Solid Gold 60s - Liverpool Echo supplement by Liverpool Post & Echo

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SOLID GOLD

60s NU60 CAR

Best car buys for new 60 registration plate

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

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Motors

Car buyers ready by MIKE TORPEY

T sounds like satisfaction guaranteed for buyers of new cars this autumn with an enticing mix of fresh models, special deals and extended warranties. The new 60 registration swings in on September 1 with manufacturers buoyed by rising sales figures, in some cases better than ever. Overall winner, though, is the consumer, who has a fantastic choice of models in just about every area of the market – and with more to come. Everything is cleaner and greener too, as emissions and running costs go down, fit and finish becomes universally superior and technology like fuel-saving start/stop systems are embraced by more car makers. If the Rolling Stones couldn’t get any satisfaction back in the 60s, then modern fans of Japanese producer Mazda certainly will, because the company has emerged as the best for customer satisfaction, the brand and its dealers winning the automotive section of the UK Institute of Customer Service survey. The marque has also enjoyed a significant rise in sales, particularly in its fleet business, thanks to the continuing success of the Mazda3 and recently refreshed Mazda6 diesel models, while the new generation Mazda5 seven-seat people mover is about to reach showrooms. While modern cars are better made than ever it’s still reassuring to be able to bank on extra peace of mind – and Korean company Kia has achieved its best ever retail sales performance in the UK on the back of an industry-leading seven-year warranty. When you have a range stretching from the popular Picanto city car to the freshly launched Venga, the supermini Soul, family friendly c’eed plus Sportage and Sorento SUVs, the choice is extensive. And Kia’s seven year Switch offer guarantees savings of between £1,500 and £2,600 to anyone trading in a seven to ten-year-old car for a selected new model. Latest to join the long warranty party is American icon Chevrolet, who claim to offer the UK’s best ever combined warranty and after-sales package with its new 5-Year Promise. As well as a five-year warranty on all new Chevys bought from participating retailers, customers will also get the benefit of five-years’ free servicing, roadside assistance, free annual vehicle health checks and free MoT test cover until the car is five years old. The offer is available across the entire Chevrolet line-up, including the newly-launched Spark supermini and Cruze saloon. What’s certain is that the emphasis is firmly on going green, and every manufacturer has a different title for its cleanest models – whether it’s the ECOnetic of Ford, BMW’s EfficientDynamics, Volkswagen’s BlueMotion or Vauxhall’s ecoFLEX.

TOP OF THE CHARTS: The Kia Cee'd 2 ecodynamics, main picture, comes with Kia’s seven-year warranty, the first offered by a manufacturer and now matched or bettered by other firms including Vauxhall. Far left, the Toyota Auris Hybrid and, left, the Renault Megane Generation

And another car maker going greener than ever is MINI with two new diesel engines that achieve CO2 emissions of 99g/km. The company is also introducing its first diesel convertible. It is part of a complete range makeover which kicks in during September and comes hot on the heels of the new, more economical petrol engines and the forthcoming MINI Countryman. Toyota is also giving itself a pat on the back, having celebrated 10 years of the Prius hybrid by topping

200,000 sales. And the recent launch of the Auris Hybrid marks the start of a dramatic expansion in the company’s full hybrid model range. Arch rival Nissan is another with plenty to shout about as the company’s new crossover kid the Juke is about to prove a smash hit with families, while next year sees the arrival of Britain’s first mainstream electric car, the Leaf. Already this year Nissan has brought in quirky headturner the Cube – a £14,000 style statement based on a box – the latest 370Z

Roadster and the next generation of the British-built Qashqai and Qashqai+2 family models, as well as some model range revisions. The big two of Ford and Vauxhall remain the major players on the UK scene, and both have imminent arrivals to continue the fight. Vauxhall’s most eagerly awaited model arrives later this autumn in the shape of the new Astra Sports Tourer which will cost £500 less than the current Astra Estate. Entry point will be £16,575 for the Ellesmere Port-built range, which

kicks off with the 1.4-litre (100PS) ES model. Ford, meanwhile, are about to launch the latest C-MAX people carrier and the new Mondeo on the back of the refreshed S-MAX and Galaxy models that arrived earlier in the year. And if you’ve got the readies, how about this for a deal. Renault’s new Megane ‘Generation’ five-door Hatch model costs only £10,995 to retail cash buyers – a whopping £3,000 off the sticker price.

