USA - The Chevy Colorado for 2017 is updated with all-new V-6 and class-exclusive eight-speed automatic.

• 2017 model updated with all-new V-6 and class-exclusive eight-speed automatic

For 2017, the Chevrolet Colorado offers an all-new V-6 engine and class-exclusive eight-speed automatic. It is the latest major update for Colorado, which entered the market for model year 2015. Chevrolet is on track to sell more than 160,000 Colorados in the first 24 months on the market, reigniting the midsize segment.

“Customers made the Colorado an overnight success and it remains one of the industry’s hottest-selling products,” said Anita Burke, Colorado chief engineer. 

“That fast success has justified our continued investment in midsize pickups, introducing new features for our customers such as the class-exclusive diesel engine, advanced technologies like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and now a class-leading V-6 and eight-speed automatic powertrain combination.”

Class-exclusive powertrain combination

 

The most significant update for the 2017 Colorado is an all-new V-6 engine and eight-speed transmission, creating a combination that’s unmatched in the midsize segment.

According to Stan Ludlow, chief engineer for the 2017 Colorado, the engine and transmission were calibrated to emphasize performance and refinement while optimizing fuel economy. 

“The Colorado is currently the most fuel-efficient pickup truck in America, with an EPA-estimated 31 mpg highway when equipped with the diesel engine. As such, for the new V-6 and eight-speed combination we focused on improving everyday driving performance. 

Drivers will immediately notice that it pulls harder when accelerating from a stop or passing on the highway; it is more confident pulling a trailer up a steep grade and it is more refined cruising at a constant highway speed.”

This second generation of Chevrolet’s double-overhead-cam engine architecture retains the same 3.6L displacement as before, with an updated suite of advanced engine technologies. 

This includes improved variable valve timing for intake and exhaust, improved direct injection and for the first time, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation), which disables two cylinders under light throttle applications. 

Horsepower and torque increase to an SAE-certified 308 hp (230 kW) at 6,800 rpm and 275 lb-ft (373 nM) at 4,000 rpm.

The engine is mated to the class-exclusive eight-speed automatic. 

The GM-developed Hydra-Matic 8L45 is roughly the same size and weight as the 6L80 six-speed automatic it replaces. However, the eight-speed automatic offers a wider 7.0 overall gear ratio spread than the 6L80 transmission’s 6.0 ratio. 

This results in a numerically higher first gear ratio, helping drivers start off more confidently with a heavy load or when trailering, and numerically lower rear axle ratios that reduce engine rpm on the highway for improved efficiency.

Extensive use of aluminum and magnesium, combined with similar packaging to the outgoing 6L80 transmission, equates to no increase in overall weight for Colorado models equipped with the new 8L45 transmission.

The 2017 model year updates, including the new V-6 and eight-speed combination, will arrive at dealerships in the fourth quarter of this year. 

Two years of sales and awards success

After two years on the market, the Colorado has proven to be a smart bet:

• Chevrolet is on track to sell more than 160,000 Colorados in the first 24 months on the market (September 2014 through August 2016)
• Today, Colorado accounts for 23 percent of the midsize segment
• Since the Colorado was introduced, the total midsize segment has nearly doubled, from 1.5 percent of total vehicle sales in 2014 to 2.4 percent of total sales in the 2016 calendar year
• Averaging 36 days to turn, Colorado remains one of the fastest-selling vehicles in the segment
• Colorado has been the most awarded midsize pickup over the past two years, including earning back-to-back Motor Trend Truck of the Year awards

MG invites seven new students to take part in it's Automotive Engineering Internship programme.

Iconic British automotive brand, MG Motor UK, has accepted seven new students onto its acclaimed Automotive Engineering Internship programme for 2016/17. Open to all undergraduates taking relevant degrees within the engineering field, the initiative demonstrates the carmaker’s ongoing commitment to developing young talent.  

The students, all from Bath or Oxford Brookes Universities, will spend the next year working at the SAIC Motor Technical Centre (SMTC), which is based at MG’s Longbridge site in Birmingham. Employing more than 250 qualified engineers, the SMTC delivers product engineering and design activity for MG Motor’s global operations, as well as providing automotive engineering services to other companies within the SAIC group.

