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After much anticipation, the 11th generation of the US Corolla has been unveiled. The Corolla is previewed by the Furia concept presented at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show. Judging from history, the next Corolla Altis that we will be getting will be styled very closely to the US version. Measuring 4,650mm by 1,776mm by 1,455mm (L x W x H), the new Corolla is 99mm longer, 16mm wider and 10mm lower than its predecessor. The larger dimensions also translate to more interior space as rear seat room improved by 75mm. Speaking of the car's interior, the dashboard layout is similar to the Auris hatchback, which in turn reminds me of the Toyota Taxis in the 80s due to the 'upright' design. For the US market, two 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engines are available - one producing 132bhp (Dual VVT-i) while the other churns out 140bhp (Valvematic). Various gearboxes are available depending on trim level. They include a six-speed manual, CVTi-S (continuously variable transmission intelligent-shift) and a dinosaur-age four-speed automatic. For Singapore, my hunch is that the current Altis' 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i, four-speed automatic combination will be carried over unchanged to the new Altis. Just look at what happened to the newly-introduced Vios. Within hours after the US-market Corolla is launched, Toyota released photos of the European version of the new model. It sports a different head lights, grille and tail lights. Overall, the US version looks sportier while its European counterpart projects a more luxurious outlook. 2014 European Corolla
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Free motoring publications eating into market of payable ones?
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
In the early 1990s when I became a young automobile fan, my only source of automotive information was 'Motoring' magazine as I was a subscriber. It's recent demise was quite sad but not unexpected. The number of motoring publications in the Singapore market has been increasing over the past few years and perhaps one of the great threats to their survival is free publications. 'CarBuyer' has been distributed freely via petrol stations for a few years now, recently joined by another complimentary publication. Like paid publications, they offered reviews on new models, comparison between models, interviews and analysis on hot issues such as COE. Although they are free, the print quality and paper quality is pretty good. I believe these free publications earn their revenue mainly through advertisements. Currently, I do not buy printed publications as often as before. I obtain the latest news of the automotive world from the internet, and this news is hot from the oven. However, when it comes to car reviews and comparison studies, I still enjoy reading hardcopy as I prefer to flip the pages rather than scrolling down the page using the mouse. To satisfy such needs, publications such as 'CarBuyer' are serving me well. -
Robin Hood aids DirectAsia.com to liven up local insurance advertising
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
In an otherwise monotonous and 'traditional' local insurance industry, DirectAsia.com aims to inject a little dose of excitement and freshness with its new advertising campaign. Inspired by similar and successful campaigns overseas, DirectAsia.com will be represented by folk hero Robin Hood in its promotional and advertising materials. The award-winning insurer is natural with stirring new business methods and models within the industry and the firm believes the use of the iconic figure will accelerate and further establish the firm's standing as an innovator. An animated Robin Hood in real world settings will be featured heavily in the insurer's marketing campaigns, with the first adverts addressing the insurer's 'Best Price Guarantee' message. The advert will be aired on local TV and cinemas, as well as YouTube and the other internet platforms. Commenting on the new concept, Simon Birch, CEO of DirectAsia.com, said, "So far, advertising for insurance here has remained traditional and rather boring. You know the ones with impossibly good looking families with perfect teeth standing under umbrellas etc. Our latest campaign aims to change all that, as well as change people -
Final preparations underway by Rolls-Royce to re-enact the 1913 Alpine Trial
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Later this month, 40 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts will depart from Vienna, and journey through cities like Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Italy before returning on 29th June in a bid to faithfully re-enact the 1913 Alpine Trial. With the date drawing closer, final preparations are underway with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' Authorised Dealer in Essex, P&A Wood, playing an essential role in ensuring cars are in perfect condition. Eight of the 40 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts participating in the rally, many over a century old, have been meticulously prepared by the dealership -
As a kid, had you ever watched the movie 'Back to the Future'? Well, I had, which is why I am familiar with such a thing as a time travel machine (Delorean, if you remember), well, fictionally, of course. Yes, as they say, there's no way to turn back time no matter what you do. Wait, is that really true, if at all? Judging from recent happenings, that may be wrong. As a matter of fact, the Chinese may have actually found a way to go back through time. Just recently, a tunnel situated at northern Guizhou area - at the Zunyi's Honghuagang District, to be more exact - was found to have some kind of strange phenomenon. In total, the tunnel measures over 400 metres in length and when you get out at the other end, you'll see that your mobile phone clock has been set backwards by an hour. No, this is neither a lie nor a prank. To confirm this, a news reporter even decided to try out the tunnel himself. The result was that in eight out of 10 times, the reporter's cell phone clock was set aback by a whole hour. Now, don't worry too much. Should you decide to try and pass the 'time tunnel' - as the locals have been calling it for some time now, the clock on your mobile phone will show the normal time again if you have reached at least a kilometre away from that particular car tunnel. Unfortunately, for the time being, there has yet to be a definite explanation why such a phenomenon can take place, leaving most of us clueless of what actually lies underneath the tunnel or, perhaps, around it. Well, I'm wondering, if it has the ability to screw up the mobile phone clock, I think there's no guarantee it can't screw up the car's computer, too, especially if it's an electric car which, as its name implies, relies heavily on electrical components. So, would you like to try time traveling in this tunnel in China? As for me, you ask? Well, I'm out of words
