New Special Edition Swift Super-mini comes packed with kit, and all for a price that's hard to turn down.

• Special Edition SZ-L model based on mid-grade SZ3.
• On sale from February 1^st and priced at £10,999 for the three door model and £11,499 for the five door.

Following further strong success of the Swift model in 2015 with a 21 per cent increase in sales year on year, Suzuki has now added further customer appeal with the launch of the Special Edition SZ-L model, available as either three or five door with manual transmission.

The SZ-L is based on the popular SZ3 which is well equipped as standard with seven airbags, ESP, air conditioning, USB port, Bluetooth and LED daytime running lights and adds a unique exterior design with Gloss Black 16” Alloy wheels, rear upper spoiler and SZ-L badging.

Further standard equipment features for SZ-L include satellite navigation, DAB Radio, cruise control, Sport type steering wheel with silver stitching plus further silver stitching to the seats and gear lever boot.  SZ-L is available in seven colours including new Horizon Orange metallic which is available for the first time on Swift; metallic paint is a £430 option.

The Swift SZ-L offers value for money in terms of running costs and purchase price; the 1.2-litre Dual VVT 94PS engine is one of the most powerful in its class, but offers low emissions of just 116g/km CO₂ costing £30 in annual VED after the first year and returns a frugal 56.5mpg on the official combined cycle. What Car? magazine recently achieved close to this figure in their ‘True MPG’ testing at 51.7mpg.

SZ-L is in insurance group 11E, the same low group as the rest of the Swift 1.2-litre range, making it the ideal purchase for younger Swift buyers who want to own a more striking, design led car at an affordable cost.  

A range of flexible options from Suzuki Financial Services are on offer with a Nil deposit PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) available followed by 42 monthly payments of £165 for the three door SZ-L and just £10 more per month for the five door model.

Payments can be as low as £99 per month for the three door if a deposit of £2,772 is made. This is also over a 42 month period with a final payment required at the end of the term to keep the car.

Toyota Aygo Manga, David Vs Goliath, or a citycar against a giant monster.

In a David and Goliath on-screen grudge fight, Toyota’s new Aygo proves more than a match for a rampaging reptile.

Following the launch of the first Aygo Manga adventure, Toyota is pleased to announce the monster-slaying action story has been turned into an animated feature.

The short film follows the Heroine and her mighty Aygo as they save the city from destruction at the claws of a rampaging dinosaur. Created by Manga artist Sonia Leong, the tale puts Toyota’s new city car at the heart of the action, while making subtle references to some of the classic Toyota models of the past as the mini-epic unfolds.

The new movie featuring Sonia’s original artwork was created by animation team U-R-ILL™ and edited by Mark Gravil It is free to view now on Toyota’s official UK blog, YouTube channel and Facebook page. You can also keep up with the buzz about the project using #aygomanga on Twitter.

Exclusive Limited Range for Megane and Scenic, leads Renaults Summer push.

With the FIFA World Cup under way in Brazil, Renault is kicking off with its first special edition for this summer. Packed with a host of extras, including panoramic sunroof and extra tinted windows and tailgate, a new ‘Limited’ version is now available to order across the Mégane and Scénic ranges.

The new versions score on a number of fronts, with around £1,000 worth of extra equipment, for half the price, when compared to the already well-equipped Dynamique TomTom varieties on which they are based.

The stylish numbers also come as standard with rear parking sensors, special ‘LIMITED’ upholstery, badging and kickplates, and electrically operated and folding door mirrors in gloss black.

Limited is available on the recently refreshed Mégane range of Hatch, Sport Tourer and Coupé models, and Scénic range, apart from XMOD. They come with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines, 1.6 VVT 110, 1.2 ENERGY TCe 115 and ENERGY TCe 130 (Scenic only), or the dCi 110 and ENERGY 1.6 dCi 130.

The Limited special editions are priced £500 above their Dynamique TomTom equivalents, however, customers receive twice that in extras. Prices for Mégane start at £18,250 on the road, with Scénic from £19,865. Ordering is open now, with first deliveries in September.