Steve Jones, HR manager at the SMTC, said: “We’re incredibly privileged at the Longbridge site to operate as the global centre of excellence for design and engineering within the SAIC group. Manufacturing more than 5.6 million vehicles per year, our global business provides a massive opportunity for aspiring UK engineers, who are designing vehicles right here in Birmingham that are made and sold throughout the world.” 

September 2016 marks the fourth intake of engineering interns to the annual programme. Each student is appointed a mentor from within the SAIC engineering team and spends the next 12 months working within a specific automotive engineering discipline.

Commenting on the continued development at the Longbridge site, Matthew Cheyne, head of sales and marketing at MG Motor, commented: “We’re proud to be attracting this calibre of graduates to the company. It shows that the future for MG and our product line-up is strong and growing in step with our sales and dealer network.  We’re an evolving company and we need to continually look at what ideas and designs the new breed of designers and engineers can bring to the brand.”

The programme provides vital real-world engineering exposure alongside team building and classroom based training. Throughout their placement, interns will be immersed in all areas of the SMTC business, including design, advanced engineering, vehicle integration, body structure, powertrain applications, engine and chassis development.

European car sales dropped by 2,3% in July, but still is well ahead on the full year to date.

• New car registrations dropped by 2.3% in July compared to the same period last year
• Volkswagen continued to be the best-selling brand despite a reduction in overall market share
• The SUV segment continued to grow, posting an 11.9% increase

New car registrations in the 29 markets analysed by JATO Dynamics dropped by 2.3% in July, falling from 1.18 million in July 2015 to 1.16 million for the same period this year. This fall in registrations marked the end of 34 months of continuous growth, the last time European registrations fell was August 2013. 

The two fewer working days in July may have been a contributor to this result, along with the significant decline of two of the largest European car groups, PSA and VW, who recorded a 13.2% and 8.8% fall in registrations respectively.

The UK posted a slight increase of 0.1% which is an improvement on June’s figures. Of the large markets, France and Germany recorded significant drops of 9.6% and 3.9% respectively, whilst the others recorded modest increases, with Italy posting a 2.6% rise and Spain a 4.4% increase.

Volkswagen was the best-selling brand, with 136,393 units registered, accounting for 11.8% of the total market. But in comparison, in July 2015 its volume of 152,863 accounted for 12.9% of the total market. 

Despite still leading the market in terms of sales, Volkswagen recorded the highest drop of any brand in the top ten, falling by 10.8% compared to the same period last year, closely followed by Skoda and Peugeot who both recorded a 10.5% drop. 

Volkswagen’s fall in demand could be attributed to the emissions issue and anticipation ahead of the launch of the updated version of the Volkswagen Golf at the Paris Motor Show in October.

Mercedes posted the highest increase in the top ten, but this was a modest 3.7%, which saw the brand register 66,153 units in July 2016. Outside of the top ten, Dacia (+11.5%), Suzuki (+19.5%), Mini (+10.7%), Land Rover (+33%), Honda (+15.3%) and Jeep (+11.4%) recorded double-digit growth largely driven by their SUVs. 

Other strong performers were Infiniti which posted a dramatic increase of 218% registering 1,768 units, largely due to the popularity of the Q30 and QX30. Jaguar was another big improver, posting a 32.5% increase due to strong demand for its mid-size SUV the F-Pace.

The Volkswagen Golf was still the best-selling model, with 36,540 units registered in July, but its volume dropped considerably, resulting in the model’s second lowest market share since December 2012. 

By comparison, in July 2015 Volkswagen registered 46,628 models. This decline coincides with the model’s biggest rival, the new generation Opel/Vauxhall Astra becoming the fourth best-selling car in Europe, registering 20,954 units, up by 26% on the same period last year. 

The other big players all posted double digit falls, including the Ford Focus (-12.3%), Skoda Octavia (-17.9%), Peugeot 308 (-19.7%) and the Audi A3 (-25.9%). The Mercedes A-Class and the Volvo V40 were two of the C-segment models that saw an increase in sales.