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Caterham to unveil cheaper, entry level track car based on the Seven
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Caterham will release a new, more affordable and entry level version of the iconic Seven that pays tribute to the philosophy that inspired its creation. The Caterham 7 is a super lightweight sports car produced by Caterham Cars in the U.K. It is based on the Lotus Seven, a lightweight sports car sold in kit and factory built form by Lotus from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. After Lotus ended production of the Seven, in 1972, Caterham bought the rights to the design, and today makes both kits and fully assembled cars. Now Caterham is all set to unveil a new car based on the iconic 7 but with an accessible price tag at under -
Edmunds.com pits the new Lexus IS250 against the BMW 328i and Cadillac ATS 2.0
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Edmunds.com, an American online resource for automotive information, pitted the fresh-from-the oven 2013 Lexus IS250 against the Cadillac ATS 2.0 and the compact luxury segment leader, the BMW 328i. The IS250 is powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre V6 which is good for 204bhp. The 328i and ATS are both propelled by their respective 2.0-litre direct-injected, turbocharged four cylinder which produces 240bhp and 272bhp respectively. This is the third generation of the Lexus IS. However, will it be third time lucky against the BMW 3 Series? -
Hyundai gave us a preview of their upcoming Nurburgring test centre by revealing two rendered photos. The facility will be ready in August this year and will feature four floors dedicated to workshops, office space and a VIP hospitality area. According to the Korean automaker, the test centre will enable them to fine tune the suspension, steering and handling characteristics of their products to suit the taste of the European drivers. "Quality is one of Hyundai's core values and it is key to achieving customer satisfaction. The Nurburgring is the ultimate location to test vehicle durability, and we're able to apply what we learn there to all of our vehicle development projects. Our new facility will increase our testing capacity, bringing direct benefits to our customers in terms of vehicle quality and performance," said Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe. The new test centre will allow Hyundai to conduct more vehicle assessments per year, which include the accelerated durability tests that simulate up to 180,000km of road wear and tear in a matter of weeks.
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Infiniti founder, Bill Bruce, has passed on at the age of 70 on 28th May 2013. He succumbed to the Lou Gehrig's Disease after a long battle with the illness. Lou Gehrig's disease damages motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in muscles becoming smaller and weaker. Gradually the body becomes paralysed. Bruce is widely known for creating Infiniti's concept of "Total Ownership Experience" which revolutionised the industry at that time. He joined Nissan in 1982 before becoming Infiniti's general manager in 1989. He retired from the company in 1999. "Bill Bruce has laid the foundation for the Infiniti brand worldwide. He's got wide acclaim and respect for his vision to provide customers with an outstanding experience throughout the entire ownership of the car. This caused a major shift in the car industry overall, and so he left a lasting mark. We are saddened by this loss and our thoughts are with his family," said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd. Bruce leaves behind his wife, Nancy, and children, Amanda and Rob. The first generation Q45 and M30
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Caterham aims to defend speed title at Cholmondeley Pageant of Power
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
After taking the honours last year, Caterham aims to defend its lap record at the 2013 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power to occur from the 14th till 16th June with its SP/300.R. This year, four British sportscar manufacturers will go head-to-head, with four distinct vehicles in an attempt to better last years timing of 61.89 seconds at the narrow circuit. Caterham's sports prototype racer will compete against exotic supercars and specialist track-day vehicles to defend its title. Caterham Drive Experience instructor, Scott Mansell, will once again take the wheel of the SP/300.R for this event. The racer will join supercars, classic and modern race cars, as well as specialist track-focussed machines, with the latter expected to do battle for the lap record. Caterham Cars' CEO, Graham Macdonald, said, "Last year's contest was extremely close and we expect it to be even tighter this year, given that there are four British manufacturers attending, each with exactly the same aim." The SP/300.R is powered by a 2.0-litre Supercharged Ford engine, producing 300bhp via a six-speed sequential gearbox. Flat out, it is capable of topping 289km/h and will reach 100km/h in 2.6 seconds. The sports prototype vehicle has attracted strong demand among the premium trackday community with sales across the U.K., North America and France. Visit http://www.caterham.co.uk for more information about the SP/300.R and Caterham -
Ever wondered how vehicle wrapping or car art is done? The above video shows an ordinary MK7 Golf being turned into a shiny hatchback. The job is performed by London-based car art company, Creative FX. The Golf itself is supplied by UK dealer, Driftbridge Volkswagen. There are two practical advantages that I can think of regarding the transformation. Firstly, a highly reflective surface helps to reduce heat buildup in the cabin. Secondly, the owner does not have to send his car for polishing ever again! We can see that car art needs a lot of patience and attention to details. The Golf in the video needs to be 'de-badged' and 're-badged'; the door handles are removed and put back; extra care is required when going around curved surfaces like the side mirrors. If the video has got you interested in the work performed by Creative FX, here's the link to their website - http://www.fxuk.net/
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Nissan Leaf EV winning the hearts and wallets of cab drivers in the U.K.