On top of an alluring core kit list, several options also feature, including 17-inch ‘Pragma’ alloy wheels for £310 and R-Link (Scenic £200, £300 on Megane with upgraded Western European mapping).

A host of customer offers coinciding with the launch also help make this one of Renault’s hottest and most accessible summer deals. Full details of which are available on www.renault.co.uk.

Making the offers even more enticing is the availability of the French brand’s 4+ after sales care package, worth at least £1,000. The award-winning package offers impressive peace of mind with a four year/100,000 miles warranty and roadside assistance.

The US welcomes back Alfa Romeo and the stunning 4C

• 2014 New York Auto Show debut of all-new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C coupe and limited-edition 4C Launch Edition marks the Italian sports car brand’s return to the North American market
• Mid-engine proportions and inspiration from the brand’s racing traditions highlight Alfa Romeo 4C’s purposeful design for maximum performance
• Alfa Romeo engineers leveraged advanced materials and technological solutions from Formula 1, including a carbon fiber monocoque, aluminum chassis structures and a composite body shell for an ultra-lightweight coupe with supercar-level performance
• State-of-the-art powertrain technology: all-aluminum 1750 cc direct-injection turbocharged engine with intercooler, dual variable-valve timing and advanced scavenging technology is paired to a blistering fast Alfa TCT twin-clutch transmission
• Alfa DNA selector optimizes the Alfa Romeo 4C’s powertrain and chassis control calibrations to the level of driving performance and capability needed
• Excellence made in Italy: Alfa Romeo 4C combines the best technical and manufacturing competencies of two brands, Alfa Romeo and Maserati
• Available this June and designed for America’s “Alfisti,” the Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition includes unique appointments and is limited to 500 serialized coupes

Marking the Italian brand’s highly anticipated return to North America, the all-new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C makes its New York Auto Show debut – a mid-engine design inspired by the brand’s legendary racing history, state-of-the-art carbon fiber monocoque and all-aluminum turbocharged engine influenced by Formula 1, and advanced technological solutions, all to deliver supercar-level performance and driving exhilaration.  

“The all-new Alfa Romeo 4C delivers supercar-level performance in its most elemental form,” said Harald Wester, President and CEO of Alfa Romeo. “With its ultra-lightweight materials and technological solutions derived directly from motorsports, a mid-engine proportion for maximum agility and purposeful styling cues to enhance performance – the all-new 4C coupe marks Alfa Romeo’s return to sports cars and the brand’s return to North America.”

For the Alfa Romeo brand, the all-new 4C represents the essential sportiness embedded in the brand’s DNA: Italian style, performance and technical excellence, for maximum driving pleasure in complete safety.

Acronym 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C is inspired by the century-old tradition of Alfa Romeo and projects the brand's authentic values into the future: Italian style, performance and engineering excellence, offering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety. The “4C” name recalls Alfa Romeo's great sporting tradition: the acronyms 8C and 6C in the 1930s and 1940s distinguished racing and road cars fitted with powerful eight and six cylinder engines. The 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C model’s designation continues this tradition with the latest all-aluminum 1750 cc four-cylinder engine. 

A tradition of essential beauty and function 
The inspiration for the all-new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C dates back to the 1967 33 Stradale, the homologated version of the racing Type 33, which is considered one of the most beautiful cars of all time. Like the 33 Stradale that combined extreme mechanical and functional requirements with undeniable Alfa Romeo style and performance – the 4C coupe shares its body forms and follows this performance tradition with an undoubtedly Italian-styled composite body “clothing,” a state-of-the-art carbon fiber and aluminum structure, and a high-performance turbocharged engine.

With a purpose-built cockpit inspired by the legendary 1967 33 Stradale, entering the interior of the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C means entering a world derived from motorsport – only essential components for performance are integrated.

Two composite-framed sport seats, thermoformed dashboard and exposed carbon fiber monocoque highlight the coupe’s technological uniqueness. Furthermore, a driver-oriented cockpit with flat-bottom performance steering wheel with paddle-shift controls and aluminum pedals speak to the brand’s racing spirit. Emphasizing the Alfa Romeo 4C’s advanced technology and focus on lightweight technical solutions is a 7-inch full-color thin-film transistor (TFT) instrument cluster that  displays simple, high-impact graphics to keep the driver focused on the road, or track ahead.

