Purpose

I will try my best to provide detailed info on various cars and what is like to live with them, I have already produced a few for Jaguar-car-forums, I will do my best to be unbiased, but it will be hard for some cars. I will re-produce press releases and copy from other motoring news.

Saturday 28 February 2015

Toyota Mirai production line: Plant interior and parts selection, plenty of video to watch.

Toyota Mirai production line: Plant interior and parts selection

Toyota Mirai production line: Vehicle trim

Toyota Mirai production line: Chassis and fuel cell system assembly

Toyota Mirai production line: Final assembly

Toyota Mirai production line: Quality control and inspection

Press play to watch the first video, the second and so will carry on after the preceding one.


Toyota ushered in a new era in vehicle technology last November with the launch of production of its Mirai hydrogen fuel cell-powered saloon. The factory chosen for the task is the Motomachi plant in Toyota City, home to many landmark models, most recently the Lexus LFA supercar.

The small but dedicated facility is charged with producing Mirai with the same care and attention to detail that was paid to the LFA. Production of the Lexus V10 coupe was limited to just 500 examples, with the last model coming off the line just over two years ago; Mirai is being manufactured at a rate of around three cars a day.


A new series of short films goes behind the scenes at Motomachi to reveal key stages in the production process, right through to the final inspection every car undergoes before leaving the plant.

Production started at Motomachi in 1959 and in its 56-year history it has produced such renowned Toyotas as Publica, Corona, Cresta, Soarer, Supra and RAV4. Mirai is now on sale in Japan and will be introduced in limited numbers to the UK and other selected European markets during 2015.

Ford Motor Co, at the 85th International Geneva Motor Show 2015.

  • Ford will reveal the all-new Focus RS and Ford GT at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show
  • Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company executive vice president and president Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development, will host a news conference on March 3 at 09.30 UK time
Ford Motor Company will reveal the all-new Focus RS high performance hatchback for the first time at a motor show, and debut the all-new Ford GT supercar in Europe, at the 2015 Geneva Show.

Ford will also present its full Ford Performance line-up for Europe including the new Focus ST and Focus ST diesel, and Fiesta ST. In addition the new Ford Mustang Fastback and Convertible will be on view to showgoers.


Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company executive vice president and president Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development, will host a news conference at 09.30 UK time on the Ford stand in Hall 5.

The Ford Performance line-up will be joined on the Ford stand from March 4 by new sporty, dynamic and high-specification variants of the all-new Ford Edge, Kuga and EcoSport SUVs, all-new S-MAX sport activity vehicle and new Focus.

Vauxhall tempts the younger buyer with a raft of tempting deals.

  • Vauxhall offers ADAM drivers aged 18-20 one year’s insurance for just £99
  • Drivers aged 21-75 get free insurance on most ADAM models
  • Deal available on ADAM JAM, GLAM, SLAM, ROCKS and ROCKS AIR models
  • ADAM GRAND SLAM available from just £199 per month with 2.9% PCP contract
Following the success of its young driver insurance offer on Corsa, which was taken up by over 1,500 customers, Vauxhall is offering the same great deal to young ADAM drivers to help lower the cost of motoring.

Drivers aged 18-20 can get one year’s insurance cover for a one-off payment of £99, which they can even earn back, and 21-75 year olds can get free insurance on most ADAM models.*

“With young drivers potentially paying upwards of £2,000 for insurance when they are 18, this offer for ADAM drivers is an amazing deal and shows our commitment to lowering the cost of motoring,” said John Hennelly, Vauxhall’s Marketing Programmes Manager.


The £99 insurance offer for drivers aged 18-20 and the free insurance offer for 21-75 year old drivers is available for all eligible orders or registrations up until 6th April 2015 when an ADAM is taken with either a 2.9% PCP contract or a contract hire agreement.

To qualify for the offer, 18-20 year old drivers simply have to allow insurance provider, ingenie, to install a ‘black box’ to monitor driving style, including speed, acceleration, braking and cornering. Under the previous Corsa offer, over 70 per cent of customers received a money back discount.

They will receive a score from ingenie every ten days or so (depending on mileage) via a smartphone app. If they drive well, they will be rewarded with up to £33 per quarter – meaning they could recoup the cost within 12 months.

“We’ve made it our mission to help get young drivers on the road without breaking the bank, and most importantly to keep them safe while they’re there,” said Richard King, founder and CEO of ingenie.

