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Caterham R500

Caterham R500 – Top Gear’s Car of the Year

Top Gear has named the Caterham Superlight R500 its 2008 ‘Car of the Year’.

The most extreme version of the legendary Seven appeared on the popular BBC show for the first time at the beginning of December, instantly leaving a lasting impression on presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

In the hands of Top Gear’s mystery test driver, The Stig, the R500 put in one of the most visually spectacular laps around their benchmark test circuit, Dunsfold. Free of any driver aids, the Seven slipped and slid to a lap time that disgraced cars costing over ten times as much.

Despite incredibly cold conditions, the £37K* Seven was less than a second slower than the absolute record around the ‘Top Gear lap’ and rapid enough to steal the overall fifth fastest time, previously held by the £1million Bugatti Veyron.

Clarkson, who’s wife is a proud Seven owner, awarded the R500 for "achieving something that a car of its value shouldn’t be able to", amidst competition from Nissan’s GT-R, Fiat’s 500 and the new Ford Fiesta.

Unbelievably - and testament to its brilliance - the Seven still uses Colin Chapman’s original chassis design, dating back 51 years. Caterham Cars continue to ‘add lightness’ to modern variants, pushing the performance envelope through the benefits of modern technology and advanced construction methods.

The result is a British car that persistently offers arguably one of the purest driving experiences.

The nimble R500 exploits its featherweight, 506kg chassis to its full potential when combined with a 2.0 Ford Duratec engine, tuned by Caterham Powertrain (CPT) to achieve 263bhp. The resulting 520bhp-per-tonne beats that of the Veyron and is capable of propelling the two-seater from 0-60mph in a staggering 2.88 seconds.

Standard Equipment

• 2.0-litre Caterham Motorsport Ford Duratec
• 6 Speed Caterham Gearbox
• Limited Slip Differential
• Superlight Suspension (wide track front and de Dion rear with Watts linkages)
• Carbon dash, nose cone, rear and front cycle wings
• ACES change-up lights
• Ventilated front brake discs with 4 pot calipers
• 13" Anthracite eight-spoke alloy wheels with Avon CR500 tyres
• Carbon interchangeable wind deflector
• 4 point Road Harnesses
• Quick-release Momo Steering Wheel with integrated indicator switches
• Carbon Kevlar seats

 

Renault Koleos

Renault Koleos Wins Hat-Trick at Planet 4×4 Magazine 2008 Awards

Proving that its first compact 4×4 has as much substance as style, Renault’s recently launched Koleos has driven away with a hat-trick of titles at Planet 4×4 magazine’s 2008 awards, including the ‘4×4 of the Year’ trophy.

Fending off fierce competition from 47 rugged contenders, including perennial favourites such as the Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover, the French marque’s first foray into the 4×4 arena triumphed initially over the Honda CR-V, recently-launched Ford Kuga and VW Tiguan to win the ‘Compact SUV’ title, before going on to win ‘Best Newcomer’ and the overall ‘4×4 of the Year’.

Koleos’ excellent combination of off- and on-road ability, allied to considerable versatility through its split tailgate, removable centre console storage unit and ‘Super-fold’ rear seat system, not to mention high equipment levels, build quality and residual values, led Planet 4×4’s testers to enthuse, “…its breadth of talents is vastly impressive. It’s excellent to drive in all conditions, and its convenience and usability put almost every other SUV in the shade.”

Commenting on the awards, Planet 4×4 Editor, Alan Kidd, said, “Renault has come from nowhere to make the best, most relevant 4×4 on the market. The Koleos does everything well and most things exceptionally; it’s a great all-round vehicle at an honest, value-for-money price. This is a new benchmark for all SUV manufacturers and a vehicle that’s every inch the 4×4 of 2008.”

 

Lotus Evora Wins Another Award

iMotor Readers choose the New Lotus as "Overall Most Rated Car 2008"

The new Lotus Evora has added yet another award to its growing trophy cabinet, this time for iMotor Magazine’s "Overall Most Rated Car of 2008". In every issue of iMotor (which has an ABCe of 108,600), readers have been ‘rating’ and ’slating’ the cars featured; and out of 40,000 votes counted, 95 per cent of voters rated the Lotus Evora, compared to just 5 per cent slating it making the new 2+2 the most highly rated car in 2008 by iMOTOR readers.

Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc, is delighted with the award, "This award from iMotor readers is particularly special as it demonstrates that we have produced a car that already has a fan base amongst the cognoscenti, despite the car being a few months away from the sale date in the spring."

iMOTOR editor Mat Watson said: "Unlike other car magazine awards, ours are decided by the readers. Also they include concepts, models that are not yet on sale and some which the press has yet to drive. And it’s clear the iMOTOR readers rate the forthcoming Lotus Evora more than any other car we have featured in the mag. It’s ‘rated’ score of 95 per cent is truly impressive and enough to see it beat brilliant machines such as the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 and Nissan GT-R. There’s clearly a lot of excitement for this new Lotus."

 

KTM X-Bow

KTM Takes Triple Honours in topgear.com Awards

KTM, one of the newest car manufacturers in Europe, celebrated triple honours at the TopGear.com 2008 awards last night.

The stunning ‘Ready to Race’ KTM X-Bow is Top Gear’s ‘Sports Car of the Year’, while KTM’s CEO Stefan Pierer, and X-Bow Chief Chassis Engineer, Loris Bicocchi, are both recognised among Top Gear’s ‘Men of the Year’.

Made in Austria, the KTM X-Bow (pronounced crossbow) is a minimalist two-seater mid-engined sports car - featuring a state-of-the-art carbon fibre monocoque - that delivers a pure and exhilarating driving experience.  Its 2-litre TFSI Audi engine develops 240 ps (177 kW) and catapults the X-Bow to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds.

The team at Top Gear magazine – the most widely read motoring publication in the UK – and TopGear.com – which boasts over two million unique users each month – reports in this month’s ‘Car of the Year Awards’ issue that the X-Bow they drove in New York "…cuts enough of a dash to stop traffic on its own… beautiful carbon and a great engine courtesy of Audi combine to make it one the greatest things we’ve been in all year."

Top Gear enthuses that Stefan Pierer will "… chat for hours about racing. We like it that he donated KTM’s DNA to a machine with four wheels."

And in crediting Loris Bicocchi with the X-Bow’s dynamics, Top Gear observes that the X-Bow "… turned out delicious. That’s the mark of Bicocchi."

 

VW Jetta

JETTA TDI CLEAN DIESEL NAMED 2009 GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR

The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel has been honoured at the Los Angeles Motor Show by the Green Car Journal, being crowned ‘2009 Green Car of the Year’.

The Jetta, which takes centre stage at the Los Angeles Show this month, is the first diesel vehicle to receive the prestigious award.

A jury of nine environmental and automotive experts from North America commended the Jetta TDI for its strong performance, fuel economy and low emissions.

Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal commented:  ‘Hybrids have dominated the discussion of environmentally positive vehicles in recent years.  The highly fuel efficient, 50 state emissions certified Jetta TDI shows that advanced clean diesel has arrived and is poised to change this dynamic.  With its affordable price point, refined ride and handling, and high fuel economy, the Jetta TDI shows that hybrids now have a strong competitor in the marketplace.’

The Jetta uses a 2.0-litre four cylinder common rail TDI engine producing 140 PS and 320 Nm (236 lbs ft) of torque at 1,750 rpm.  Two key modifications have been made to the ‘Clean Diesel’ engine to substantially reduce the Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions. 

The common rail engine in the Jetta TDI clean diesel adopts optimised combustion chamber geometries and precise injection processes at extremely high pressures reduce the production of NOx.  An exhaust gas recirculation process in the combustion chamber then reduces the concentration of oxygen with which the nitrogen can react and controls the combustion temperatures.  This process can reduce temperature-dependent NOx emissions by up to 60 percent.

As a further measure to reduce emissions, a highly-efficient NOx storage catalytic converter soaks up any nitrogen oxides which remain.  This filter is cleaned regularly, and without the driver knowing, through an automated engine management mode.

These modifications make the Jetta TDI one of the cleanest and most fuel efficient vehicles on sale in North America.  It meets the strictest emissions regulations in the world including BIN5 standard, which is equivalent to the Euro 6 standard which becomes law in 2014.

The Jetta continues to enjoy sustained popularity in the North American market, enjoying popularity primarily with younger buyers.  It is the best-selling European vehicle in the US, accounting for 40 per cent of Volkswagen’s US sales.  The Jetta TDI with Clean Diesel has been available across North America since August 2008.

