The Ford Focus ST Range has grown by nearly 300% this year, with new petrol and diesel options.

• Ford Focus ST sales have soared by 270 per cent in the UK since the expanded petrol and diesel powered line-up debuted this year
• Demand is evenly split: 45 per cent choose new 185PS diesel option and 55 per cent select 250PS EcoBoost petrol model
• Diesel Focus ST now offered with six-speed dual-clutch PowerShift transmission, available to order for delivery in early 2016
• PowerShift model is Ford’s quickest ever diesel car, with 0-62mph in around 7.7sec

Ford Focus ST sales have leapt by 270 per cent since the introduction of new petrol and diesel powertrains. Almost 6,700 diesel and petrol Focus STs have been sold in the UK so far this year, compared with 2,460 for the whole of last year.

Demand in Britain is evenly split between the two engine options, with 45 per cent choosing the new 185PS diesel Focus ST and 55 per cent selecting the 250PS EcoBoost petrol variant.

The UK’s appetite for Focus ST, with the ST170 in 2002 has driven sales beyond 50,000.

Ford is further expanding the Focus ST powertrain line-up to offer a six-speed dual-clutch PowerShift transmission with the diesel engine, available to order now for delivery in early 2016.

“New Focus ST has been a runaway success with customers spoilt for choice between our latest petrol and diesel power units,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “Diesel drivers now have the additional option of the Ford PowerShift transmission, which allows them to swap between quick-shifting automatic and sporty manual to suit their mood.”

The new Focus ST diesel PowerShift model will be Ford’s fastest accelerating diesel car ever, targetting 0-62mph in 7.7sec – 0.4sec quicker than the manual variant – and delivering CO₂ emissions of 119g/km and combined fuel economy of up to 61.4mpg.

The Ford PowerShift transmission provides Focus ST diesel customers with the choice of driving in full automatic mode, or selecting gears manually using paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

Drivers can also select a Sport mode by moving the gear lever to the S position, which offers a more dynamic driving experience with a sports shift programme that changes up at higher engine speeds and shifts down under braking for enhanced control.

In addition to the expanded engine line-up, Ford’s latest Focus ST offers an even more responsive, balanced and refined driving experience with optimised chassis control technologies, tuned suspension and steering, and bespoke tyre specification. The sporty new five-door and Estate models also offer advanced driver assistance technologies and connectivity features including the SYNC 2.

Over time the Ssangyong Turismo has grown into a better looking, more capable large Seven Seat MPV.

• New 2.2 litre diesel Euro 6 engine delivers major enhancements
• Power and economy up, CO₂ emissions down
• New 7-speed Mercedes-Benz automatic transmission
• Three models from just £18,995 - SE, EX, ELX
• Executive travel for seven adults with their luggage
• ELX 4x4 - safe and practical for towing and winter driving
• Great value and class leading 5 year limitless mileage warranty

Offering family and business users a car to transport seven adults in comfort together with their luggage, the SsangYong Turismo is almost without rival.

At over 5 metres long and with a 3 metre wheelbase, the car is larger than a standard sized MPV people carrier, and is now further enhanced for 2016 with the addition of an upgraded 2.2 litre Euro 6 diesel engine.  

The Turismo also now offers the choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or new Mercedes-Benz 7-speed automatic.

Diesel power

The newly developed e-XDi220 diesel engine meets the demand for a more powerful performance and lower CO₂ emissions at the same time.  Maximum power is increased to 178ps and torque to 400Nm - up by 15% and 11% respectively over the previous Euro 5 diesel 2.0 litre engine.  

Maximum torque is delivered from a low of 1,400rpm and maintained through a wide range up to 2,800rpm for smooth, progressive driving from the start.

Big strides have also been made with CO₂ emissions which have been reduced to 189g/km, down from 199g/km on the previous 4x2 manual transmission model, while fuel economy is also improved and now up to 39.2 mpg (Combined cycle) compared with 37.2mpg over the model it replaces.

“Sales of Turismo are already 46% up this year compared with the whole of 2014,” says Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK, “which clearly demonstrates that even more people are recognising the amazing value this car offers.  

With the power upgrade and new 7-speed Mercedes-Benz gearbox for 2016, Turismo delivers even greater levels of refinement and value.”

Interior space

Designed to appeal as family, leisure and business transportation, the new car blends multi-role flexibility with great ride comfort and the appointments and equipment levels of a luxury saloon.

Thanks to its 3,000mm wheelbase, the car provides a huge interior space where seven adults can travel in supreme comfort with their luggage loaded in the back, without having to compromise on passenger accommodation.  

There are three rows of seats as well as a large load space which can be further increased by removing the third row completely. 

This gives a massive load carrying capability of between 875 litres with seven adults seated, through to two adults and 3,146 litres of load space.

Turismo ELX with 4x4

While rear wheel drive features on the SE and EX, the top of the range ELX includes selectable 4x4 with low ratio as standard.  

This makes the Turismo ELX a car you can rely on, no matter what the winter throws at you, and is especially safe and practical whether towing a caravan, horsebox or boat trailer, or when driving on snow and ice.  As with other Turismo models the ELX has an impressive 2 tonne towing capability.

