hyundai ix35 usa price

Auto Car

If the ix35 is all about crossover style and space on a budget, then this new entry-level 1.6-litre petrol version should be a winner.

It’s certainly got the value part sewn up. For £16,195 (or £16,365 with engine stop-start, as fitted to our test car), you get a practical family car with an economical and impressively punchy engine. True, the engine is a bit boomy at medium revs, but it’s smooth.The stop-start system is slick, too.

The ride isn’t quite so polished, with a little too much bump around town and too much fidget on the motorway, but otherwise the ix35 is decent to drive. Light controls and a high-up driving position help make low-speed manoeuvres easy, even if over-the-shoulder visibility isn’t so good. auto car

Of course, this is a Hyundai, so you’d expect plenty of kit. You get it: air-con, heated front and rear seats, reversing sensors, Bluetooth, six airbags and stability control are all standard, plus a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. http://www.otocar.net
If only the plastics were as plush.

Still, at £1200 less than the cheapest diesel model, this petrol ix35 deserves to be considered.

new opel astra gtc 2011 spied

O

pel will soon bring the total body count of the new Astra range to three with the presentation of the sporty Astra GTC, also known as the Vauxhall Astra in Britain, that will join the already available five-door hatchback and the recently revealed, Sports Tourer estate.


Even though we'll have to wait for the Paris Motor Show in October for the official unveiling of the GTC, we can give you a glimpse of the sporty looking three-door Astra as two prototype models were caught on film during testing in Germany.


As you can see in the video after the jump, the first camouflaged Astra GTC features a single tail pipe at each corner of the rear bumper and beefy tire/alloy combos, suggesting it's a turbocharged model, quite possibly, the rumored GSi that's said to be fitted with a more potent version of the 1.6-liter turbo delivering a little over 200HP.


Turbocharged or not, the Astra GTC looks far sportier and more dynamic than the current three-door model. And even though it is based on the five-door model, Opel's design team has given the GTC a lower, almost coupe-like roofline as well as sharper profile thanks to the pronounced crease above the rear wheelarches.


The three door model is also expected to get unique tail lights and possibly even a reworked fascia.


Judging by the spy shots and video, we wouldn't be surprised if Opel targeted the Volkswagen Scirocco with the new GTC - let's not forget that VW's "coupe" is in fact a three-door model also.


The basic engine lineup will be shared with the five-door Astra ranging from a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated four-pot to a 180HP 1.6-liter turbo petrol and a 160HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel, while as we noted before, there's talk in Germany about a 200HP+ GSI version to close the power-gap with the OPC / VXR variant. The latter will most likely continue with the same or an upgraded version of the 240HP 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four found in the current OPC.


The new Astra GTC will make its way to European showrooms in early 2011. Now, how many of you think that GM ought to bring it as a new Buick over here?

Peugeot RCZ Coupe 2010 photos

Peugeot is set to rediscover sportiness after unveiling the production version of its new Audi TT rival, the RCZ.

The showroom version of the stylish coupe will become the first Peugeot passenger car to abandon the company’s zero-based naming system, but otherwise remains faithful to the 2007 308 RCZ concept.

This includes the RCZ’s unusual “double bubble” roof and aluminium roof arches that can be personalised in either black, chrome or ‘satin’.

The RCZ goes on sale in Australia in mid 2010 and is based on the same platform as the 308 small car.

It has been designed, however, to deliver more dynamic handling with a 20mm-lower ride height, 40mm-lower centre of gravity, and significantly wider front and rear tracks.

Bulging wheelarches will also be filled with large tyres, ranging from 18 to 19 inches, which in turn are fitted with big brakes.

The most powerful version of the 1.36-metre-high RCZ also gains a lower anti-roll bar on the front suspension, which Peugeot claims further improves the coupe’s agility.

This variant features a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 147kW and 255Nm (275Nm with overboost).

Mated to a six-speed manual, the range-topping RCZ sprints from 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.6 seconds.

A hybrid version of the RCZ could also go into production, based on the all-wheel-drive diesel-electric RCZ Hybrid concept car that will debut alongside the production coupe at this September’s Frankfurt motor show – boasting CO2 emissions of just 95 grams per km.

Peugeot says it has also used sound technology to artificially enhance the 147kW RCZ’s exhaust note during acceleration.

Two other launch engines include a detuned version of the same turbo petrol engine – with outputs of 115kW and 240Nm – and a 2.0-litre diesel offering 120kW and 340Nm.

The diesel and lesser-powered petrol engines are available with a choice of either manual or automatic transmissions with six gear ratios.


Peugeot says the RCZ’s active rear spoiler contributes to aerodynamic efficiency, and an aluminium bonnet helps reduce the coupe’s weight.

An optional carbonfibre roof saves more weight as well as lowering the car’s centre of gravity.

Like the TT, the RCZ is essentially a two-seater sports coupe that offers two extra “occasional seats”, which are likely to be suitable only for kids or luggage.

Boot capacity is a respectable 384 litres and includes additional storage spaces under the floor. The rear seats also fold down to expand cargo space.

Peugeot Australia is hoping to sell between 350 and 400 RCZs a year, with pricing likely to be more affordable than the Audi TT.

The RCZ is revealed just two months after the French car maker completed a motor racing comeback with victory in the famous Le Mans 24 Hour race, and Peugeot is heralding the car as “the start of a dynamic new chapter in the history of Peugeot”.

Peugeot has struggled to appeal to enthusiast drivers since the 205 GTi hot-hatch of the ’80s and ’90s.

The RCZ will be built in Austria by specialist builder Magna Steyr.

Saab 9-5 Sedan photos

otocar reader Patrick sent us a collage with the first official photos of the all-new Saab 9-5 Sedan that is destined to make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Saab 9-5 Sedan photos

BMW Z6 leads off growing Z-series

bmw

The BMW Z8 might have tanked a bit, but BMW isn't phased... much. The replacement is the BMW Z6, which BMW will pit against the Mercedes' SL class. The car will be produced in a higher volume at a lower price than the $130,000 Z8,

BMW C.L.E.V.E.R. Concept

BMW just released official pictures of its co-developed three-wheeled, natural-gas powered micro-car called CLEVER (Compact Low Emission VEhicle for URban Transport). Although nothing official yet, but this concept that was funded by the European Commission (Fifth Framework Programme) could base the C1 successor, marrying the worlds of cars and motorcycles. Partners in the C.L.E.V.E.R project included:

New 2009 Mercedes E-Class Leaked in German Automag

Until then, these first photos enough to recognize that much fresh, different from the family. Like the front, the typical C-Class, with glossy, kantigem grille. Unlike the middle class keeps the most important image makers, however, the striking face-to-face. Only that it no longer round lights shining, but aggressively angular lights.