PARIS - Mitsubishi gave the Outlander PHEV a large update last year so this year a few nips and tucks and tech additions only.

A year after its full revamping and a few months after passing the 100,000^th global sales mark, Mitsubishi Motors’ techno flagship continues its best seller status amongst plug-in hybrid vehicles worldwide. Main new features include ^[1]:

• EV priority switch - to prevent the PHEV system to switch to hybrid mode and therefore retain the full electric driving on demand.
• Electric parking brake & brake auto hold function:
• Connected function through a Smartphone Link Display Audio:
Support for Apple CarPlay, the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car, lets drivers make calls, get directions optimized for traffic conditions, listen to music, and access messages. Also comes with support for Android Auto™, which brings the Android™ experience into the car in a way that's purpose-built for driving ^[2].









• Blind Spot Warning (BSW) + Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) – to alert when another vehicle comes from behind that the driver cannot see.
• Pedestrian Detection Function added to an improved Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM).
• Automatic high beams.
• LED front fog lamps.
• AC 1500W Power Supply: allows for connecting electric equipment up to 1,500W and up to approximately 4 hours solely on battery driving - engine generation will seamlessly relay the output afterwards.
In parallel, Outlander diesel emulates its PHEV sibling with its own share of new features ^[3]:
• Outlander PHEV style full length console with electric parking brake& Brake Auto hold function:
• Connected function through a Smartphone link Display Audio ^[4].
• Blind Spot Warning (BSW) + Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) – to alert when another vehicle comes from behind that the driver cannot see.
• Pedestrian Detection Function added to an improved Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM)
• Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation system (UMS) – to prevent the vehicle from crashing in case of miss-acceleration ^[5]. **
• Multi-around monitor
• Illumination for front footwells and console box
• PHEV-type shark fin roof antenna
• LED front fog lamps
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated windshield (availability according to market & model)
Outlander diesel will come to the UK later in 2017 ^[6].
[1] availability according to markets & models
[2] Apple CarPlay and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android Auto and Android are trademarks of Google Inc.
[3] availability according to markets & models
[4] Similar to Outlander PHEV
[5] In case the driver inadvertently steps on the accelerator pedal in a situation which the ultrasonic sensors detects an obstacle within 4 meters in the direction of movement when the car is either parked (shift level on R or D) or driven slowly (approximately 10km/h), then a warning sound and a warning message alert the driver. UMS also controls the engine torque to reduce collision damage.
[6] Total Outlander PHEV sales worldwide (FY2012-July 2016): 108,817 units, split into:


- Japan (FY2012-July 2016):                                34,666  units
- Europe (FY2013- July 2016):                             71,745   units
- Australia & NZ (FY2013- July 2016):                   2,096    units
+ 310 units in other markets

At long last the Successor to the Nissan Primastar is teased with the first shots of the All-New NV300 LCV.

• Stylish, versatile and practical new van gives Nissan one of the widest range of LCVs
• Available in a wide range of derivatives, including Combi passenger vehicle
• Market-leading five-year/100,000-mile pan-European warranty as standard
• NV300’s first job is to carry the Official UEFA Champions League Flag to Milan ahead of the final on Saturday (28 May)

Nissan has revealed the first official image of its all-new NV300 mid-sized van. Featuring styling cues from the company’s pioneering crossover range, it is a successor to the popular Primastar and will fill the gap between the award-winning NV200 and NV400.

Nissan’s latest Emotional Geometry design language – well-known from its class-leading Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail crossovers – is clear to see on the NV300, with the familiar ‘V-motion’ grille dominating the front end.

Nissan is proud to be the Official Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Partner of the UEFA Champions League. The NV300 has played a vital role in the build-up to the match, carrying the Official Flag of the Final at the start of its journey to the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy. The flag will take pride of place in the centre circle during the half-time break, witnessed first-hand by thousands of fans and millions of TV viewers worldwide.

When it arrives in showrooms in the autumn, the NV300 willfurther strengthen Nissan’s position as an LCV manufacturer with one of the widest ranges in Europe. It includes the new Navara pick-up and the pioneering zero-emission e-NV200.

Key to its appeal will be the NV300’s market-leading warranty. Unique in the segment, it’s a five-year/100,000-mile pan-European, manufacturer-backed policy that’s fully transferrable to second and subsequent owners. It includes five years’ roadside assistance cover.

For complete peace of mind, the warranty extends to all Nissan genuine accessories, demonstrating the confidence Nissan has in the quality and reliability of its LCVs and aftersales programmes.

Further details – including details of the NV300’s powerful and efficient Euro6 diesel engines, load capacity and pricing – will be made at Hanover Motor Show in September.

Original Mini and Mini Metro now becoming rare.

