WarrantyWise data reveals the real cost of repairs for exotic cars from the likes of Lamborghini and Aston Martin

• WarrantyWise data reveals the real cost of repairs for exotic cars from the likes of Lamborghini, Maserati, Aston Martin and Porsche
• WarrantyWise’s biggest pay-out is for £15,000 to a Lamborghini Murcielago owner for major engine repairs – WarrantyWise cover is just £166 per month on average for a Murcielago
• A Porsche 911 and Maserati 4200 are the second and third largest pay-outs, of around £10,000 each for engine repairs
• Also in the top 10 is a £9,500 gearbox replacement for a Nissan GT-R and £8,057-worth of gearbox repairs on an Aston Martin Vanquish
• For more sensible warranty cover, WarrantyWise.co.uk offers plans for popular models like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Golf from just £19 per month

WarrantyWise.co.uk has revealed the true cost of exotic car repairs, with data detailing its largest ever payouts. A Lamborghini Murcielago tops the list, with a major engine mechanical repair bill of £15,000 fully covered by WarrantyWise. By contrast, covering your Murcielago at WarrantyWise’s highest level of service will set you back just £166 per month.

The top ten list and beyond is full of some of the world’s most famous performance cars, with the top three largest payouts covering major engine mechanical repairs.  Following the Lamborghini in WarrantyWise’s second and third largest payouts were a Porsche 911 and a Maserati 4200 with bills of around £10,000 each. The average monthly cost of WarrantyWise cover for each of the cars is £82 and £146 respectively.

Gearbox issues can leave owners with a hefty bill, too, with big repair costs of just under £10,000 for Aston Martin’s Vanquish and DB9 models needing major repairs to their automatic gearboxes.

Away from the largest repair payouts, WarrantyWise’s data reveal just how expensive relatively minor issues can be in complex, exotic cars. Repairing the ECU in a Ferrari 360, for example, came with a bill of nearly £2,000, with a similar amount required for wheel bearing repairs in a Ferrari 355.

An air-conditioning fix in a Maserati GranTurismo resulted in a £1,885 payout from WarrantyWise and replacing the water pump in a GranTurismo Spider commanded a repair payout of £2,278.

Even the more run of the mill cars aren’t immune to a crippling bill, though, with payouts of more than £5,000 each for family favourites, the Renault Grand Espace and Volkswagen Passat.

Warranties at this more sensible end of the scale, including for popular models like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Golf, start from just £19 per month.

Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of WarrantyWise, said: “When you lay out all the repair payouts WarrantyWise makes, you can see why so many of our customers swear by our service – especially on an exotic car where the bills are rarely cheap. But the fact that we also have the likes of Renault and Volkswagen in our largest ever payouts just goes to show that all cars have the potential to go very badly wrong – and the resulting repair bill can be large enough to really disrupt your life.”

WarrantyWise Top 10 Most Expensive Authorised Repairs

Make	Model	Issue	Amount Paid
Lamborghini	Murcielago	Engine (Major Mechanical)	£15,000
Porsche	911	Engine (Major Mechanical)	£10,051.63
Maserati	4200	Engine (Major Mechanical)	£10,000
Ferrari	550	Electrical (major)	£9996.52
Nissan	GT-R	Replace Gearbox	£9,500
Nissan	GT-R	Gearbox (selector)	£9,500
Aston Martin	Vanquish	Gearbox Auto	£8,057.56
Aston Martin	DB9	Gearbox (auto)	£7315.45
Lamborghini	Gallardo	F1 Actuator	£6437.27
Ferrari	575	Gearbox (selector)	£6161.21

USA - After a further $44 Million investment at Bowling Green Assembly plant, you can now build your engine.

36 new jobs to support capacity increase

General Motors said Wednesday it will invest $44 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to support increased capacity in its Performance Build Center, adding 36 new jobs. Construction and tool re-arrangement is planned to start in January 2016. 

The expansion of the Performance Build Center is fueled by the success of the Corvette Z06, which currently accounts for nearly a third of all Corvettes produced at Bowling Green Assembly.

The Performance Build Center also offers a one-of-a-kind experience for customers – the Build Your Own Engine program. This program allows customers to assemble the 650-hp supercharged LT4 engine for their cars. The $5,000 option package includes a full day with a Performance Build Center engine assembly technician who instructs and oversees the build, a personalized engine plaque identifying the customer and professional photography.

“Coupled with the investment, for $439 million for a new paint shop and facility upgrades announced in May, GM has committed $483 million to Bowling Green this year alone,” said plant manager Kai Spande. “These significant investments indicate the company’s confidence in Bowling Green, the Performance Build Center and our skilled workforce.”

