USA - Subaru entire range has been awarded IIHS Top Safety Pick awards 2015

FIVE MODELS ALSO RATED TSP + BY INSTITUTE

Subaru of America, Inc. announced today that all seven 2015 Subaru models; the Legacy, Outback, Forester, BRZ, WRX/STI, Impreza and XV Crosstrek, have earned 2015 Top Safety Pick awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Subaru is the only manufacturer with IIHS Top Safety Picks for all models for six years running (2010-2015).

Furthermore, five of the seven vehicles also earn 2015 Top Safety Pick+ status; Subaru Forester, Legacy, Outback, Impreza, and XV Crosstrek, when equipped with optional EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology.

Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) is the highest standard of safety the Institute can award and the 2015 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Forester, Impreza and XV Crosstrek were awarded the highest possible rating of “Superior” for front crash prevention. When equipped with the optional EyeSight, these five 2015 models also earned 6 of 6 points for front crash prevention.

Impreza and XV Crosstrek are the only cars in the entire small car category to achieve the “Superior” rating. Beginning with model year 2015, the Impreza and XV Crosstrek joined the Legacy, Outback and Forester carlines in offering the award-winning EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking and Vehicle Lane Departure Warning. Subaru EyeSight was the first system ever to use only stereo camera technology to detect objects such as vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. Since its U.S. debut in 2012, features available on this system have been highly praised.

“We are very pleased that the IIHS has recognized Subaru in their recent tests,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “Safety is a long-time hallmark of the Subaru brand and we are proud to have the IIHS’ 2015 Top Safety Pick endorsement for every vehicle in our line-up.”

To win 2015 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must have “Good” ratings in all four tests of high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, and evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. In addition, “Good” or “Acceptable” performance in a small overlap front test introduced in 2012 is also required. The same level of performance in those tests, along with an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, is required for the higher accolade, 2015 Top Safety Pick+.

WORLDWIDE RECALL - PORSCHE - 918 models recalled to have chassis components replaced.

Recall subsequent to an internal quality check – 918 Spyder customers concerned have already been contacted directly

As a precautionary measure, Porsche will replace chassis components in 205 vehicles of the 918 Spyder model worldwide. The reason for this is that for vehicles that were manufactured in a certain time period defective parts were used from a delivery batch, whose functionality cannot be permanently guaranteed. No complaints have been made known (such as a break of a component) from customers up till now.

The problem was identified during in-house quality inspections and remedied immediately. The owners of the vehicles, which could be exactly traced, were contacted directly by their competent Porsche representatives. The workshop visit, which will take place by appointment at the onset of 2015, takes about two days to complete at no charge.

USA - Mitsubishi celebrates two models getting "Top Safety Pick" 2015 awards.

• 7-passenger Outlander named an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+"
• 5-passenger Outlander Sport designated an IIHS "Top Safety Pick"
• Lancer compact sports sedan earns an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" rating

Today a pair of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) crossovers – the 2015 Outlander and 2015 Outlander Sport – and the 2015 Lancer compact sports sedan (except Ralliart and Evolution) were named "Top Safety Pick" award recipients by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent non-profit scientific and educational organization that researches, performs evaluations and assesses safety ratings in crash testing of production vehicles.

The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander was designated a "Top Safety Pick+" rated vehicle by the IIHS – the highest safety award designation offered by the organization – because of the availability of Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) technology that alerts drivers to a potential frontal collision with visual and audio alerts and automatically applies emergency braking to reduce the severity of the collision or help avoid it altogether.

The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport earned an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" rating, marking the fourth straight year that the brand's best-selling vehicle has achieved this safety designation, while the 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer was named a "Top Safety Pick" for the seventh consecutive year.

"Thanks to our advanced high-tech engineering and safety features, the Mitsubishi Lancer, Outlander and Outlander Sport have consistently achieved high IIHS safety ratings," said Don Swearingen, Executive Vice President of MMNA. "The Mitsubishi RISE safety body construction system is the perfect example of this kind of technology. In the event of an accident, energy is absorbed and deflected away from the occupant cell, which enhances passenger protection."

Additional standard safety features found on the Mitsubishi Lancer, Outlander and Outlander Sport include seven air bags, Active Stability Control, Traction Control Logic, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and Anti-lock braking system with Electronic brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist.

The top of the range Vauxhall ADAM to be called GRAND SLAM.

• ADAM range-topper debuts in Birmingham
• 1.4-litre-turbo (150PS) engine and Red ’n‘ Roll-design
• Performance chassis with VXR braking system

Vauxhall’s top-of-the-range ADAM GRAND SLAM will make its UK debut at Autosport International 2015 (Thursday 8^th – Sunday 11^th January) at the NEC, Birmingham.

Previewed at last year’s Geneva and Frankfurt Motor Shows, the ADAM GRAND SLAM features slick design and a spirited 1.4-litre turbo (150PS) powertrain. It also gets a specially-tuned chassis and a VXR braking system.

