New Ssangyong dealership opens in Leicester, to see the latest and best ever range of off roaders and MPV's

• Unity Leicester joins the SsangYong network
• Six model range all backed by a 5 year limitless mileage warranty

The SsangYong range of 4x4s and SUVs is now available in Leicester, following the appointment of Unity Leicester.

The dealership will operate the SsangYong franchise from its premises at 459 Aylestone Road, Leicester LE2 8TB.

Welcoming the company to the network, Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK said: “We and our dealers are focused on giving customers great service, so whether buying a new or used SsangYong, choosing accessories or helping to maintain their car in the years ahead, we are confident customers will appreciate the car, their dealer and the brand.”

Commented Elliott Cartwright, dealer principal of Unity, “We are delighted to have been appointed to represent SsangYong and greatly look forward to playing our part in its continuing success.  SsangYong has a great range, and with very competitive pricing and a 5 year limitless mileage warranty on every car, we believe it will do extremely well in our area.”

SsangYong UK model line-up

Tivoli - Strong on style, this contemporary all new B-segment SUV offers a comprehensive specification and sector-leading prices from just £12,950.

There are three trim levels - SE, EX, ELX, the choice of Euro 6 1.6 litre petrol or diesel engines, 6 speed manual, 6 speed Aisin automatic transmission, front wheel drive or intelligent 4x4.

A high level of safety is assured with seven airbags across the range, a wide choice of colours and stylish interior trims, plus the My Tivoli personalisation programme.  And it’s backed by a class leading 5 year limitless mileage warranty.

The Tivoli SE is available with a choice of a 1.6 litre petrol or diesel engine with manual transmission.  Finished in a smart grey cloth trim, it includes 16” alloy wheels, cruise control, a stop/go system (petrol), Smart steering (normal, comfort and sport modes), an RDS/Bluetooth radio and seven airbags.

The EX adds the option of automatic transmission on the petrol powered car, grey or beige leather upholstery, 18” alloy Spiral wheels, dual zone climate control, 7” touch screen, smart audio system with rear view camera, heated front seats, front fog lights and a luggage load cover.

Step up to the top of the range ELX, and you get the full choice of petrol, diesel, manual and automatic transmission, front wheel drive or 4x4.  It also features Diamond cut alloy wheels, a smart instrument cluster, smart keyless starting, front & rear parking sensors, privacy glass, rear spoiler, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, full TomTom navigation system with 7” touch screen, rear view camera, and the option of the Styling pack and Red leather pack via the My Tivoli personalisation programme.

Tivoli XLV - Sharing the same platform and 2,600mm wheelbase as the Tivoli, the XLV features a lengthened body from behind the C pillar, an increase of 238mm over the standard car, expanding the load capacity to a huge 720 cubic litres of space.  Meanwhile, the styling cues that distinguish Tivoli are retained, including its harmoniously fused SUV body design, sports coupé look and floating roofline.

Designed to offer a multi-role, multi-function solution to a wide range of customers, Tivoli XLV provides just the versatility needed to meet individual lifestyles: family car for lugging baby buggies and cots for small children, bikes and golf clubs for the sports-minded, and materials or business equipment during the working week.

Tivoli XLV is offered with a Euro 6 compliant 1.6 litre diesel engine, and matched with the option of a 6-speed manual transmission or 6-speed Aisin automatic, two-wheel drive or 4x4.

Prices start from just £18,750 for the Tivoli XLV 1.6 diesel manual 2WD - that’s just £1,000 more than for the equivalent Tivoli ELX - £19,750 with automatic transmission, £20,000 for the Tivoli XLV 1.6 diesel manual 4x4, and £21,000 for the 4x4 with automatic.

Korando - With prices starting from just £16,250 and backed by SsangYong’s comprehensive warranty, the Korando sets a new benchmark of affordability in the rapidly growing compact crossover segment.  With SsangYong’s hallmark competitive pricing and comprehensive specification, the new Korando is pitched to significantly undercut its competitors.

Designed for Europe in Italy by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Ital Design, the SsangYong Korando offers a highly contemporary look.

Powered by a 2.2 litre Euro 6 diesel engine delivering excellent fuel economy and impressive 139g/km CO₂ emissions, the new 178ps diesel engine and torque of 400Nm makes Korando one of the most powerful in its class.  With the choice of two wheel drive or four wheel drive and a two tonne towing capacity, Korando offers the practicality of a 4x4/SUV, the accessibility of a family hatchback, and the capability to go from muddy campsite to urban school run.

There are three models available, with the option of 6-speed manual and 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission.

