Ambassador Set For A Comeback

For us Indians, there was a time when the word ‘car’ meant only Ambassador. Regardless of whichever luxury car you drive now, you can never forget those moments of comfort you enjoyed in an Amby, right? But Ambassador failed to survive amid the revolution in the Indian automobile industry.  Before Amby ended up in heritage car lovers’ garages, Hindustan Motors decided to act. They are coming up with not just one, but four new variants of the car that was once the favourite of India’s politicians and bureaucrats.
Although HM had made couple of not-so-successful efforts to revamp the iconic car, their tweaks were limited to just interiors and powertrains. The exterior design always remained the same and the retro looks failed to impress the GenX. Finally, the company has decided to give a complete new look to Amby and has roped in Pune-based design firm Onio Design for this purpose. The first variant would be ready by December.
All the new variants of the Ambassador will be available with an engine size ranging between 1500 cc to 2000 cc. Meanwhile, HM will work equally hard to preserve the traits of the Amby which is space, comfort and ease of maintenance.
Do you think the rejuvenated Amby can regain the lost charm?

Priced at just £11,995, Twingo Renaultsport 133 offers on-the-road

With a heritage of iconic cars such as the R8 Gordini, 5 GT Turbo and Clio Williams, the Renault range has always featured affordable performance cars based on mainstream production models. Twingo Renaultsport 133 is latest car to enjoy that distinction.


Priced at just £11,995, Twingo Renaultsport 133 offers on-the-road thrills at an affordable price. Unlike some of its competitors, 133 is easily distinguishable from the standard car with extended wheel arches and sills as standard.

Sporty looks, style and performance as standard

There is no doubting the Twingo Renaultsport 133’s vigorous performance, tenacious road holding and refinement, whilst its exterior and interior styling makes it obvious that this is a car in which to have fun.

The Twingo comes with specific Renaultsport chassis and steering tuning as standard, ensuring it offers optimum performance and handling. There is no wait necessary for the ‘Cup’ chassis either as Renault Sport Technologies has developed this for Twingo from launch, along with a new naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre VVT engine delivering 133hp at 6,750rpm with 160Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm.

Twingo Renaultsport 133 has a long list of other standard equipment that can be found from the left hand menu. From ESP with manual deactivation to the gearshift indicator light, 133 has been designed to deliver sports performance while at the same time ensuring that the car is easy to use on a day-to-day basis. A choice of five colours are available on 133: Capsicum Red or £375 optional metallic Pearl Black, Extreme Blue, Mercury Silver or Mirage Grey. The latter is a new colour exclusive to the Renaultsport version.

'Cup' chassis available from launch

An option available on Twingo Renaultsport 133 is the ‘Cup’ chassis. Priced at £650, it features a 4mm lower ride height, stiffer springs and dampers, 17” dark grey Anthracite alloy wheels and 195/40 tyres.

Scrappage benefit 'lost in 88 days'

The £2,000 incentive under the Government's "cash for bangers" car-scrappage scheme will be wiped out in just 88 days due to depreciation, it has been revealed. Skip related content


From Monday, owners of cars 10 years old or more will get £2,000 if they trade in their old model and buy a new one.

But according to price comparison company uSwitch.com, vehicle depreciation is set to be the "thorn in the side" of the scrappage scheme.

The company said on average, the initial £2,000 incentive is wiped out in depreciation in just 88 days of owning the new car.

In total, new vehicles purchased under the Government's car scrappage scheme are set to lose £12.5 billion in depreciation after just one year, it said. Purchasing one of the top 10 most popular new cars costs £16,232 on average and this value plummets by 49% in the first year alone, while the UK's best-selling car - the Ford Focus Style - loses £8,635 or 51% of its value in the first year.

Drivers should read the small print on car insurance policies as the write-off value varies substantially between policies.

Mark Monteiro, of uSwitch.com, said: "The Government's car-scrappage scheme has been introduced to give the ailing motor industry a much needed shot in the arm by enticing motorists to participate with a £2,000 incentive.

