Monthly Archives: July 2012

New Renault Clio unveiled

Renault has shown the first images of its fourth-generation Clio, which will go on sale in the UK in 2013. The styling is certainly a big step forward, although we are not sure we would go quite as far as design boss Laurens van den Acker , who says, “The new Renault Clio was conceived as a piece of sensuous sculpture which stimulates desire… No acute or aggressive angles, just voluptuous curves that make you want to go up to it and caress it.”

Car insurance costs soar


We all know it is happening, but now we have statistical proof. The Institute And Faculty Of Actuaries has reported that in 2011 there was an 11% drop in the number of accidents – yet an increase of 18% in the number of personal injury claims. The report described the increase as “staggering”.

McLaren Spider goes on sale


McLaren has shown the convertible version of the MP4-12C supercar. Thankfully its name has now been shortened to 12C Spider. The new 12C Spider will be priced from £195,500 in the UK and is available to order now, with first deliveries to customers planned for November this year. Mechanically it is the same as the coupe with a 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 developing 625 PS (616 bhp) and carbon ‘MonoCell’ chassis, while the new folding roof can be operated on the move at speeds up to 19 mph.

X-Games Final Los Angeles


X-Games is fast, furious and dangerous. It is completely unlike European rallying except in one particular respect. Eight times World Rally Champion Sebastian Loeb entered this completely unknown racing formula and beat everybody. Apart from Seb showing that he is in a class of his own, the main news of the weekend were two serious crashes, of a type unthinkable in European motorsport.

Tyre labelling arrives this year


From this November, all tyres sold will have to show independent ratings for fuel efficiency, safety and noise. They will be categorised using a seven grade ranking scale, similar to the new car CO2 or fridge efficiency labels. From 1 November it will become a legal requirement for tyre retailers to display the new label on all replacement tyres, but labels will start appearing in shops and dealerships from this week. Fuel efficiency (rolling resistance) and safety (wet grip) will be categorised using a seven grade ranking scale.