Rexton - The Rexton is SsangYong’s flagship sport utility vehicle (SUV), and is greatly enhanced with the addition of an upgraded Euro 6 compliant powertrain.

In addition to the new 2.2 litre Euro 6 diesel engine, Rexton also gets the choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or new Mercedes-Benz 7-speed automatic.

Built on a steel ladder chassis and with a 3 tonne towing capacity, the SsangYong Rexton is a serious off-roader and tow-car, yet with all the equipment and creature comforts expected of an urban cruiser.

Noted for being extremely capable off-road, the Rexton uses a body on frame construction for maximum strength. It features double wishbone and coil spring suspension to the front, and a five link rigid axle with coil springs at the rear, while the EX automatic and ELX feature multi-link rear suspension for an even more comfortable ride.

With either the 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission, the driver can select low range when going off road which splits the torque equally between the front and rear axles to provide all round traction, and ensures optimum grip across the most challenging terrain.

Available with either five or seven seats, the Rexton range is comprehensively equipped with the range topping ELX featuring a luxurious beige/grey leather interior, new multi-function leather covered steering wheel, distinctive 18” Diamond cut alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors, auto-dipping rear view mirror, heated rear seats and Sat Nav.

With prices starting from only £23,500, the Rexton 2.2 has an almost unrivalled position in the 4x4 sector.

Musso pick-up - With its one-tonne payload, the Musso brings a new level of refinement to the market place, blending the suspension, engine and cabin finesse of a passenger car, the silhouette, space and seating for five that’s typical of a double cab, and the rugged workmanlike ability of a commercial pick-up.

This new car will appeal to those who need a working vehicle, the practicality of 4 wheel drive, the towing capability to haul up to 3 tonnes yet also the appointments of a family car.  Whether towing a work trailer or horsebox, ferrying the crew to site or the children to school, Musso will meet a range of different demands.

Priced keenly from just £15,995 (ex VAT) the car is comprehensively equipped so you not only get a lot of vehicle for the money, but also a 5 year limitless mileage warranty.

There are two models to choose from.  The SE is extremely well appointed and comes equipped with silver finish 18” alloy wheels, hard wearing ‘leather look’ TPU seat upholstery, air conditioning, leather covered steering wheel, remote central locking and CD & RDS radio with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity.  The EX features the luxury touch of leather upholstery with heated front seats, powered driver’s seat, 7” touchscreen RDS radio with iPod & Bluetooth connectivity, reversing camera, heated, electrically adjustable power folding door mirrors and rear parking sensors.  6 speed automatic transmission with cruise control is also available as an option.  All models feature speed sensitive steering, and there’s a choice of tops available.

Musso is powered by SsangYong’s latest e-XDi diesel engine.  This 2.2 litre engine provides maximum power of 178ps and peak torque of 400Nm delivered between 1,400rpm and 2,800rpm providing ample performance both on and off road, whatever the task.

And unlike other pick-ups where the word ‘truck’ belies their more dated mechanical origins by utilising leaf springs, the SsangYong Musso features a live rear axle supported by sophisticated five link suspension with coil springs to give a comfortable, car like ride.

Turismo - Offering family and business users a car to transport seven adults in comfort together with their luggage, the SsangYong Turismo is almost without rival.

At over 5 metres long and with a 3 metre wheelbase, the car is larger than a standard sized MPV people carrier, and is now further enhanced with the addition of an upgraded 2.2 litre Euro 6 diesel engine.  The Turismo also now offers the choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or new Mercedes-Benz 7-speed automatic, with prices starting at just £19,250.

Thanks to its 3,000mm wheelbase, the car provides a huge interior space where seven adults can travel in supreme comfort with their luggage loaded in the back, without having to compromise on passenger accommodation.  There are three rows of seats as well as a large load space which can be further increased by removing the third row completely. This gives a massive load carrying capability of between 875 litres with seven adults seated, through to two adults and 3,146 litres of load space.

While rear wheel drive features on the SE and EX, the top of the range ELX includes selectable 4x4 with low ratio as standard.  This makes the Turismo ELX a car you can rely on, no matter what the winter throws at you, and is especially safe and practical whether towing a caravan, horsebox or boat trailer, or when driving on snow and ice.  As with other Turismo models the ELX has an impressive 2 tonne towing capability.

The new Turismo utilises double wishbone front suspension and rear independent multi-link suspension for executive saloon style ride quality.  This set-up offers a quiet and comfortable driving environment with firm body control, a flat ride and optimum stability regardless of the road conditions.

