USA - 2015 Range Rover Sport names best Three row SUV by the U.S. News & World Report

Land Rover announced U.S. News & World Report has named the 2015 Range Rover Sport the 'Best Luxury 3-Row SUV for Families'. The U.S. News & World Report 2015 'Best Cars for Families' awards highlight the cars, vans and SUVs that have the space, safety and reliability that families need, as well as the comfort, performance and features they want. 

The award methodology combines professional automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, seating and cargo volume and the availability of family-friendly features. Within each of the 19 automotive categories, the vehicle with the highest composite score is named the 'Best Car for Families' in its respective category.

"The Range Rover Sport has long been a favorite of luxury shoppers and off-road enthusiasts," says Jamie Page Deaton, Managing Editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "However, with its excellent interior space and long list of surprisingly family-friendly features, busy parents who want the best for their families will also find a lot to love about the Range Rover Sport."

Developed alongside the new-generation Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport delivers exceptional on-road dynamics with genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability. The Range Rover Sport presents an assertive and muscular exterior, luxurious interior, and the practical flexibility provided by the option of 5+2 third row seating for occasional use. Pricing starts at $63,350¹.

¹Price shown is MSRP. Excludes $925 destination and handling charge, tax, title, license, retailer fees and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicles availability may vary. See your local authorized Land Rover Retailer for details.

Porsche now offers rear seat passengers entertainment options, that'll keep the kids quiet.

Additional customization options for four-door sports cars

Porsche announces two new customization options for the Cayenne, Macan, and Panamera models. An elaborate Rear Seat Entertainment system for all four-door sports cars, and also new to the Cayenne model range, Sport Classic wheels including wheel arch extensions.

The Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment system saw its world premiere in the luxuriously equipped Panamera Turbo S Exclusive Series, with production limited to just 100 units. 

Now this system is available for all Panamera, Cayenne, and Macan models. The main components of the new Rear Seat Entertainment system are two high-resolution 10.1-inch color touchscreen displays with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels integrated in the front seat backrests.

It has an extensive range of equipment, including an integrated DVD player, two USB ports, an SD card slot and an HDMI port to allow connection of an external video game console, for example. Both of the displays also boast a camera to permit video calls. The system supports several audio and video formats. The WiFi Crosslink Streaming function allows videos to be displayed on both screens via a direct WiFi connection. The sound is delivered via Bluetooth using the two wireless headphones, included as standard. The Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment package is also available in a Plus version which offers an internal 32 GB Flash drive for saving multimedia files.

An Internet browser allows mobile internet access, and a special app lets you send and receive emails on the road. Additional apps, such as games or video call apps, can be downloaded from an online store. The internet connection can be established using an optional wireless internet connection or using the customer’s own smartphone or tablet as a WiFi hotspot. A smartphone or tablet can also be used, with the corresponding app, as a remote control for the Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment system. In the U.S. this feature is available to order on new vehicle configurations and has a MSRP of $2,590.00, and the Plus version has a MSRP of $2,890.00.

The Cayenne’s new Sport Classic design five-spoke alloy wheels including wheel arch extensions are a distinctive highlight. The wheel dimensions are 10 J x 21 ET 50 (front and rear axle) with 295/35 ZR 21 tires. These wheels can be finished in GT Silver metallic, Platinum satin, or High Gloss Black and are available at the end of May.  From early November, they will also be available painted in the exterior color of the car.

WORLDWIDE SALES - BMW - Continued growth for all brands, shows no sign of slowing.

• Deliveries total 151,952 vehicles, increase of 7.6%
• Year-to-date sales rise 7.3% to 294,112
• Sales in Europe increase 7.7% in first two months

The BMW Group achieved its best-ever February sales result with 151,952 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles delivered worldwide (prev. yr. 141,207/ +7.6%). A record number of 294,112 (prev. yr. 274,113) automobiles have been delivered to customers since the start of the year – an increase of 7.3% compared with the same period last year.

“We’ve had a good start to the year with February setting another sales record,” said Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing BMW. “I am confident that our fresh model line-up, including the brand new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and the updated BMW 1 Series we’ve just premiered at the Geneva Motor Show, will provide the momentum to keep us growing in 2015,” Robertson added.

The BMW brand enjoyed its best ever February with 131,416 BMW vehicles delivered to customers worldwide, an increase of 5.2% (prev. yr. 124,952). Year-to-date sales rose 5.7% compared with the same period last year, totalling 255,981 (prev. yr. 242,130). Demand for the BMW 2 Series is strong with a total of 7,302 vehicles delivered to customers in February. 

