The new Insignia Grand Sport is all set and ready to keep you warm in these Winter months.

• Sub-zero temperatures across the UK giving drivers early morning headache
• De-icing windscreen and heating car’s interior adding time and inconvenience to commute
• New Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport overcomes winter with premium features including remote control heating and heated windscreen

As the UK remains in the firm grip of winter, with temperatures repeatedly sub-zero for the morning commute, drivers are having to start their days spending time to get their vehicle safe for the journey ahead. Vauxhall believes it has the perfect remedy to this though, with the new Insignia Grand Sport proving to have some of the hottest equipment in its class.

The new Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport helps to banish the cold conditions of winter with several safety and comfort features, to keep not only the driver but also passengers comfortable when it is cold outside.

Bringing premium technology to a mainstream model, the Insignia Grand Sport includes a remote controlled stationary heater – which enables the driver to heat the cabin before even leaving the house – while other features include heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel and a heated windscreen.

Reducing the need to spend time out in the cold scraping ice from view, the windscreen can be easily defrosted at the push of a button by a fine wire heating element. 

The heated windscreen also prevents fogging in humid conditions, further improving visibility and safety. The heating switches off automatically and can be reactivated if necessary by another press of the button.

In addition to the heated windscreen, the new Insignia Grand Sport provides drivers and passengers with several ways to keep warm. 

Drivers can stay snug thanks to the heated steering wheel, while heated seats are available not only for the driver and front passenger, but also for the occupants of the outer rear seats. 

The heating in the front is adjustable and can be controlled through the personalisation menu in the information display, while the 18-way adjustable heated driver’s seat also features massage and ventilation functions.

Thanks to the optional remote controlled stationary heater, the new Insignia warms up the passenger compartment before anyone gets in. The factory-fitted heater can be activated either by remote control timer or automatically thanks to temperature sensors.

“The level of technologies available means that Vauxhall customers can expect a higher level of comfort, even in the colder winter weather,” said Stuart Harris, Vauxhall’s Head of Carline Brand. “The optional heater and heated windscreen help to get drivers on the move quicker, even on frosty mornings.”

The heated seats and steering wheel are also operational when start/stop is running. By switching on the heated rear window, the heated wing mirrors are activated for further improved visibility to the rear.

Kia adds two new trim levels to the ever popular Sportage SUV model.

• Introduction of a ‘GT Line S’ and ‘KX-5’ model.
• 1.7 CRDi engine with a 7-speed auto DCT on ‘2’ and ‘3’ grades.
• Upgrades to paint options and the multimedia system including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

December brings new changes to the all-new Sportage. The model, launched in February 2016, has had a huge 35,000 sold since then.

As well as the introduction of a ‘GT-line S’ model, a ‘KX-5’ version and a 1.7 DCT powertrain are now available. An updated multimedia system and new paint options have been added to the line-up. 

This means 2017 is set to be an exciting year for Sportage customers and the Korean car manufacturer hopes they will continue the Sportage’s popularity well into 2017.

‘GT-Line’ on Sportage has proved to be a big success in its first year, and now the range sees an even higher specification, the ‘GT-Line S’. 

This will provide the looks and styling of the GT-Line with a number of high level specification items to add further appeal to the line-up. The ‘GT-Line S’ will be paired with the high powered 2.0 CRDi 6-speed auto and the 1.6 T-GDi 7-speed auto DCT powertrains. 

Additions also include a heated steering wheel, headlamp washers, bi-xenon headlamps, smart park assist system plus much more.

Replacing the ‘First Edition’ is the KX-5. This is a range-topping high end, highly specified model that showcases the full extent of technology that the Sportage range has to offer, available with a 2.0 CRDi engine and 6-speed automatic transmission.  It features two-tone leather upholstery, electronic parking brake, wireless phone charging plus much more over the KX-4.