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Taxi operators across cities in Europe are going through a quiet revolution as they start to shift from conventional diesel powered cabs to zero-emission - and near silent Nissan Leaf taxis. Two years after the EV went on sale in Europe, Nissan Leaf taxis are now operating in European cities like Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the U.K. The world's best-selling electric vehicle (EV) is fast becoming a favourite among taxi drivers too, thanks to lower running costs and fueled by a desire to reduce airborne pollution in city centres. These road warriors are fast-becoming EV advocates showing colleagues the benefits of making the switch from diesel to electric. One of the strongest advocates is Amsterdam-based Taxi-E company. With a fleet of 13 Nissan LEAF's, the firms' drivers have covered over 700,000km - further than the distance between earth and the moon. The cars are quick-charged two or three times daily using 100 percent green energy, meaning they're always ready for passengers. The city of Zurich in Switzerland, will soon obtain ten Nissan Leaf supported by a network of city-wide fast chargers as part of the city's plans to make 15 percent of its taxi fleet electric by 2015. Capable of restoring the battery life by up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes, many customers arrive with partially full batteries, thus making the average stay - just 15 minutes. In Portugal, the first European country to sell the Leaf, Lisbon based owner-driver Jose Ferreira replaced his diesel powered taxi with a Leaf and has since driven more than 15,000km so far. Interestingly he reveals 70 percent of his customers liked the experience - and they would actively choose to ride in an electric taxi. Fuel and running costs are the biggest factors for taxi owner-drivers. Owner-driver Roberto San Jose from Valladolid, Spain, would have to spend more than -
Group Test : Ford Fiesta ST vs Peugeot 208 GTi vs Renault Clio RS
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Recently, I blogged on two reviews involving the Ford Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 GTI. Now, Auto Express U.K. made a triple-threat match by pitting the Fiesta ST and 208 GTI against Renault Clio RS. In the previous reviews, the Fiesta ST was clearly preferred over its French rival. Can the American pocket rocket do it again? Like the other two members in this group test, the Clio RS is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine which is good for 200bhp and 240Nm of torque. However, it is the only car here with a twin-clutch six-speed automatic transmission. The Clio RS also takes the podium for being the priciest among the trio. Auto Express drives the cars through hundreds of miles over a range of routes ranging from motorways to towns to pick a winner. The Clio is the best in the drag race while the Fiesta is the fastest round the track. -
Drayson Racing Technologies aims to break land speed record set in 1974
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Drayson Racing Technologies has announced to make an attempt for the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record on 25th June at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire, U.K. It's the latest challenge to be undertaken by the pioneering electric motorsport firm, which has been at the forefront of sustainable racing since 2007 and was first to sign up for the new FIA Formula E championship series. The attempt will be made in the sub-1000kg class to be piloted by entrepreneur, racing driver and former U.K. Science Minister Lord Drayson. He will drive a low-drag version of the Drayson B12 69EV electric Le-Mans Prototype flat-out along Elvington's 2.99km long runway. Lord Drayson will aim to better the current record of 281km/h set by Battery Box General Electric in the United States back in 1974. Lord Drayson, CEO and co-founder of Drayson Racing Technologies, commented, "It is not the outright speed that is impressive about this record attempt, but the engineering challenge of accelerating a 1,000kg electric vehicle to such a high speed and sustaining that speed, before stopping safely all within a relatively short distance then turning round and doing it again within an hour." With the electric land speed record it intends to showcase what is possible with an electric drivetrain and underscore Britain -
Race Driver: Grid is a video game by Codemasters - the same developers of the recent slew of F1 games and Dirt rally car racing series. The sequel, Grid 2, is an upcoming video game by the same developers to be released in a couple of days on PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows OS. Most video games like God of War, Halo and Call of Duty, among others, usually retail a limited, exclusive or collectors packaging. They often contain a few value add items like DLC, in game character skins, maps, weapons or in the case of Call of Duty - you get night vision goggles or remote controlled 'surveillance vehicle'. As part of the new game, the marketing team for Codemasters have unveiled a new Grid 2: Mono Edition and with it you get the game (obviously), a PlayStation 3 and an actual 273km/h capable BAC Mono car - in full Grid 2 livery and full driver race wear for the ultimate racing experience. By the way, did I mention it costs roughly 125,000 of the queens money (S$238,727) ?