The 2 Series Active Tourer accounted for most of those sales with 5,360 units of the innovative compact vehicles delivered to customers worldwide in the second month of the year. The larger BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, which will be the first seven-seater in its segment available with four-wheel drive, is expected to build on the Active Tourer’s success when it comes onto the European market in June. 

The BMW 4 Series was delivered to a total of 9,636 customers in February while the BMW X4, launched in summer last year, achieved sales of 4,040. The BMW X5 continues to be a strong growth driver for the brand with sales up 46.0% on the same month last year (12,916 / prev. yr. 8,844) and the BMW X6 also saw an increase in sales, up 5.9% to a total of 2,819 (prev. yr. 2,662). Sales of BMW i vehicles totalled 2,165 in February with 1,824 BMW i3s and 341 BMW i8s delivered to customers. In 2014 – its first year on sale - the BMW i3 was the world’s third most popular electric car with around 16,000 units sold.

Following the model change last year, the MINI brand saw sales rise 27.1% to total 20,303 (prev. yr. 15,976). 2015 has seen the best start to the year in the brand’s history with a total of 37,678 MINIs delivered to customers in the first two months, an increase of 19.7% compared to the same period last year (31,486). 

The new MINI 3 door is proving a great hit with customers: 7,877 were delivered worldwide in February, up 69.8% on the same month last year, when sales were affected by the model change (prev. yr. 4,640). The MINI 5 door is also seeing strong sales, with a total of 5,088 sold in February.

Globally, the BMW Group achieved higher sales in all regions compared with February last year. Year-to-date figures are also up around the world, in line with the corporate strategy of balanced growth worldwide.

Deliveries of BMW and MINI models in Europe increased by 7.0% in February, totalling 64,685 (prev. yr. 60,435). Sales for the first two months of the year were up 7.7% (120,365 / prev. yr. 111,768). Growth was achieved in all European markets with particularly strong results in a number of countries. The German market saw registrations in February increase by 13.3% compared with the same month last year (20,660 / prev. yr. 18,229) while sales in Italy rose 8.4% to total 6,055 in the month (prev. yr. 5,588). Great Britain continues to see strong sales growth with a total of 6,341 BMW and MINIs delivered to customers (prev. yr. 5,980 / +6.0%).

BMW and MINI sales in the Americas continued their strong start to the year with sales in the region up 13.8% in February (34,698 / prev. yr. 30,490). Sales for the year-to-date are up 10.1% with a total of 62,150 vehicles delivered so far in 2015 (prev. yr. 56,467). North America was the region’s biggest growth driver: deliveries of BMW and MINI vehicles in February totalled 28,921 in the USA (prev. yr. 24,476 / +18.2%) with a similar increase seen in Canada, where 2,692 vehicles were delivered to customers (prev. yr. 2,295 / +17.3%).

Customer deliveries in Asia are also higher than the same period last year with February sales in the region 4.1% up on last year (47,154 / prev. yr. 45,292) and year-to-date sales increasing by 5.4% (101,342 / prev. yr. 96,133). BMW and MINI sales in Mainland China totalled 31,089 in February, an increase of 2.7% on the same month last year (30,281) while sales in South Korea rose 22.0% to total 4,191 ( prev. yr. 3,435).

BMW Motorrad also continued to build on its successful start to the year with a sales increase of 13.5% (9,195 / prev. yr. 8,098), making it the brand’s best ever February. A total of 15,458 BMW Motorrad vehicles were delivered to customers in the first two months of the year, an increase of 14.2% on the same period last year (13,536). This positive development is largely due to continuing strong demand for the vehicles introduced recently such as the S 1000 RR, R 1200 R and F 800 R.  

BMW Group sales in/up to February 2015 at a glance

	In February 2015	Compared with previous year	Up to/including February 2015	Compared with previous year
BMW Group Automobiles	151,952	+7.6%	294,112	+7.3%
BMW	131,416	+5.2%	255,981	+5.7%
MINI	20,303	+27.1%	37,678	+19.7%
BMW Motorrad	9,195	+13.5%	15,458	+14.2%

Time Warp 1968 Mini Van with 300 miles to go under the hammer at the Silverstone Auction.

Virtually unused for 47 years, a ‘time warp’ 1968 Austin Mini Van is set to be auctioned at Silverstone Auctions’ Practical Classics Restoration Show Sale on March 28^th, at the NEC, Birmingham.

