How to suspend belief and a Vauxhall Corsa, but only for a few more days.

‘Alex Chinneck for Vauxhall Motors: Pick yourself up and pull yourself together.’

British artist Alex Chinneck today revealed his latest illusory artwork in collaboration with Vauxhall Motors.  Following 2014’s ‘floating building’ in Covent Garden,‘Pick yourself up and pull yourself together’ sees the artist suspend a new Vauxhall Corsa, 15 feet in the air at London’s Southbank Centre.

The collaboration with Vauxhall Motors turns a parking space on its head, peeling back 15 metres of arching tarmac to turn a one tonne car upside-down as the vehicle grips the curling road with no visible support.

Vauxhall Motors commissioned Chinneck to create a piece inspired by the new Corsa, which was launched earlier this year with a campaign based on an A-Z of British motoring. The gravity defying feat can be found in Southbank Centre Car Park, beside The London Eye, until Wednesday 25th February 2015.

Speaking on the artwork, Alex Chinneck said, “I see sculpture as the physical reinterpretation of the material world around us and so by introducing fictional narratives into familiar scenarios, I try to make everyday situations as extraordinary as they can be. I choose to do this through illusions because I think there is something both optimistic and captivating about defying the realms of possibility.

“With an effortlessly curling road I hoped to transcend the material nature of tarmac and stone, giving these typically inflexible materials an apparent fluidity. Vauxhall Motors allowed me a great amount of creative freedom and this collaboration offered my studioan exciting platform to explore new areas of engineering and fabrication.”

After making Covent Garden hover with 2014’s ‘Take My Lightning, But Don’t Steal my Thunder’and ‘A Pound of Flesh for 50p’ where a house in Southwark gradually melted to the ground, Alex wanted to create a public installation of significant sculptural and theatrical impact, which complimented the new Corsa’s design.

Commenting on the commission, Mark Adams, Head of Design at Vauxhall Motors said: “The installation certainly celebrates the new Corsa as a ball of energy – a small car with a big heart.  Alex Chinneck’s work is astounding, he’s an amazing British sculptor who creates illusionary structures with the most in-depth engineering and design.  Above all, the astonishing rip curl embodies the fun people have driving the much-loved Vauxhall Corsa.”   

As well as Alex himself, the sculpture has been produced by a team of structural engineers, steel benders, scenic artists, metal workers, carpenters, tarmac layers and road painters, creating an object that was designed tooccupy the absolute maximum UK road-legal dimensions so it can be installed overnight.

“Simple in concept yet structurally, technically and logistically complex, this project looks to deliver an experience that can be appreciated by different people for different reasons. While I am most excited by the hidden engineering and complex manipulation of concealed steel, others will simply enjoy the accessible theatricality of the illusion at play,” said Alex Chinneck.

Vauxhall Motors has worked with documentary director Chris Tubbs to create both a behind-the-scenes film, offering insights into how the project developed and a time-lapse of the piece’s installation. To view both visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/alexchinneck.

‘Alex Chinneck for Vauxhall Motors: Pick yourself up and pull yourself together’ is currently running from Thursday 19^th February until Wednesday 25^th February at the Southbank Centre Car Park.

Price & specs announced for 367PS Audi RS 3 Sportback ahead of March on-sale date

• All new second generation RS 3 Sportback available to order in the UK from March 2015 priced at £39,950 OTR - first customer deliveries in summer
• Most powerful production five-cylinder engine in Audi RS history with 367PS and 465Nm from 1,625rpm to 5,550rpm
• 0 – 62mph in 4.3 seconds – 0.3 seconds faster than the previous model – 155mph governed top speed can be raised to 174mph on request
• Lower weight, faster-shifting S tronic twin-clutch gearbox, faster-reacting quattro drive

The all new 367PS Audi RS 3 Sportback is now en route to the UK, and as the most powerful compact hatchback currently in series production will be even more adept at catering for sports car devotees who also need to take care of everyday necessities like the school run and the supermarket sweep.  

Capable of snapping at the heels of exotica with its 4.3-second 0-62mph sprint time and potential top speed of up to 174mph, the new five-door, five-seat Sportback will weigh in at £39,950 OTR. It will become available to order in March and reach its first UK customers in the summer.