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Ford celebrates 21 years of sponsoring UEFA with new Kuga and Fiesta ST
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Ford is celebrating 21 years as an official UEFA Champions League partner and this year marked the company's largest ever presence at the four-day UEFA Champions Festival. Ford made its presence felt with the new Kuga, Fiesta ST and special guest driver - Ken Block. The new Ford Kuga was featured heavily in the build-up to the UEFA Champions League Finals appearing on match-day hoardings in stadiums around Europe and leading Ford's 'Drive to Wembley' competition. Drive to Wembley was the largest ever ticket giveaway for a UEFA Champions League Final that saw 360 winners from 27 countries around Europe attending the match between FC Bayern Munich and BV Borussia Dortmund. Fans at festival experienced the new Ford Kuga with test drives that highlight Ford -
[extract] Opel tried to steal the spot light at this year's VW annual event at W
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Toyota has released the first teaser shot of the 2014 Toyota Corolla. The next generation Corolla is previewed by the Furia Concept that was displayed at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show in January. The official premiere of the Eleventh iteration Corolla is scheduled to take place on 6th June in California. Toyota wants us to
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There is a new gentleman in France, and a fast one. This gentleman runs on four wheels instead of two feet. The heart of this man is a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 engine which pumps out 542bhp. We are talking about the GT-R Gentleman Edition which Nissan has offered specifically for sale in France. Only 10 units will be built. Based on the GT-R Black Edition, the Gentleman Edition is available only in Gunmetal Grey. The limited edition GT-R is distinguished by a pair of 'Gentleman Edition' badging located at the front fender vents. On the inside, the super car gets amber red leather upholstery and an individually-numbered titanium plaque. The leather-stitched steering wheel, gear stick and dashboard receive a sporty two-tone treatment. Gentlemen, start your engine!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOzjcEq526I Chinese carmaker, BAIC, has engaged Hollywood actor, Nicolas Cage, to star in a commercial for the brand new Senova D Series. "We choose Nicolas Cage as the spokesman for our high end brand 'Shenbao' not only because he is an Oscar-winning actor and a screen legend, but, more importantly, because he has starred in a series of action films about cars," said an official in BAIC's Marketing Department. The Senova D Series is based on the SAAB 9-5 platform. In 2009, BAIC bought Saab's production lines for the first generation 9-3 and 9-5, which had an estimated worth of US$200 million(S$250 million). However, BAIC did not acquire the right to use the 'Saab' name. 'Shenbao' is the Chinese name for Saab in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. The Shenbao D-Series is available with three turbocharged engines, namely a 1.8-litre with 180bhp, a 2.0-litre with 204bhp and a 2.3-litre with 250bhp. The engines are mated to a five-speed tiptronic transmission with paddle shifts.
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In May 1913, James Radley set off from Brown's Hotel in London's Mayfair for a famous motoring adventure - the 1913 Alpine Trial. A century later, the same Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost has returned - ready to depart for a re-enactment of the event. Forming the modern day Rolls-Royce Works Team, Radley's car will join a contemporary pioneer, a 2013 Alpine Trial Centenary Collection Rolls-Royce Ghost on a faithful re-enactment of the rally in June this year. But the Works Team will be accompanied by more than 40 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts - many over a century old to traverse over 1,800 miles of Alpine roads. The rally will start in Vienna on 14th June 2013, and will pass through Italy, Croatia and Slovenia before returning to Austria's capital for a special evening hosted by Margraf Pallavicini at his Palais, exactly 100 years to the day since the finale of the original Alpine Trial. Taking in some of Europe's finest and most challenging mountain roads, the rally will meet with a group from the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club at Riva Del Garda, Italy, on Friday 21st June where 100 historic Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts will assemble for the largest gathering of its kind in history. The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts' exceptional performance in the 1913 Alpine Trial saw it earn the moniker 'The Best Car in the World', cementing the marque's reputation for engineering excellence and impeachable reliability. To celebrate this extraordinary moment in Rolls-Royce and automotive history, the Bespoke department at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England designed and crafted a 21st century homage. Finished in an exterior hue that takes inspiration from the Radley car, the 2013 Alpine Trial Centenary Ghost features exquisitely crafted bespoke touches that elegantly tell the story of the 1913 Trial. The clock displays the stages of the rally and timings while inlays to rear picnic tables and the front fascia express the topography and distances of the Alpine route. A hand-painted coachline referencing the four Rolls-Royce motor cars that took part in the rally and headlining, colour-matched to the hood of Radley's car, completes a beautiful homage.