The 90 Series of volvo models are having a big update in safety, powertrain and connectivity to make them even better.

Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has announced several important updates to its 90 series cars, delivering new safety, powertrain and connectivity options.

The Swedish car maker's smartphone integration offer, which already includes Apple CarPlay, will now come with Android Auto functionality in Volvo's large driver interface.

"Volvo Cars is the only car maker with a split-screen interface that allows you to use both your smartphone functionality and your in-car features without changing views. This is primarily a safety-related feature, designed to make our interface the easiest to use on the market.

In the same way, our Over-The-Air update capability means that you will always have the latest map updates to hand," said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Car Group.

Delivering seamless smartphone integration that covers mainstream smartphone operating systems, Volvo's 90 series cars will also now feature a clever Over-The-Air navigation system update, which ensures that the car always has the latest maps on board.

Safety

For the Swedish and Norwegian markets, Volvo Cars has also applied its safety thinking to the connected car, delivering two new connected safety systems that will make their debut in the S90, V90 and XC90: Slippery Road Alert and Hazard Light Alert, which use the cloud to share safety-critical data between cars.

"Today's Volvos contain many safety sensors. We believe that sharing safety-related information – whether around conditions or hazards on the road ahead – is a thoughtful and useful way to use the information the car is already gathering," added Dr Peter Mertens. "With Connected Safety, Volvo Cars is helping to define a completely new type of road safety system."

Volvo Cars' Scalable Product Architecture, upon which the 90 series and coming 60 series models will be built, means that new safety systems can be added across the range of cars built on the platform with little or no delay.

Slippery Road Alert increases the driver's awareness of both current road conditions and those on the road ahead, by anonymously collecting road surface information from cars farther ahead on the road and warning drivers approaching a slippery section of road in advance.

Hazard Light Alert forewarns drivers of vehicles that have activated their hazard warning lights on the road ahead, providing the driver with enough time to slow down. This is particularly useful on blind corners and over the crest of hills in the road. These two new connected safety systems will go live in Sweden and Norway initially, with a planned roll-out to other markets.

Powertrain updates

In addition to delivering updated connectivity and safety, Volvo Cars has also added several new Drive-E powertrain variants, delivering an attractive balance of fuel economy and driveability. The D3 four-cylinder diesel engine, coupled to a new six-speed manual transmission, will deliver fuel economy of 4.3 l/100 km in the S90 with CO₂ emissions down to 114 g/km. A new six-speed automatic transmission coupled to the D3 will deliver 114 g/km of CO₂ and 4.3 l/100 km. The D3 will also now be available with All-Wheel Drive.

There are no plans to offer the D3 in UK versions of the 90 series cars.

Design

A new exterior colour, Maple Brown, has been introduced to the S90 and V90 as part of this 90 series model update.

The updated models will go into production in mid-November.

The British Built Honda Civic Type R has been shortlisted for the What Car ? Readers Award 2016.

• Honda’s hot hatch up for award for most eagerly anticipated car launch of 2017
• Reader award nomination good indicator of successful launch
• Made in Swindon, the new Civic Type R is British built and exported world wide

The British-built Honda Civic Type R has been shortlisted for the coveted What Car? reader award and is among the most eagerly anticipated car launches of 2017.

Made in Swindon and expected in showrooms in the latter half of 2017, the next generation Civic Type R comes hot on the heels of the current car, which was launched in summer 2015.  Debuted as a prototype at the Paris Motor Show back in September, the mass production version is expected to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year.

With over 10,000 readers expected to vote on a list of 2017 car launches compiled by the experts at What Car?, the competition is fierce as the award is a valuable indication of sentiment towards cars being brought to market in the next year.

Honda last won the award in 2015 when the HR-V claimed a massive 25% of the 10,000 votes, and came a close second in 2016 with the NSX.  

To vote in the awards, head to www.wcreaderaward.com and click on the Civic Type R.

Philip Crossman, managing director of Honda UK, commented: “The next generation Civic Type R will be the fastest and most extreme version of the Civic to wear the famed red badge in Honda’s history.  Kicking off the year with a win for this car at the most prestigious automotive award ceremony would be a fantastic achievement.  We are incredibly keen to win this award and are asking all Honda fans, customers and lovers of the Type R to get voting!”  

Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster available from £110,145 topping out at £143,245 for the GT R model.

• Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster available from £110,145
• Range-topping Mercedes-AMG GT R costs £143,245

The new Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster is now on sale, priced from £110,145. The AMG GT C Roadster starts at £139,445, while the AMG GT R is available from £143,245.