On ‘2’ and ‘3’ grades, the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) paired with the 1.7 CRDi engine will be available. This improves the MPG and lowers the CO₂ when compared to traditional automatics. MY17 Sportage also has an upgraded multimedia system from the ‘2’ grade and above offering a number of key improvements such as 3D Mapping, SD map updates, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

As for the updated paint strategy, customers can choose whether to have Standard at no additional cost or Optional and Premium paint colours, for which the price will vary accordingly.

Skoda drip feeds pictures of the new Kodiaq, with the latest batch showcasing the interior of the All-New Car.

• More car: Third row of seats and boot capacity set standards
• New interior design: instrument panel with two symmetrical zones, upright air vents, touch display in sophisticated glass design
• Intuitive operation: cockpit features logical and user-friendly layout
• ŠKODA presents new SUV model in Berlin on 1 September 2016

This is how ŠKODA’s new large SUV looks inside: Shortly before its world premiere, the Czech automobile manufacturer gives a first glimpse inside the new large SUV. The photos emphasize that ŠKODA has implemented its modern, clear, expressive design language in the cockpit. 

At the same time, the images highlight the brand’s uncompromising standards in terms of functionality and build quality. ŠKODA is once again setting new standards in interior space: The ŠKODA KODIAQ features the largest boot in its class and is available as a seven-seater.

The interior of the ŠKODA KODIAQ is powerful and robust, yet welcomes passengers with a friendly character. As with all ŠKODA models, the KODIAQ is modern and elegant whilst meeting the functional requirements of an SUV. Every detail conveys clarity and calm; form and function are harmonized.

The expressively and elegantly designed dashboard is uncluttered. It is divided into two

symmetrical zones for driver and passenger. Distinctive vertical elements, such as the four large air inlets characterise the interior. The middle ones flank the on-board monitor. Their edges run along the top of the instrument panel and form a trapezoid, which reflects the ŠKODA KODIAQ’s bonnet. The large display has an elegant glass design with ‘Simply Clever’ operation – logical and intuitive. All switches and functions are easily accessible with a self-explanatory layout. The seats are made of high quality materials, offering the driver and front passenger superior comfort.

The above-average space, which sets new standards in its class, is characteristic of ŠKODA: The developers of the KODIAQ have made the largest interior possible from the external dimensions of 4.70 meters in length and 1.88 meters in width. For the first time in a ŠKODA, the SUV is also available with seven seats. The model can react flexibly to various seating and cargo requirements thanks to longitudinally adjustable reclining seats.

With a volume of 720 to 2,065 l (with rear seats folded), the five-seater ŠKODA KODIAQ offers the largest boot in its class. Options such as the heated steering wheel ensure high comfort. The same is true of the more than 30 ‘Simply Clever’ solutions, such as the door edge protection, electric child safety locks and sleep headrests.

USA - Special edition convertible revealed during 1000-mile road rally, that will be the Buick Cascada Sport Touring.

• New special edition convertible revealed during thousand-mile road rally

The Buick Cascada convertible delivers the freedom of open-air motoring through a driving experience with unexpected luxuries such as UV-reflective leather-appointed seats and a quiet, triple-insulated top. The Cascada’s attainable luxury will now include the reward of a uniquely bold style statement with an all-new Sport Touring edition.

In the 2017 Buick Cascada Sport Touring, customers will have the chance to make an even more stylish statement with a unique paint color, new wheel design, and other custom content that enhances the Cascada’s balanced proportions.

Road-trippers participating in the fifth annual Mille Mitten rally got a first look at the Cascada ST this past weekend on a 1,000-mile drive through the forests and lakefronts of northern Michigan. The Cascada was designed with road rally-like adventures and road trips in mind, and its convertible top retracts in 17 seconds at speeds up to 31 miles per hour so customers can breathe in every second of sunshine and scenery.

The 2017 Cascada ST is only available in True Blue Metallic, a paint color not offered on other Cascada models. The unique paint is complemented by a black cloth top that includes three layers of fabric structure for signature Buick quietness and insulation. Five-spoke, 20-inch wheels are new for the Cascada ST, as are Black Magic interior trim components, sport pedals and a flat-bottom sport steering wheel.