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Aston Martin has built a one-off car called the CC100 Speedster Concept, whose styling pays homage to the legendary DBR1 race car that debuted in 1956 and won the 24 Hours of Nurburgring three years in a row. "We wanted to create something that, while celebrating our first 100 years, is also forward looking and gives a glimpse as to our future," said Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman. The CC100 Speedster Concept is powered by the company's 6.0-litre V12 engine, mated a six-speed automated manual transmission. The century sprint takes a little over four seconds before hitting an electronically limited top speed of 290km/h. The concept's body and interior is built using carbon fibre. The concept measures about 4,500mm long by 2,000mm wide and weighs less than 1.2tonnes. It has apparently found an owner who forked out between USD770,000 (S$965,965) to USD1,540,000 (S$1,931,930).
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Renault has signed on as official Technical Partner of Spark Racing Technology to supply Formula E cars that will contest in the FIA Formula E Championship. Formula E is a class of auto racing governed by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and is intended to be the highest class of competition for one-make, single-seat, electrically-powered racing cars. The series was conceived in 2012, with the inaugural race to be held in 2014. Demonstration events have been planned for the second half of 2013. Former Formula One driver Lucas di Grassi will be the series' test driver. Forty two cars were ordered have been ordered with Formula One team - McLaren - providing the motor, transmission and electronics that will be used by all the cars while Dallara Automobili will construct the chassis. Ten host cities are planning to hold the races and will occur exclusively on street circuits including in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Bangkok, Beijing and Miami - among others. The agreement was signed by Patrice Ratti, Renault Sport Technologies Managing Director and as a Renault SAS representative, Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings and Frederic Vasseur, President of Spark Racing Technologies. Renault's ongoing involvement in motor racing's series provides it with a unique technological laboratory, giving it an edge not only in the world of production vehicles but also on the race track. Renault's technological excellence extends not only in F1 but also in all Z.E. range. The forty two Formula E single-seaters built for the beginning of the first season will be aptly named 'Spark-Renault'.
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Recently, Mat Watson of Carbuyer U.K. got to review the Peugeot 208 GTI and Ford Fiesta ST on separate occasions. Both hot hatches were launched within two weeks apart. Both cars share more similarities than just their launch dates. The Fiesta ST and 208 GTI are both powered by 1.6-litre turbocharged engines mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The GTI churns out 197bhp with a century sprint timing of 6.7 seconds while the ST produces 200bhp and goes from 0 to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds. Although the ST is slower, it certainly trashes the GTI in terms of hot hatch looks with its "Aston Martin" grille. And from Mat's expression during both reviews, you can guess which one he prefers. The GTI and ST earned a rating of 4.0/5.0 and 4.8/5.0 respectively at the end of the reviews. Ford Fiesta ST Peugeot 208 GTI
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For those who intend to buy an Opel Astra 1.6 Turbo, you may want to hold off your purchase for a while. This is because the brand's latest 1.6-litre SIDI turbo petrol engine is now available on the five-door hatchback, four-door sedan and Sports Tourer versions of the Astra. The new engine will replace the existing 1.6-litre Ecotec turbocharged unit. The new range topper makes 168bhp and 280Nm of torque, which is 10bhp less but 50Nm more than its predecessor. In addition, torque availability has dropped from 2,200rpm to just 1,650rpm. The engine is available with either a new six-speed manual gearbox or a low-friction six-speed automatic transmission. The fuel consumption of the new engine is and improved 14 percent over its predecessor and is rated at 5.9L/100km (according to the New European Driving Cycle) for the hatchback and sedan. The five-door Astra 1.6 SIDI Turbo sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds faster than the current 1.6 Turbo. However, it is still 0.3 seconds slower than its arch rival, the Golf Sport.