Audi takes Le Mans pole

The grid for 2011’s Le Mans 24 Hours will see an all-Audi front row.



Both R18 TDI Audi Sport Team Joest entries managed to just better the times set by any of the Peugeots, surely their greatest rivals for the race.

Indeed, the first seven spots are occupied by either an R18 TDI or a 908, both of which are diesel-powered. That dominance would suggest that efforts by race organisers, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, to equalise performance between petrol and diesel cars hasn’t been successful.

2011 24 Heures Du Mans - Qualification
Pos.	Race No.	Team	Drivers	Car	Class	Time
1	2	Audi Sport Team Joest	M. Fassler / A. Lotterer / B. Treluyer	Audi R18 TDI	LM P1	3:25.738
2	1	Audi Sport Team Joest	T. Bernhard / R. Dumas / M. Rockenfeller	Audi R18 TDI	LM P1	3:25.799
3	9	Team Peugeot Total	P. Lamy / S. Bourdais / S. Pagenaud	Peugeot 908	LM P1	3:26.010
4	8	Peugeot Sport Total	F. Montagny / S. Sarrazin / N. Minassian	Peugeot 908	LM P1	3:26.156
5	3	Audi Sport North America	R. Capello / T. Kristensen / A. McNish	Audi R18 TDI	LM P1	3:26.165
6	7	Peugeot Sport Total	M. Gene / A. Wurz / A. Davidson	Peugeot 908	LM P1	3:26.272
7	10	Team Oreca Matmut	N. Lapierre / L. Duval / O. Panis	Peugeot 908 HDI-FAP	LM P1	3:30.084
8	12	Rebellion Racing	N. Jani / N. Prost / J. Bleekemolen	Lola B 10/60 Coupe-Toyota	LM P1	3:32.883
9	16	Pescarolo Team	E. Collard / C. Tinseau / J. Jousse	Pescarolo Judd	LM P1	3:33.066
10	13	Rebellion Racing	A. Belicchi / J. Boullion / G. Smith	Lola B 10/60 Coupe-Toyota	LM P1	3:34.573
11	15	Oak Racing	T. Monteiro / G. Moreau / P. Ragues	Oak Pescarolo-Judd	LM P1	3:34.933
12	22	Kronos Racing	V. Ickx / M. Martin / B. Leinders	Lola Aston Martin	LM P1	3:36.551
13	20	Quifel-Asm Team	M. Amaral / O. Pla / W. Hughes	Zytek 09 SC	LM P1	3:37.393
14	26	Signatech Nissan	F. Mailleux / L. Ordoñez / S. Ayari	Oreca 03-Nissan	LM P2	3:41.458
15	24	Oak Racing	J. Nicolet / R. Hein / J. Yvon	Oak Pescarolo-Judd	LM P1	3:41.908
16	42	Strakka Racing	N. Leventis / D. Watts / J. Kane	Honda Performance Development Arx 01	LM P2	3:42.615
17	48	Team Oreca Matmut	A. Premat / D. Hallyday / D. Kraihamer	Oreca 03-Nissan	LM P2	3:43.098
18	39	Pecom Racing	L. Perez-Companc / M. Russo / P. Kaffer	Lola B11/40-Judd BMW	LM P2	3:43.223
19	49	Oak Racing	S. Nakano / N. De Crem / J. Charouz	Oak Pescarolo-BMW	LM P2	3:43.479
20	41	Greaves Motorsport	K. Ojjeh / O. Lombard / T. Kimber-Smith	Zytek Nissan	LM P2	3:43.802
21	40	Race Performance	M. Frey / R. Meichtry / M. Rostan	Oreca 03-Judd BMW	LM P2	3:44.294
22	007	Aston Martin Racing	C. Klien / S. Mucke / D. Turner	Aston Martin AMR-One	LM P1	3:45.918
23	36	RML	T. Erdos / M. Newton / B. Collins	Honda Performance Development Arx 01	LM P2	3:47.308
24	5	Hope Racing	S. Zacchia / J. Lammers / C. Elgaard	Oreca Swiss Hy Tech-Hybrid	LM P1	3:47.691
25	009	Aston Martin Racing	A. Fernandez / A. Meyrick / H. Primat	Aston Martin AMR-One	LM P1	3:48.355
26	44	Extreme Limite AM Paris	F. Rosier / P. Haezebrouck / J. De Fournoux	Norma M200P-Judd BMW	LM P2	3:48.420
27	35	Oak Racing	A. Barlesi / F. Da Rocha / P. Lafargue	Oak Pescarolo-Judd BMW	LM P2	3:48.665
28	33	Level 5 Motorsports	S. Tucker / C. Bouchut / J. Barbosa	Lola Coupe-Honda Performance Development	LM P2	3:48.863
