Audi A6 Avant Review

The new Audi A6 Avant is the estate version of the latest A6. The same size as its predecessor, the Avant is more spacious thanks to a longer wheelbase and lighter due to more aluminium on the bodywork. It also comes with more standard kit.

When out for a test drive around Chingford, Audi’s A6 Avant is agile and manoeuvrable with good composure. Out on the motorway, it’s grippy and smooth, if a little noisy at higher speeds. If you want the optional air suspension, it’s available on S and SE line models and allows you to adjust the ride height and firmness to suit different road conditions.

There’s also a range of engines to choose from, including a 2.0-litre diesel with an average of 56.5mpg, a 3.0-litre diesel available in front-wheel drive or Quattro, and a 3.0-litre petrol.

Inside, the cabin is spacious and sophisticated, with plenty of head- and legroom for four adults and a superb finish. Dual-zone climate control and sat-nav are standard features, so you know you’re somewhere special every time you go out for a drive.

Rivals include the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Estate.

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Jaguar XKR-S video

First Evoque delivered

The much anticipated and talked about new Range Rover Evoque will be available at Land Rover dealerships from this week. Even before first deliveries have commenced the Evoque is being hailed as a huge success, with over 20,000 pre orders already placed globally. Over 6,000 orders for the Evoque have been placed in the UK alone.

Zara Phillips, a Land Rover Ambassador was the first person in the UK to receive her keys to her new Evoque. Zara was competing in the land Rover-sponsored Burghley Horse Trials, so it was fitting that her new car was handed over to her then. She drove the Evoque home from the show ground in Burghley.

Zara's Range Rover Evoque is a 5 seat model in Stornaway Grey, with the Land Rover 2.2 litre Diesel engine, 6 speed automatic transmission, panoramic sunroof and other features such as park assist, blind spot monitoring and a surround camera system.

Land Rover UK Marketing Director, Laura Schwab said "Zara has been excited about the new Evoque ever since we revealed the first pictures over a year ago and indeed she was one of the very first people to order one. We have a huge presence at Burghley this year, with over 60 Land Rover vehicles in action at the event. It therefore seemed fitting that our first Evoque handover took place here."

Zara was ecstatic about being the first person to get an Evoque delivered, she said, "I've grown up around Land Rovers and have been an ambassador for the brand for several years – I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of my new Evoque. It looks absolutely fantastic and I am delighted to be the first person in the UK to take delivery of one."

New Jaguar C-X16 (Video)

If you were impressed by the new Jaguar XJ then you are going to have your mind blown away by the new Jaguar C-X16. Jaguar debuted the concept at this month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, where it drew a huge crowd. Since Jaguar has been taken over by the Indian company TATA, the British car makers seems to be moving in the right direction. It is nice to see Jaguar doing well after so many years of disappointment, I've always had a soft spot for Jaguar as I do for Honda.

The Jaguar XF was a massive success, it has won awards every year since its launch and the new 2.2 lire diesel is doing very well. The new Jaguar XJ has received much praise and a few awards, while it keeps a lot of Jaguar tradition it also brings a new and fresh look.

The ambitious C-X16 demonstrates Jaguar’s ability to still produce jaw dropping super cars, not only is the concept a supercar, it is also a hybrid! The Jaguar C-X16 is powered by a next generation supercharged V6 petrol engine that develops 380PS and 450Nm of torque. The performance is enhanced by a hybrid boost system inspired by Formula 1, with a button mounted on the steering wheel for on-demand power boost.

Adrian Hallmark, the Global Brand Director for Jaguar Cars said: "The C-X16 embodies the established Jaguar strengths of sensual design, animal-like agility and inspirational performance and combines these with attributes that set us on a course to create sustainable sports cars of the future."

The C-X16 is acclaimed to be able to do 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 186 mph; acceleration from 50-75mph takes 2.1 seconds. Under electric power alone, the Jaguar C-X16 can travel at speeds of up to 50mph.

The most economical Fiesta and Ford models

Many car manufacturers will be at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year showing off their “green” cars. Gone are the days when these sorts of shows were about speed, power and luxury, although some of these elements are still around we do see a larger emphasis on smaller more frugal cars. At this year’s show Toyota will be showing off their latest hybrid Prius and Avensis models, while Ford will bring along the most fuel efficient non hybrid segment C vehicle – the new Ford Focus ECOnetic.

Ford is one of the mass car producers who are yet to release an electric model, or a hybrid model. Instead they are tweaking and re-engineering the conventional combustion engine and refining all the materials used in a car to make it light weight, drag efficient and fuel efficient.