There are still 8,176 original Minis driving around British roads whereas its unloved replacement, the Mini Metro sold under the Austin and Rover brands, has fared less well with just 3,262 left despite being produced later on.

According to WeLoveAnyCar.com, there are 34 different Austin Mini models remaining on UK roads. Some models are the last of their kind; someone is driving around Britain in the last licensed Austin Mini ‘850 Van’ and there are just 3 Mini ‘SPL’ versions left.

Only 3,261 of the poorly-built and unloved Austin and Rover Metros are left on the roads with an amazingly high 77 model versions. Some are facing total extinction; there is just one Austin Metro ‘HL’ left and two licensed Rover Metro ‘MG Turbo’ versions remaining.

A WeLoveAnyCar.com spokesman said, “Since we launched our #CarCountUK page, 10s of thousands of people have visited the site to see how many of the cars they knew, loved and drove remain on British roads. Of the greatest surprise to many is the fact that they are discovering the car they drive today might also be quite rare.”

Today’s Exclusive Cars

BMW has been successful worldwide with the modern Mini and there are 490,376 registered for British roads. There are only three Mini Cooper Graphite C-Man DA models registered: their owners can rightly claim to own a very rare and exclusive modern car.  The most exclusive Mini driver in Britain is the owner of the only Mini One ‘Soho Clubman Auto’ registered before December 2013.

There are 206 different modern Mini models registered to drive on British roads.  In an increasing trend to ‘design’ a car, offered by Fiat 500, Vauxhall Adam and others, prospective owners can choose exactly what they want from thousands of extras to add on to the hundreds of base models available.

WeLoveAnyCar.com, the UK’s biggest car review site with over 601,179 car owner reviews and opinions, designed their #CarCountUK website so anyone could find out how many of a certain model of car is left registered to drive on public roads.  The figures are produced each year by the government and WeLoveAnyCar.com has taken this and reprocessed the information so it is easy, and free, to use. There may be other models of any of the cars mentioned in garages and sheds but these, for whatever reason, have been taken off the road by their owners.

Citroen updates the DS range to improve on the 300,000 sales already made.

• Ever-popular DS 3 & DS 3 Cabrio to be updated with new features & technologies
• New Xenon full LED light signature introduced, delivering more style, better visibility & less energy consumption
• New engines to be introduced, including Euro 6 BlueHDi 120 & BlueHDi 100
• DS 3 & DS 3 Cabrio now feature ‘Active City Brake’ for safer city driving

Following exceptional acclaim since launch and an impressive 300,000 sales globally, selected versions of the popular DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio are to be updated with a new light signature, new engines and additional technology features.

THE NEW GAZE OF DS 3: BETTER VISIBILITY, SENSUAL & HYPNOTIC

All DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio DSport versions from July production will feature state-of-the-art headlights inspired by two innovative concept cars – Numéro 9 and Wild Rubis. Combining LED and Xenon modules with new sequential indicators, the new headlights represent a world first for the brand.

The all-new headlights offer exceptional lighting performance when used in dipped or high-beam mode, with the LED and Xenon modules combining to provide enhanced visibility and driver comfort at night.

Efficiency, too, is improved; energy consumption is 35% lower in dipped mode and 75% lower in high-beam mode, while the LEDs last up to 20 times longer than halogen lights, with an impressive standard lifetime of 20,000 hours.

Already strong on visual appeal, DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio’s new headlights are now more striking than ever. The LED modules have been arranged to provide a distinctive signature and the sequential indicators – a class exclusive – add further appeal.

Both DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio retain their distinctive 3D-effect LED rear lights, with a chrome finished DS logo in a black embossed DS pattern setting. The existing LED daytime running lights compliment the new lighting signature at the front of both cars.

NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR PERSONALISATION

To further enhance the allure of DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio, and to ensure that they remain unique and desirable, the brand is also introducing a new range of personalisation options. 

Also from July production, selected versions of DS 3 will be available with the choice of a laser-etched dashboard strip and a screen-printed rear window. Colour options have also been enhanced, with the addition of Pearl White as a body colour on DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio. Belle-Ile Blue is also introduced on DS 3 Cabrio. DS 3 gains the availability of new visually striking 17” diamond-cut alloy wheels on selected models.

NEW ENGINES: PERFORMANCE & EFFICIENCY COMBINED

Already acknowledged for their perfect balance between performance and comfort, DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio will also gain new Euro 6 compliant diesel and petrol engines.

Two new Euro 6 diesel engines will become available; the BlueHDi 120 and BlueHDi 100. Both engines will offer more power and lower emissions. Thanks to the use of leading-edge technology, including SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction), NOx emissions are cut by 90%, while CO₂ emissions are cut by up to 4%.