29	55	BMW Motorsport	A. Farfus / J. Muller / D. Werner	BMW M3 GT	LM GTE Pro	3:57.592
30	51	AF Corse Srl	G. Fisichella / G. Bruni / T. Vilander	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	3:58.040
31	56	BMW Motorsport	A. Priaulx / D. Muller / J. Hand	BMW M3 GT	LM GTE Pro	3:58.426
32	74	Corvette Racing	O. Gavin / J. Magnussen / R. Westbrook	Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1	LM GTE Pro	3:59.519
33	89	Hankook-Team Farnbacher	D. Farnbacher / A. Simonsen / L. Keen	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	3:59.519
34	73	Corvette Racing	A. Garcia / T. Milner / O. Beretta	Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1	LM GTE Pro	3:59.633
35	77	Team Felbermayr-Proton	M. Lieb / R. Lietz / W. Henzler	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	3:59.662
36	59	Luxury Racing	S. Ortelli / F. Makowiecki / J. Melo	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	3:59.901
37	75	Prospeed Competition	M. Goossens / M. Holzer / J. Van Lagen	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	3:59.962
38	79	Jota	S. Dolan / S. Hancock / C. Buncombe	Aston Martin Vantage	LM GTE Pro	4:00.747
39	66	JMW Motorsport	R. Bell / T. Sugden / X. Maassen	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	4:00.890
40	80	Flying Lizard Motorsports	J. Bergmeister / P. Long / L. Luhr	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	4:01.024
41	58	Luxury Racing	A. Beltoise / F. Jakubowski / P. Thiriet	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	4:01.176
42	61	AF Corse SRL	P. Perazzini / M. Cioci / S. Breslin	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	4:01.282
43	88	Team Felbermayr-Proton	B. Miller / N. Tandy / A. Al-Faisal	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	4:01.752 33
44	71	AF Corse	R. Kauffman / M. Waltrip / R. Aguas	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	4:02.216
45	76	Imsa Performance Matmut	P. Pilet / R. Narac / N. Armindo	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	4:02.548
46	63	Proton Competition	C. Ried / H. Felbermayr Jr. / H. Felbermayr	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Am	4:03.532
47	81	Flying Lizard Motorsports	S. Neiman / D. Law / S. Pumpelly	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Am	4:03.648
48	70	Larbre Competition	C. Bourret / P. Gibon / J. Belloc	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Am	4:03.918
49	83	JMB Racing	M. Rodrigues / J. Menahem / N. Marroc	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	4:04.640
50	60	Gulf AMR Middle East	F. Giroix / R. Goethe / M. Wainwright	Aston Martin Vantage	LM GTE Am	4:04.825
51	57	Krohn Racing	T. Krohn / N. Jonsson / M. Rugolo	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	4:05.211
52	50	Larbre Competition	P. Bornhanuser / J. Canal / G. Gardel	Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1	LM GTE Am	4:05.955
53	62	CRS Racing	P. Ehret / S. Lynn / R. Wills	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	4:07.236
54	65	Lotus Jetalliance	J. Rossiter / J. Mowlem / J. Hirschi	Lotus Evora	LM GTE Pro	4:07.465
55	68	Robertson Racing LLC	D. Robertson / A. Robertson / D. Murry	Ford GT-Doran	LM GTE Am	4:08.208
56	64	Lotus Jetalliance	O. Slingerland / M. Rich / J. Hartshorne	Lotus Evora	LM GTE Pro	4:12.569