Ultra-lightweight: carbon fiber, aluminum and composites structures 
To create the ultra-lightweight architecture needed for maximum performance and dynamic efficiency, Alfa Romeo 4C engineers looked to Formula 1 and only the most advanced supercars for state-of-the-art materials. The result is a monocoque made entirely of carbon fiber that delivers extraordinary stiffness and strength. Attached to the Alfa Romeo 4C’s exotic monocoque are front and rear cell structures, roof reinforcements and an engine-mounting frame made from lightweight aluminum.

Alfa Romeo engineers continued the use of state-of-the-art materials by creating the bodywork entirely of SMC (Sheet Molding Compound), a low-density, high-strength composite material that is 20 percent lighter and dimensionally more rigid than steel. Providing the ability to create complex shapes while saving weight by 20 percent compared to steel are PUR-RIM (injected polyurethane) fascias and rear spoiler. Engineers even optimized the Alfa Romeo 4C’s windshield and side windows by using 10 percent thinner glass to reduce weight by up to 15 percent.

Finally, two sport seats feature a carbon fiber and fiberglass reinforced-composite structure to deliver the strength and seating position needed for performance driving.  

High-tech powertrain for exceptional track performance and drivability 
The engine is the beating heart of any Alfa Romeo, and for the 4C, it beats to an all-new 1750 cc direct-injection 237 horsepower aluminum engine. To ensure exceptional performance and drivability on the racetrack or city streets, this new engine features cutting-edge technical solutions, including direct-injection, intercooler, dual (intake and exhaust) continuous variable-valve timing (VVT), eight counterweights, and intake and exhaust systems optimized for Alfa Romeo 4C’s mid-engine layout.

A new generation turbocharger features a pulse-converter exhaust manifold to exploit pressure waves and boost torque at low-engine speeds. A waste gate valve adjusts turbo pressure and improves the engine’s efficiency. Advanced scavenging technology enables the Alfa Romeo 4C to maximize torque at low engine speeds and deliver more response to driver input by increasing combustion efficiency and turbine speed, all while eliminating turbo lag. As a result, torque delivery is instantaneous, with a peak of 258 ft.-lb. (350 N•m); 80 percent of which is available at only 1,700 rpm. 

Teamed to the all-aluminum engine is a paddle-shifting Alfa TCT twin-clutch transmission, which has been specifically tuned for the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C. With its uniquely calibrated software that adjusts with the Alfa DNA selector system, the Alfa TCT’s gearshifts are designed to become most aggressive in the Dynamic and Race modes. The Alfa TCT system also integrates a “launch control” mode – delivering the utmost acceleration possible as soon as the driver releases the brake.

Alfa DNA selector offers advanced technological solutions 
The all-new Alfa Romeo 4C features the brand’s innovative Alfa DNA selector with “Race” mode – enabling the driver to optimize the right level of performance through four modes. With a touch of the Alfa DNA selector, the character of the Alfa Romeo 4C can be changed to (in order of increasing capability):

• All-weather – designed to ensure maximum control under adverse weather conditions and enables gentler accelerator input and special engine and brake control logic to match road speed and prevent skidding
• Natural – enables grand touring comfort and smooth drivability for the Alfa TCT gearbox
• Dynamic – enables improved driving performance via a more aggressive powertrain calibration and less intrusive electronic stability control (ESC) setting
• Race – is the most extreme performance mode, putting the driver in total control of the car under race conditions. ESC and anti-slip regulation (ASR) are deactivated to allow the driver to control traction through the accelerator pedal. The Alfa Romeo Electronic Q2 differential control system remains active for fast exits out of corners or bends
  • In Race mode, launch control can be activated, allowing the Alfa Romeo 4C to deliver supercar-level 0-to-60 mph acceleration blasts in the mid-4 second range

For driving convenience in Dynamic, Natural or All-weather modes, the Alfa Romeo TCT gearbox can utilize an “auto” mode.