The BlueHDi 100 will be class-leading in terms of emissions, producing just 79g/km of CO₂. The BlueHDi 120 emits 94g/km of CO₂. As well as reducing emissions and delivering greater levels of performance, both engines improve fuel efficiency, boasting figures of up to 94mpg for the BlueHDi 100 and up to 78mpg for the BlueHDi 120 version.

A new petrol engine also becomes available in some markets (to be confirmed for the UK) in the form of a Euro 6-compliant PureTech e-VTi 82 ETG. Delivering 69mpg over a combined cycle and producing just 95g/km of CO₂, this engine is available with the automated manual ETG (Efficient Tronic Gearbox). The 5-speed ‘box features a creep function and optimised software mapping, which adjusts power delivery for smoother starts and a better driving experience.

HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT, FOR A SAFER, MORE COMFORTABLE DRIVE

DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio are already recognised for having the largest boot in their class and five ‘real’ seats – they can now boast new features to improve the city driving experience.

Selected versions will be available in the UK (from July production) with ‘Active City Brake’. This is an automatic braking system that helps to prevent low-speed collisions. 

This is achieved thanks to a short-range radar, mounted at the top of the windscreen, which identifies slow moving or stationary vehicles on the road ahead. If the vehicle is driving at speeds lower than 20mph, the sensor activates the brakes to avoid a potential collision.

Day-to-day manoeuvres are made easier too, with the addition of an optional reversing camera on both DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio. This camera is automatically linked to the eMyWay navigation system for ease of use.

More record sales at Rolls Royce means more jobs

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the leading manufacturer of super-luxury motor cars, today announced the creation of more than 100 new jobs. This announcement follows record sales over the last three years, significant expansion of the manufacturing plant and the launch of the Company’s latest model, Wraith. Half-year sales figures announced last week show that Rolls‑Royce is on track for another record year in 2013.

Many of the roles are based at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, with around half in Marketing, Sales, After Sales, Public Relations and the Company’s Bespoke business. The remainder will be based in Engineering and Manufacturing and are directly linked to the production of Wraith, which is currently in pre-production with the first cars available to customers in the Autumn. A number of new positions have also been created in Rolls-Royce regional offices around the world.

“I am delighted to announce this recruitment programme, made possible by the continuing success of our company,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Our cautious optimism at the beginning of the year has proven to be correct and our goal for the business remains the same: consistent, sustainable growth. This process continues through the creation of a significant number of new roles and our ability to attract the very best talent in the manufacturing and luxury sectors.” He continued, “Rolls-Royce is a Great British manufacturing success story. We now enter the next chapter of this company’s history and can look forward with confidence to a bright future.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Last week’s automotive industrial strategy underlined the government’s commitment to work with world-class companies like Rolls-Royce Motor Cars on the future of the sector. Today’s announcement shows how well the industry continues to grow. With the right investment, skills and R&D, we will help it grow even more. I met some Rolls‑Royce apprentices and graduates last week who all told me how much they enjoyed working in the sector so I’m sure these jobs will be highly sought after.”

New MG watch, yours for £1,405 inc VAT

With assistance from BMH and MGCC, MeisterSinger has produced a superb limited edition watch in celebration of the MG marque

The foresight and determination of an ardent German MG enthusiast, Ernst Graaf, have resulted in a unique trio of quality timepieces, the design of which echoes the distinctive shape and structure of a 1950s MG TD radiator grille. The watches have been superbly crafted by MeisterSinger and are available online from www.motoringclassics.co.uk for £1405, including VAT.

Graaf’s love affair with the MG marque began with an Olde English White 1964 MGB he ran as a student, and was later cemented by an inexpensive quartz watch modelled on the grille of an MG TD. When attempts to replace the worn timepiece with a newer, MG-branded one came to nought, he set about creating his own. The MG Car Club assisted the cause, as did British Motor Heritage, which was sufficiently impressed with the project to license the use of the MG logo.

The watches feature top quality Swiss movements housed in stainless steel cases that are water resistant to a depth of 5 bar. The dials are protected by hardened mineral glass and the Cordovan straps are crafted from smooth horse leather. There is a choice of three different face/strap combinations appropriately named: ‘Abingdon’, ‘Cecil Kimber’ and ‘Cream Cracker’, in celebration of the MG factory, the company’s founder, and the most famous of the Works MGs respectively. To ensure a suitable degree of exclusivity, production will be limited to around 100 watches per annum.

Said British Motor Heritage’s Managing Director John Yea: “We are delighted to be able offer these superb new timepieces for sale and to have played a small part in their development.”

Full details of the watches can be found at www.motoringclassics.co.uk and www.mg-watch.com.