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Motors news

for Sixties revival

SWINGING SIXTIES: The MINI Countryman, main picture, and right, from top, the Chevrolet Spark Woody, the Nissan Cube, and the new Ford Mondeo

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

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Motors

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

New look and new value take Ford to the MAX

FRESH FACE: The new-look Ford S-MAX offers more technology for less money

HE proof ’s in the product. Ford’s popular S-MAX people carrier has been such a standard bearer for the brand’s quality and design that it remained untouched for four years. No mid-term tweaks, no special editions - until earlier this summer when, along with full blown MPV the Galaxy, it was chosen to launch a raft of fresh technology and new features that take the Ford marque to an even higher level. And better still for fans of the blue oval badge, the prices of both S-MAX and Galaxy have been trimmed by 10-12 per cent compared to the previous generation models. It has been made possible by an offsetting reduction in dealer margin and showroom discounts, dubbed Blue Tag pricing by Ford. What it means is that the S-MAX line-up starts at £20,645 for the Zetec 2.0 Duratec 145PS five-speed petrol manual version. More important though is the dawn of a new era in the American company’s petrol engine

by MIKE TORPEY development courtesy of something called EcoBoost. S-MAX and Galaxy are the first cars to be available with the high efficiency 2.0-litre 203PS EcoBoost petrol engine, a lightweight aluminium unit Ford believes can lure diesel buyers thanks to its fuel economy and performance. It’s a terrific unit that can power the S-MAX to 62mph from zero in 8.5 seconds, manage a top speed of 137mph and return a Combined cycle fuel figure of 34.8 miles per gallon. Compared to the 2.3-litre powertrain it replaces, emissions are down by 19 per cent to 189g/km, even though EcoBoost has 25 per cent more punch. At the same time Ford upgraded its diesel line-up, the 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi engine now available in three power levels – 115, 140 and 163PS – for the first time. With these you can achieve a

fraction short of 50mpg economy and CO2 of 152g/km. Also entering the range is Ford’s PowerShift double clutch transmission, standard with EcoBoost and an option on the 140 and 163PS diesels. Visually the S-MAX has instant impact with its sculptured bonnet, striking LED tail lights, satin chrome bar and low slung profile, giving it the appeal of a seven-seat coupe. That feelgood factor is clear in the driving experience too, the car handling more like a sporty saloon than a large people carrier. It’s fun to travel in – something you would never have thought possible in an MPV just a few years ago. Along with Galaxy, the S-MAX now features a radar-based information system that flashes an orange light to warn drivers of vehicles in their blind spot, as well as an adjustable speed limiter. All models come with fold flat seating in the second and third rows and higher series models – the car comes in Zetec, Titanium and

COMING UP: The new C-Max will be unveiled later this year Titanium X Sport trim grades – get an overhead console with sunglasses holder and child-watch mirror. Six-speed manual transmission models start with the 2.0 TDCi 115PS at £21,945 while entry level for EcoBoost is the Titanium with PowerShift auto at £24,395. This has certainly been a big year for Ford, who top the year-to-date sales figures with the Fiesta, and

the company isn’t prepared to sit on its laurels either. Due this autumn is an extensively upgraded Mondeo that’s re-styled inside and out and features the first application of a higher performance 240bhp version of the 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. And Ford is also preparing to launch the next generation of its C-MAX compact MPV.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

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Motors

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Citroen’s range has the feelgood factor A FEELGOOD factor is all important when buyers have a top drawer range of cars to choose from. So Citroen got it right from day one with the arrival of its latest C3 supermini earlier this year. Light and bright are the buzzwords for a car that’s really styled to impress – and its star feature is an enormous panoramic windscreen fitted as standard on all but the entry level models. With a field of view almost five times greater than that of a standard screen it creates a fantastically airy interior and gives rear seat passengers a view unsurpassed in superminis. The glass in what’s called the Zenith screen swoops above the front seats. The screen is not available with the basic VT specification C3s but is fitted on mid-range VTR+ and Exclusive versions which are priced from £12,990 for the 1.4i petrol model. Cheapest in the line-up is the 1.1-litre VT model at £10,990 while cars with the tax busting 99g/km 1.6 diesel engine – capable of averaging 74.3mpg – cost

by MIKE TORPEY from £14,790 for the Airdream+. Inside, the latest C3 is smartly styled with a modern, flowing dashboard featuring a soft touch top, while all models have MP3 compatible sound systems. Kicking off the French manufacturer’s product range is one of the most environmentally considerate vehicles on the road – the C1 city car. Both its engines emit less than 110g/km of CO2 emissions and fuel economy of up to 68.9mpg on the Combined cycle. The range starts at £8,495 for the 1.0-litre VT three-door rising to £10,645 for the 1.4 VTR+. If you had to put your money on a car manufacturer to produce an award-winning multi purpose vehicle it would probably be Citroen. But then almost one in every four MPVs sold in Europe carry the French company's double chevron badge. Its latest arrival in that category, the