With 150PS and 220Nm of torque, the new version of the 1.4-litre Turbo ECOTEC unit in the ADAM GRAND SLAM boasts a specific power output exceeding 100PS/litre. It is a turbocharged, high performance unit derived from the ADAM’s existing four-cylinder, 1.4-litre engine, that has been exclusively developed for the ADAM GRAND SLAM.

The front lip spoiler, side sill moldings and an extended rear bumper cut-out with a visible, bold exhaust tailpipe make the bodywork appear more muscular then a standard ADAM. A total of ten body paint choices and four further roof combinations are available with the Red ʼn‘ Roll roof design reserved exclusively for ADAM S customers. The distinctive rear spoiler above the rear window and the special ADAM logo on the C pillars complete the look.

Inside the vehicle, the driver and front passenger can choose between four different seat arrangements, three of which are exclusively available for this ADAM variant, including the Recaro Performance seats in Morrocana or nappa leather. The interior reflects the Red ʼn‘ Roll design in many ways, with the optional leather package including black and red steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake in leather or the red and white lighting for the instrument panels and doors.

Orders will open for the ADAM GRAND SLAM in January 2015.

Aston Martin takes its cars and customers on Ice for another year of ice drifting and teaching.

• Aston Martin ice drive event returns to exclusive Colorado resort
• Custom-designed tracks are purpose-built over 250 man hours
• Strictly limited availability for exclusive three-day drive program

Aston Martin is again offering adventurous drivers the chance to experience the power and performance of its great British luxury sports cars in one of the United States’ most rugged and demanding environments.

After a successful inaugural year in 2014, Aston Martin On Ice returns to the authentic western town of Crested Butte in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains in early 2015 for a second season of adrenaline-fuelled thrills and luxurious living.

Providing drivers with the chance to try the brand’s sports cars in an environment far removed for their more usual roads, the three-day On Ice progam includes a 10-acre surface which has been painstakingly constructed over some 250 man hours to entertain and inform its participants.

The exclusive tracks in Colorado are all precisely tailored to Aston Martin’s exacting requirements and are meticulously built and maintained by the brand’s team of experts before and throughout the ice driving activity, which will take place over two three-day sessions in February next year.

Comprising a braking/cornering exercise loop, slalom, skid pad and full circuit, work on the bespoke Aston Martin track has already been under way for some weeks. Under expert tuition, participants will test and hone their car control in a series of braking, cornering and handling exercises before further putting their skills to the test on a mile-long frozen road course.

President, Aston Martin The Americas, Julian Jenkins said: “After a hugely successful first year we are returning with an On Ice program that will once again deliver a genuinely thrilling experience in Colorado’s breath-taking high country.

“Combining extreme driving, in an extreme environment, with typically sumptuous Aston Martin luxury living, the 2015 On Ice activity is sure to be amongst the highlights of our year.”

The ice driving event is one of a number of Aston Martin bespoke driving experiences that take place across the country each year.

Those wishing to find out more about the February event, or any of Aston Martin’s other signature drive events, should contact concierge@astonmartindriving.com

Four Volvo models tested by IIHS – four models awarded Top Safety Pick+

• Four Volvo models tested by IIHS – four models awarded Top Safety Pick+

Volvo Cars has once again performed very well in the annual IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Awards. In this year's honors list four Volvo cars made the Top Safety Pick+ grade: the S60, V60, S80 and XC60. Volvo Cars was the only European brand with more than two models on the list.

“Volvo Cars' commitment to real-life safety and our Vision 2020, which states that no one will be killed or seriously injured in or by a new Volvo car, underlines our approach towards continuous improvement in this field. At Volvo Cars we focus on real-life safety - reflecting the many and varied causes and results of car accidents. It is of course a wonderful thing that we receive such honors and recognition for our advanced safety innovations from leading safety institutes,” said Dr. Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Cars.

The Tops Safety Pick+ award criteria have grown tougher in the last twelve months, with increased demands around the standard for front crash prevention. To meet the new criteria cars making the Top Safety Pick+ grade must offer the ability to stop or slow down without driver intervention before hitting a target in IIHS tests at 12 mph, 25 mph or both.

Volvo Car’s front crash avoidance technology, City Safety, which is standard in all new Volvos, effectively helps to detect and brake automatically to mitigate or prevent a car to car rear end collision without driver intervention. Volvo’s City Safety technology has been shown to reduce insurance claim frequency by 16 percent*.

“Volvo Cars has received much recognition during its long history of safety driving the industry forward. A perfect example of this is the three-point safety belt, invented at Volvo in 1959 and now used globally by all car makers. With the sales start of the All-New XC90 in 2015 Volvo Cars will offer the world’s most advanced crash avoidance technology as standard,” said Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars.