Construction took place in 2013 and early 2014, with engine production beginning in the second quarter of 2014. The Performance Build Center produces the 2016 LT4 6.2L V-8 for the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

GM has added 316 new jobs and invested a total of $617.5 million over the last four years at Bowling Green. 

• May 4, 2011: $131 Million; 250 new jobs to support the new Corvette Stingray
• January 30, 2013: $3.5 million; 30 new jobs to support the Performance Build Center move from Wixom, Mich., to Bowling Green
• May 21, 2015: $439 million; 150 jobs retained to support a new paint shop and other facility upgrades
• November 12, 2015: $44 million; 36 new jobs to support capacity increase at the Performance Build Center

VW Group's, Audi has suspended 2 engineers after its larger diesel engines were found to have evaded emissions limits

Volkswagen Group's luxury unit Audi has suspended two engineers after its larger diesel engines were found to have evaded emissions limits in the U.S., Rupert Stadler, Audi’s CEO, was quoted as saying in a newspaper report on Thursday.

Volkswagen and Audi notified U.S. authorities last Thursday that about 85,000 vehicles with 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engines were fitted with emissions-control equipment that was not disclosed to U.S. regulators.

The news widened a scandal at parent VW Group which has led to the ouster of its long-time CEO Martin Winterkorn and wiped more than 20 billion euros ($21 billion) off the group's market value.

Audi now is investigating whether employees in technical development and other departments deliberately manipulated emission-control devices and has suspended two engineers, Stadler said in an interview with the Donaukurierregional newspaper, without giving any further details.

The V-6 diesel engine was designed and assembled by Audi at its factory in Neckarsulm, Germany, and widely used in premium models sold by the group's VW, Audi and Porsche brands in model years 2009 through 2016, Audi said on Monday.

The Audi suspensions take the number of officials confirmed to have been put on leave across the group as a result of its internal investigations to eight, including at least six senior executives.

VW is facing an emissions scandal on three fronts: the cheating software installed in about 11 million smaller diesel vehicles worldwide; irregular carbon-dioxide ratings on about 800,000 vehicles; and the probe into 85,000 larger diesel engines in the U.S.

REPORT HERE

SPAIN - Volkswagen updates Tiguan with new tech and better engines.

For over seven years, the Tiguan has been one of the most successful models of Volkswagen. With product upgrades this year, the brand has updated some key elements of the model equipment. Thus, the compact SUV now has a new generation of engines plus innovative radio systems and radio navigation.

For over seven years, the Tiguan has been one of the best selling models of Volkswagen worldwide. Now, the popular SUV rises again its commitment to the modernization of its range of engines, with the 2-liter diesel engines have more power.

Thus, the power of the unit has increased 140 hp to 150 hp *, while the propeller 175 HP now delivers 184 hp **. At the same time, CO2 emissions have been reduced, and all engines comply with the EU6 emissions standard.

The new radios and navigation systems available on the latest generation Tiguan have evolved significantly.The above radio systems have been replaced by the Media Composition (with features like color touchscreen, eight speakers and a variety of connections for external devices).

The radio-navigation system is now available Discover Media, which comes with the package of services online & Inform Volkswagen Guide (Guide & Inform expands navigation services and destination information via a mobile data connection ).

The Media Composition and Discover Media can also be ordered as an option with App Connect. App Connect feature acts as a "mirror" and reflects our Smartphone interface directly on the screen radio or browser, and allows the use of certified APPS while driving. 

There is also the option to add the Media Control, a new infotainment system extension in the form of app that lets you easily control its functions from a tablet (eg navigation data entry, selecting a radio station, etc.), even from seats behind.

* 2.0 TDI 150 CV - Fuel consumption in l / 100 km: 5.7 to 4.9 (combined); CO2 emissions in g / km: 150-130 (combined); efficiency class: B

** 2.0 TDI 184 CV - Fuel consumption in l / 100 km: 5.7 (combined); CO2 emissions in g / km: 150 (combined); efficiency class: C.

Spanish translation into English - Apologies for any errors.

1987 Volvo 340 - Time Warp - 132 miles and in near mint condition

A 1987 Volvo 340 with just 132 miles on the clock from new has been uncovered by Anglia Car Auctions for the upcoming Classic sale on Saturday  April 5^th at its King’s Lynn auction house.

The car was bought brand new from Lancaster Volvo and was barely used by the original owner. After a few weeks the car suffered a coming together with a bollard at a garden centre, grazing the driver’s side wing.

Confidence shaken, the elderly owner put the car into garage where it stayed until the beginning of March when its was dragged out of hiding and added to the auction catalogue. 