Related posts:

Aston Martin AMR-One

Peugeot 908 HDi FAP

Audi unveils R18 race car

Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011

UK car sales in the first quarter of 2011 fell 8.7% to 558,336, according to figures released by the SMMT.



With the fleet and business segments showing slight increases on 2010, the decline was due to 57,769 fewer private registrations. However, given the scrappage scheme that was running last year, such a drop was expected.



Probably reflecting those reduced private sales, the proportion of petrol-powered cars dipped to just over 50%. Consequently, average new car CO2 emissions were 140.3g/km, a 3.4% reduction compared to 2010.



The Ford Fiesta retained its position as the most popular car in the UK. Further down the chart, a D segment model from a mainstream manufacturer actually managed to outsell the ubiquitous 3 Series, with the Vauxhall Insignia achieving 11,904 registrations compared to the BMW’s 10,141.

Top 10: UK Car Sales Q1 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	27,924
2	Ford	Focus	24,435
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	20,536
4	Vauxhall	Astra	17,250
5	Volkswagen	Golf	17,101
6	Volkswagen	Polo	12,214
7	Vauxhall	Insignia	11,904
8	Peugeot	207	10,335
9	BMW	3 Series	10,141
10	Nissan	Qashqai	9,253

Related post:

Top 10: UK car sales 2010

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



Related posts:

2011-12 company car tax

Business Car of the Year

Peugeot facelifts the 308

Peugeot is to debut a refreshed version of its 308 Hatchback, CC convertible and SW estate at next month’s Geneva International Motor Show.

Thankfully, the opportunity has been taken to reduce the size of the front grille. It’s still ample, but at least it’s not the gaping monstrosity of the pre-facelift car. Other styling changes are limited to revised headlights and the fitment of the now de rigueur LED daytime running lights.



Specifications have also been rejigged, with Access, SR, Active and Allure trim levels available across all body styles. Additionally, Hatchback and CC buyers can order their 308 in GT THP 200 guise, which is powered by a 197 bhp (147 kW / 200 PS) 1.6 litre twin-scroll turbo engine.

Standard equipment is now more generous, with all models featuring six airbags, remote central locking, electric windows front and rear, air conditioning, electronic stability programme, brake force distribution and brake assist.



The engine line-up has been revised too, with Peugeot offering four petrol and four diesel options. Apart from the performance-orientated 1.6 THP 200 petrol of the GT, the most interesting is probably the 1.6 litre e-HDi FAP 112 diesel.

Available with either a six-speed manual or electronically-controlled manual gearbox, it features start / stop technology that helps CO2 emissions drop to 98 g/km. That means zero annual road tax and no London Congestion Charge.   



UK prices for the facelift 308 will start from £15,245 on the road. Sales are due to begin in May, although the 1.6 litre e-HDi FAP 112 diesel is expected to follow a couple of months later.



Related posts:

Zero Congestion Charge

UK gets Peugeot 308 GT

Peugeot 908 HDi FAP

Peugeot Sport has revealed the car that will be going head-to-head with the Audi R18 TDI in this year’s Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

It’s still called the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, which is rather confusing because there are plenty of differences compared to 2010’s version. Those changes are thanks to a revised set of regulations, designed to cut the continued dominance of diesel-powered cars in endurance racing.



Not that Peugeot has been persuaded to switch to a petrol engine, though.



The 908 is still fuelled by diesel, but its motor is no longer a 5.5 litre V12. In its place is a 3.7 litre V8, capable of producing 542 bhp (404 kW / 550 PS). An impressive figure, but that smaller capacity means the 2011 908 is around 147 bhp (110 kW / 150 PS) down on its predecessor.

Having won the 2010 ILMC series, Peugeot is naturally eager to defend its title this season. The expanded championship now includes the Le Mans 24 Hours, a round which will receive particular focus given that all three 908s failed to finish 2010’s disastrous event.



Interestingly, the driver roster for the June race has already been decided, and it’s exactly the same as last year:



#7 908: Alexander Wurz / Anthony Davidson / Marc Gené

#8 908: Franck Montagny / Nicolas Minassian / Stéphane Sarrazin

#9 908: Sébastien Bourdais / Pedro Lamy / Simon Pagenaud

Commenting on the decision Olivier Quesnel, the Director of Peugeot Sport, said: ‘At our debrief after the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours at our base in Vélizy, I told all our drivers that I had every confidence in them for 2011. They are true professionals, every one of them. We have nine world class drivers who count among the discipline's very best. We have everything to gain from sticking to the same line-up.’

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 2011
Round	Event	Country	Date
1	Sebring 12 Hours	USA	19th March
2	Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours	Belgium	8th 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	(Circuit TBC) 6 Hours	China	12th November

Related post:

Audi unveils R18 race car

Top 10: Irish car sales 2010

According to figures published by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, 88,373 cars were sold in Ireland during 2010.



That was almost 55% more than 2009’s figure of 57,118, an encouraging increase achieved in spite of harsh economic conditions. However, the market still has a long way to go before it recovers to the volumes seen in 2008, when sales topped 150,000.



2010’s performance was undoubtedly helped by the scrappage scheme, which accounted for over 17,000 registrations. Good news for the industry is that the programme will continue until the end of June 2011, although the amount of support - which is applied via Vehicle Registration Tax relief - is reduced from €1,500 to €1,250.