Supercar performance, compact size 
Thanks to Alfa Romeo 4C’s advanced technological solutions and compact size, the coupe demonstrates its precision, agility and performance credentials with a top speed of 160 miles per hour (mph), 0-to-60 mph acceleration blasts in the mid-4 second range, 1.1 g of side acceleration on corners and 1.25 g of maximum braking deceleration.

4C combines the best technical and manufacturing competencies of Alfa Romeo and Maserati 
The very best technical and industrial expertise of the Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands were used to develop the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C. Teamwork between the two brands included the integration of the Alfa Romeo Style Center design with the well-known craftsmanship of the Maserati brand’s Modena production plant. In addition, the Alfa Romeo 4C was boosted by the technological contributions of Italian suppliers, who are international leaders in manufacturing high-performance components.

This is a distinguishing trait of Alfa Romeo, a brand with a century of history that continues to be one of the most famous and popular ambassadors of Italian products around the world.  
Limited to 500 serialized units: 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition 
For “Alfisti” in North America, a special 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition will be made available this June. These first 500 Alfa Romeo 4C coupes will be serialized and include the following appointments:

• Alfa Red, Rosso Competizione or Madreperla White exterior paint
• Bi-xenon headlamps with LED illuminated daytime running lights
• Carbon fiber rear spoiler and mirror caps
• Aluminum rear diffuser
• Race suspension tuning with front- and rear-sway bars and performance-tuned shock absorbers
• Racing exhaust
• Staggered 18-inch (front) and 19-inch (rear) forged wheels painted in Dark Gray
• Red lacquered brake calipers
• Sport seats with black microfiber
• Leather-wrapped instrument and door panels
• Red or White interior accent stitching on the instrument panel, steering wheel, handbrake, floor mats and door handles
• Serialized “Launch Edition” plaque

New Lexus IS F, gives ultimate driving experience.

• Specially built 416-hp, 5-liter V8
• Eight-speed Sport Direct-Shift transmission
• Chassis tuning refined on Nürburgring, Circuit Paul Ricard and Fuji Speedway
• Revised interior trim for 2014

The 2014 Lexus IS F delivers a 416-horsepower wallop on road or track, handling both driving environments with equal aplomb. While bristling with track-focused engine and chassis performance technology, the 2014 IS F also remains comfortable and practical to drive every day, a true dual-purpose machine.

When it arrived for model year 2008, the IS F not only shook up the status quo among high-performance sport sedans, but also foreshadowed the brand’s LFA supercar, which recently completed a 500-unit run. The same passion for performance continues to define the IS F, which for 2014 remains on a thoroughly optimized version of the 2nd-generation IS platform.
The IS F gains interior and trim changes in its seventh year.

What’s New for 2014

• LED foglamps (bulbs changed to LEDs)
• Carbon fiber rear spoiler
• All headrests embossed with “F” logo
• Alcantara trim (black) added to doors and center console cover
• Black full semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats (replaces black Alcantara and leather-trimmed seats)
• Red leather-trimmed seats receive black Alcantara inserts with red perforation and black leather-trimmed headrests
• Exhilarating Performance at Every Turn
• The Lexus IS F combines blistering acceleration with brilliantly controlled chassis performance, yielding a highly satisfying machine for driving enthusiasts of all skill levels.

The muscular rumble issued by the low-restriction dual-exhaust system, which terminates in distinctive stacked quad diffusers, announces the presence of a special high-performance version of the Lexus 5.0-liter V8. Engineered specifically for the IS F, the aluminum V8 emphasizes both high output and high durability. The engine produces a rousing 416 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 371 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 5,200 rpm. While able to provide an instant rush of power and sustain high engine speeds for track driving, the 5.0-liter V8 remains utterly composed and refined in everyday driving.

The eight-speed Sport Direct-Shift automatic transmission proves a willing partner on road or track. For maximum performance, the driver can shift manually with steering wheel paddle shifters in either “D” or “M” modes, but in “M” mode, the transmission will hold each gear to the 6,800-rpm redline and execute ultra-quick shifts in one-tenth of a second. In “M” mode, the transmission “blips” the throttle to match engine rpm to vehicle speed, which helps maintain traction and control, especially when slowing through curves.