The GT range features a 4.0-litre biturbo V8 engine; in the GT Roadster this generates 476 hp, while the GT C Roadster adds an additional 81 hp (557 hp). 

The GT Roadster can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 4.0 seconds, while in the GT C Roadster it takes just 3.7 seconds. The GT Roadster emits 219 g/km of CO₂ and delivers up to 30.1 mpg on the combined cycle, meanwhile the GT C Roadster emits 259 g/km and can achieve 24.8 mpg.

Both roadsters come with a three-layer fabric roof available in one of three colours (black, beige or dark red) at no extra cost. The roof opens or closes electrically in around eleven seconds, and can be operated at speeds of up to 31 mph.

The GT Roadster comes as standard with 19-inch alloy wheels; AMG Panamericana grille; wind deflector; AMG performance exhaust system; heated AMG sports seats with Airscarf; and black Nappa leather upholstery.

The GT C Roadster has 19/20-inch alloy wheels (front/back); Burmester surround sound; Parktronic with reversing camera; AMG sports seats with Airscarf; Keyless-Go package; Active Air Control system (flaps in the lower front bumper adjust according to the vehicle speed – thus increasing high-speed stability and reducing drag); AMG Panamericana grille; AMG performance steering wheel finished in Nappa leather and Dinamica microfibre; and red brake calipers with ‘AMG’ lettering.

The Premium equipment line costs £4,195 (standard on GT C Roadster), and includes Keyless-Go package; Mirror package; door sill panels in brushed stainless steel with ‘AMG’ lettering; Burmester surround sound system; Parktronic with reversing camera.

The new Mercedes-AMG GT R

At the top of the GT range, the AMG GT R Coupé generates 585 hp and 700 Nm and can travel from 0 to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds. It emits 259 g/km of CO₂ and delivers a combined fuel economy of 24.8 mpg.

The GT R comes as standard with AMG sports bucket seats; carbon fibre roof; AMG Panamericana grille; AMG GT R bodystyling; yellow brake calipers; AMG performance exhaust system; static rear aerofoil; AMG sports bucket seats; 19/20-inch alloy wheels (front/back); Parktronic, AMG Interior Night package (including: black door sills; steering wheel gear shift panels in black; black inserts below head restraints; black strut in the luggage compartment); sports tyres; and AMG performance steering wheel in black Dinamica microfibre.

The Premium package is also available on the AMG GT R – for £4,195 – with the addition of heated seats.

The AMG Track package costs £1,685 and adds four point seat belt harnesses; a fire extinguisher; and a roll cage. Carbon ceramic brakes can be added for £5,995.

For £595, customers can add the Lane Tracking package which includes Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist. Alternatively, for £1,695, the Driving Assistance package adds Distronic Plus and the Pre-Safe system – in addition to the contents of the Lane Tracking package.

The AMG green hell magno paint – as seen from the car’s launch – is a £7,500 option. Yellow seat belts are also optionally available for £395.

The AMG Carbon Fibre package costs £3,895 and adds exterior styling details with a carbon fibre finish. The AMG Matt Black Carbon Fibre Trim package costs £2,995 and adds Carbon Fibre,  detailing to the interior trim.

Pricing for the Mercedes-AMG GT range:

Model                                                  OTR price

Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé                     £98,195

Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster                 £110,145

Mercedes-AMG GT S Coupe                  £111,495

Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster              £139,445

Mercedes-AMG GT R Coupé                  £143,245

Lap Record broken at Silverstone, with the new Alfa Romeo Giulia, with totally blocked out windows.

• To celebrate arrival of the Alfa Romeo Giulia in UK dealerships the manufacturer set a lap record at Silverstone in the flagship Quadrifoglio – driven ‘blindfolded’
• Attempt utilised on-board technology and driver focused design
• Feat marks 65 years since Alfa Romeo driver and Italian F1 World Champion Nino Farina set the fastest lap at the circuit during the British Grand Prix
• Fastest blindfolded lap recorded: 1:44.3secs
• Car reached speeds in excess of 100mph despite windows completely covered by black vinyl
• Starting price for the Alfa Romeo Giulia range starts at £29,180 OTR and is available to test drive in UK dealerships

To celebrate the arrival of the Alfa Romeo Giulia in UK dealerships, the Italian manufacturer has achieved a world first by setting a lap record of the famed Silverstone circuit with an epic twist – the windows of the Quadrifoglio were completely blacked out. 