When it arrives at dealers this fall, the Cascada Sport Touring will be priced at $37,885 including destination. Priced and packaged for a simple buying experience, it features all the content offered on other Cascada models.

“The Mille Mitten celebrates the unique combination of features Michigan has to offer, from the deep blue of the Great Lakes to stunning star-filled nights deep in the forest,” said Ben Bator, Mille Mitten founder. “The Cascada is the perfect companion for this memorable experience, and the new Sport Touring builds off the same color palette that makes nature so inspiring.”

To capture the Cascada ST on the open road, Buick worked with photographer Zach Allia on the photos you see here. Allia left a career in Silicon Valley to explore the natural world and express it through his photography, which has gained him an Instagram following of 420,000 fans.

Customer response to the Cascada has been strong since launch, with 2016 sales outpacing expectations. Through the first half of the year, Cascada has outsold the Audi A3 convertible and Audi A5 convertible combined. Cascada offers a base price lower than the A3, but with space on par with the A5.

Cascada continues Buick’s safety leadership with a five-star crash test rating from NHTSA. Buick was the first brand to receive five-star ratings for every model in the lineup.

New Volkswagen Touareg R-Line Plus packs extra equipment and tops the range.

• New Touareg R-Line Plus packs extra equipment and tops the range
• R-Line Plus is expected to make up around half of Touareg sales
• New trim level is available now, starting at £48,095 OTR RRP

The latest Volkswagen Touareg is a perennially popular luxury SUV that is now gaining that bit more luxury with the arrival of the new range-topping trim level: R-Line Plus.

Volkswagen is now offering the Touareg in its highest specification yet, as the new R-Line Plus trim sits at the pinnacle of the capacious and capable 4x4’s line-up.

The Touareg R-Line Plus naturally uses the well-equipped R-Line as a starting point, and builds in valuable and stylish additions inside and out.

Externally, the five-seat SUV’s alloy wheels are upgraded from 20 inches to the striking 21-inch ‘Mallory’ design.  Meanwhile, the R-Line Plus comes equipped with Volkswagen’s impressive Area View technology as standard.  

This utilises front, rear and side wide-angle cameras (mounted within the door mirrors) to provide a 360-degree bird’s-eye exterior view of the SUV that is displayed on the Touareg’s infotainment display screen.

Area View allows the driver to see the immediate surroundings of the car from a new perspective, and the technology enhances the safety of occupants and those outside the vehicle.  

For example, Area View allows the driver to ‘see around corners’.  When driving forwards from a parking space the Touareg driver can, via the system, see pedestrians and cyclists approaching from the side.  

Inside, the new Touareg features a generous roster of standard equipment.  The centre console, dash and air vent surrounds are finished in stylish ‘Piano Black’, and the cabin features luxurious ‘Vienna’ leather upholstery.  The front comfort seats are 14-way electronically adjustable, and the front head restraints include four-way adjustment.

The extra equipment has a value of £3,255 if specified separately, but the premium over the Touareg R-Line is a mere £1,160, underlining the car’s great value.  That figure applies whether the customer chooses the 204 PS 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine or the 262 PS 3.0-litre V6 TDI.

Fuel economy is similar whether the 204 PS or the 262 PS engine is selected.  Both offer a combined figure of 42.8 mpg, while CO₂ emissions for the 204 PS engine are 173 g/km or 174 g/km for the 262 PS engine.

All of that, of course, is applied on top of a colossal amount of standard equipment on the Volkswagen Touareg R-Line.  This includes lowered sports suspension, R-Line body styling, a panoramic sunroof, Bi-xenon headlights, black roof-lining, a heated steering wheel, electric tailgate, and keyless entry.