The 340 was the result of a joint venture between Volvo and Dutch carmaker DAF. DAF were looking for a partner to help them bring the car to market, while Volvo were interested in the Renault engines that DAF had access to.

The partnership worked, and eventually DAF would be absorbed into Volvo. Compared to contemporaries from Ford and Volkswagen the Volvo stood out, thanks to its rear-wheel drive layout, De Dion suspension and rear-mounted gearbox. The 340 would go on to enjoy a successful career in motorsport and, typically for a Volvo, an enviable record for safety.

This 340 uses the 1.7 litre Renault-sourced petrol engine and still boasts its original battery, coolant, oil and spark plugs. Incredibly it’s even retained its original dealer-issue Volvo-branded paper floor mates.

Rob George, Anglia Car Auctions, said: " Plenty of people claim to offer a ‘time warp’ classic but in the case of this Volvo 340 the term was never more fitting.”

Despite its long hibernation the 340 starts and runs, though understandably items like the brakes may well require attention. There’s no sign of corrosion on the car and the interior retains that new-car smell.

For more information on Anglia Car Auctions, visit www.angliacarauctions.co.uk

Can this be the brand new Jaguar XS, XT, X-Type or whatever jaguar decide to call it ?

Jaguar is a little bit like Mercedes in that they aren't very good at making small engines. It's just one of the reasons why the Germans are even topping them in sales back in Britain.

The automaker's incursion into the small executive sedan segment resulted in the launch of the X-Type. They tried to hide what it really was with all-wheel drive and big engines, but you know what they say… you can take the Jaguar out of Ford, but you can't take the Ford out of a Jaguar.

Now, Jaguar is getting back in the fight with another small executive sedan, this time based on their own aluminum architecture. The model will sit in the range under the XF and reports indicate it really will be called the "XS", despite the humorous nature of the name.

JLR is currently developing a whole new family of efficient four-cylinder engines, both diesel and petrol, which together with ZF's 8-speed auto should deliver a splendid alternative to the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-Class.

REPORT HERE

PSA and GM co-operate on new MPV

General Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroën are announcing today that as part of the existing alliance agreement, B-MPV’s from both companies will be built in the GM España plant in Zaragoza.

As previously announced, the Alliance is responsible for developing a next generation of B-segment MPV’s based on a PSA Peugeot Citroën platform. This program is one of the three projects which were agreed upon and signed by both partners in December 2012.

The Opel engineering team in Ruesselsheim will lead the engineering execution of the joint project. PSA Peugeot Citroën will supply powertrains for all applications. The first vehicles will come to market in late 2016.

The Alliance between PSA and GM is based on a balanced approach. The vehicles of both manufacturers will be highly differentiated and fully consistent with their respective brand characteristics.

More announcements on joint projects will follow at a later stage.

Aston Martin and AMG Mercedes sign letter of intent for supply of equipment

• Supply agreements for engines and Electric/Electronic (E/E) components planned
• Daimler to receive up to 5% equity in Aston Martin
• Ola Källenius, Head of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “We are proud to work with Aston Martin and provide them with powertrain and e/e components for their forthcoming sports cars.”
• Aston Martin Product Development Director Ian Minards: “We have selected AMG specifically as the basis for this powertrain development process.”

Mercedes-AMG GmbH, a 100% subsidiary and the high performance brand of Daimler AG, and Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. intend to enter a technical partnership. A corresponding Letter of Intent has been signed today. Essential elements of the planned partnership are supply agreements between Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Benz Cars and Aston Martin. Mercedes-AMG will supply Aston Martin with engines, while Mercedes-Benz Cars will provide the British luxury sports car manufacturer with e/e (electric/ electronic) components for Aston Martin’s future models.

In addition to those agreements, Daimler will receive up to 5% equity in Aston Martin without cash consideration in several steps following the progress of the technical partnership. At the same time, the company will receive an observer status in the Board of Management of Aston Martin. Based on the Letter of Intent, both parties have the intention to work towards signing of definitive agreements during the second half of the year. The overall transaction is subject to the conclusion on definitive agreement and applicable regulatory approvals, if required.

Ola Källenius, Head of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “We are proud to work with Aston Martin and provide them with powertrain and e/e components for their forthcoming sports cars. This is proof of AMG’s technological and performance expertise and a real win-win situation for both sides.”

Aston Martin Product Development Director Ian Minards said: “We have selected AMG specifically as the basis for this powertrain development process. Aston Martin sources cutting edge technology from key suppliers around the globe and the opportunity to include content from Mercedes-AMG GmbH in our next generation sports cars is, clearly, good news.”

Not the least due to competitive reasons, both parties agreed on non-disclosure of further details of the planned partnership for the time being.