The offer is available on JAM, GLAM, SLAM, ROCKS and ROCKS AIR models in the ADAM range, with only the ADAM GRAND SLAM excluded. However, Vauxhall is making the GRAND SLAM as affordable as possible with a 2.9% flexible PCP contract offer, so drivers can get behind the wheel for just £199 per month with a deposit of £2,572.35.

Hyundai releases specs and pricing for all new i30 Hatch and Tourer.

  • Prices range from £15,195 to £24,695 OTR
  • New i30 Turbo prices start at £22,495 OTR
  • Engine and design updates boost New i30’s agility and appeal
  • Design refreshed to include Hyundai’s trademark hexagonal grille
  • Available in five-door or Tourer guise, range-topping i30 Turbo available in three- and five-door forms
  • New seven-speed dual clutch transmission (7DCT) dramatically lowers CO2 emissions
  • New i30 range to go on sale 26 February, in showrooms from March
Following its official unveiling in December, Hyundai Motor UK has revealed the pricing and specification of the New i30 range including, for the first time, the i30 Turbo. Priced from £15,195, the range starts with the i30 S, replacing the outgoing ‘Classic’ model, with standard equipment including; keyless entry, USB and AUX connections, Bluetooth® connectivity with steering wheel remote control, and air conditioning. 

Based on the i30 S, the SE is available with additional features such as 16” alloy wheels (subject to variant), auto cruise control with speed limiter, drivers electric lumbar support, rear parking sensors, leather steering wheel and gear knob. Prices for the i30 SE start at £16,495. Additionally, the SE Nav derivative will offer satellite navigation with rear view camera.

Customers choosing the i30 Premium will benefit from; HID headlights with auto leveling and AFLS, 17” alloy wheels, leather seat facings, dual zone climate control, heated seats, heated steering wheel and smart key with engine stop/start button.


For the first time, Hyundai is launching the dynamic i30 Turbo featuring a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, which delivers 186PS and a 0-60 time of eight seconds. 

Standard equipment includes; 18” alloy wheels, Turbo sports bodykit, Turbo badge, perforated leather steering wheel with red stitching, sports suspension, satellite navigation, black and red cloth/artificial leather sports seats and LED rear tail lights.  New i30 Turbo buyers can choose from either three-door or five-door bodystyles, while the rest of the i30 range will be available in five-door or Tourer form.

Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai Motor UK’s President and CEO, commented: “Current i30 has been a huge hit for us in the UK, and New i30 is set to build on that success thanks to its updated design and unbeatable levels of standard equipment.

“Thanks to its 7DCT, New i30 delivers an extremely competitive economical performance, meaning that i30 offers a compromise-free package. The revised range will further boost the car’s appeal to customers in the UK, ultimately strengthening its presence in the C-segment,” concludes Whitehorn.

New i30 customers will have a choice of five engines, with power outputs ranging from 100PS to 186PS. Customers can choose between two diesel units, a 1.6-litre engine with two power outputs –110PS or 136PS. Those who prefer petrol power can select from a 1.4-litre 100PS or 1.6-litre 120PS naturally-aspirated engine, or the new 1.6-litre 186PS Turbo-GDI engine. The 1.6-litre diesel can now be mated to Hyundai’s new seven-speed dual clutch transmission (7DCT).

The newly-introduced 7DCT replaces the previous conventional six-speed torque-converter automatic and will deliver greater fuel efficiency while simultaneously increasing acceleration. The new transmission means the 1.6-litre CRDi Blue Drive has a dramatically reduced CO2 figure –from 145 g/km to 109 g/km – reducing benefit-in-kind tax by an impressive 8 per cent.

Further reducing fuel consumption, the i30 range benefits from Integrated Stop & Go (ISG), low rolling-resistance tyres, an alternator management system (AMS) and a drag-reducing ‘active air flap’ in the front grille. Combining these technologies means that New i30 emits as little as 94 g/km of CO2 and delivers up to 78.4 mpg on the combined cycle.

Hyundai’s European design team has updated the i30 range to feature a host of design, engine and equipment improvements, further boosting its appeal to customers in the UK. Outside the vehicle there is a clear difference over the outgoing model thanks to the addition of Hyundai’s trademark hexagonal grille.

Further design enhancements increase its appeal among C-segment customers, including newly designed alloy wheels and two new exterior colours: Polar White and, exclusive to the i30 Turbo, Jet Black.