In the subcompact segment it was the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa which stood out, registering a significant increase of 9.2% in contrast to its major rivals such as the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio which posted declines of 6.1%, 3.3% and 11.4% respectively. 

The Dacia Sandero was the other popular subcompact to post an increase with a dramatic 30.5% rise on the same period last year.

Felipe Munoz, Global Automotive Analyst at JATO Dynamics commented: “July marked the first decline in new car registrations in almost three years. This was largely driven by market conditions but there have been some significant drops recorded by some of the most popular models and brands.”

The SUV segment continued to grow, increasing registrations by 11.9% compared to July 2015, meaning it now accounts for 25.5% of the overall market, largely due to growth amongst the D-SUV and C-SUV groups, at the expense of the Compact, MPV and large Sedan/SW segments. 

The Nissan Qashqai kept its position as the best-selling SUV, registering 18,373 units, but this was a 6.9% drop on the same period last year. 

It was its newer rivals such as the Renault Kadjar, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage which drove the segment’s growth, posting significant increases of 127%, 586% and 24% respectively. The new generation of the Volkswagen Tiguan meant the model reversed the downward trend seen last month, posting a small 0.2% increase.

The Peugeot 2008 boosted the B-SUV segment’s registrations with a rise of 6.9%. Amongst the larger SUVs, the Volvo XC60 maintained its lead of the mid-size group despite the rise of the Mercedes GLC, beating both the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. 

The Jaguar F-Pace was the eighth best-selling D-SUV. Volvo also led in the large SUV segment, thanks to the 15% increase posted by the XC90 which surpassed the BMW X5 (-4.8%), Mercedes GLE (+78%), Audi Q7 (+5.3%) and Range Rover Sport (+31%).

MPVs continued to decline, with registrations down by 11% despite the strong performance of the Volkswagen Touran which posted the highest percentage increase of the month (+144%). Other big segment winners were the midsize Audi A4 and Skoda Superb, the compact SUV BMW X1, the B-SUVs Ford Ecosport, Suzuki Vitara and Jeep Renegade, and the midsize SUV Nissan X-Trail. 

At the other end of the spectrum, the biggest drops were recorded by the Mercedes CLS, Porsche Panamera and Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg, Citroen C5, DS 5, Nissan Pulsar, Hyundai i40 and Mitsubishi Space Star.

Felipe Munoz, Global Automotive Analyst at JATO Dynamics concluded: “Despite July’s slightly disappointing results, the full year figures are unlikely to be impacted too severely. The lower growth rates we are currently seeing are likely to moderate the larger growth rates we have seen in some of the biggest markets over the past three years”. 

Glyn Hopkins expands further with Renault and Dacia as more new models come on stream.

• Leading automotive group increases its representation of the Renault and Dacia brands
• Glyn Hopkin now has additional Renault and Dacia dealerships in Colchester and St Albans
• Newly-developed Colchester dealership represents a £1.2 million investment
• Additional dealerships strengthen the rapidly expanding Renault and Dacia dealer network
• Openings support the goals of Groupe Renault UK’s GO5+ strategy

Following the phenomenal success of its first Renault and Dacia franchise, Glyn Hopkin has increased its investment in the Groupe Renault franchise with the completion of a state-of-the-art dealership in Colchester and the opening of a further site in St Albans.

The development comes just months after Glyn Hopkin joined the award-winning Renault franchise with the establishment of its inaugural Renault and Dacia dealership in Chelmsford. 

The opening of two extra dealerships by one of the South East’s biggest and most successful automotive retail groups adds even more strength to the rapidly-expanding Renault dealer network.

Glyn Hopkin has invested £1.2 million into its stunning new Colchester dealership, which is located on Wimpole Road. The group has completely remodelled the near one-acre site over a six-month period to create what is one of the most impressive car dealerships in the region. 