The new entry point to the formidable Audi RS range is born of impeccable breeding – it is based on the current World Car of the Year and features the latest evolution of the evocative 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI – winner of the International Engine of the Year Award in the 2.0 to 2.5-litre category on no less than five consecutive occasions since 2010. 

Equally reassuringly, it shores up the extraordinary performance and handling produced by bringing these two elements together with the latest generation of quattro all-wheel-drive. 

The 367PS output from the aurally characterful 2.5-litre TFSI is complemented by peak torque of 465 Nm (343.0 lb-ft), which is available right from 1,625rpm through to 5,550rpm, ensuring that huge reserves of performance are always at the driver’s disposal.

With a power-to-weight ratio of 241PS per ton achieved by trimming an additional 55kg compared with the previous RS 3 Sportback, the latest car needs just 4.3 seconds to hit 62mph from rest, and with a suitable stretch of Autobahn to hand could continue to an electronically governed 155mph top speed. Drivers looking for optimal performance can also specify an optional increase to 174mph.

EU6-compliant

Compliance with stringent EU6 emissions legislation confirms that the latest edition of the classic five-cylinder unit is as frugal as it is feisty. With the help of a recuperation system, a demand-controlled oil pump and a new generation start-stop facility which increases the duration of engine ‘downtime’ at each stop, the latest RS model is capable of returning up to 34.8mpg, corresponding to CO₂ emissions of 189g/km.

Butterfly valves in the exhaust system control the exhaust flow and deliver a suitably full-bodied and characterful note that varies with engine load and speed. For the first time in an Audi model at this level, a sports exhaust upgrade which deepens the tone even further is also available as an option. The driver can control the volume and depth of the output in both set-ups via the standard Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system.

A seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission reworked to offer even faster shifts directs the power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with its redesigned and lightened multi-plate clutch and torque vectoring capability. The clutch is mounted on the rear axle in the interest of balanced load distribution, and the parameters its bespoke RS 3 software works to can be controlled via the Audi drive select system.

Depending on the situation, it can send between 50 and 100 percent of the available torque to the rear axle, and when Audi drive select is in dynamic mode and the ESC Electronic Stabilisation Control system is in its sport setting, power is transferred to the rear sooner and in greater amounts for even greater agility and more direct turn-in.

The state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system adds a further measure of control and composure to the inherently agile RS-specific chassis with its wider track front and rear, uprated MacPherson strut front suspension with purpose-built lightweight aluminium pivot bearings and four-link rear set-up. The new electromechanical progressive steering system which is capable of varying its ratio as a function of steering input also helps to emphasise the quick-witted feel.

From the driver-focused section of the options list the Audi magnetic ride adaptive damper system can be added to level out ride and handling to an even greater degree, and the steadfast RS-specific disc brakes with their efficiency-boosting wave contour discs, eight-piston calipers and bespoke lightweight friction rings upfront can be further upgraded with carbon fibre-ceramic front brake discs – a first for a car at this level.

Standard LED headlamps for UK versions

Classic RS visual references signal the special qualities that all these features confer to the outside world. In UK specification versions the nose with its high-gloss black, honeycomb-look singleframe grille and pronounced air intakes is set off by standard LED headlamps and daytime running lights. In profile the standard 19-inch alloy wheels snugly filling their arches, flared front wings, chiselled sills, matt aluminium-look mirror housings and large roof spoiler also catch the eye, and the rear with its remodelled bumper and high-gloss black diffuser insert is dominated in each corner by a large, oval RS tailpipe.

Customers can choose from a palette of eight paint finishes to either accentuate or subtly play down the purposeful look – it includes the two new shades Nardo grey and Catalunya red, metallic, the latter available exclusively for the RS 3 Sportback.

In the equally focused interior the standard sports seats are upholstered in Fine Nappa leather with contrasting stitching in rock grey, and the driver’s is perfectly positioned in relation to the flat-bottomed RS multifunction sports steering wheel with its leather and Alcantara trim. 

