Car tax renewal

Just renewed the vehicle tax for my old Ford. It cost me £185 for a year. Tax is high because my is above 1549 cc and registered before 1 March 2001. The cost of vehicle tax is given on the DirectGov site.

Was really annoyed when I found out that the post office near our house where I normally renew my tax, has now been closed. Had to drive to the Great Heath Sub Post Office on Foleshill road (CV6 5JX).

Just found out that I might have lost the chance to win a SEAT car. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) working with SEAT has just launched a free prize draw for people who renew their tax online or by phone.

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Revolutionary concept from BMW

Ever wonder how BMW comes up with their concepts?

The first video of a series presenting a revolutionary concept by BMW appeared on the BMW-web.tv site.

According to what I heard, it's strange because it doesn't fall in any predefined car types - it's not a sedan, nor a SUV or even a station-wagon.



Thanks for the info Markus.

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Good news for UK car industry

The UK car industry finally has some good news. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today outlined a loan package potentially worth up to £2.3bn.

This includes a scheme to unlock £1.3bn of European loans and a government guarantee for up to £1bn of further loans.

The news was welcomed by Jaguar Land Rover and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

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New MINI Cabrio

Read about out the new MINI Cabrio which recently had it's World premiere at the North American International Motor Show 2009 at Detroit on MINIunited.com .



Thanks for the info Andreas.

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New Jaguar cars revealed

Jaguar showed off their new generation XK and XF ranges at the North American International Autoshow, Detroit.

The new Jaguar XK has new 3.0 Litre V6 Diesel engine, new exterior and a redesigned interior.

The range comprises three models: the XK, XK Portfolio and supercharged XKR, and each are available in Coupe or Convertible body style.

The new 510 PS 5.0 Litre AJ-V8 GEN III R supercharged engine is said to be Jaguar's most powerful and efficient ever.

The new XF range are available with the naturally aspirated version of the new 5.0-litre petrol V8 and the new 3.0-litre V6 diesel engines (in two versions -500 and 600Nm).

Extras include a 7-inch Touch-screen, Portable Audio Interface, Driver Information Centre and the industry-leading JaguarDrive Selector used to control the all-new ZF 6HP28 six speed automatic transmission.



According to their press release, the new XF Diesel S model has a powerful 275PS engine and goes from 0-60mph speed in just 5.9 seconds. Available as Premium Luxury and Portfolio models. It was interesting to note that the maximum speed is electronically limited to 155mph.

If you are worried about the green credential (if you really are, why don't you drive a Prius) the average fuel consumption in both models is 42.0mpg and has a CO2 emissions rating of only 179g/km.

The new XFR - XF's new sporting flagship model, has two new generation 5.0 litre V8 petrol engines that goes from 0-60mph in 4.7 seconds. The AJ-V6D Gen III engine - available in either 240PS/500Nm form or 275PS/600Nm 'S' features parallel sequential turbochargers to help deliver the high levels of power and torque. The engine is coupled with a six-speed ZF 6HP28 automatic transmission.

Of course you don't buy a Jaguar just to drive fast. There's the comfort and craftsmanship. The new Jaguar cars offer a wider choice of veneers and trim colours. For audiophiles, a Bowers and Wilkins 440W surround sound system with portable audio interface and DAB radio is also included.

The new XK and XF range will be on sale from March 2009.

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New Vauxhall Insignia

Have been seeing ads about the new Vauxhall Insignia everywhere on the net. In continental Europe, it is sold as the Opel Insignia. It was unveiled at the British motor show in 2008.



Recently voted as Car of the Year 2009, it has also achieved a five-star adult occupant rating and four stars for child protection and two stars for pedestrian protection (the highest so far in it's category) from Euro NCAP.

The Insignia is available in Hatch and Saloon variants and come in a choice of 5 engines - Two 2 litre diesel engines and three petrol engines (1.8, 2.0 and 2.8 V6 engines).