Selecting Normal, Sport or Snow driving modes alters the car’s dynamic control systems to sharpen performance or increase comfort and traction. The driver faces a gauge cluster with a large central tachometer, similar to that in the LFA supercar.  In order to perfect the IS F’s road/track dual persona, Lexus conducted IS F development work not only at Germany’s renowned Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack, but also at Circuit Paul Ricard in France and Fuji Speedway and the Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan. The shape of Turn 1 at Fuji, in fact, inspired the car’s “F” badge design as homage to its home track.

Numerous track-proven modifications to the double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension configurations endow the IS F with uncanny ability through curves while maintaining refined rode comfort. Special rear control arms, high-rate springs, monotube dampers and large-diameter stabilizer bars are among the changes made to this platform for the IS F.

As part of the IS F development program, Lexus worked with Michelin and Bridgestone to develop tires specifically for the car’s 170-mph track capability. The “staggered” wheels and tires follow racecar convention, with wider, lower profile tires on the rear. (The front wheels are 19 x 8.5-inch, with 225/40R19 tires and 19 x 9.5-inch in the rear, with 255/35R19 tires.) You’ll find Brembo® brakes on the world’s best high-performance cars, including, of course, the Lexus IS F. In front, rigid, powerful six-piston aluminum calipers grip 14.2-inch ventilated and drilled rotors, while the 13.6-inch ventilated, drilled rear rotors use two-piston calipers.

A Torsen® rear differential helps provide additional traction in spirited driving. The IS F deftly integrates an array of advanced chassis control systems to help maximize braking and traction performance in the IS F. Specifically, engineers calibrated the brand’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system to support the car’s high dynamic capabilities.

By integrating the car’s dynamic systems, and by combining input from a variety of sensors, VDIM doesn’t merely react to hazardous handling situations but rather can anticipate the onset of a vehicle skid or slide. The system can help correct the situation with a combination of braking, steering and throttle control.

How does it all work in performance driving? Seamlessly. Push the Lexus IS F aggressively through a corner, and VDIM helps prevent the inside rear wheel from spinning, transferring more power to the outside wheel to help maintain traction and momentum.

In Sport mode, VDIM increases steering feel and allows higher dynamic thresholds before intervening with confidence.

High Visual Impact
As if the IS F’s bellowing exhaust note weren’t enough to express the car’s presence, the car’s wide-body design also does much to convey the high-performance capability. The widened fenders were needed to clear the 19-inch low-profile tires, and other body modifications combine function with form, as well. The raised center section in the hood clears the big V8.

Air management for engine and brake cooling can be seen in large upper and lower mesh-type grilles, along with brake cooling ducts in the lower grille and air outlets in the front fenders, where you’ll also spot the discrete silver, black and blue F badge.

Interior Designed for the Performance Driver 
The interior of the IS F features an exclusive design treatment highlighted by aluminized composite trim, striking two-tone upholstery, main gauges, unique steering-wheel design and other special surface treatments. The “F” logo is discretely showcased on the steering wheel, rear-center console and all seat headrests.

Details:Inside the High-Performance Lexus 5.0-liter V8
The extensive roster of high-performance components used to construct the IS F’s 5-liter V8 includes:

• Forged crankshaft with mirror-finish polished journals
• Forged sintered iron alloy connecting rods
• High-flow cylinder heads designed by Yamaha
• Lightweight hollow, chain-driven camshafts with forged lobes
• Titanium valves operated by roller rocker arms
• Dual air-intake system to maximize power at all engine speeds
• Scavenge pump ensures a reliable oil supply even during cornering that exceeds 1 g.
• Variable Valve Timing with intelligence by an electric motor (VVT-iE) to expand VVT operational range to lower engine speeds.
• Connected to the Road, Connected to Your Life

Lexus stands at the forefront of in-car multi-media systems, and that certainly holds true for the high-performance IS F. When equipped with the navigation option, the IS F also features Lexus Enform®. The available Enform service, with Destination Assist, eDestination, and App Suite, comes with the Navigation System/Mark Levinson Audio Package. Lexus Enform provides access to the subscription-free App Suite.  These voice-enabled apps let you search the Internet through Bing™, make restaurant reservations through OpenTable®, get movie tickets via MovieTickets.com™, listen to Internet radio, including , Pandora®, and  iHeartRadio™, search business reviews on Yelp®, and check in on  Facebook Places™.