‘It is a tremendous honour to have our Jetta TDI awarded Green Car of the Year,’ said Stefan Jacoby, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America.  ‘We believe the Jetta TDI provides our customers with the best of both worlds – excellent fuel efficiency combined with a dynamic driving experience.’

 

Vauxhall Insignia

Vauxhall Insignia Takes Honours in topgear.com Awards

The Vauxhall Insignia has received a TopGear.com award, and the full story is available from today in Top Gear magazine.

Its Executive Car of the Year went to the all-new Insignia which is now on sale in the UK.

Fresh from its recent victory in 2009 European Car of the Year, the Insignia was praised by Top Gear’s journalists for being ‘..aspirational, appealing and special’. The team also noted how far ahead of the game Vauxhall was with the Insignia’s technology, with features like its Front Camera System that can recognise road signs, and its latest adaptive headlights, with nine settings. They also thought that the car looked ‘…neat and stylish from all angles’.

Top Gear’s UK edition has a circulation of around 200,000 per month – the largest in its sector – it currently has a further 21 overseas titles and global circulation of over one million. TopGear.com generates 14 million page impressions per month making it one of the leading automotive websites.

 

Citroen C3 Picasso

CITROËN’S SUCCESS AT TOPGEAR.COM AWARDS

C3 Picasso ‘Family Car of the Year’

Even before it arrives, in 2009, Citroën’s newest MPV, the C3 Picasso, has already been named ‘Family Car of the Year’ at the 2008 Top Gear Awards, appearing in the latest edition of the magazine and on topgear.com.

The C3 Picasso’s innovative design, versatility and class-leading space will raise the standard in the compact MPV segment.  Bringing together the often opposing elements of modern and retro styling, round and square shapes, and compact styling with vast volumes, this award-winning new car really has a unique personality and presence all of its own.

Top Gear Magazine said; "This is what Citroën does best: small, utilitarian and funky…As functionally beautiful as Apple’s ubiquitous iPhone. This is what a 21st century family car should look like."

Michael Harvey, Top Gear magazine’s Editorial Director says: "Sometimes you have to take a punt. We don’t yet know the C3 Picasso as well as we’d like, but we’re absolutely looking forward to getting to know it better. For innovative design and compelling execution it’s unbeaten in the last 12 months and that’s why it has got this award."

Xavier Duchemin, Managing Director of Citroën UK, commented; "For the C3 Picasso to be winning UK awards even before it’s been launched is a delight and an honour. This is a fantastic recognition of Citroën’s efforts in designing cars that are both future thinking and right for the current market."

 

Fiat 500 Arbath

ABARTH 500 ROARS AWAY WITH TOP GEAR.COM AWARD

It’s not even on sale in the UK yet, but the eagerly-awaited Abarth 500 is already picking up top industry awards. The 135 bhp turbocharged supermini has just roared off with Top Gear magazine’s Best Hot Hatch prize.

Due into Abarth’s UK dealer network next February, the potent 500 version has already stirred up excitement among British customers – 200 examples of the car, which were set aside for sale exclusively via the Internet, have already been snapped up, three months ahead of plan, while Abarth UK showrooms have been inundated with inquiries and deposits for cars.

Described by Top Gear as “frisky and fun” and “an irresistible piece of Italian tailoring”, the Abarth 500 is praised by the magazine’s judges for its retro styling, sports looks, turbo-boost acceleration, grip and handling.

“This is a good start for the Abarth 500,” says Ivan Gibson, manager, Abarth brand UK. “We have had considerable success already with the Grande Punto version, and now we are looking forward to launching the 500 in the UK. Endorsements from important and influential media such as Top Gear magazine are great news and show us that we are doing things absolutely right with this exciting Abarth brand.”

Powered by a 1.4-litre 16-valve turbocharged engine similar to the one in the Abarth Grande Punto, the Abarth 500 delivers a maximum 135 bhp at 5500 rpm and has a peak torque of 206 Nm (152 lb ft) at 3000 rpm, when ‘Sport’ mode is deployed.

Built to Euro 5 environmental standards, the Abarth 500 returns 43.4 mpg on the combined cycle and has CO2 emissions of just 155 g/km.

It goes on sale in the UK in February priced at under £14,000 OTR. An uprated esseesse version, boosting power to 160 bhp, will also become available here.