The extensive work has resulted in a spacious 12-car showroom, which features the latest Renault Store showroom design to offer visitors an unprecedented car buying experience through engaging displays and iPad-equipped discovery zones, a standalone seven-bay workshop with dedicated MOT test lane, and an exterior that boasts electric vehicle charging points and enough room to display fifty Approved Used Renault and Dacia vehicles.

Over twenty jobs have been created through the opening of Glyn Hopkin Renault and Dacia Colchester with the new positions spanning all areas of the business.

Prior to the opening of the all-new dealership, Glyn Hopkin represented Renault and Dacia in Colchester from a temporary facility, which it opened earlier in the year. 

The group quickly followed this with its third Renault and Dacia dealership in St Albans, which is currently operating from an interim facilityin Lyon Way while Glyn Hopkin considers its options onsite andon othersuitable sites in the region for another state-of-the-art dealership.

Glyn Hopkin’s additional investment in Groupe Renault franchises comes at a time when Renault is enjoying unprecedented growth in the UK – its new car and LCV sales far out performing the increase in their respective markets – and following its franchise being hailed as the Franchise of the Year 2016 by Automotive Management magazine. 

With an increasing number of partners joining the Renault dealer network or expanding their representation with new sites, the growth is making a significant contribution to Groupe Renault UK achieving the ambitious goals set out in its GO5+ strategy, which include sustainable growth and enhancing brand perception. 

The expertise of the dealer network has also been officially recognised with Renault and Dacia recently being voted number one and two respectively in the Auto Express Driver Power Satisfaction Survey 2016 for Dealer Aftersales Service Satisfaction.

Fraser Cohen, Managing Director, Glyn Hopkin, said: “Our Chelmsford dealership has far exceeded our expectations and targets, so from that respect it made sense to mirror this success with other sites. 

As a group, we always look to represent our brands at a multitude of locations and opening Colchester and St Albans is a natural progression for us, especially as these are areas where Glyn Hopkin already has a significant presence geographically and our expertise is well recognisedand established.

“Having Renault and Dacia in our portfolio is a great boost to our growth aspirations as a group and they will play a significant role in helping us to achieve our short term goal of reaching a £500 million turnover, especially as the Renault range is now stronger than ever following last year’s launch of the award-winning Kadjar, the recent arrival of the All-New Mégane and the launch of the eagerly-awaited All-New Scénic and All-New Grand Scénic later in the year. 

Having Dacia is a great asset, as it allows us to target even more customers. 

The brand’s great value means it offers us another option when it comes to serving customers who approach us for a second-hand vehicle on the belief that a new car is out of their reach.”

Cohen continued: “Renault is an excellent partner for us and all the way through our relationship they have had a focus on getting the job done. Coupled with the brand’s expanding model range, especially in the family car segment, the work it has put into developing its franchise has made it a very attractive proposition. 

The Renault Store showroom design has been particularly well received by our customers, offering them something that isn’t normally found when visiting car showrooms and providing a fresh, open and contemporary environment in which it is easy to view the vehicles on display.”

Nick Tame, Sales Director, Groupe Renault UK, said: “To have a well respected automotive group like Glyn Hopkin reaffirm its confidence in our brands with such a significant investment is a great illustration of how attractive our franchise is. 

We are exceptionally pleased that the performance of Glyn Hopkin’s initial Renault and Dacia dealership has gone way beyond what even they, as a highly experienced automotive group, thought would be possible in such a short amount of time.

“Having first-class dealership partners is essential to achieving our GO5+ strategy goals and with our focus on quality and customer satisfaction being greater than it’s ever been, with Glyn Hopkin we know that customers will receive the very best service.”

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang heads to Beaulieu for the school holidays to give kids a chance to pose with and drive in this famous car.

A stunning reconstruction of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one of the star attractions at Beaulieu during this summer’s school holidays, being driven around the picturesque grounds of the National Motor Museum and posing for visitors’ photos.

Visitors to the Beaulieu attraction can spot this extraordinary vehicle, which will be acting as a photo opportunity. This reconstruction of one of the most memorable film cars is certainly a stylish and exciting backdrop for family photos and visitors’ snaps.