"However, while this is a positive bonus for consumers, it seems even this payout can't hold its weight against the magnitude of vehicle depreciation, which dents the value a car from the moment you drive off the forecourt."

He went on: "When choosing a new vehicle, motorists should ensure they research the rate of depreciation of their desired new car, as research highlights how some of the top 10 most-popular vehicles hold their value far better than others. Any motorists tempted to take advantage of the scheme should research the cost of insuring their desired new vehicle as a matter of priority, as the cost could be significantly higher than they are currently paying for their old banger.

"All drivers who are planning to switch their old cars for a newer model need to be prepared for a hike to their premiums of up to 30%."

Why to choose Toyota Pirus

Projector-beam halogen headlamps with auto-off feature
LED (light-emitting diode) headlamps with auto leveling, auto-off and headlamp washers
Integrated fog lamps
LED taillamps
Color-keyed foldable power heated outside mirrors
Hybrid Synergy Drive® blue accent badges and headlamps
15-in. 5-spoke alloy wheels with P195/65R15 tires and wheel covers
17-in. 5-spoke alloy wheels with P215/45R17 tires
Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers
Rear window with electric defogger with timer and intermittent wiper
UV reduction glass windshield
Driver and front passenger water-repellent side windows
Aerodynamic rear deck spoiler
Power tilt/slide moonroof with Solar Powered Ventilation System and Remote Air Conditioning System
Roof-mounted XM Satellite Radio antenna

Navigation Package
Voice-activated touch-screen DVD navigation system with JBL® AM/FM/MP3 4-disc CD changer, eight speakers, integrated satellite radio capability, XM NavTraffic® ] capability, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology, and integrated backup camera
Safety Connect
Advanced Technology Package (includes Navigation Package)
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)
Pre-Collision System (PCS)
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA)
Solar Roof Package (includes Navigation Package)
Power tilt/slide moonroof with Solar Powered Ventilation System and Remote Air Conditioning System



MECHANICAL

Gasoline Engine
Type
Aluminum double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve VVT-i 4-cylinder
Displacement
1.8 liters (1798 cc)
Bore x stroke
3.17 in. x 3.48 in.
Compression ratio
13.0:1
Valvetrain
Four valves per cylinder with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i)
Induction system
Sequential multi-point EFI with Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence (ETCS-i)
Ignition system
Electronic, with Toyota Direct Ignition (TDI)
Power output
98 hp @ 5200 rpm (73 kW @ 5200 rpm)
Torque
105 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm (142 N•m @ 4000 rpm)
Emission rating
Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV)
Electric Motor
Motor type
Permanent magnet AC synchronous motor
Power output
80 hp (60 kW)
Torque
153 lb.-ft. (207 N•m)
Voltage
650V maximum
Traction Battery
Type
Sealed Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
Power Output
36 hp (27 kW)
Voltage
201.6V
Hybrid System Net Power
134 hp (100 kW)
Mechanical/Performance
Transmission
Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT)
Front Suspension
Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar
Rear Suspension
Torsion beam
Steering
Electric Power Steering (EPS); rack-and-pinion with electric power-assist
Turning circle diameter, curb to curb (ft.) 34.2 34.2 34.2 36.0
Brakes
Power-assisted ventilated front disc, solid rear disc with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and integrated regenerative braking
Coefficient of drag (Cd) 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25


Price Range $ 22,000 to $ 27,300

FIAT 500C MAKES INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC DEBUT AT GENEVA

A worldwide preview of the new Fiat 500C will be taking place at the Geneva Motor Show in early March, before its launch throughout Europe in the spring. This original cabriolet pays homage to the open-top 1957 model, whilst offering leading-edge solutions for mechanical installations, powerplants and interior comfort. All this in authentic Fiat tradition, giving access to higher segment engineering and state-of-the-art technology.

Featuring an innovative soft top – an unrestricted window to the sky – the new 500C is exactly the same size as the basic model (3.55 m x 1.65 m x 1.49 m), and utilises the same three powerplants: 1.3 litre 75 hp MultiJet Turbodiesel coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission, and the two 1.2 litre 69 hp and 1.4 litre 100 hp petrol engines, available with either manual or robotised Dualogic transmission. Providing different features, all three engine types are responsive and flexible, offering strong performance based on sophisticated technology. Standard features include in-built reliability, robust construction, high quality build and environmental friendliness.