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Ford will be showcasing two of its new super fuel efficient models featuring advanced Ford technology: the new Ford Focus ECOnetic Technology, and the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Technology. The Focus will be the first car to have lean NOx adsorbing technology in a diesel with emissions of 89g/km. And the new Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Technology will be the first Fiesta to have Auto-Start-Stop technology, helping the Fiesta achieve 87g/km.

Both Technology models will also feature “Smart Regenerative Charging”, this means that the alternator power output is increased when the vehicle either brakes or decelerates. This will convert kinetic energy of the vehicle into electric energy without consuming fuel. The electric current is then used to recharge the battery, to be used by the electrical systems.

This year’s show is going to be packed with geeky technology, I’m going to have to take my notepad with me and take some serious notes! See you all there!

The new Bentley Continental GTC convertible

The second generation Bentley Continental GTC convertible will make its debut at the 2011 International Automobile Exhibition in Frankfurt. The new Bentley Continental GTC builds on the previous version of the cabriolet which premiered in 2006.

Here is a video of the new model:

The new Bentley Continental GTC’s exterior design is more contemporary, and gives a muscular impression. The new Bentley is fitted with 20 inch wheels as standard, and for the first time for the GTC is available with three 21 inch wheel styles as an option.

The cabin is more spacious and luxurious than the previous model for a four seater, featuring soft-touch leather hides, wood veneers, cool-touch metals and deep-pile carpets, as well as touch screen infotainment, automatic seat-belt presenters and a Bentley-designed Neck Warmer for those cold days with the roof down.

The front and rear track of the new Bentley is now wider, combined with sharper steering and retuned suspension allows for an improvement in the driving experience. The new Bentley GTC is powered by a more powerful 6.0 litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine, mated to a new QuickShift transmission for faster gear changes. Power output is now 575PS, up from 560PS, and torque is increased to 700Nm, an additional 50Nm on the version it replaces.

Wolfgang Durheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive, Bentley Motors said: "The GTC has always been the most emotional model in the Continental range and a showcase for Bentley design. With its tailored soft top, the GTC is a pure British convertible true to those classic Bentleys of the past. However, the technology, performance and overall design excellence invested in this model means that we are now writing a new chapter for the Bentley convertible driver."

Range Rover Evoque Unveiling at Westover South West

First Range Rover Evoque delivered

The much anticipated and talked about new Range Rover Evoque is now available at Land Rover dealerships througout the UK. Even before the first car has been delivered, the Evoque is being hailed as a huge success, with over 20,000 pre orders already placed globally. Over 6,000 orders for the Evoque have been placed by UK customers.

Zara Phillips, a Land Rover Ambassador was the first person in the UK to receive her keys to her new Evoque. Zara was competing in the land Rover-sponsored Burghley Horse Trials, so it was fitting that her new car was handed over to her then. She drove the Evoque home from the show ground in Burghley.

Zara's Range Rover Evoque is a 5 seat model in Stornaway Grey, with a 2.2 litre Diesel engine, 6 speed automatic transmission, panoramic sunroof and other features such as park assist, blind spot monitoring and a surround camera system.

Land Rover UK Marketing Director, Laura Schwab said "Zara has been excited about the new Evoque ever since we revealed the first pictures over a year ago and indeed she was one of the very first people to order one. We have a huge presence at Burghley this year, with over 60 Land Rover vehicles in action at the event. It therefore seemed fitting that our first Evoque handover took place here."

Zara was ecstatic about being the first person to get an Evoque delivered, she said, "I've grown up around Land Rovers and have been an ambassador for the brand for several years – I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of my new Evoque. It looks absolutely fantastic and I am delighted to be the first person in the UK to take delivery of one."

Customers who have pre-ordered the Evoque will get their cars delivered from the 9th of September onwards. Unfortunately I am not one of those lucky people! Maybe in the next couple of years the wife will want to trade in her Jag for one.

Jaguar XJ London

You can't be blamed for wanting to own the new Jaguar XJ. Since Tata took over Jaguar after the acquisition from Ford, the India-based carmaker has been releasing a bunch of the finest cars to ever come out of the Jaguar stable. The first car was the XF—and now the mighty XJ.

Visit a Jaguar XJ dealer in London to find out why. The new XJ lives up to the promise of the old car as it provides a new kind of road luxury that pretty much defines on what a Jaguar should actually be. The styling is all new and features a sloping rear roofline that makes the car seemingly low and dynamic in stance. This big car allows the driver and all the passengers to enjoy enormous amounts of interior space inside the incredibly luxurious cabin.