It joins Beaulieu’s range of special summer activities which will be taking place until 4^th September. Watch falconry demonstrations in the Cloister of the 13^th century Beaulieu Abbey and take guided walks with Beaulieu’s living history monks, while veteran and vintage vehicles are driven around the grounds by chauffeurs in period costume.

Spot the rider of the Penny Farthing, then enjoy singing and music in the Lower Drawing Room of Palace House, before enjoying summer fun and games on the lawns outside. Discover Beaulieu’s connection to Shakespeare with performances by Shakespearean courtiers, while families can follow the new Shakespeare-themed summer trail.

The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang reconstruction was built by an ardent fan of the classic film and uses some authentic parts from one of the Chittys that was used for filming.

Several Chittys were built for filming, including one in racing guise which was used for the motorsport sequence in the film’s opening credits. As part of the story, this car was crashed and burst into flames.

Some authentic parts from the wrecked car were used to build the Chitty reconstruction, including three body panels, part of the elegant radiator cowling, one of the headlamps, wheels and leather straps. The boat builder who created the original wooden ‘boat tail’ bodies has also made a new version for this Chitty reconstruction and a V6 engine has been installed to give this stunning machine power.

The car made its eye-catching Beaulieu debut at this year’s Beaulieu Village Fete, when it stylishly delivered Lord Montagu, Eastenders actor Stefan Booth and his son Benjamin for the celebrity opening and ribbon cutting on the lawns of Palace House.

A great value ticket to Beaulieu includes entrance to all of the attraction. Don’t miss the National Motor Museum’s new Driving Change display, which explores motoring innovations, technology and safety throughout history and makes motoring predictions for the future.

Visit Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey and stroll around the beautifully kept gardens and grounds. At the Secret Army Exhibition learn about the training of special agents at Beaulieu during World War II.

In the World of Top Gear, see some of the machines built for the challenges on the TV motoring show. In On Screen Cars see TV and film favourites including the flying Ford Anglia from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Mr Bean’s lime green Mini and Wallace and Gromit’s Anti-Pesto Van.

The Nissan LEAF 30 kWh took on Europe’s top six rural and coastal drives, From Spain to Scotland.

• The Nissan LEAF 30 kWh took on Europe’s top six rural and coastal drives
• Nissan LEAF allows drivers to go off-grid and explore Europe, free from range anxiety, with 155 miles (250km) of range on a single charge*

The 100 percent electric Nissan LEAF has taken to the roads of Europe for an all-electric Grand Tour, travelling across Europe’s most breath-taking rural and coastal driving routes.

The epic journey saw the Nissan LEAF take on six of the most beautiful drives in Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Scotland and France; including Italy’s iconic Mount Etna and historic cities, such as Granada, Spain, and Marseille, France.

The new LEAF 30 kWh journeyed over 400 miles (650km) on an adventure to visit Europe’s most spectacular destinations, showcasing its low running costs of just £2.50 (€3) per 62 miles (100 km).

Across Europe, 54 percent of drivers would prefer to travel by car rather than by any other form of transport, but with many concerned about the cost of fuel, Nissan has proven itself to be the ultimate travel companion.

With the LEAF’s 30 kWh battery now offering 155 miles (250 km) in driving range* and as many as 2,800 quick chargers installed across Europe, driving a zero-emission car is more practical and enjoyable than ever before, giving EV drivers total peace of mind to enjoy longer cross country drives.

Gareth Dunsmore, Director of Electric Vehicles at Nissan Europe, said: “The Nissan LEAF is much more than just a city car and is an ideal zero-emission solution. With five seats and 370 litres standard luggage capacity, the Nissan LEAF 30 kWh is perfect for those long family getaways this summer. LEAF’s low running costs and quiet drivetrain make family holidays cheaper and more peaceful than ever before.

“What’s more, the Grand Tour demonstrates Nissan’s commitment to our vision for intelligent mobility, showing how innovative technologies are helping to integrate EVs into modern family life.”

