SKODA REVEALS FABIA vRS PRICES
THE new Skoda Fabia vRS will hit showrooms on July 29 with prices from £15,700.
It is the fastest production Fabia ever produced and builds on its predecessor’s reputation for high performance, low running costs and value for money.
Available as a hatch and estate, the vRS is powered by a 1.4-litre TSI 180bhp engine in tandem with a 7-speed DSG transmission, with ESP, Hill Hold Control and Electronic Differential System.
Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 7.3 seconds with a top speed of 139mph and 140mph for the estate.
The cars feature 17-inch ‘Gigaro’ alloy wheels, LED daylight running lights, sunset glass and body kit, while inside there are vRS sports seats, a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel with radio controls and paddles for changing gear and Multi-Device Interface for use with iPods.
Prices are £15,700 for the hatch and £16,495 for the estate model.
HONDA SPARKS MOTORCYCLING REVOLUTION
HONDA has launched a revolutionary new technology – dual clutch transmission - which it says could revolutionise the future of motorcycling.
It offers both a traditional manual gear change operation, but by hand rather than foot, and also a fully automated style gearbox with two different modes for riding preference and variety.
The system has a six-speed manual gear select option via electronic trigger-shift controls, as well as the more relaxed capability of automatic gear changes.
In the automatic transmission mode there are two options - D-mode for a relaxed ride and S-for a more sporty feel. All three modes are selectable from a switch on the right handlebar.
The dual clutch transmission is being introduced on the new VFR1200F, a sports-touring machine due to be launched on June 14 at £13.175.
POLICE ISSUE CAR CLONE WARNING
POLICE car crime experts are warning that thousands of cloned cars are still being sold to genuine buyers who then stand to lose both their new car and the money they paid for it.
According to official figures, 1,300 cloned vehicles worth more than £13million have been recovered since 2006, yet this is likely to be just a tiny proportion of the problem, with more than 100,000 stolen blank V5C Registration documents still in circulation, being used to clone stolen vehicles.
Cloning is where criminals use stolen vehicle documents to change the identity of a stolen vehicle to match that of a legitimate vehicle. Such vehicles are then often sold on illegally to unwitting buyers.
BATMOBILE TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER
A RE-CREATED version of the Batmobile will be a focus of attention at the inaugural Historics at Brooklands auction in Surrey on June 2.
It goes under the hammer alongside a prestige portfolio of more traditional classic cars, is one of only three existing steel-bodied versions and comes with dashboard-mounted television, rear parachute pod and Batphone.
Based on a Lincoln Continental chassis and built to a similar specification as the original car in the Sixties, the car was finally completed in 1988 and has made several appearances alongside original Batman star Adam West.
It is offered with a full year’s MoT test certificate as well as a UK V5 registration document.
CORSA GETS WORLD CUP FEVER
VAUXHALL is launching a stylish set of England decals for the three-door Corsa ahead of the World Cup.
The decals flow from the Corsa’s headlamps and are complemented by mirror caps. They cost £149 fitted.