Moreover, as proof of Fiat Automobiles’ commitment to ecology and sustainable mobility, the new 500C incorporates the company’s recently announced Start&Stop system, an innovative device which initiates engine shutdown and subsequent re-ignition. To this end, at every complete stop, when shifting to neutral and releasing the clutch, the engine is switched off, and then restarted simply by selecting a gear.

Created by the Fiat Styling Centre and manufactured at the Tichy plant in Poland, the Fiat 500C incorporates all the strong points of the basic model, namely top-of-segment safety features, proper accommodation for four adults, and generous luggage space combined with easy loading potential, even with the soft top fully open, thanks to a clever parallelogram hinge system.

A highly original exercise in design, the soft top of the Fiat 500C stands out for its refined electrically operated linkage and engineering solutions of great quality and finish, such as the glass rear window and the built-in centrally positioned high mounted stop light. Available in three colours (ivory, red and black), this original soft top will be matched with several body colours, two of which have been conceived specifically for the new car in a brilliant Pearl Red and a special Warm Grey.

Thanks to the adoption of the innovative sliding soft top combined with a design concept which retains the vehicle’s all-round protection, the Fiat 500C offers a delightful motoring experience at any time of the year. All told, its many special features make this new car one of the best equipped cabriolet models currently available in the city-car segment.

The 500C is further proof of Fiat's undisputed leadership in this vehicle class, where continuous innovation ensures that its position as the industry's standard is maintained. In fact the car sets new standards in terms of comfort and safety, engineering and appointments whilst maintaining a unique and inimitable Italian style. A new cabriolet has been created which provides excitement and sustained driving pleasure, combining captivating lines with the performance of flexible, environment-friendly, low consumption engines.

President-elect Obama’s new Cadillac Limousine

When Barack Obama is officially inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America next week, he will ride to the ceremony in a brand new Cadillac Limousine.

This all-new model of Cadillac Presidential Limousine sees Obama continue a long tradition of Presidential Cadillacs.


The inauguration takes place at the Capitol building in Washington on Tuesday 20 January, and Barack Obama will be riding there in style. His Cadillac Presidential Limousine is a completely new design, featuring all the latest Cadillac styling cues, and an interior fully equipped for presidential use.

Unsurprisingly, details of the new limo's extensive security features remain shrouded in the utmost secrecy - as they have done throughout what's been described as "an extreme testing regime". The car clearly has to withstand virtually any kind of attempt on the new President's life - we won't be finding out how it works anytime soon.

Luxury and security…
But, we can tell you that the cabin area Obama will occupy includes an "extensive executive compartment". This features seating for important meetings on the go, a good view of the outside world (through several inches of bulletproof glass, no doubt), and "useful mobile office features".

The presidential seal is embroidered on the rear seatback and door panels, and also displayed on the outside of the rear doors. Two flags are flown on the front fenders whenever the President is in residence - so to speak - the US national flag on the right, the presidential standard on the left.

Secret Service call it 'the beast'
LED spotlights illuminate these flags at night - demonstrating the Cadillac is more high-tech than its appearance might suggest. Flashing strobe and emergency lighting will almost certainly built in, along with run flat tyres, and immense armoured plating. Don't expect the windows to open. It is also likely to be four-wheel drive.

Changes compared to the previous presidential car, the 2004 Cadillac DTS Presidential Limousine used by President George W. Bush, include a more upright stance for better visibility. But otherwise Obama's new ride is of similar size and proportion. The US Secret Service reputedly refers to these heavyweight machines as 'the beast'.

While earlier presidential Cadillacs were modified and adapted by specialist independent limousine companies, since 1993 Cadillac and parent company General Motors have carried out all of the work in-house. "Cadillac is again honoured to provide a new Presidential Limousine," said Mark McNabb, North American vice president of Cadillac.

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