Nissan pioneered the EV movement with the introduction of the world’s first mass-market EV, the Nissan LEAF, in 2010. Since then it has gone on to sell over 228,000LEAFs globally, with more than 59,000 of these gracing the roads of Europe, making it the world’s best ever selling electric vehicle.

Dacia turns up the heat with some tempting offers for the 66 Plate Change next month.

• Enhanced offers across Dacia’s multiple award-winning line-up
• Free upgrade to five-year/60,000 mile warranty with all offers
• Deposit contributions increased to £750 on Sandero Stepway and £650 on Sandero
• £750 deposit contribution on Duster and £500 deposit contribution on Logan MCV
• Seven-year/100,000 mile warranty upgrade now only £395

Dacia is giving car buyers even more of a reason to choose its award-winning range with a host of enhanced customer offers – just in time for the new ‘66’-registration.

With its latest finance offers, the ‘shockingly affordable’ brand is increasing its deposit contributions on its affordable Dacia Dimensions finance scheme to £650 and £750 on the Sandero and Sandero Stepway respectively. The Logan MCV and the Duster also continue to be available with customer deposit contributions – £500 for the versatile estate car and £750 for the rugged Duster SUV.

The Dacia Dimensions PCP offers are available on all trim levels (excluding Access) and continue the ‘no-nonsense’ brand’s approach to offering its customers outstanding value.

In addition, customers who take advantage of the Dacia Dimensions PCP offers also enjoy the reassurance of five years’ care-free motoring with a complimentary five-year/60,000 mile warranty on their new Dacia – a free upgrade from three years/60,000 miles, worth £395 when bought separately.

Winner of the What Car? ‘Best Small Car for less than £12,000’ for four consecutive years, and the lowest priced new car on sale today, the popular Sandero five-door hatchback can be purchased through a four-year PCP package from £94 per month with a deposit of £577¹. 

This offer applies to the 1.2 Ambiance version, which as standard includes Bluetooth^™ and USB connectivity, electric front windows, remote central locking, daytime running lights and ESC/ASR (Electronic Stability Control & Traction Control).

Stylish and well-equipped, the five-door Sandero Stepway crossover is available from £104 per month after a customer deposit of £1,451. Also a four-year PCP, this particular offer is available on the Ambiance TCe 90 version that boasts such features as integrated satellite-navigation, MP3-compatible CD player with Bluetooth^™connectivity, electric windows, parking sensors and air conditioning.

The UK’s most affordable new estate car and winner of the Family Car category in the Auto Express Driver Power 2016 Awards, the Logan MCV can be owned through a four-year PCP offer from £104 per month with a deposit of £1,210. This specific offer is available on the 1.2 Ambiance Logan MCV, the versatile estate car combining a useful boot space of 573 litres with equipment that includes remote central locking, electric front windows, Bluetooth^™ and USB connectivity.

Also on a four-year PCP offer, the spacious and comfortable Duster SUV is available from £154 per month with a deposit of £853. This Duster offer is on the Ambiance SCe version, which is powered by a 1.6 115 bhp engine, and as standard includes ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with ASR (Traction Control), 16-inch wheels, height adjustable driver’s seat, front fog lights, 4x20w DAB/FM/AM tuner with steering column-mounted fingertip controls, remote central locking, electric front windows, Bluetooth^™ and USB connectivity.

For even more peace of mind and representing even greater value, customers can upgrade from the complimentary five-year/60,000 mile warranty to a seven-year/100,000 mile warranty for a one-off fee of just £395 RRP – a saving of £455 over the usual price².

Since Dacia launched in the UK in 2013, the brand has won multiple awards. Notably, it was rated 4^th best car manufacturer for ownership satisfaction in the 2016 Which? Car Guide and the Auto Express Driver Power ownership survey has placed Dacia in its top five best manufacturers for three consecutive years. Dacia was also voted number two in the 2016 Auto Express Driver Power Dealer Aftersales Satisfaction survey, while the Dacia Sandero has been awarded the title of “Best Small Car under £12,000” by What Car? for four consecutive years (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013). The Dacia Duster was also named TopGear magazine’s “Bargain of the Year 2012” at launch.