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What Car News

• Vauxhall Meriva exclusive preview March 9, 2010
  Could Vauxhall's new Meriva be the most family-friendly MPV ever made? We're looking for six readers to tell us what they think, at an exclusive private preview.Join our exclusive previewIf you would like to take part, email readertestteam@haynet.com by midnight this Sunday, March 14, including the following information: • what car you currently drive; • where you'll be travelling from on the day;• your mobile number;• a few lines on why you're interested in seeing the new Vauxhall Meriva.When and whereThe exclusive preview will take place on Monday, March 22 from 4-6pm at What Car?'s HQ in Teddington, Middlesex. First lookThe new Meriva boasts a flexible cabin layout, rear-hinged doors for ultra-easy access, a standard kit list which includes a CD player, electric windows and heated door mirrors, and a storage rail running the length of the cabin. There's a choice of three petrol engines and two diesels for the car which costs from £15,495.Your comments and photographs will appear in the June issue of What Car? magazine's Reader Test Team feature; you'll also be asked to speak on camera for footage to be broadcast on whatcar.com. Six readers will be invited to attend – we'll get in touch on Monday, March 15 if you've been successful, with further details of the event.(Please note that you will not be able to drive the car – this is a chance to give your views on its design, ergonomics and specification.)Want to know more?Click on the links below to find out more about the Vauxhall Meriva and see other new car previews.
• Win 25 free driving lessons! March 9, 2010
  We are offering the chance to win 25 free lessons with your local What Car? driving instructor – a prize that will set you on the road to independence.What Car? Driving School uses only the finest instructors to give you the best chance of passing your driving test. Unlike most other national driving schools, we use Driving Standards Agency (DSA) fully qualified instructors who also meet our own selection criteria. To enter, click What Car? Driving School Competition
• Our stars of the Geneva motor show March 9, 2010
  It's a week on from the madness of the Geneva motor show press day, but now the dust has settled, what was the star of the show?The whatcar.com Geneva team has put together a 'two good, too bad' selection of cars from the show to sort out the delights from the duffers.On the basis of our thoughts, the award for star of the show goes to either the Kia Sportage, Mini Countryman and the Porsche 918 Spyder. Click through our report and see if you agree. Steve Fowler – group editor, What Car? Two goodMini Countryman – will anyone want a Mini SUV that’s built in Austria? Yes, me!Kia Sportage – at last, the Koreans discover soft-touch interiors. Looks fab and it's great value, too.Too badNissan Micra – a rare case where the old model looks more appealing than the new one. Porsche Cayenne – a car that’s got uglier and less desirable with every design tweak.Iain Reid – web producer, whatcar.comTwo good Honda CR-Z – at last, a hybrid that looks cool.Justin Timberlake's honesty – asked at the VW Group preview: 'Why did you become an ambassador for Audi?' He replied: 'Because they paid me a lot of money.'Too bad Bugatti 16 C Galibier – there's more than a hint of Porsche Panamera in the rear of the car.Mazda 5 – no clever seating tricks, no wrap-over windscreen, just looks that are verging on the bland and sliding doors – which the current model has anyway.Peter Lawton – deputy editor, whatcar.comTwo goodMini Countryman – I thought I'd hate the Countryman, but I actually quite liked it. I spent more time playing around with this car than any other at the show. Porsche 918 Spyder – you've got to dream, haven’t you? Those bright green brake callipers remind me of Jane Fonda's ankle warmers though (you might have to Google these if you're under 40).Too bad Mazda 5/Ford C-Max – the seats are too complicated to operate. They're a far cry from the ones in the Citroen C4 Picasso and Peugeot 5008, which you can flip and fold with one hand while holding a baby in the other. Lexus CT200h – it's great that the premium small family car segment is finally getting a hybrid, but does it really have to look like this? Roger Stansfield – associate editor, What Car? Two goodNissan Micra – something very different. Porsche 918 Spyder – a technological smorgasbord.Too bad Audi A1 – what’s wrong with a VW Polo? Citroen Survolt – too much pink and too many wings – a cross between Lady Penelope and Dick Dastardly.Will Nightingale – consumer reporter, What Car? Two goodAlfa Romeo Giulietta – Lots of promise – whatcar.com readers voted it their favourite car of the Geneva motor show.Kia Sportage – a huge step forward for Kia’s crossover – it looks sharp and the interior isn’t half bad, either.Too bad Honda CR-Z – a dancer falling off the stage during the unveiling. Oops!Aston Martin Cygnet – takes badge engineering to a whole new level – £30k for what’s essentially a Toyota iQ!Pete Barden – sub editor, whatcar.comTwo good Ford Focus – not just the practical, dull option any more.Porsche Boxster Spyder – 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, top speed of 166mph, and average fuel consumption of 30.4mpg – what's not to like?Too badFerrari 599 hybrid technology – stop saying what you could do – and do it.Nissan Micra – bland styling after early drawings hinted at something a little more interesting.Peter Brown – video editor, whatcar.comTwo Good Bentley GTC Convertible – suits me, I think. Audi A1 e-tron – cute styling for rich kids with a conscience.Too Bad BMW 5 Series –looks too big to drive, but too small to be driven in. Renault Wind – chunky and ugly - just like me.