Stainless steel pedals, Alcantara door inserts and inlays in either 3D design black or optional Aluminium Race or Carbon also signal intent. High-quality applications in gloss anthracite black frame the instruments, which include black-faced dials with red needles and white scales, plus a driver‘s information system enhanced by a boost pressure indicator, an oil temperature gauge and a lap timer.

In addition to LED headlights, standard equipment highlights for UK RS 3 Sportback models include the acclaimed MMI radio with its electrically folding colour screen, navigation preparation, Audi Music Interface iPod connection,  Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, front seat heating and the parking system plus with acoustic and visual guidance. 

Choice options include newly developed RS bucket seats bringing a 7kg weight saving over the standard sports seat, an RS 3 interior design package with red accents on the seats, knee pads, air vents, floor mats and seat belts and MMI navigation plus with MMI touch, which through its Audi connect function beams internet-based services to the car.

SUZUKI RECALL - Further update on Celerio brake issues.

Following a condition experienced when carrying out an emergency braking test from high speed by Autocar magazine on a private road test facility on 30^th January, Suzuki carried out an immediate investigation into the cause and is now in a position to provide further information to its customers and media. The Celerio model went on official sale in the UK on 1^st February.

Suzuki GB PLC issued a Safety Recall Campaign on Monday 2^nd February at 9.00am and suspended sales of the vehicle in the UK. All dealers were immediately notified to directly contact customers who had recently taken delivery of their new vehicle.

The Safety Recall relates to a possible fault in the brake pedal release mechanism. A rectification by Suzuki Motor Corporation is currently being implemented and delivery of modified brake components is expected in the coming weeks.

Safety is of the utmost importance to Suzuki and it expects to return vehicles to customers as soon as is possible. Suzuki would like to take this opportunity to apologise to its customers and also thank them for their understanding and patience regarding this issue.

Customers with any further questions regarding their Celerio model should contact Suzuki Customer services on 0500 011959 or contact their supplying Suzuki dealer.

SEAT launches ‘Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack’ for LEON, Cheaper, lighter and more fun.

• SEAT launches ‘Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack’, priced at £4,200
• Comprehensive pack sports 30mm larger brakes with Brembo calipers, Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres, body coloured side skirts, multi-spoke alloys in black or orange, plus series of weight reduction measures
• Exclusivity assured as each car built to order
• Undercuts closest rival, Mégane Renaultsport 275 Trophy-R, by up to £7,000

SEAT is all set to stir up the hot hatch brigade once again with the launch of a new ‘Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack’. Mirroring the exact specification of its creation which became the first front-wheel-drive production car to dip under the magic eight-minute Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time, the pack is set to cost £4,200.

Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack

Other LEON models in the range.

Be under no illusions. A Leon SC CUPRA 280 fitted with the Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack is no impractical trackday toy. It’s every inch a proper hot hatch, just with an even more focused nature than the multi-award-winning Leon on which it’s based. It’s even got rear seats and a radio, DAB at that. Nevertheless, it’ll still make a simple trundle to the shops, an occasion and not a chore, and garner plenty of attention along the way. Plus, given the fact that each car will be built to order, its exclusivity is assured.

Specifying the Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack on a Leon SC CUPRA 280, costing £27,210 in manual guise, brings the price to £31,410. A sizeable £5,020 less than its closest direct rival, the two-seater Mégane Renaultsport 275 Trophy-R at £36,430. Or, closer to £7,000 by the time the latter’s Performance Brake pack, electric door mirrors and satellite navigation extras are thrown into the equation.

Courtesy of some weight reduction trickery, the comprehensive pack swaps climate control for a simpler heating system, while even four of the CUPRA’s usual eight speakers have been ditched in the dieting process. The weight loss programme has also seen the Leon CUPRA 280 slimmed down through the loss of the centre console armrest and rear air vents, while even the storage boxes under the front seat have been binned.

The rest of the pack is as per the standard Sub8 Performance Pack, which means lightweight multi-spoke 19-inch alloys in black or orange, 30mm larger brakes with Brembo callipers and body-coloured side skirts. Semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres can be included too for £460.