Order books for the New i30 range will open 26 February 2015, with the new car arriving in showrooms from March 2015.

Full technical details and specifications can be found below:

New i30 5 Door
ModelCO2 emissions (g/km)VED BandOn-the-road price
S 1.4 100PS138E£15,195
S 1.6CRDi 110PS Blue Drive94A£17,195
SE 1.4 100PS138E£16,495
SE 1.6 120PS Auto158G£17,895
SE 1.6CRDi 110PS Blue Drive94A£18,495
SE 1.6CRDi 110PS DCT Blue Drive109B£19,795
SE Nav 1.4 100PS138E£17,495
SE Nav 1.6 120PS Auto158G£18,895
SE Nav 1.6CRDi 110PS Blue Drive94A£19,495
SE Nav 1.6CRDi 110PS DCT Blue Drive109B£20,795
Premium 1.6 120PS145F£20,295
Premium 1.6CRDi 136PS104B£22,295
Premium 1.6CRDi 136PS DCT115C£23,595

New i30 Tourer
ModelCO2 emissions (g/km)VED BandOn-the-road price
S 1.6 120PS150F£16,895
S 1.6CRDi 110PS Blue Drive102B£18,295
SE 1.6 120PS150F£18,195
SE 1.6 120PS Auto158G£18,995
SE 1.6CRDi 110PS Blue Drive102B£19,595
SE 1.6CRDi 110PS DCT Blue Drive109B£20,895
SE Nav 1.6 120PS150F£19,495
SE Nav 1.6 120PS Auto158G£19,995
SE Nav 1.6CRDi 110PS Blue Drive102B£20,595
SE Nav 1.6CRDi 110PS DCT Blue Drive109B£21,895
Premium 1.6CRDi 136PS104B£23,395
Premium 1.6CRDi 136PS DCT115C£24,695

New i30 Turbo
ModelCO2 emissions (g/km)VED BandOn-the-road price
Turbo SE – 1.6T-GDi (3 Door)169H£22,495
Turbo SE – 1.6T-GDi (5 Door)169H£22,995

i30 S – priced from £15,195

15” steel wheels
Bluetooth with steering wheel remote control
Body coloured exterior door handles
Body coloured exterior mirrors
Body coloured type A radiator grille
Centre console – power outlet
Cloth seats
Conventional rear combination lamp
Day/night rear view mirror
Driver seat height adjuster
Electric heated wide view mirror (drivers side)
Head rest: up, down and tilt functions
Hood insulator
Keyless entry with burglar alarm
Luggage under floor box
Manual air conditioning and glove box cooling
Manual tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
Map lamp and sunglasses box
PVC steering wheel
Radio, CD and MP3
Static bending headlamp
Temporary spare wheel and tyre
Tinted glass without shade band
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
USB and AUX connections
Front electric windows with automatic function on drivers side
FRT fog lamp
Tourer only
Retractable load cover
Safety net
S Blue Drive (in addition to S)
ISG

i30 SE – priced from £18,195

16” alloy wheels
Automatic cruise control with speed limiter
Automatic dimming rear view mirror
Belt line molding
Centre console – armrest
Cloth centre trim
Electric lumbar support (driver side)
Flex steering
Inside handle – chrome coating
Key set – illuminated ignition
Leather steering wheel and gear knob
Luggage power outlet
Passenger seat height adjuster
Rear centre armrest with cup holder
Rear parking sensor
Electric windows with automatic function on drivers side
Seat back pockets (both sides)
Solar glass (with shade band)
Sunvisor (illuminated)
Tinted glass (with shade band)
Tweeter
Tourer only
Roof rails
SE Blue Drive (in addition or replacement of SE)
15” alloy wheels (1.6CRDi 110PS manual versions only)
ISG

i30 SE Nav – priced from £19,495

Electric folding outside mirror and side repeater on outside mirror
Navigation and rear view camera
SE Nav Blue Drive (in addition or replacement of SE Nav)
15” alloy wheels (1.6CRDi 110PS manual versions only)
ISG

i30 Premium – priced from £20,295

17” alloy wheels
Automatic lights
Leather effect seats
Electric drivers seat
Dual zone climate control
Electronic parking brake
Headlamp wash
Heated front seats
Heated steering wheel
HID headlamp with auto levelling and ALS
Knee airbag
LED rear combination lights
Luggage net
Rain sensor
Rear air vents
Smart key with engine start/stop button
Supervision cluster
Windscreen wiper de-icer