• Dramatic cuts in UK CO2 emissions March 9, 2010
  Carbon dioxide emissions in the UK have been slashed thanks to the scrappage scheme and recession, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)The SMMT's report reveals that average CO2 levels for 2009 were down 5.4% to 149g/km, compared with figures for the previous year.Biggest fall since records beganThe drop is three times as fast as the average annual rate recorded since the study was launched in 1997 and is, in part, caused by motorists turning to more economical cars, and the scrappage scheme cutting the number of older, less efficient cars on the road.Although the scrappage incentive doesn't impose a CO2 cap, the average emissions of cars bought through the scheme so far is 133.3g/km – 26.8% less than the average scrapped car. Incentives need to be ongoingSMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: 'While scrappage incentives made a positive contribution to fleet renewal in 2009, there is a risk that over the next few years motorists might be deterred from investing in the latest technology.'Developing a long-term and consistent approach to vehicle taxation and environmental incentives will be important in maintaining the current rate of improvement.'If the current rate of reduction in emissions continues, the UK will hit the 2015 average new car emissions target of 130g/km set by the EU, and which comes into force in 2015.Fall in new car emissionsYear200120022003200420052006200720082009Average new car CO2177.6g/km174.2g/km172.1g/km171.4g/km169.4g/km167.2g/km164.9g/km158.0g/km149.5g/kmDrop on previous year –1.9%1.2%0.4%1.2%1.3%1.4%4.2%5.4%
• Toyota's hydrogen cars reach Europe March 8, 2010
  Toyota has taken another step towards its goal of putting hydrogen fuel-cell cars on sale by 2015 by supplying its hydrogen cars to a scheme in Germany.The company is giving five of its FCHV fuel-cell vehicles to the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) in Germany, a government-funded project that aims to develop the infrastructure necessary for alternatively fuelled vehicles. Tadashi Arashima, president of Toyota Europe, said: 'We firmly believe that fuel cell-powered vehicles will play a major role in reducing emissions and achieving sustainable mobility. 'Close tie-ups between car manufacturers and infrastructure companies are vital.'Infrastructure growing – slowlyBesides the two billion euro investment in the CEP project, which will install refuelling points between Berlin and Hamburg, other countries in Europe are slowly putting a skeleton refuelling structure in place. There are 15 refuelling stations in Scandinavia, while the M4 is targeted as becoming the UK's first
• General Motors favours local heroes March 5, 2010
  Vauxhall, Opel and other General Motors companies will continue to develop cars to suit local conditions rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach.This is in contrast to arch-rival Ford, which has developed a 'One Ford' policy under CEO Alan Mulally, under which cars are developed with global sales in mind.'Where do we develop our vehicles? We do it always in the region where they will be sold,' said Rita Forst, Vauxhall's head of engineering. 'You can change a lot of things by specification, but in the end you have to understand what Vauxhall and Opel stands for.'We stand for German engineering, high quality and flexibility. That means there has to be autonomy (in the different regions). Our mainstream cars will always be designed and engineered "at home", but even with niche cars that are brought in from outside (such as Chevrolets from America and Korea) my people are involved at an early stage to ensure that they have the right DNA.'