C3 Picasso, could well be the best small family car Citroen has produced, with that Tardis-like ability to squeeze a quart into a pint pot with room to spare. What it does best though is combine the roomy, versatile advantages of an MPV with the agility and comfort of a family hatchback. The comfort side is catered for thanks to a sensible, modern cabin layout that ensures more than enough head and elbow room plus the space for tall passengers, front and back. There's decent flexibility too. The rear seats slide to offer either more passenger space or increased luggage capacity and for extra large loads the rear seat backs fold flat in a jiffy while higher spec models also have a folding front passenger seat.

At 500 litres, the split level boot is also up there with the best and, like the C3 hatchback, it also possesses that feelgood factor due to the expanse of glass. The range comes with a choice of four engines two petrol, two diesel - and three trim levels, with prices from £12,445 for a 1.4 petrol VT model. Both diesel engines featuring 90 and 110bhp - are from Citroën's HDi line-up allowing near 60mpg fuel economy and low CO2 emissions of just 125g/km and 130g/km.

ART OF THE MATTER: The Citroen C3 Picasso and, inset above, the C1 supermini

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

★★★★

Motors

by MIKE TORPEY

RIGHT colours, racy styling and a trendy image all contribute to SEAT boasting that it attracts the youngest average age of car buyers in Europe. To that little lot you can add the word Ecomotive, because the Spanish car maker has deemed ‘going green’ an absolute mission. Leading the way is the SEAT Leon Ecomotive, now in its second generation and with CO2 emissions slashed to 99g/km, while its claimed average fuel economy figure of 74.3mpg gives the Leon a range of close to 900 miles between fill-ups. Central to it all is one of SEAT’s newest and most efficient engines, the 105PS 1.6-litre TDI CR unit with the latest common rail technology and Diesel Particulate Filter. Add to the equation Start/Stop technology and a Brake Energy Recovery system, along with gearshift prompts plus low rolling resistance tyres, and you have a clean, green combination. Despite a drop in cubic capacity, the Leon’s new engine still produces 105PS, identical to the previous 1.9-litre turbodiesel, yet thanks to its new technology the car’s emissions have dropped from 119g/km to the current 99g/km. Acceleration, though, is a reasonable 0-62 in 11.5 seconds with top speed of 118mph, testimony to the fact that you don’t need to sacrifice spirit to achieve greener motoring. Prices start at £16,840 for the Leon Ecomotive S. With an overall engine line-up of

In the driving SEAT

LEAN AND GREEN: The SEAT Leon Ecomotive SE six petrol and four turbodiesel units, the Leon range is not only far-reaching but is a five-seater with far more space than its compact dimensions might suggest. Also fresh to the SEAT stable are two other Ecomotives in the shape of the larger Altea and Altea XL. While these siblings share the same 1.6-litre TDI CR engine, they

don’t have the Leon’s aerodynamic adjustments. So their economy and emissions figures aren’t quite so impressive. That said, 119g/km of CO2 coupled with average fuel economy of 62.8mpg is commendable. The Altea Ecomotive starts at £16,725 for the S model while the Altea XL Ecomotive S is £17,425.

Most extensive in the SEAT line-up is the Ibiza supermini – about to be extended again with estate version the ST which will cost from £12,070 when it goes on sale in the next few weeks, making it one of the best value compact load-luggers on the market. The Ibiza ST offers estate practicality with hatchback

convenience and has a third more space than the Ibiza hatch. Its line-up features two petrol engines and as many diesels, the most economical 1.2-litre oil-burner capable of averaging 78.5mpg with tax free emissions of 92g/km. That version costs from £14,910 while the ST has a 1.4-litre petrol engine returning 47mpg.