Keeping it extremely simple for customers, there’s the usual choice of six-speed manual or slick-shifting DSG transmission, but, in keeping with its stripped back approach, no options.

As well as a supreme driving experience, it also retains another CUPRA hallmark, its high-end equipment features. Among them are DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) and CUPRA Drive Profile, providing the choice of Normal, Sport, CUPRA and Individual settings, to adjust the suspension, throttle sensitivity, gearbox and engine note, according to the whim of the driver’s mood. There’s also cruise control, rear parking sensors, touchscreen satellite navigation and tyre pressure monitor.

The Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack can be specified now with all new Leon SC CUPRA 280 orders.

New Generation i20 receives ‘iF Design Award 2015’ in the product category.

• New Generation i20 receives ‘iF Design Award 2015’ in the product category
• Recognises distinctive, sophisticated design of Hyundai’s new B-segment car
• Further validation of Hyundai Motor’s design and quality

Hyundai Motor has once again received international recognition for its vehicle design from the prestigious iF Design Awards jury. The New Generation i20 has won the iF Design Award 2015 in the “Product” discipline, under the “Automobiles / Vehicles / Bikes” category.

The award recognises the refined design of the newest addition to Hyundai Motor’s car line-up. 

The distinctive appearance of the All - New Generation i20 hatchback was influenced by the latest interpretation of the company's Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy, characterised by the car's clean and elegant lines and the prominent hexagonal grille that marks it out as a Hyundai.

The team from Hyundai Motor’s Design Centre Europe in Rüsselsheim, Germany paid particular attention to achieving balanced proportions. The front-end design and long hood create a powerful stance, and the gloss-black C-pillar delivers a unique floating-roof motif. Inside, the driver-oriented cockpit features extensive use of soft-touch materials, as well as subtle piano black inserts and chrome detailing, to create a modern and sophisticated interior package.

Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group, said: "It's an honour for Hyundai to be once again internationally recognised in the iF Design Awards, with New Generation i20 following the success of All-New Genesis last year. Design plays a core role in shaping our brand and driving consumer purchases of Hyundai cars, so we're delighted to receive such a prestigious accolade from a respected authority on design."

For more than 60 years, the iF Design Awards have been recognised across the world as a symbol of design excellence. Organised by iF International Forum Design GmbH, the awards recognise outstanding design across various disciplines and categories. The jury awarded the sought-after prize to Hyundai’s New Generation i20 following a rigorous judging process, involving almost 5,000 entries from 53 countries.

The iF Design Award night will take place on 27 February 2015.

Designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe, the New Generation i20 is on sale now throughout the region.

Vauxhall launches "Camo-net for new Corsa to "Tone down" the bright colours (This is a joke BTW, I think)

Vauxhall Motors has launched a new accessory for Corsa drivers hounded for owning one of the UK’s best loved small cars.  The ‘Corsa Camo-net’ will be available to use across the season’s must-have colours – Flaming Yellow, Flame Red, Lime Green and Chilli Orange – and will hide both Corsa 3 and 5-door models.

The essential accessory has been designed specifically for use near National Trust premises and chocolate box Cotswold villages.  Quick and easy to operate, the ‘Corsa Camo-net’ will fold up easily into a back-pack or the boot of a vehicle, so ideal for use in the countryside by ramblers and tourists who want to park close to their destination. 

Andy Robson, Aftersales Director, Vauxhall Motors, warned: “We advise drivers to always remove the ‘Corsa Camo-net’ prior to driving the car, to avoid being a hazard to other drivers.  We’re looking to extend the range across other carlines depending on demand.  Drivers can locate their vehicle using their remote fob to operate the lights.”

Pamela Meegan, a Vauxhall Corsa driver from the picturesque town of Luton (Now I know they are joking - TMW) said: “I love the ‘Corsa Camo-net’, I will use it every day to keep my neighbours at bay.  I believe they suffer from a deep-rooted jealousy as my new Corsa looks great from every angle.  It’s sporty, sharp and dynamic with real attitude.”