• Hot deals whatever the weather March 5, 2010
  Has spring finally sprung, or are we due another deluge?Do you fancy a new 10 plate convertible to make the most of the sun now it's arrived? Or do you think you need a 4x4 just to make it to the local shop?Either way, What Car? can help save you plenty of cash with hundreds of offers on all manner of cars. Whet your appetite with these deals or click on
• Good week, bad week: March 5 March 5, 2010
  It's our review of the good and the bad in a week of motoring-related ups-and-downs…Good week for new cars, Mini, Vauxhall and Whatcar.com visitorsThe Geneva Motor Show is always busy but this year it seemed even more packed than usual.Sales of new cars were also up, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The SMMT reckons the good news will continue after the scrappage scheme ends this month.GM has pledged £1.7 billion to Vauxhall, Mini has announced a sub-100g/km model and What Car? has secured the new Nissan Juke for an exclusive preview, especially for you.Bad week for politicians, roadworks and Kia crash testsThere have been too many people in charge at the Department for Transport, a report says, and Government claims about lower transport emissions are incorrect. Utility companies face bigger fines for digging up roads and then taking their time while the new Kia Venga had a hiccough in crast tests. A weakness was found in the restraint system during Euro NCAP crash tests so owners have been advised to get in touch with their dealer. Toyota's week – good or bad?Mostly bad. Again. The company believes there's nothing wrong, but US owners have been complaining of unintended acceleration in recalled and remedied cars. The good news? The Toyota Verso was the only car to get the full five-star rating in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests.This is the week that was... Chinese hybrid and electric cars for UK Politicians' plans for motorists Introduction Nissan Juke exclusive preview No hangover after scrappage party? Too many cooks at the DfT Bentley's bid to come clean thwarted Japanese disagree over electric vehicles Crash tests show Kia Venga safety worry Revised Toyota RAV4 on sale in spring New Mini to drop below 100g/km Saab: back to Swedish basics Opel Ampera takes to the road Vauxhall plans Mini rival Dacia to launch in UK in 2012 Geneva motor show on video GM pledges £1.7 billion to Vauxhall/Opel Vauxhall announces prices for new Meriva Seat IBe electric concept car Geneva motor show report 2010 Porsche 918 Spyder revealed Late roadworks face higher penalties Most economical Auris announced Save with our Target Price The big price rise
• What Car? needs you! March 5, 2010
  Over the past year or so, a number of internet-based companies have sprung up offering to buy any car, no matter what its age, mileage or condition. Whatcar.com wants to hear from you if you’ve recently used one of these companies. We’d like to hear experiences, good and bad, including how competitive the price offered was, how easy the company was to deal with, and how you’d rate the whole process. Please e-mail What Car? used car editor Matt Sanger at Matt.Sanger@whatcar.com, or write to him at Teddington Studios, Broom Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 9BE. Mark your envelope 'Internet car buyer survey'.
• Toyota recall woe continues March 5, 2010
  It's the groundhog day from hell for Toyota because US owners are now complaining of unintended acceleration in cars that have been recalled and remedied. Toyota received reports of the problem from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and has investigated.A statement from the manufacturer said: 'Although these reports involve a tiny fraction of the more than one million vehicles dealers have repaired to date, Toyota takes them very seriously.'Toyota's investigations are now being evaluated by NHTSA before the next step is taken, but the company said that it found no evidence of a failure of the throttle control system, brake override feature or in the actual work carried out during the massive recall campaign.Toyota also says that 'many' of the complaints to NHTSA could not be verified or followed up because of a lack of owner information. The manufacturer said it would be inappropriate to provide more specific information about its investigations since they are now being evaluated by NHTSA, but asked owners with any concerns to get in touch directly with the company.

Spain

• Madrid says bullfight 'high art' as debate rages March 7, 2010
  Matadors, philosophers and politicians in Spain are embroiled in a furious debate over the bloody but emblematic sport of bullfighting. And in clear provocation to its great rival Barcelona, Spain's capital Madrid has officially...
• Pain in Spain after housing bust March 7, 2010
  CORDOBA - "For Sale - Prices down 25 per cent!" yells the sign at the Residencia Garcilaso, a brand-new estate of tidy, yellow-walled houses on the outskirts of this southern city. But any family who bought here with the hope of...
• ETA chief arrested in France February 28, 2010
  MADRID - The leader of the armed Basque group ETA was arrested in France yesterday, officials said, in another setback for the separatists, who have seen five of their commanders taken into custody in the last two years. ETA chief...
• $17m for animal groups in will February 24, 2010
  A Spanish woman left ?3 million ($5.85 million) in her will to help protect the Iberian lynx, the world's most endangered feline species. The woman bequeathed a total of ?9 million to animal charities, officials in southern Andalucia...
• Austerity measures driving unrest February 24, 2010
  A wave of industrial and social unrest is building across Europe as workers resist attempts by governments and private companies to impose austerity policies, drive down wages and rescue some nations from near-bankruptcy. Huge...
• Afternoon naps boost brain power, study finds February 21, 2010
  An hour's nap in the afternoon can boost a person's brain power and improve their memory, according to a study showing that short periods of sleep during the day can make it easier to function mentally. Scientists found that a...
• Political wing urges Eta to stop February 21, 2010
  The political wing of Eta, the Basque separatist group, was today to make a historic call for the organisation to lay down its arms after 40 years, so peace negotiators can get to work. The call is a further sign of a growing rift...