The car, estimated at between £23,000 and £25,000, was first registered on the 14^th March 1968. It was bought new for a mere £400 by a Miss G. Crumcott from Northern Ireland so she could learn to drive. Miss Crumcott never managed to pass her driving test however, so the car was kept unused in her garage for nearly 30 years.

The car was then bought in July 1997 by a local BMC Mini dealer, Mr T. Turkington, who placed it in the Mini centre’s showroom until 2006 before selling it onto another collector in Northamptonshire. It has now been brought back onto the market, and, with so few owners, it is no surprise the car has covered a miniscule and very desirable 302 miles.

The charming classic is in remarkable unrestored original condition, right down to the seat protectors and rubber floor mats. Still retaining its original crossply Dunlop tyres and spare wheel, all of which are unused, the motorcar has been so carefully stored it has also preserved its initial exhaust and sealed Lucas battery. The car is also supplied with its original toolbox, which remains unopened; a delightful added extra. All in all, the van is in perfect running order.

Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said: “We are thrilled to be offering this virtually unused and untouched Austin Mini Van at our sale on March 28^th. This rare find is in ‘as new’ condition and is surely an alluring, promising prospect for Mini or other collectors in the market.”

Built on the longer Traveller chassis but without side windows, the Mini Van proved popular in 1960s Britain as a cheaper alternative to the car. It was classed as a commercial vehicle and as such carried no sales tax.

The Austin Mini Van joins nearly 70 other cars on offer in the sale, including a beautifully presented 2001 BMW Z8, a restored 1980 Aston Martin V8 and a 1969 Porsche 912 Restoration Project.

Nick added: “Our sale at the Practical Classics Restoration Show is the perfect place to find your next project or road ready classic car and this very special Mini is sure to attract much interest when it goes under the hammer.”

From workforce to legend, the Transporter van celebrates 65 years of growth.

	From work-horse to legend
	Sketches in a notepad are basis for its success story
	11 million T-series vehicles sold worldwide

Some retire at the age of 65 – but this one is just getting started! Production of the first Volkswagen Transporter began 65 years ago and the ‘Bulli’ is still going strong today. 

The first models were built in Wolfsburg before production started at a new facility in Hannover in 1956. This date also marks the beginning of a unique automotive love story:  today, the entire model series has attained cult status. Whether hippy or tradesman – everyone is driving Transporter.

It all began in 1947 with a pencil sketch: the Dutch car importer Ben Pon saw a simple flat-bed vehicle at the Volkswagen plant and, taking it as a basic idea, he sketched the outlines of a Transporter with Beetle DNA in his notebook.

Two years later, Volkswagen Plant Manager, Heinrich Nordhoff, presented four prototypes: two panel vans, a kombi and a small bus. Nordhoff promised that the Transporter would be as uncompromising and robust as the Beetle: ‘These vehicles won't be handled with kid gloves, rather they will be treated roughly.’

Designers used the engine and axles of the Beetle. Instead of a central tubular frame of the popular family car, the bus had a unitized body that was mounted on a ladder frame. The 1.1-litre engine produced 18 kW (24.5PS) at 3300 rpm. The bus could transport up to eight people and the two rear seat rows could be removed easily to free up load space for around 750 kg of payload.

Alfred Haesner, Head of Technical Development of Volkswagen GmbH from 1948 to 1952, said: ‘Accordingly, this type of commercial delivery vehicle can be used for all branches of business, for rush deliveries and freight, e.g. as a small bus, a special-purpose vehicle, postal vehicle, ambulance or mobile station.’

Production began on 8 March 1950, in Hall 1 of the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, and ten vehicles were manufactured per day. 

By the end of 1950, 8001 Transporters had already been built. Demand was enormous, especially since its affordable price made it an attractive option to tradesmen and retail businesses. The unique vehicle quickly became an export hit as well. Volkswagen buses could simply transport anything and everything: rubble and debris, mortar and building stones, breakfast rolls and bees wax, cigars and newspapers.

A Volkswagen bus with a camping box made its appearance in 1951 at the automobile exhibition in Berlin. The delivery van with a rear engine suddenly held the promise of an entirely different type of travel. For the first time, it travelled over the Alps. Later, it was driven to India when hippies discovered the ‘Bulli’ for themselves.

Four years after its production launch, the 100,000th Volkswagen Transporter came off the assembly line in Wolfsburg in 1954. By this point, there were 30 different models of the vehicle. 