Volkswagen dealers to take orders for all new Polo Petrol Bluemotion.

Volkswagen Retailers in the UK will begin taking orders for the first-ever petrol version of the Polo BlueMotion today, ahead of first UK deliveries in March, with prices starting from £14,730 (RRP OTR).

The greenest petrol engine in the range is powered by a 1.0-litre BlueMotion TSI petrol unit.  It emits 94 g/km of CO₂ and returns 68.9 mpg on the combined cycle. 

Delivering 95 PS between 5,000 and 5,500 rpm the new three-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.  The Polo BlueMotion has a maximum torque of 118 Nm (160 lbs ft) produced between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm.

Efficiency does not come at the expense of performance.  The Polo BlueMotion will reach 62 mph from a standing start in 10.5 seconds and has a top speed of 119 mph.

Based on the S trim, the BlueMotion models add even more equipment including a styling pack which includes uniquely shaped front and rear bumpers, radiator grille, side skirts and rear roof spoiler, body coloured door handles, body coloured door mirrors with integrated indicators, front fog lights and static cornering function and unique BlueMotion badging.

Additional kit over that on the S trim includes 15-inch ‘Buenos Aires’ alloys with low rolling resistance tyres, aero body kit, multifunction leather steering wheel, alarm with remote central locking, air conditioning, a front centre armrest, Composition Media and infotainment system, cruise control and Volkswagen’s Driver Alert System.  This version of the Polo comes with a Think Blue, Trainer, which gives hint and tips on how to drive in a more economical fashion by analysing journey patterns.

This 1.0-litre BlueMotion TSI petrol 95 PS engine joins the three-cylinder diesel 1.4-litre TDI BlueMotion engine that produces 75 PS, returns 91.1 mpg and emits just 82 g/km of CO₂. 

All Polo models come with a colour touchscreen, SD card reader, DAB radio and USB and AUX-in connections, as well as a height-adjustable driver’s seat.

The BlueMotion models are available to order now with first deliveries expected in March.  For pricing see below, and for more information on the Polo BlueMotion and the rest of the award-winning Volkswagen range visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Engine derivative	Gearbox	Body	Combined mpg	CO2 (g/km)	Price, £ RRP OTR
1.0-litre TSI 95 PS	5-speed man	3-door	68.9	94	14,730.00
1.0-litre TSI 95 PS	5-speed man	5-door	68.9	94	15,360.00
1.4-litre TDI 75 PS	5-speed man	3-door	91.1	82	15,795.00
1.4-litre TDI 75 PS	5-speed man	5-door	91.1	82	16,425.00

UK Government to fund £6 Billion for road repairs over the next ten years.

Transport Secretary announces £6 billion fund to help tackle potholes and improve local roads.

A record £6 billion will be spent on tackling potholes and improving local roads between 2015 and 2021, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced today (23 December 2014).

The investment amounts to £976 million a year, enough to fix around 18 million potholes across the country.

It is the first time councils have been given locked-in funding over this length of time, which will help them plan ahead and save money for the taxpayer.

Patrick McLoughlin said:

“Roads play a significant part in everyday life. Poorly maintained local roads, blighted by potholes, are a menace to all road users, particularly during the festive period as people travel to see family and friends.

“It is vital we have good quality roads. This government has already taken strong action by spending £1 billion more on local roads maintenance than was spent in the previous parliament.

“The £6 billion funding I am announcing today will put an end to short term fixes and will mean we have committed £10 billion between 2010 and 2021.

“This huge investment is part of our long term economic plan to ensure we have a transport network fit for the 21st century.”

The Department for Transport allocates funding to local authorities based on local need, so councils with larger highway networks receive more of the funding.

Over £4.7 billion will be shared between 115 councils, while a further £575 million will be available through a new challenge fund to help repair and maintain local highway infrastructure such as junctions, bridges and street lighting.

Details of funding allocations are available as an interactive map.

It was also announced today that £578 million has been set aside for an incentive fund scheme which will start in 2016 to reward councils who demonstrate they are delivering value for money in carrying out cost effective improvements.

Matthew Lugg, director of public services for Mouchel Infrastructure Services and advocate for the highways maintenance efficiency programme, said:

“Taking a more holistic approach to planning roads and services can be game changing and deliver greater efficiencies.

“Councils who think about long term planning and how they work together to share their resources, achieve greater economies of scale and keep the road surface in good repair, ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. Today’s announcement by the government will help to deliver this.”

Geoff Allister, executive director of the Highways Term Maintenance Association (HTMA) and advocate for the highways maintenance efficiency programme, said:

“We congratulate the Transport Secretary in taking the step of introducing an incentive element from 2016/17 into the local highways maintenance funding for councils.

“Those that can show they truly understand the value of their asset can plan greater efficiencies and deliver cost-effective, preventative maintenance, making the available money go even further.”