The top three manufacturers remained unchanged in 2010, with Ford selling the most cars followed by Toyota and then Volkswagen.



Fourth spot went to Renault, which trebled its sales thanks partly to being the manufacturer with the most scrappage scheme reclaims. Skoda also recorded a notable result but, despite a doubling of volumes, it only moved up one place to seventh on the league table.

Top 10: Irish Car Sales By Manufacturer
Position	Manufacturer	2010	2009	+/-	% +/-
1	Ford	11,215	8,121	3,094	38.1%
2	Toyota	10,660	7,603	3,057	40.2%
3	Volkswagen	10,301	6,174	4,127	66.8%
4	Renault	9,746	2,414	7,332	303.7%
5	Opel	6,603	4,046	2,557	63.2%
6	Nissan	5,494	4,684	810	17.3%
7	Skoda	4,915	2,390	2,525	105.6%
8	Hyundai	2,959	1,665	1,294	77.7%
9	Peugeot	2,924	1,766	1,158	65.6%
10	Audi	2,723	2,388	335	14.0%
Figures provided by SIMI Statistical Service

2011 What Car? Awards

UK publication What Car? has announced its 2011 Car of the Year winners.



During a ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, prizes were awarded across seventeen vehicle categories, with one model going on to be declared overall champion.



Supermini



Shortlist

Best buy less than £9,000: Hyundai i10 1.2 Comfort

Best buy £9,000 - £13,000: Ford Fiesta 1.25 82 Zetec 5dr

Best buy more than £13,000: Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport



Winner

Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport





Small family car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £15,000: Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI SE

Best buy £15,000 - £20,000: Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 122 Match 5dr

Best buy more than £20,000: Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i T3



Winner

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 122 Match 5dr





Family car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £18,000: Skoda Superb 1.4 TSI S

Best buy £18,000 - £21,000: Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec

Best buy more than £21,000: Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 140 SE



Winner

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec





Estate car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £16,500: Skoda Octavia Estate 1.4 TSI SE

Best buy £16,000 - £22,000: Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec

Best buy more than £22,000: BMW 5 Series Touring 520d SE



Winner

Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec





MPV



Shortlist

Best buy less than £16,000: Citroën C3 Picasso 1.6 VTi VTR+

Best buy £16,000 - £22,000: Peugeot 5008 1.6 HDi 112 Sport

Best buy more than £22,000: Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 Ecomotive S



Winner

Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 Ecomotive S





Hot hatch



Shortlist

Best buy less than £15,000: Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 Cup

Best buy £15,000 - £20,000: Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup

Best buy more than £20,000: Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250 Cup



Winner

Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250 Cup





Coupé



Shortlist

Best buy less than £25,000: Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI 160

Best buy £25,000 - £40,000: Audi TT 2.0 TFSI 211 Sport

Best buy more than £40,000: Jaguar XKR



Winner

Audi TT 2.0 TFSI 211 Sport





Open-top



Shortlist

Best buy less than £25,000: Mazda MX-5 1.8i SE AC

Best buy £25,000 - £35,000: BMW Z4 sDrive23i

Best buy more than £35,000: Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI Cab Blue Efficiency SE



Winner

BMW Z4 sDrive23i





Performance car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £60,000: Lotus Evora 3.5 V6

Best buy £60,000 - £120,000: Audi R8 Spyder V10

Best buy more than £120,000: Ferrari 458 Italia



Winner

Ferrari 458 Italia





Crossover



Shortlist

Best buy less than £15,000: Nissan Juke 1.6 Visia

Best buy £15,000 - £20,000: Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP 156 Sport

Best buy more than £20,000: Volvo XC60 2.0 D3 DRIVe SE



Winner

Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP 156 Sport





4x4



Shortlist

Best buy less than £30,000: Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Style 7 seats

Best buy £30,000 - £40,000: BMW X3 xDrive20d SE

Best buy more than £40,000: Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 XS



Winner

Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 XS





Compact executive



Shortlist

Best buy less than £25,000: BMW 3 Series 316d ES

Best buy £25,000 - £30,000: BMW 3 Series 320d ES

Best buy more than £30,000: BMW 3 Series 330d SE



Winner

BMW 3 Series 320d ES





Executive car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £30,000: BMW 5 Series 520d SE

Best buy £30,000 - £40,000: Jaguar XF 3.0D V6 Luxury

Best buy more than £40,000: Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI 245 quattro SE



Winner

Jaguar XF 3.0D V6 Luxury





Luxury car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £65,000: Mercedes-Benz S-Class S350 CDI BluTEC

Best buy £65,000 - £100,000: Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Vogue 

Best buy more than £100,000: Rolls-Royce Phantom



Winner

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S350 CDI BluTEC





Ultra-low carbon car



Winner

Nissan Leaf





Safety Award



Winner

Volvo for Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake





Security Award



Winner

Volkswagen





What Car? Car of the Year 2011



Winner

Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport

Top 10: UK car sales 2010

Despite the car scrappage scheme ending in March, figures just published reveal that UK car sales managed to rise very slightly in 2010 compared to the previous year.