Marking 65 years from Italian F1 World Champion Nino Farina registering a lap record at Silverstone while driving the legendary Alfa Romeo 159 which was adorned with the iconic Quadrifoglio badge, the 2016 range-topping Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio can now lay claim to another record-breaking accomplishment completing the lap on the National Circuit in 1:44.3secs, matching the 1:44secs set by Farina in 1951.

Despite the car windows being covered entirely in a black vinyl, the hotly-anticipated sports saloon, powered by an all-new aluminium 510hp, 600Nm Bi-Turbo V6 petrol engine, navigated the seven-turn, 1.64-mile course and reached speeds of more than 100mph.

Clearly a challenge of this magnitude would require rigorous preparation. With the Quadrifoglio driven by Ed Morris – the youngest ever British driver to compete at Le Mans 24 hour – and David Brise directing from a second Quadrifoglio behind, the drivers spent two days getting to grips with the challenge, first practising on the smaller Stowe Circuit, before moving onto the iconic National Circuit.

To make this achievement possible required more than just driver determination and memory power, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is packed full of high-performance technologies that allowed the driver to be truly at one with the car.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is equipped with the Alfa Chassis Domain Control (CDC) system, which is a sector first, distributing the power evenly through the Torque Vectoring & Active Suspension systems to ensure maximum drive through the rear wheels. The “brain” is dedicated to vehicle dynamics – combined with the front Active Aero Splitter and rear air diffuser which helped keep the rear-wheel drive Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio ‘glued’ to the track, while the on-board Alfa Connect infotainment system allowed the driver to stay in touch with the support team.

In addition, and working almost as a sixth sense for the driver, the active safety systems such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB) with pedestrian recognition and Lane Departure Warning (LDW), allowed the driver to have complete confidence in the task at hand.

“I’ve driven hundreds of cars but never one with all the windows blacked out,” said professional driver Morris. “As a racing driver it’s in your nature to push yourself and the car to its limits and knowing the Alfa Romeo Giulia is packed with so many high-performance technologies really allowed us to have complete trust in it and focus on setting a record.”

The Alfa Romeo Giulia range is now available to test drive at dealerships throughout the UK, with a starting price of £29,180 OTR, including the record breaking Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio priced at £59,000 OTR.

USA - Former Major League Baseball All-Star CJ Wilson has taken on the BAC Dealership in Arizona and North Texas.

Former Major League Baseball All-Star CJ Wilson has announced a multi-level dealership agreement with British car manufacturer Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) and CJ Wilson Racing.

The partnership will see CJ Wilson Racing and Entertainment become the exclusive dealership and service facility for BAC’s Mono supercar in the Arizona and North Texas markets. 

Wilson has been a long-time fan of the 2.5-litre, four-cylinder British single-seater supercar and is delighted to promote this highly acclaimed design in the USA.

“Having spent a significant amount of time with the BAC Mono over the last couple of years, I have really fallen in love with the brand. 

Whether a specialist car for the serious track-day enthusiast, or the ultimate road car, it really creates a feeling unrivalled by any other vehicle, regardless of price,” explained Wilson.

The CJ Wilson Racing founder added that he’s looking forward to building the brand further in the USA: “It’s awesome for CJWR to be able to partner with BAC; the agreement means we can distribute and maintain these amazing cars over two markets in Austin, Texas and Scottsdale, Arizona. Having service locations in each of these markets will allow Mono customers to get together and do what all enthusiasts want to do, namely share their experiences with people of a similar mindset.

“Being able to do group track days, group drives and group events is what we are all about as we begin to foster a 'Mono Culture' in the United States. We are looking forward to developing tours, extended drives, and track day events for our customers and those who want to learn more about the marque.” 

Mark Rayner, BAC USA President said: "We're delighted to enter into this dealership agreement with CJ and CJ Wilson Racing. This partnership provides a solid base from which to deliver the BAC Mono to the North American market. The teams in Scottsdale and Austin are dynamic, brand aware and the right fit for BAC.

“CJ Wilson and his team will work with BAC to elevate a BAC Mono owners' package that creates a one-of-a-kind experience. As we grow our dealership network, this partnership will define our strategy for providing a best-in-class customer service and ownership experience."

Neill Briggs, BAC Co-Founder and Director of Product Development, added: “The BAC Mono is a supercar designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, and it’s of vital importance for BAC to partner with dealers who fully understand the ethos of the Mono. CJ Wilson shares our passion for cars, and with his attention to detail and emphasis on exceptional customer care, we can be confident the BAC brand and Mono supercar will be accurately demonstrated to potential clients. We are delighted to announce this partnership and I look forward to a successful future”.