brake energy regeneration and stop-start systems, both of which are now virtually obligatory for any eco-car.



The aerodynamics have also been tweaked to further reduce fuel burn. Ride height has been lowered by 12 mm, while the grille has an active shutter which closes when less throttle load is required. Completing the package are low rolling resistance tyres.



Achieving 99 g/km brings several benefits to UK drivers. These include zero-rated Vehicle Excise Duty, a full discount on the London Congestion Charge, and qualification for the lowest Benefit In Kind tax band for company car users.



So, whatever your views on global warming, there are definite financial advantages to be gained from running a low CO2 car. The only potential downside is that more people are going to change their buying habits accordingly, meaning that the tax authorities will eventually realise that they’re missing out on a huge chunk of revenue.



Consequently, the chances of those ‘free’ thresholds falling from 100 g/km to something much lower in the future have to be high.



Prices for the Astra ecoFLEX have yet to be announced, but it will be available in Exclusiv, SE and SRi specifications. Deliveries are expected to begin later this year.



Related posts:

2011-12 company car tax

Zero Congestion Charge

Police spec Astra

99 g/km diesel Audi A1

Audi has reduced the CO2 emissions from its A1 1.6 TDI to 99 g/km, thanks to the fitment of stop-start and energy regeneration systems.



That’s an improvement of 6 g/km, which might not sound a lot but it’s significant for UK buyers. It means the A1 will now qualify for zero-rated Band A Vehicle Excise Duty, and makes it eligible for a 100% discount on the London Congestion Charge.



Economy has been similarly improved too, with the combined cycle figure rising from 70.6 mpg (4.0 l/100km) to 74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km). So, probably quite deliberately, the Audi now exactly matches the Mini Cooper D for fuel consumption and emissions.



It remains slightly slower though, with a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time of 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph (189 km/h). By comparison, the Mini gets from rest to 62 mph in 9.7 seconds and can reach 122 mph (196 km/h).

UK on the road prices for the A1 1.6 TDI have been confirmed at £14,480 for the SE, £16,320 for the Sport and £17,865 for the S line.



And yes, they’re very much in the same ballpark as the Mini Cooper D, which costs £16,060.



However, one potential sales casualty of the revamped A1 could be the Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI from sister brand Volkswagen.



With only 73 bhp (55 kW / 75PS) compared to the Audi’s 103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS), the Polo achieves a marginally better 80.7 mpg (3.5 l/100km) and produces 91 g/km of CO2. It’s a slower car though and, in three-door form, a price tag of £14,860 makes it actually more expensive than the SE spec A1.



Related posts:

Audi A1 clubsport Quattro

2011 What Car? Awards

Zero Congestion Charge

Turbo cars lead BTCC

The 2011 British Touring Car Championship is now already midway through its season.



So far, it has been rather dominated by the contentious issue of performance parity between the turbocharged and normally-aspirated cars, although another boost reduction introduced for the most recent round at Croft seems to have helped a lot.



That said, the championship table remains dominated by cars running NGTC engines, with sixth-place Jason Plato in his Chevrolet Cruze seemingly the only non-turbo entrant with any realistic prospect of taking the title.

Chevrolet Cruze Super 2000

The series now takes its long summer break, with the next event taking place at Snetterton on 7th August.

2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship: Standings After Five Rounds
Pos.	Driver	Team	Car	Points
1	Matt Neal	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic	140
2	Mat Jackson	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus	131
3	Gordon Shedden	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic	120
4	Andrew Jordan	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra	111
5	James Nash	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra	104
6	Jason Plato	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze	100
7	Robert Collard	WSR	BMW 320si	66
8	Tom Chilton	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus	64
9	Alex MacDowall	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze	47
10	Paul O’Neill	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze	32
11	Tom Boardman	Special Tuning Racing	Seat Leon	31
12	Nick Foster	WSR	BMW 320si	27
13	Tony Gilham	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra	12
14	Jeff Smith	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra	12
15	Tom Onslow-Cole	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus	10
16	Andy Neate	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus	9
17	David Newsham	Geoff Steel Racing	BMW 320si	9
18	Lea Wood	Central Group Racing	Honda Integra	4
19	Liam Griffin	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus	2
20	Rob Austin	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4	0
21	Frank Wrathall	Dynojet	Toyota Avensis	0
22	David Pinkney	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4	0
23	John George	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze	0
24	Daniel Welch	Welch Automotive	Proton Gen-2	0
25	Tony Hughes	Speedworks Motorsport	Toyota Avensis	0
26	Chris James	Team ES Racing.com	Chevrolet Lacetti	0
27	Shaun Hollamby	AmD Milltek Racing.com	Volkswagen Golf	0

Related posts:

Avensis NGTC racers debut

2011 BTCC entries

Snetterton corner names