Total registrations were 2,030,846, up 1.80% on 2009’s figure. This modest growth was mainly down to increased fleet activity, particularly in the first half of the year.



However, the harsh economic climate continues, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is predicting that sales will fall by 5% in 2011.



The ten best-selling cars in the UK during 2010 were:



1. Ford Fiesta (103,013 registered)

Despite its overall sales dropping by over 36,000 to 280,364, Ford was the manufacturer that shifted the most cars in 2010. The Fiesta remained the most popular model, too, and deservedly so. A great drive, decent equipment and affordable prices make it one of the best superminis on the market.









2. Vauxhall Astra (80,646 registered)

In its first full year on sale, the sixth-generation Astra managed to out-perform its rivals, even though the range has been criticised for its prices. Overall, Vauxhall registrations were up by almost 4%, finishing the year at 247,265.









3. Ford Focus (77,804 registered)

A perennial favourite, the Focus managed to secure third place in 2010’s chart. Sales weren’t too far behind the much newer Astra, a feat that was probably helped by some healthy discounts and fleet sales. Due to be replaced by the third-generation Focus in 2011.









4. Vauxhall Corsa (77,398 registered)

The Corsa is strong on refinement and comfort, but it seems a very large number of buyers still prefer the Fiesta. It’ll be interesting to see what impact the recently introduced Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty has on 2011’s sales figures.









5. Volkswagen Golf (58,116 registered)

One of the best all-rounders on the market, it’s no great surprise to see the Golf make the top ten. Overall, Volkswagen sales were up by over 8% in 2010, with 174,655 cars registered. That was good enough to retain third place in the manufacturer league table behind Ford and Vauxhall.









6. Volkswagen Polo (45,517 registered)

Under the skin, the Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza have a lot in common with the Polo, but apparently customers are happy to shun the cheaper brands in favour of Volkswagen. Whatever the reasons for this behaviour, sixth place was a respectable result for the 2010 European Car of the Year.









7. Peugeot 207 (42,185 registered)

Another decent all-rounder, although the somewhat gawky styling and lack of image might have put some buyers off. Peugeot didn’t have a bad year with total sales up over 6% to 109,324, making it the fifth most popular manufacturer.









8. BMW 3 Series (42,020 registered)

It has become a bit trite to say that the 3 Series outperforms its mainstream rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia, but the fact is it does. Overall, BMW achieved 109,418 sales in 2010, an increase of nearly 11% that gave it fourth spot in the manufacturer table. A premium brand, but no longer exclusive?









9. Mini Hatchback (41,883 registered)

A fantastic image, low emissions, that terrific chassis and extremely strong residuals continue to make the Mini Hatchback an attractive buy. The only things letting it down are a lack of kit on lower-spec models and a small boot.











10. Nissan Qashqai (39,048 registered)

This British-built crossover is arguably the ideal family car. There’s plenty of choice, too, with front- or all-wheel drive available and ‘+2’ extended wheelbase versions that seat seven. Total Nissan registrations rose by 15% in 2010 to 89,681, but it remained in eighth place in the manufacturer chart.

Nine electric cars get grant

The UK’s Department for Transport has announced the first nine models that will be eligible for its Plug-in Car Grant.



Beginning in January 2011, the scheme will see buyers able to claim 25% off the list price (up to a maximum of £5,000) per qualifying vehicle. The government has allocated £43M for the grants up until the end of March 2012, with a review of the programme’s viability beyond that date scheduled for January 2012.