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Motors by MIKE TORPEY

AUXHALL has just set a new standard in the car industry by being the only car maker to offer a 100,000-mile lifetime guarantee on its cars. The move demonstrates the company's confidence in its products and covers the engine, gearbox, steering, brakes and electrical equipment. At the moment the extended warranty is available only to the first owner of any Vauxhall including the latest generation Meriva, which it claims is the most family friendly car of its kind. Unlike other cars the Meriva features rear-hinged back doors which swing open towards the tail of the car. Not only is entry and exit much easier, regardless of passenger size, but so too is securing kids in child seats. Nor does the versatility stop there. There’s also FlexRail, a three-tier storage system based on rails running between the front and back seats in space freed up by Vauxhall’s decision to use an electronic parking brake rather than the traditional handbrake. Then there’s the FlexSpace seating which allows the cabin to be transformed from a five to two-seat layout depending on how much luggage space is needed, and the outer rear seats can be moved forwards, backwards or even slide inwards. And to highlight the sort of attention to detail evident in this car is the way the rear side window edges have been cut away to help young children see out more easily. At present there’s a choice of three 1.4-litre petrol engines with 100, 120 and 140ps, a 75ps 1.3-litre CDTi diesel and 1.7-litre CDTi, also available with a six-speed automatic transmission. Early autumn will see a low emissions ecoFLEX variant powered by a 95ps 1.3-litre CDTi unit and a 1.7 CDTi with six-speed manual gearbox and 130ps joining the party. Prices are from £12,995 for the 1.4-litre 100ps Expression model while the 120ps turbo starts with the S grade at £16,215. Diesels start at £16,875 for the 1.3 CDTi S. The most eagerly awaited Vauxhall arrives later this autumn in the shape of the new Astra Sports Tourer will cost £500 less than the current Astra Estate. Entry point will be £16,575 for the Ellesmere Port-built range, which kicks off with the 1.4-litre 100ps ES model, which gains extra power over the 1.4 Estate. It also adds air conditioning, curtain airbags, ESP, electronic parking brake, an aux-in socket and active safety front head restraints as standard. The Sports Tourer’s premium over the five-door hatch model starts from £995, for which customers benefit from a larger cargo area – 500 as opposed to 470 litres with rear seats up – despite retaining the same wheelbase as the new hatch. Diesel pricing sees the entry-level 110ps 1.7 CDTi ES Sports Tourer costing less than the outgoing 90ps 1.3 CDTi Astra Estate Life, yet packing more power and benefiting from sub-120g/km CO2 emissions. The range comprises four trim levels named ES, Exclusiv, SE and SRi, but adds a variety of standard and optional equipment.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Vauxhall sets new standard

OPEN SEASON: The latest Vauxhall Meriva offers space and versatility coupled with forward-opening rear doors for easier access to child seats. It can also be ordered with a panoramic sunroof, left

TOUR DE FORCE: The new Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, which will go on sale in the autumn, is built at Ellesmere Port

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

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Motors

Sporty new Fiats help boost hopes for sales by MALCOLM ROBERTSHAW

FTER turning in some record breaking sales figures for 2009 Fiat is aiming to top the 60,000 UK total for last year. Last year’s sales statistics included more than 24,000 Fiat 500s while the Abarth sporting arm of Fiat also recorded healthy sales figures for the year of 1,381 units. Just in time for the 2010 September new registrations, Abarth – a famous 60s brand recently revived by Fiat – has served up a pair of newcomers to tempt the palate of sporty drivers, the red hot Abarth 500C convertible and the Abarth Punto Evo. Both models are cute looking little movers and each is pretty generously speced for the money. Weighing in at £17,500 is the Abarth 500C Convertible with a kit list which includes a competition gear box with steering wheel paddle shift, electric hood, air con, hands free phone, xenon headlights and seven airbags. It is powered by a 140bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine capable of 0-62mph in around eight seconds and a maximum speed of 137mph with average fuel consumption in the region of 43mpg. The Abarth Punto Evo weighs in at £16,500 and standard kit includes air con, six airbags and 17 inch alloys. The Abarth Punto Evo is powered by an impressive 1.4-litre 165bhp engine with stop/start facility and paired with a five-speed manual gearbox or optional Duologic facility. It boasts 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, a top speed of 132mph and average fuel consumption of around 47mpg. Also on show at any of Fiat’s 170 dealerships in September will be the Turin car giant’s impressive and value for money nine model line-up which include the Panda priced from £7,665, the Grande Punto, £9,785, the 500 from £9,265, the Qubo mini MPV, £10,255, and the Punto Evo which costs from £10,985.

