Daily Archives: May 16, 2012

DAB radio now standard on all VW models

May 16, 2012   Ian

All 2013 model year VWs will have DAB radios fitted as standard – good news for any fans of Radio 6 Music.  Some car companies have been a bit slow in changing over to DAB radios, despite the fact that the UK was originally planning to switch off the FM network in 2015. The government is currently refusing to confirm that date, saying a decision about the switchover date will be taken in 2013.
Partly because of the issue of car radios, the proportion of people currently listening via DAB is way below the 50% target set by the government as the point at which switchover could start to happen.
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BMW reveals all-new 3 Series Touring

May 16, 2012   Ian

BMW has shown the 3 Series Touring for the first time, adding a welcome dose of dog carrying ability to its most popular car. It was only ever a case of when BMW unveiled the estate version of its most popular car, rather than if. In the same way, we’ll get a Coupé at some point, and a Convertible.That said, it’s almost certain that those two cars will be badged 4 Series, so that BMW can make them sound posher; the same principle makes Audi A5 drivers genuinely believe their cars are superior to A4s.
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Ford goes Ecoboost crazy

May 16, 2012   Ian

Ford reckons that petrol engines are going to win market share back from diesel engines, and is planning to triple production of Ecoboost petrol engines to meet demand. The amazing new 1.0 Ecoboost will take the lion’s share of the increased output, with the engine replacing most versions of the conventional 1.6 litre petrol engine in the Focus. It will also go into the B-Max small MPV later this year and the Fiesta in 2013.
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Owner sues Honda over fuel economy – and loses

May 16, 2012   Ian

An American owner of a Civic hybrid has lost her case against the manufacturer after claiming compensation for the fact that her Honda Civic did not achieve its claimed fuel economy.  Heather Peters initially won $10,000 in a small claims court, but Superior court Judge Dudley Gray ruled against her at the appeal hearing, saying Honda’s ads were “not specific promises of anything”.
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Your next car – designed by rally drivers?

May 16, 2012   Ian

British rally specialists Prodrive (the people that made Subaru rally cars and currently make the Mini WRC car) say that they are increasingly being asked by car manufacturers to develop mainstream cars for major manufacturers. Speaking to industry website just-auto, Prodrive’s Managing Director Tony Butcher, said that car companies are so busy at present that they are outsourcing major parts of a new car’s development to Prodrive.

Apparently, prototypes are being delivered to them in a very raw form and Prodrive then develops the way the steering feels and how the suspension is tuned – or even replacing the suspension design altogether.

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