The nine are:

Manufacturer	Model	First UK Deliveries	Price
Mitsubishi	i-MiEV	January 2011	£23,990 including grant
smart	fortwo electric drive	January 2011	TBC. Available to lease in limited volumes from January 2011 ahead of full series production starting in 2012
Peugeot	iOn	January 2011	Only available via four year lease at £415 plus VAT per month
Nissan	Leaf	March 2011	£23,990 including grant
Tata	Vista EV	March 2011	TBC
Citroën	CZero	Early 2011	Only available via four year lease at £415 plus VAT per month
Vauxhall	Ampera	Early 2012	£28,995 including grant
Toyota	Prius Plug-in Hybrid	Early 2012	TBC. Currently only available to lease in limited volumes
Chevrolet	Volt	Early 2012	TBC

smart fortwo electric drive

Although it looks like there’ll be plenty for customers to choose from, the choice isn’t as wide as it first appears. The Peugeot and Citroën are essentially re-badged versions of the Mitsubishi, while the Ampera shares its underpinnings with the Volt.

Peugeot iOn

Business Minister Mark Prisk said: “Today’s news that motorists will be able to choose from at least nine cars under the consumer incentive scheme… will further reinforce the message that the UK is Europe’s leading producer of ultra low carbon vehicles."



Unfortunately the last part of that particular statement shouldn’t be taken at face value just yet. The only model on the list that is definitely confirmed for UK production is the Nissan Leaf. However, domestic manufacturing will only start in 2013, with cars being imported from Japan until then.



Meanwhile, GM Europe has yet to decide whether the Vauxhall Ampera will be built at Ellesmere Port in England, but it has confirmed that the Ampera’s UK price will be £28,995 after the Plug-in car Grant has been applied.

Vauxhall Ampera

A surprising inclusion is the Tata Vista EV, mainly because it’s an unknown quantity in the UK. Apparently it has been developed from the Indica Vista, the previous version of which was the basis for the almost universally unloved and derided CityRover.

Tata Indica Vista

Tata Motors European Technical Centre in Warwick has been involved in the project, and the rumour is that the Vista EV may be built in the UK. A location has yet to be disclosed so, unless there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes, an on-sale date of March 2011 seems very optimistic unless the initial cars are going to be imported from India. And then there’s the slight issue of not having a dealer network to sell through. Maybe Tata will use the showrooms of its Jaguar and Land Rover subsidiaries?



Related posts:

Leaf is Car of the Year

US to get wider i-MiEV

SMMT Electric Car Guide

Mitsubishi i-MiEV costs

UK i-MiEV prices slashed

Electric car grants saved

PSA goes electric

The future’s electric

UK gets Peugeot 308 GT

When the Peugeot 308 GTi was first announced back in May, we were left wondering whether the car would make it to the UK.



Well now it’s here, except it’ll be known as the Peugeot 308 GT THP 200 in this country. Maybe Peugeot felt that leaving an ‘i’ tacked on after the ‘GT’ might build up the expectations of UK buyers, who would just draw comparisons with GTi models of old?

And Peugeot isn’t exactly focussing on the 308 GT’s sporty nature, preferring to talk about ‘good levels of performance’, ‘high levels of comfort and convenience’ and being ‘enjoyable for day-to-day driving [and] equally at home transporting the family’. Stirring stuff.



That said, it’s no slouch. Powered by a 1.6 litre twin-scroll turbo engine producing 197 bhp (147 kW / 200 PS), 0-62 mph (100 km/h) takes 7.7 seconds, while its top speed is 140 mph (225 km/h). Yet despite that level of performance, the combined cycle fuel consumption is a very respectable 40.8 mpg (6.9 l/100km) and CO2 emissions are a reasonable 159 g/km.



Distinguishing the GT from lesser 308s are 18” alloy wheels clad with 225/40 R18 tyres, a meaner looking front bumper, a black diffuser, a rear spoiler and twin chrome exhaust pipes. Ride height is reduced by 10 mm to help improve road holding.



Interior equipment levels look generous, and include sports seats with half-leather upholstery, climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth hands-free telephone connectivity and rear parking assistance. As an extra incentive, anyone who takes delivery of their 308 GT during July also gets a free Nokia 5230 phone that features inbuilt satellite navigation.



Available only as a five-door hatch, the 308 GT is priced at £21,995.



Funnily enough, that’s virtually the same as the Renault Mégane GT, which costs only £85 less. However, the Peugeot beats its compatriot on economy (37.2 mpg / 7.5 l/100km), emissions (178 g/km) and power output (177 bhp / 132 kW / 180 PS), although the Renault’s performance ends up being similar (0-62 mph in 7.8 seconds and a 140 mph / 225 km/h top speed).



But what if neither of the French cars appeal? Other competitors include the £21,005 Vauxhall Astra SRi, which has a 1.6 litre turbo engine and the same power as the Renault Mégane GT. Economy is marginally better than the 308 GT at 41.5 mpg (6.8 l/100km) and emissions are the same, although the slight power deficit makes it just a little slower (0-62 mph takes 7.9 seconds, and its top speed is 138 mph / 222 km/h).