You will tend to sit low inside the new XJ which actually feels wonderful and cosseting at the same time. The new dashboard is a mixture of soft-touch plastics and wooden accents that is standard on all the models across the range. There is a newfound sense of solidity and integrity inside the cabin. Even the TFT screen is beautiful to look at and easy to use. If beauty is on top of your agenda then it is safe to say that the XJ will cover all the grounds from the inside to the outside.

No Jaguar will ever be complete without outright pace. You can choose the standard 5.0-litre V8 petrol in either naturally aspirated or supercharged configuration. The best seller would be the state of the 3.0-litre V6 diesel that returns a pretty impressive 40 miles to the gallon on the highway.  The XJ is also one of the best cars that deliver a smooth and comforting ride.

Discover the new family of Jaguar cars at a Jaguar XJ London dealer and get access to easy-own financing schemes along with clever service packages designed to keep always keep your Jag in tip-top shape.

Skoda Octavia Green E Line

Skoda has begun the production of a ten car trial fleet of Skoda's first ever fully electric car, the Skoda Octavia E Line. We are expecting to see the first Skoda Octavia Green E Line models on the roads at the beginning of autumn 2011, with the driving data collated by drivers, will be fed back into further research and development.

The new Skoda Octavia Green E Line, which is based on the standard Octavia, features a 60kW electric motor, with a peak output of 85kW, and with maximum torque of 270Nm of torque that available from standstill, makes it ideal for urban driving.

The new Skoda Octavia Green E Line also features a sound generator to simulate engine noises at speeds of up to 25mph. The new Skoda Octavia in Essex is able to achieve 0-62mp in 12 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 84mph. Boasting a 26.5kWh battery made from 180 lithium ion cells, weighing 315kg, the Skoda Octavia Green E Line has a range of up to 93 miles.

Skoda Auto BOD Member for Technological Development Dr Eckhard Scholz, said: "Emission-free mobility is one of our key goals for the future, and my opinion is that electric vehicles are the right answer to the increasingly stringent emission limits and the need to develop the automotive industry sustainable. Our strength lies in a combination of our highly competent and qualified technological development staff and the Volkswagen Group's extensive know-how, and I believe that it is exactly this combination that will enable us to develop an electric vehicle to be seen as a real step forward."

The Audi S7 is here!

Audi introduced the A7 in 2010; it is a five door Fastback with Coupe styling and a low raking roof line. The A7 is in good company, with the Mercedes – Benz CLS one of its key competitors. They are both very good cars and offer something different in the executive segment; the CLS has been around for a little longer though and already has a strong following.

The Audi A7 Sportback and the CLS offer good fuel efficient diesel engines for the fuel conscious buyer. As well as petrol engines both cars offer solid diesel power plants that offer great return on fuel while not taking anything away from the refined drive.

The high performance version of the CLS is the AMG model, and up until now Audi did not have an answer for it. Enter the Audi S7 with its 4.0 litre TFSI engine capable of 429PS and 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds. It can do a top speed of 155mph and has a combined fuel consumption figure of 29.1 miles per gallon. This impressive fuel efficiency is partly down to the lightweight body of the Audi S7 Sportback.

The Audi S7 Sportback is due to go on sale next year and features a seven speed S tronic transmission. It will also have Audi’s Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with a self locking centre differential and torque vectoring. Other standard equipment will include Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights, the driver information system with colour display and MMI radio plus audio and operating system.

Lexus – brand of the decade

Lexus is a relatively new car brand; it is the premium and luxury division of the Japanese car maker Toyota. Lexus was first introduced in the states in 1989; it has since become a global premium brand as well as the largest premium Japanese car brand. When Toyota tasked its then advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi to come up with a new name for their premium division more than 200 prospective names were drawn, including Vectre, Verone, Chaparel, Calibre and Alexis.

Since its creation the Lexus brand has grown pretty quickly and now is the market leader in premium hybrid cars with its hybrid 4x4 and SUV models. Toyota has always been at the forefront of customer satisfaction and reliability, the Lexus brand takes this a step further. Even when you are buying a used Lexus in Twickenham you get to experience the exceptional customer service.

At the 2011 Auto Express Awards Lexus was named as the car manufacturer of the decade. Lexus achieved a customer satisfaction rating of 88.3% in the Driver Power Survey, which analyses results from over 300,000 owners and drivers. To many this award was no surprise, over the past decade Lexus has been named as the manufacturer of the year seven times!

Graham Hope, Auto Express Deputy Editor, said: "This award, based on the responses of more than 300,000 Auto Express readers over 10 years, shows how much Lexus owners love their cars. Their supreme comfort and great build quality are regularly praised, and this is backed up by Aftersales service which is unmatched in the industry. Lexus is a thoroughly deserving winner of our Manufacturer of the Decade award, and will no doubt continue its success in the years ahead."