STING IN THE TAIL: The Scorpion-badged (inset) Abarth Punto Evo is among the offerings from Fiat’s sporting division

Audi takes the A1 route with new car AUDI is ready to raise the supermini stakes to a record level with the autumn arrival of the A1. This is the car charged with rivalling the motoring scene’s proven top quality performers, notably the MINI, and the order book has been stacking up since the first page opened in May. Prices are between £13,145 and £18,280, and features common to the SE, Sport and S line options available in the UK include alloy wheels, remote central locking, air-con, electric front windows and mirrors plus a six-speaker CD sound system with auxiliary iPod connection linked to a 6.5-inch

retractable display. Sport model additions include larger diameter wheels, sports suspension, sports seats, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation and a Driver’s Information System, while S line versions upgrade with extras such as an exclusive S line exterior treatment including larger 17-inch alloy wheels, S line sports suspension and leather and cloth combination upholstery. The three-door model – a five-door will follow in 18 months – uses running gear from the VW Polo and will initially be powered by three TDI and TFSI engines. All have the latest turbocharger

technology and engine start-stop and recuperation systems. The new 1.2 TFSI petrol engine linked exclusively to a five-speed manual transmission kicks off the range, its 86ps enabling a 0-62mph time of 11.7 seconds and a 112mph top speed, plus 55.4mpg economy and clean credentials of 118g/km. There will also be a 1.4 TFSI power unit delivering 122ps via Audi’s standard six-speed manual gearbox or the optional seven-speed twin-clutch transmission. The latter allows 0-62mph in 8.9 secs, with economy and emissions figures of 54.3mpg and 119g/km.

NEW BABY: Audi’s A1 has been eagerly awaited

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Motors

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Bentley’s 202mph drop-top unveiled THE world’s fastest production drophead, the 202mph Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, made its public debut at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, and is about to arrive on UK roads. Racing legend and ‘Bentley Boy’ Derek Bell was behind the wheel as the car made several searing runs up the famous hill. The convertible follows the introduction of the Continental Supersports Coupe in 2009 and has the same 621bhp twin-turbocharged W12 engine. It can accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds The inspiration for the Supersports name

a dramatic re-interpretation of Bentley luxury. Satin-finished carbon fibre, Alcantara and ‘Soft Grip’ leather create a sporting and contemporary style. All models in the Continental model range, including the new Supersports Convertible are now capable of running on both petrol and E85 bioethanol. Pioneered by the Supersports Coupe, this FlexFuel technology offers a reduction of up to 70 per cent in CO2 emissions on a ‘well-to-wheel’ basis, a measure of a fuel’s net contribution to the atmosphere, not just tailpipe emissions. Bentley’s new luxury flagship, the Mulsanne has just

FAST: Bentley Continental Supersports is the 1925 Bentley Supersports, a race-bred version of the Bentley 3-litre, that delivered 85bhp when more ordinary cars were equipped with a modest 15bhp. It was also the first production car to reach 100mph – extreme performance in its day. The new, muscular four-seat Supersports Convertible is unmistakably Bentley in its design and craftsmanship but its interior signifies

entered production at the company’s Crewe headquarters, where it has been developed from the ground up. More than 170 hours – almost half the entire build process – goes into handcrafting the Mulsanne’s luxurious interior which combines the traditional wood veneers and leather hides Bentley is renowned for with the latest in-car technology – and the world’s most powerful in-car amplifier.

BOLD MOVE: Saab has worked hard to make the 9-5 distinct from the Vauxhall Insignia, with which it shares a platform

Latest Saab is one of maker’s best-ever cars T

HE Phoenix has risen from the ashes as Saab has bounced back from the spectre of liquidation with its best model yet. Now owned by Dutch supercar company Spyker, the Swedes have pulled a rabbit from the hat in the shape of the new 9-5, a premium model packed with technology and advanced safety systems. With its bold yet conservative styling the 9-5 has been primed to take on the giants of the premium car arena like Audi, BMW and Mercedes, as well as arch rival Volvo. Aware that its days as part of General Motors were numbered, Saab’s engineers worked tirelessly on the underpinnings of the new car to distinguish it from the award-winning Vauxhall Insignia on which it is based. The result is a bigger car with a smooth and sophisticated ride – and prices from £26,495 to £37,795. The cheapest 9-5 is