The IS F’s telematics system, Lexus Enformwith Safety Connect® is available by subscription. Complimentary one-year trial subscriptions are available on all purchases of new Lexus vehicles equipped with these features. Safety Connect is standard on all vehicles while Lexus Enform with Safety Connect is on all vehicles equipped with the optional Navigation system. The Lexus Enform and the Safety Connect response centers operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—every day of the year.

Lexus Enform vehicles are factory ready for subscriptions to a variety of innovative SiriusXM services including NavTraffic, NavWeather, Sports, Stocks and Fuel Prices. SiriusXM services offer complimentary one-year trial data subscription.

Safety/Security Features

• Passive-safety technology in the IS F begins with a reinforced passenger compartment that helps protect the occupants with front-and-rear crush structures.
• In addition to advanced dual-stage front airbags and front seat-mounted side airbags, the Lexus Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) includes side-curtain airbags that extend from A-pillar to C-pillar, plus knee airbags for the driver and the front passenger.
• The available Pre-Collision System (PCS) can help reduce collision damage. The package includes Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which uses millimeter-wave radar to measure and maintain a pre-set distance from a vehicle traveling ahead. PCS relies on the radar sensor to detect obstacles in front of the car. The PCS computer, taking sensor inputs from vehicle speed, steering angle and yaw rate, is designed to determine whether a collision is unavoidable. In such a situation, PCS preemptively retracts front seat belts and pre-initializes Brake Assist so that increased braking will be applied the instant the driver depresses the pedal.
• Luxury/Comfort/Convenience 

• The IS F interior features specially shaped and trimmed seats that help position the driver comfortably and securely.
• The standard SmartAccess keyless entry and push-button start allow the driver to keep the access fob in a pocket or purse.
• Standard amenities include 10-way power front seats; dual-zone automatic climate control, a pollen filter and smog detector; power moonroof with one-touch open/close and seven open-position settings; power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel; three-position memory function for front seats, steering wheel and mirrors; all power windows with automatic up/down operation and jam protection; an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with a HomeLink® programmable garage door opener; automated rain-sensing wipers and heated auto-dimming outside mirrors with integrated puddle lamps.
• The standard Lexus Premium Audio System features a six-disc, in-dash CD changer, 13 speakers, USB/iPod®connectivity, streaming audio via Bluetooth® and an integrated SirusXM Satellite Radio receiver (complimentary 90-day trial subscription included).
• Lexus Enform 2.0 with App Suite on navigation equipped vehicles.
• Available Bluetooth automatic phonebook download capabilities.
• Available HD Radio™ with iTunes tagging.

 Luxury Options

• The IS F offers a 14-speaker Mark Levinson® Premium Surround Sound Audio System with discrete 5.1 multi-channel playback, 7.1-channel speaker architecture, and 10 amplifier channels providing 300 watts total output at less than 0.1 percent total harmonic distortion from 20 to 20,000 Hz (THD all channels driven).
• The available Intuitive Park Assist (IPA) system uses ultrasonic sensors to detect objects close to the car's front and rear bumpers, alerting the driver and showing distance to objects in the multi-information display within the speedometer.
• The optional Lexus Navigation system features Voice Command casual-language voice recognition, Bluetooth automatic phonebook download, and HD Radio with iTunes tagging.
• The rear back-up camera, included with the available navigation system, automatically projects an image of what its lens can detect behind the car onto the navigation screen when the transmission is in reverse.

Warranty

• 48-month/50,000-mile basic limited warranty with roadside assistance for 48 months/unlimited miles.
• 72 months/70,000 miles powertrain and restraint system coverage.
• 72 months corrosion perforation protection coverage, regardless of mileage.