The Volkswagen Touareg is now available in four trim levels: SE; Escape; R-Line; and R-Line Plus.  All feature Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system, which distributes engine power, as required, to all four wheels helping to ensure optimum traction and propulsion. 

The new R-Line Plus trim level is expected to account for around half of Touareg sales, and is available to order through the Volkswagen UK Retailer network now.

Volkswagen Touareg R-Line Plus
Engine	Gearbox	Power	CO2 (g/km)	RRP
3.0-litre V6 TDI SCR	Eight-speed auto tiptronic	204	173*	£48,095.00
3.0-litre V6 TDI SCR	Eight-speed auto tiptronic	262	174*	£49,895.00

USA - With the assistance of Vauxhall/Opel, Buick delivers it's first Convertible in 25 years, the New Cascada.

Well-equipped convertible offers high levels of standard content, technology

The top-down driving experience of the 2016 Cascada – Buick’s first convertible offered in the United States in 25 years – is priced at $33,990. When it goes on sale early next year, the Cascada will offer more standard content, a more powerful standard engine and a lower starting price than the Audi A3 Cabriolet.

“Cascada expands Buick’s lineup with a uniquely fun and personal driving experience,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick. “With a lower price than key competitors, it also promises to shake up the segment – and look good doing it.” 

The 2016 Cascada – designed from the ground up as a convertible – comes well-equipped in a 2+2 configuration, with room for four adults. Performance is rooted in a 200-horsepower (149 kW) turbo engine, backed by a six-speed automatic transmission, with Buick’s sophisticated HiPer Strut front suspension and a Watts Z-link rear suspension standard.

Additional standard features:

• Acoustically and thermally insulated electro-hydraulic power roof that lowers in only 17 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph
• High-intensity discharge, articulating headlamps and front LED daytime running lamps; and LED taillamps
• Automated, spring-loaded and pyrotechnically activated rollover bars behind the rear seat that are linked to the air bag system
• IntelliLink system with 7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen
• Navigation radio and seven-speaker premium audio system
• Rear Vision camera
• Remote start
• Dual-zone climate control
• Front and rear 12-volt power outlets
• Heat-reflective leather-appointed seating
• Heated front seats with eight-way power adjustments
• Heated, leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel
• Twenty-inch aluminum wheels with bi-color finish
• Electric power steering
• Rear Park Assist

A Cascada Premium model, priced at $36,990, adds:

• Forward Collision Alert
• Lane Departure Warning
• Automatic headlamp control with tunnel detection
• Front and Rear Park Assist
• Rainsense automatic windshield wipers
• Twenty-inch wheels with “diamond graphic” bi-color finish
• Front and rear air deflectors.

The Cascada also offers plenty of storage space, including 13.4 cubic feet of cargo room with the top up and 9.8 cubic feet with the top down, as well as a 22.4-inch x 12.6-inch (320 mm x 570 mm) pass-through from the trunk to the passenger compartment. When the 50/50-split rear seat is folded, longer items such as skis and wakeboards can be stowed inside.  

Convertibles compared

	2016 Buick Cascada	2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet
Starting price	$33,990 (incl. DFC)	$37,525 (incl. DFC)
Standard engine	1.6L Turbo – 200 HP	1.8L Turbo – 170 HP
Standard transmission	six-speed automatic	six-speed automatic (dual-clutch)
Standard wheels	20-inch aluminum	17-inch aluminum
Front suspension	HiPer Strut	MacPherson strut
Rear suspension	compound crank with Z-link	four-link
Convertible top	lowers up to 31 mph	lowers up to 31 mph
Leather seating	standard	standard
Heated front seats	standard	available
Seat adjusters	eight-way power	eight-way manual with four-way power lumbar
Heated steering wheel	standard	not available
Dual-zone climate control	standard	standard
Rear-view camera system	standard	standard
IntelliLink infotainment	standard	not available
Navigation radio system	standard	available
Forward Collision Alert	available	not available
Lane Departure Warning	available	not available
Front and Rear Park Assist	available	standard