by MIKE TORPEY

powered by a two-litre diesel engine developing 160bhp, which gives the Saab a sub-ten second 0-60mph acceleration with average fuel consumption of 53.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 139g/km. The range-topping 2.8-litre Aero V6 is all-wheel drive and pumps out 300bhp, producing a top speed of 155mph and 0 to 60 acceleration of 6.9 seconds – making it a fair quattro alternative. Emissions of 294g/km and average mpg of 26.6 are on the high side, though. A more economical 2.0-litre petrol turbo is also available in the 9-5 while an even leaner 1.6-litre engine boosted to 180bhp will be coming on stream during September. Saab is making six-speed manual and auto gearboxes available on the 9-5 and the Haldex four-wheel drive system can be fitted as an extra, costing

BACK ON FORM: The new, post-GM, Saab 9-5 more than £2,000 on the non-V6 models where it is standard kit. Electronic stability is fitted across the range while higher specification models have adaptive chassis settings to change the ride for sport or comfort - although the system works very well left to its own devices in auto mode.

Saab’s roots in aviation are still very much in evidence when it comes to the interior and the 9-5 is fitted with a head up display projecting a speedo onto the windscreen in the driver’s line of sight. The layout of the instruments is clear cut and functional, comfort levels are high and the space in the rear is generous.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

★★★★

Motors

Honda’s Civic pride

PRICE IS RIGHT: Honda has introduced a raft of incentives for buyers of selected 60-plate cars such as the Civic, above, including free servicing and road tax for three years

ONDA has announced a package of offers to help customers off-set the cost of new car ownership for the first three years. The offers – available on selected Jazz, Civic and Insight models – include savings of as much as £1,425 off some cars, three years’ complimentary servicing, three

by MIKE TORPEY years’ free road tax, plus a range of competitive finance options. It means customers could drive away with a new Jazz from as little as £9,995, or a Civic 1.4 Type S from £13,995 – or even a Insight for just £14,995, making it the lowest price hybrid on the market. Each car then comes with free

Honda servicing for three years, plus the road tax is already paid for the period.Honda also takes on board what its customers have to say about its products. As a result the Japanese company has improved the specification and settings of the Insight in response to customer feedback. The suspension of the low-emission, five-door hatchback

has been adjusted to improve ride comfort and noise and vibration levels, while interior trim levels have been upgraded. A new, top-of-the-range EX model, featuring black leather upholstery and DVD sat nav and hands-free telephone equipment, has also been introduced to the Insight line-up. As well as these upgrades to suspension, Honda has added rear

parking sensors to all but the basic Insight and has changed some trim to smarten the interior. Dashboard and seat colours have been given a more uniform finish, and some plastics have been improved. Pricing for the Insight starts at £16,325 for the SE but with Honda’s Affordable Driving offer, the hybrid is available at £14,995 until the end of September.

Mazda tops the charts

A BIT SPECIAL: Mazda has special edition models in the showrooms, including this Mazda3 Takuya

CAN’T GET no satisfaction? If not, then first stop in your search for a brand new car this summer should be your local Mazda dealer. For Mazda has once again emerged as the best car company for ‘customer satisfaction’ with the brand and its dealers topping the automotive sector in the UK Institute of Customer Service Satisfaction Survey with a score of 80.6 per cent, well above the industry average of 75.6 per cent and ahead of rivals like BMW, Toyota and Mercedes. Latest arrivals in the

company's showrooms are Takuya special edition models available in the Mazda2, Mazda3 and Mazda6 ranges which boast features normally only available with top-of-the-range derivatives, including exterior sports styling, larger alloy wheels, a Bluetooth system and a sports interior. Priced from £11,915, the 1.3-litre Mazda2 five-door Takuya is the entry point into the special edition range and comes with 16-inch alloys, a sports styling kit and front fog lights. Interior features include black sports trim, trip

computer, leather steering wheel and gear knob remote audio controls and a Bluetooth hands-free kit. The Mazda3 Takuya five-door comes with a 1.6-litre engine and gets a similar boost in standard equipment and is priced from £15,780 while the recently revised, restyled and improved Mazda6 range offers Takuya special edition models in three different guises - 2.0 five-door (£19,845), 2.2D 163ps five-door (£20,945) and 2.2D 163ps Estate (£21,595). And a limited edition of the MX-5 roadster is also available.