Development of the new accessory from Vauxhall Motors was prompted after tourists visiting the picturesque village of Bibury in Gloucestershire complained that a yellow Vauxhall Corsa ‘ruined’ the view and photographs of the Cotswold village.  The photo-bombed pictures picked on local-resident 82-year old, Peter Maddow who uses the car for grocery shopping in the nearby village.  Peter Maddow will be receiving a ‘Corsa Camo-net’, free-of-charge from Vauxhall Motors.

Vauxhall Motors recently launched its bold all-new Corsa campaign.  The ‘A to Z of Corsa’, is an affectionate nod and rebellious take on the Vauxhall Corsa, which has sold over 1.8 million vehicles in its 22 years on the road.

The ‘A to Z of Corsa’ accelerates viewers through a whirlwind of alphabetic themed scenes.  Illustrating everyday British life and driving scenarios from boxers, cricket and dogs, to quiffs, roundabouts, snogging and tea, the ad follows people through their own personal road trips. The soundtrack, ‘There’s a beast and we all feed it’, by Jake Bugg is used across the campaign.

New i30 from Hyundai, now comes with Turbo power along with a host of upgrades.

• Production commences at Hyundai Motor’s manufacturing facility in Nošovice
• Refreshed design and new Turbo model boost appeal to European customers
• Improved fuel efficiency starting as low as 3.6 l/100 km and 94 g/km CO₂

Hyundai Motor this month has begun production of the latest version of its European top-seller, the New i30, at its European production facility, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech (HMMC), in Nošovice, Czech Republic.

New i30 follows the company’s strategy to create cars that are tailored to the needs of European customers. The second-generation i30, on sale since 2012, has accounted for a fifth of Hyundai’s overall European sales in recent years. The upgraded model is expected to further enhance i30’s position in the competitive European C-segment.

The New i30 range is enhanced with new engines, transmissions, safety and comfort features and refreshed exterior design. The line-up boasts improved engine efficiency across the new car’s three bodystyles – three-door, five-door and wagon – with fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions as low as 3.6 l/100 km and 94 g/km respectively. The updated car enhances driver choice with a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and expands the model’s appeal with a Nürburgring-tuned 186 PS i30 Turbo model.

New i30 Turbo

Powered by a 186 PS, 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, the New i30 Turbo has been developed with a focus on sporty driving dynamics and everyday usability. Acceleration to 100 km/h is achieved in 8.0 seconds and top speed is 219 km/h. Unique exterior and interior design features set the New i30 Turbo apart from the rest of the New i30 line-up. These include a new radiator grille, front and rear bumpers with red detailing, new front LED lamp design, twin exhausts and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The new VIVA from Vauxhall gets Geneva world Debut.

• World premiere of VIVA, arriving in showrooms in summer
• Specially-developed 1.0-litre ECOTEC (75PS) powertrain
• Comfortable and practical with room for up to five people
• IntelliLink connectivity for seamless smartphone integration

Vauxhall’s all-new five-door entry-level model VIVA is to world premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show (5th – 15th March). Arriving in summer, the VIVA will be the latest addition to Vauxhall’s small car range joining the fashionable ADAM and the popular Corsa supermini.

With a name that pays homage to Vauxhall’s original Viva made from 1963 to 1979, the all-new VIVA shares the original’s philosophy of clean lines, durability and practicality.  It is designed for modern, everyday life and at 3.68 metres long is practical and spacious providing room for up to five people.

After first appearing in the ADAM ROCKS AIR and subsequently the New Corsa, VIVA is the latest Vauxhall to feature its new 1.0-litre three-cylinder ECOTEC engine.  Specially-developed for VIVA, this 75PS powertrain is smooth, punchy and efficient, and is mated to a slick five-speed transmission.

Like its stablemates ADAM and Corsa, VIVA is fully-connected thanks to the IntelliLink infotainment system, which allows seamless integration of Apple iOS and Android devices.

“Debuting at Geneva, Vauxhall’s new entry-level model is a ‘proper’ small car and will hold great appeal in this rapidly growing sector,” said Tim Tozer, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “On sale next year at an extremely attractive price point, VIVA joins new Corsa and ADAM in a compelling small car portfolio, giving Vauxhall an unrivalled position in the small car market.”