Prices start from £15600.74 (OTR) for the base model - Insignia Exclusiv 1.8i 16v VVT (140PS) Manual.

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Bugatti Veyron 16.4

The W16 alloy engine developed by Bugatti for the Veyron 16.4 will have a special and absolutely unique place in the history of sports car construction. Its design employs the space-saving VR principle with two particularly slender eight-cylinder blocks arranged at a 90° angle to each other.

1001 horsepower equip the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 with a level of acceleration unheard of in the sports car segment, propelling it from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds and past the 200 mph mark in a mere 24 seconds. Thanks to its 923 lb-ft, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4's enormous propulsive power is not exhausted until it reaches 252.3 mph (406 km/h): the maximum speed for which chassis and drive train have been designed. Any further performance escalation is limited by current design and construction.

Also unique is the power transmission via an innovative directshift gearbox. Without any interruption in the power flow, the sequential seven-speed gearbox transmits the engine's power to the wheels via permanent four-wheel drive. Put simply, this means uninterrupted acceleration from a standing start to maximum speed: a feeling previously known only to jet pilots.

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2009 Lotus Esprit

Autocar’s Magazine last issue features a spy photo of the future Lotus Esprit. It was caught inside Lotus’s Norfolk HQ by a snarh-eyed snapper from outside the factory gates.

Although almost completely uncovered, the thin material has allowed a great deal of details to be revealed. The plunging nose and distinctive shape of the front wing are clearly outlined, as is the long, sloping roof line and low tall.

Close examination also shows what appears to be a series of stats below the windscreen, as well as a substantial part of "hand-clap" wipers.

Lotus wants to sell 1000 units a reason, reason why a cabrio version was also added.

The 2009 Esprit is powered by a upgraded longitudinally mounted engine, with the adoption of a more modern BMW V8.

The launch of the Esprit was caused by the decision to launch the "Project Eagle", a 2+2 V6 coupe that will be priced at around £40.000. The project Eagle will be unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
Topspeed

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Mitsubishi Eclipse 2009

The Mitsubishi Eclipse was radically redesigned for the 2006 model year and it's pretty unusual for such a new model to get such a significant facelift like we see here. However, the front end of the Eclipse — as well as the Eclipse Spyder convertible — was never its best angle. This update gives the car a more menacing and masculine look, something buyers want in a sporty coupe.

The Eclipse GT gets a few upgrades, including a new dual exhaust system boosting horsepower to 265 from 263. Yep: 2 horsepower. Stability control, larger rear disc brakes and HID headlights also comes standard on the GT model for 2009.

Otherwise not much changes for the Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder, but the grille is so radically different we think buyers will take notice.

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2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder

A new Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, introduced at the LA Auto Show, is the first Lambo factory top performance tuned variant of the true convertible Gallardo, is now one of the fastest convertibles in the world and perhaps the most beautiful sports car in the current Lamborghini lineup.

The Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder is rated at a top speed of 201 miles per hour, and does the 0-62 mph sprint in a flat 4 seconds. Usable power increase comes by way of a sophisticated viscous coupling AWD system, that by default distrubtes 70 percent of the Gallardo Spyder's outstanding 560 horses to the rear wheels. The AWD system redistributes power to any of the wheels without the need for electronic control based on road needs, resulting in a natural handling dynamic even at the extreme limits of what the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder is capable of.

Whether the driver opts for the rather boringly-titled e.gear F1-style paddle shifted Gallardo transmission or the traditional short 6 speed manual, shift times are at a minimum and power should be available instantly to the driver.

The Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder, with its extreme corners and high slabbed body styling, is what many will feel is the most attractive car in the Gallardo lineup. Seeing it in person under the lights at the LA Auto Show was a breathtaking experience. The Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder will be available after the beginning of calendar year 2009, base price to be announced soon, though expect it to command significantly more than the Gallardo LP 560-4's base price of $201,000.

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