Then there’s the new 167 bhp (125 kW / 170 PS) Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB MultiAir Veloce. Priced at £20,795, it’s down on horsepower versus the Peugeot, but it still manages to do 0-62 mph in 7.8 seconds before going onto 135 mph (217 km/h). The Giulietta is arguably one of the best looking models in this market segment, but its real trump cards are economy and emissions: its 48.7 mpg (5.8 l/100km) and 134 g/km trounce the 308 GT.



If saving the environment isn’t a top priority, but performance and low cost is, then the Skoda Octavia vRS has to be a strong contender. Its two litre FSI petrol engine has as much power as the Peugeot, however it manages to be much quicker. It’ll hit 150 mph (242 km/h) and accelerate from 0-62 mph in 7.2 seconds, although the consequence is a relatively poor 37.7 mpg (7.4 l/100km) and CO2 emissions of 175 g/km. The Octavia is also a bargain at £19,380, despite lacking some standard equipment compared to the 308 GT.

Peugeot 508 revealed

Ahead of its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show in September, Peugeot has released the first details of the new 508.

It replaces both the so-so 407 and the slow-selling 607, and will be available as either a saloon or estate from launch. Based on the same platform as the Citroen C5 and outgoing 407, the 508 saloon is 4790 mm long, while the estate is 4810 mm. Those measurements are increases of 99 mm and 47 mm over the respective 407 versions, and reflect the 508’s dual segment role.



The 508 sees the arrival of a new design language for Peugeot. Gone, thank goodness, is the gaping wide-mouth look typified by the 407 and 4007 SUV. The new model also manages to be less fussy at the front than more recent Peugeot offerings such as the 5008 MPV, but some of the details - like the ‘Peugeot’ name badge on the grille, and the strange bonnet lip that comes down to meet it - seem a bit unnecessary. The rest of the car looks neat enough though, the most striking feature being a strong shoulder line that runs the length of the body.

For many prospective customers, cabin fit and finish will be key factors when deciding whether to buy the 508. However, Peugeot has yet to release any interior design details.



Similarly, technical information is sparse, but it is known that the diesels will get an improved stop-start system to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. Also promised soon after launch is a Hybrid4 version. This combines a diesel engine driving the front wheels with an electric motor powering the rears. Peugeot claims the package offers 200 horsepower performance combined with CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km. That’ll be very attractive for UK drivers, because it means no road tax and potentially no London Congestion Charge.

When sales start in early 2011, the Peugeot 508 will doubtless have to face the usual challenges of a non-prestige large car in Europe. However, it may be the case that success here is secondary to Peugeot’s objective of strong sales in China, where the car will also be built.

Peugeot RCZ Review

The RCZ is the first passenger car by Peugeot that does not use the central zero numbering system for identificationPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZPeugeot RCZThe RCZ was originally planned as a simple concept car but it received critical acclaim, capturing the imagination of the public and professionals. Peugeot

PSA 3-cylinder turbo

PSA Peugeot Citroën is planning to invest €175 million in a new 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. To be built at the Douvrin factory in northern France, which is jointly owned by PSA and Renault, production is scheduled to begin in 2013.



Anticipated output is 320,000 units annually, although there’s no word yet on which vehicles will use the 1.2 litre engine. Given its capacity, Peugeot’s 107 /207 and Citroen’s C1 / C3 ranges would probably be prime candidates.



A normally aspirated version of the new engine is already under development, and that will be manufactured at PSA’s Trémery plant in eastern France from early 2012.



Does this mean there’s now the possibility of a future Mini (or even BMW) with 3-cylinder power? It seems unlikely for the time being, because the existing PSA - BMW development agreement only covers four-cylinder petrol engines.

2010 Sebring 12 Hours

Following a dominant performance in qualifying, it was no surprise that Peugeot went on to win its first Sebring 12 Hours race this weekend.

In the end, it was the number 07 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of Alexander Wurz, Anthony Davidson and Marc Gene that took victory in the first race of the 2010 American Le Mans Series.

Its sister car, driven by Pedro Lamy, Sebastien Bourdais and Nicolas Minassian, finished just behind in second place, completing the same number of laps.



It was, arguably, a somewhat hollow victory. The main challenge to the diesel Peugeots for both LMP1 and overall honours would probably have come from the Audi R15 TDI, also diesel powered.