Ride & handling

The new Turismo utilises double wishbone front suspension and rear independent multi-link suspension for executive saloon style ride quality.  This set-up offers a quiet and comfortable driving environment with firm body control, a flat ride and optimum stability regardless of the road conditions.

The new 2016 Turismo 2.2 is now available through SsangYong dealers.

Model range	£
2.2 SE	£18,995
2.2 EX	£20,995
2.2 EX automatic	£22,495
2.2 ELX 4x4 automatic	£24,995

5 year limitless mileage warranty

All models in the SsangYong range are covered by a best-in-class 5 year limitless mileage warranty.  

Designed to be totally transparent and give customers complete peace of mind, ‘limitless’ means just that: not a maximum mileage condition that some brands impose in their small print.  

All the major mechanical components are covered including the engine and drivetrain,wheel bearings, suspension joints and bushes, steering joints, shock absorbers and even the audio system.  

Wearable components such as clutch friction plates and brake pads which could have their life reduced by poor driving are covered for one year or 12,500 miles, and the battery and paintwork for three years.

Made in Korea

SsangYong cars are manufactured in South Korea by SsangYong Motor, which is 73 per cent owned by the Indian engineering conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra, and imported into the UK by SsangYong Motor UK.  

Established in 1954 it is Korea's oldest vehicle manufacturer and only 4x4 and SUV specialist producer.  There are some 60 SsangYong dealers covering England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with new locations being added to the network all the time.

USA - 51 Years, 10 Million produced, That will be the everlasting Chevrolet Malibu, Mid-sized car.

Venerable sedan’s 51-year legacy strongest in U.S., China and Korea

Fifty-one years after it was introduced as Chevrolet’s first midsize car, production of the venerable Malibu sedan has crossed the 10-million mark.

Chevrolet celebrated the sales achievement today for the global sedan in the United States, China and Korea, which collectively account for more than 90 percent of sales. The Malibu is sold in more than 25 markets around the world.

“The Chevy Malibu joins an exclusive club of vehicles that have achieved this extraordinary milestone and we acknowledge it today by honoring the common thread linking every one produced: The customer,” said Alan Batey, president, global Chevrolet. 

“Some people are buying their very first Malibu today and others may have driven a Malibu from a different generation as their first car. It is a car that has resonated with customers for more than half a century.”

Chevrolet’s interaction with customers has evolved since the Malibu was introduced in 1964. Back then, an owner’s manual and a personal relationship with the dealer defined conventional customer service. By the 1990s, a toll-free line to call centers provided answers to many customer questions.

Today, customers can communicate with Chevrolet any time of day or night all around the world through in-vehicle technologies such as OnStar and social media, where teams of specialists complement the ownership experience with support and information.

“The immediacy of socially driven technologies is fundamentally changing ownership experiences and what owners expect from the manufacturer,” said Batey. “It’s a whole new world of customer interaction and Chevrolet is working hard to lead the way.”

Malibu’s 10-millionth milestone comes as the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu enters production. The ninth-generation sedan is completely restyled and is the most fuel-efficient, connected and technologically advanced Malibu ever – and many of its new and enhanced features, like its Teen Driver system which encourages safe driving habits for teens, were influenced by the voice of customers.

Longer and lighter, the new Malibu offers more interior space. Its wheelbase has been stretched nearly four inches (101 mm), and it is nearly 300 pounds (136 kg) lighter than the previous model.

The 2016 Malibu reaches an exceptional level of fuel efficiency with an all-new, available hybrid powertrain that uses technology from the Chevrolet Volt. It helps offer a General Motors-estimated 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway – and 47 mpg combined, unsurpassed in the segment.

The Malibu’s standard 1.5L turbo powertrain is projected to offer 37 mpg highway. It also features a fuel-saving stop/start technology that enhances efficiency in stop-and-go driving.

Additional features include new Chevrolet MyLink with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility; and the all-new Teen Driver feature, which allows parents to view their kids’ driving statistics, such as maximum speed, warning alerts and more.

Malibu through the years

Named after the California city famous for its beaches, the 1964 Chevrolet Malibu was the top-line model of an all-new vehicle line touted as a premium choice for families that needed space and efficiency for long commutes.

Chevrolet called the Malibu an “intermediate” car – positioned between the full-size series and the compact Chevy II, It represented the birth of the mainstream midsize segment, which has grown to be the highest-volume segment in the industry. 

Customers snapped up more than 370,000 in the first year from a lineup that also included the entry-level 300 and Chevelle models, and a range of body styles that included coupes, sedans, wagons and convertibles. The lineup also included the Malibu SS muscle car.

Sales of Chevy’s upstart intermediate range topped 503,000 by 1969 – with the popular Malibu two-door sport coupe accounting for 300,000 of them.

Malibu rolled through the 1970s as one of the best-selling cars of the decade. It was retired in 1983, after its fourth generation. It returned in 1997 as a modern, front-drive sedan and was named Motor Trend Car of the Year. 

In the nearly 20 years since, it has evolved and offers the latest in efficiency-enhancing technologies, safety features and, more recently, the connectivity features that have become increasingly important to customers.

The 2016 Malibu is built at the GM Fairfax Assembly facility, in Kansas City, Kan.