Daily production in Wolfsburg was at 80 vehicles but it couldn’t produce more because the plant was already filled to capacity with Beetle production. It became clear that the Transporter needed its own plant.

Construction work began in early March 1955 in Hannover-Stöcken, and the plant was built from the ground up in just one year. In March 1956, the first "Made in Stöcken" Transporters come off the assembly line. This was the beginning of a future symbol of the ‘economic wonder years’. Today, a total of 11 million T-series vehicles spanning five generations have been produced worldwide.

Dr. Eckhard Scholz, Chairman of the Brand Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: ‘The production launch of the T1 represented the beginning of a long success story that has lasted right up to today. In the past, as well as the present, there is market demand for extremely reliable, versatile and individual vehicles. We deliver them in top quality and precisely tailored to every need – whether the vehicle is for trades work, a retail or service business, family or recreation.’

Production of the new generation model, the T6, launches this year. Along with the T-series, the Hannover-Stöcken plant also produces the Amarok pick up. The successful California recreational vehicle is built not far away in Limmer. Around 12,200 people are employed at the Hannover business site of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

The Poznan plant in Poland (5,700 employees) produces the Transporter and the Caddy, and another plant is being built in nearby, Wrzesnia for the new Crafter. Today, a total of around 19,500 employees work for the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand.

AUDI celebrates a double win at the 2015 CarBuyer awards.

A3 range stars claim Carbuyer top spots in 2015 awards 

• A3 Sportback wins Carbuyer Best Small Luxury Car award
• A3 Cabriolet awarded Best Convertible
• Pricing starts from £26,085 OTR for the cabriolet rising to £35,265 OTR, Sportback versions priced from £19,195 OTR to £30,525 OTR
• High performance ‘S’ version of both variants available
• Full-blown RS version of A3 Sportback available from March

Audi has secured yet more 'searched-for‘ success for its advanced A3 range in the latest Carbuyer awards. The Audi A3 Cabriolet and its versatile five-door sibling, the A3 Sportback, have been chosen as Best Small Luxury Car and Best Convertible respectively by the motoring review website, which selects the most popular reviews as its winners.

According to Carbuyer’s Editor, Stuart Milne: "No other drop-top blends so much comfort, performance and style as the A3 Cabriolet. Plus, a clever fabric roof makes it as quiet as the hatchback when you're on the move."

This automatically retracting hood allows Audi A3 Cabriolet drivers to make the most of the sunshine by retracting in just 17 seconds and at speeds of up to 31 mph. For Sport and S line versions, an upgraded sound-insulating acoustic hood ensures even greater levels of interior refinement when on the move.  

Explaining why the five-door Audi A3 also came out on top, Carbuyer cited its ability to  'demonstrate everything that makes an Audi special'  and commends the fact that it features  'a wide selection of engines that range from the very frugal to the very fast.' The motoring portal also heaped praise on the A3 Sportback for being 'practical, affordable to run and hugely desirable.'

Both models feature comprehensive equipment lists in entry-level SE form. Highlights include a retractable 5.8-inch central screen, the Audi Music Interface, Bluetooth, DAB and preparation for SD card navigation. All models also benefit from an extensive set of safety systems, including an active bonnet, adaptive brake lights which flash during an emergency stop, an electronic differential lock and a secondary brake collision assistant.

Company car drivers have the option to upgrade to  'business class' with the latest SE Technik version of the A3 Sportback, which adds SD card-based satellite navigation, a colour driver’s information system, cruise control and an acoustic rear parking system over and above SE specification. In addition, Sport and S line upgrades are available offering even more standard equipment and visual enhancements. 

Advanced TFSI and TDI engines to suit a multitude of driver preferences are available for each model, from a 1.2-litre TFSI which can return a diesel-rivalling 57.6mpg combined to the most powerful 2.0 TDI quattro with 184 PS and 380Nm of torque. The S3 Cabriolet is the fastest, most powerful convertible ever to be produced by Audi, drawing on a 2.0 TFSI engine delivering 300PS and a 0-62mph time of just 5.4 seconds. quattro all-wheel drive is fitted as standard for the ultimate in top-down driving thrills.

At the head of the five-door A3 range is the 367PS RS 3 Sportback. Its evocative powerplant is the most powerful five-cylinder in Audi series production history, endowing the super hatch with a 62mph sprint time of just 3.4 seconds and a derestricted top speed of 174mph. Ordering opens this month ahead of first deliveries in summer.