Audi however was absent from Sebring, although it had wanted to compete. Because Audi didn’t have a full 2010 spec car ready in time, it tried to enter an interim R15 instead. It would have complied with the updated regulations regarding air restrictors and reduced turbo pressures, but its aerodynamics - especially around the front of the car - would not have.



Therefore, to be allowed to take part, all other teams would have had to agree. Peugeot emphatically said ‘non’ though, so that was that. The irony is that Audi will be taking the full 2010 spec R15 (pictured below) to Sebring later this week for a testing session.

The third podium place was taken by the LMP1 Lola-Aston Martin of Stefan Mücke / Harold Primat / Adrian Fernandez, the first petrol-powered car to cross the line.



Away from LMP1, LMP2 only had three entrants. The class was eventually won by the Porsche RS Spyder of Greg Pickett / Klaus Graf / Sascha Maassen.



GT2 was the most hotly contested category, with thirteen entrants. Many expected one of the Chevrolet Corvettes to win. Indeed, that did seem to be the likely outcome until just over three hours into the race.



In what could kindly be described as an unfortunate incident, Jan Magnussen had just got into the number 3 Corvette following a driver change. Upon being released from his pit box, he immediately collided with his team mate Emmanuel Collard who was entering the adjacent pit in the number 4 car. Both Corvettes needed repairs following the accident, gradually dropping them down the field.



Corvette Racing’s misfortunes, together with various episodes that affected the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR runners of Team Falken Tire and Flying Lizard Motorsports, ultimately handed the class win to the Ferrari F430 GT of Risi Competizione, driven by Jaime Melo / Gianmaria Bruni / Pierre Kaffer.

Luckily, the ALMS field is bolstered by two additional categories, LMP Challenge and GT Challenge, which are essentially one-make classes. Without these, the grid would have been reduced to a rather pathetic twenty-one entrants, rather than the thirty-four that actually did start the race.



LMPC is new for 2010, and all teams use the Oreca FLM09 prototype. These cars have full carbon fibre chassis, run with a minimum weight of 900 kilograms and have engines producing 430 hp. LMPC also uses single-supply Michelin tyres to keep the racing as even as possible. The Level 5 Motorsports car of Scott Tucker / Ryan Hunter-Reay / James Gue took a comfortable class win at Sebring, finishing 10th overall and sixteen laps ahead of its nearest LMPC challenger.

GTC is exclusively for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. The class victory went to the number 81 car driven by Juan Gonzalez / Butch Leitzinger / Leh Keen, entered by Alex Job Racing.

PSA goes electric

The must-have addition to any manufacturer’s range at the moment is an electric or hybrid model. PSA Peugeot Citroen is about to go down this route, but will be taking a shortcut. Instead of spending millions of Euros to develop its own model, it is simply going to use a version of Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV.

Mitsubishi will supply 100,000 cars, split between Citroen and Peugeot, over a five or six year period. It’s not just PSA that will benefit from the arrangement. As with any new technology, Mitsubishi recognises additional volume is key to bringing down average costs.



The versions for the French brands will get slightly different styling, most probably around the nose, and different interiors. Apart from re-tuned suspension settings, technically they will be the same as the i-MiEV.

That means the Citroen and Peugeot models will be powered by their lithium-ion batteries only. Unlike cars - such as the Chevrolet Volt - that also have a petrol-powered engine to act as an onboard electricity generator, i-MiEV can only be recharged by plugging it into the mains.



Limited top-ups will though come via regenerative braking, which converts kinetic energy otherwise lost while braking into electricity. It’s a similar principle to the KERS system seen on some Formula 1 cars in 2009.

Plug-in charging takes between six and seven hours, although when ‘quick chargers’ (which are still being developed) become available, the batteries will be 80% charged in 30 minutes. With an anticipated range of 100 miles / 160 km and a top speed of 80 mph /130 km/h, that should be fine for urban use, although longer journeys will need a bit of forward planning to avoid flat batteries.



Those performance figures should also mean eligibility for the forthcoming OLEV Plug-in Car Grant (see this post).



Mitsubishi will launch the i-MiEV in Japan next month. The Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Citroen models are all then expected to go on sale in Europe before the year end, with the United States getting the i-MiEV only sometime during 2011.

Peugeot 308 RC Z incredible car Review

Peugeot presented a 2+2 coupé concept car development of the 308, the Peugeot 308 RC Z, at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. This coupé concept is 18 cm lower than the standard car. It has similar proportions to the Audi TT. The final production model as well as its name will be unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, i.e. two years after the concept car was first presented to the public and will