Mercedes-Benz with LEGO to Create the Largest TECHNIC Model

When it comes to building LEGO, size does matter and with an impressive length of 38.6 cm (15.2-inches) from bumper to bumper and more than 2,000 pieces, the 1:12-scale Mercedes-Benz Unimog will surely be one heck of a challenge to build.
The LEGO Unimog 4000 was created to celebrate the Mercedes-Benz truck's 60th anniversary this year and it is available to buy from Argos and LEGO stores with pricing in the UK set at £154.99 (about €177 or US$255).
According to the Denmark based toy company, the TECHNIC series model is fully functional and features a front winch, optional snowplough, suspension, differentials, a four-wheel drive chassis, a gear block for increased ground clearance, and a detailed reproduction of the engine right down to the moving pistons.
Mark Hopkins, Unimog UK Sales Manager, commented: “While the Unimog is a necessity ‘workhorse’ for some operations, it is also a vehicle that captures the imaginations of those who drive and work them daily, so we are delighted to be celebrating our 60^th birthday by creating the most complex model in the TECHNIC range for Unimog enthusiasts to create and enjoy!"

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New Kia Rio Prices in the UK from £10,595

The all-new 4th generation Rio will reach Kia's UK showrooms on September 1 with on-the-road prices starting from £10,595 for the entry-level 1.25 "1" and reaching £14,895 for range-topping 1.4 CRDi "3" EcoDynamics.
The Rio will be available at launch only as a five-door model but a three-door bodystyle will be added to the range early next year.
The South Korean automaker's proposal in the highly popular in Europe B-segment will go against the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Fiat Punto EVO.
The Rio will be available with four engines including two petrol and two diesel units. The entry-level petrol engine is the 1.25-litre Kappa unit that develops 83bhp and 121Nm of torque, while the second option is Kia’s 1.4-litre Gamma engine, generating 107bhp and 137Nm of torque.
The two diesel engines are a 1.1-liter CRDi unit producing 74bhp and 170Nm of peak torque while returning up to 88.3mpg UK (73.5 mpg US or 3.2 lt/100km), and a 1.4-liter CRDi delivering 89bhp and 220Nm with a combined fuel consumption of up to 70.6mpg UK (58.8mpg US or 4.0lt/100km).
All diesel models are fitted with Kia’s EcoDynamics suite of fuel-saving technologies including Intelligent Stop & Go engine technology, low rolling resistance tyres, a drag-reducing front grille, gearshift indicator and rear spoiler.
There are three available trim grades with the entry-level "1" featuring front electric windows, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, two-way steering column adjustment on the petrol model (height-adjustable only on the entry level diesel), trip computer, split folding rear seats, and an MP3-compatible RDS radio and CD player with USB and AUX ports as standard. Bluetooth is also standard on the petrol entry model, and on all versions with other trim grades.
The ‘1 Air’ grade simply adds air conditioning to the mix, while the level ‘2’ models receive 16-inch alloys, front fog lights and a chrome radiator grille surround, along with bespoke interior trim, rear electric windows, a cooling glove box, electrically adjustable heated and folding door mirrors with side repeaters, leather steering wheel and gearshift, and a centre console armrest.
Finally, the level ‘3’ specification adds 17-inch alloys with low-profile tyres, LED daytime running and rear combination lamps, automatic air conditioning rain sensing wipers, cruise control, automatic headlights, heated front seats and six speakers in lieu of four.

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Jaguar Shows Frankfurt-Bound C-X16 Sports Car

This is the first official image or rather sketch of the all-new Jaguar C-X16 study which will make its world premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show on September 13.
The British automaker describes the C-X16 as a "production concept" adding that it is a "precursor to future Jaguar sports cars that will aim to set new class benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology".
Jaguar did not say whether the C-X16 previews a replacement for the current XK or as recent reports suggested, a new and smaller model lightly inspired from the iconic E-Type that would rival the Porsche Cayman and Boxster sports cars.
Among the few details revealed about the C-X16 is that it is designed by the same team responsible for the XJ, XF and XK, headed of course by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum, who had this to say about the study:
"Great Jaguars have always been beautiful, innovative and have looked firmly to the future. The finished C-X16 concept has the potential to do these things while retaining the ability to surprise, to excite and invigorate."
Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, was quoted by the British firm as saying: "Jaguar has set in place bold, ambitious plans for the future. This production concept demonstrates the depth of design and engineering ability we have within Jaguar to make these plans come to life – I look forward to sharing this latest, exciting step at the Frankfurt Motor Show."
Expect more information and photos of the new Jaguar C-X16 to be revealed closer to the Frankfurt Show. 

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New Ford Fiesta Centura

If you haven't heard, Ford is celebrating its 100th anniversary in Britain this year. The first Ford to be manufactured in the country was the legendary Model T in 1911.
To celebrate the event, Ford is launching a new special edition version of the Fiesta called the Centura and like the original Model T, it too will be available exclusively in a black finish.
The Centura is based on the Fiesta Zetec trim level adding several standard features, including chrome mirror and door caps, LED daylight running lights, 16-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels, automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers, reverse parking sensors and a parking camera mounted in the rear view mirror.
Power comes courtesy of a 1.25-liter petrol engine delivering 82-horsepower, while the supermini model is available in both three-door and five-door body styles.
Ford said that is will build only 1,000 examples of the Fiesta Centura, with pricing set at £13,395 for the three-door version and £13,995 for the five-door.
Just 1,000 Ford Fiesta Centura special editions will be available, priced at £13,395 for the three-door version and £13,995 for the five-door. The Ford Fiesta remains the UK's best-selling car with 52,327 sold in the first half of this year.
Anthony Ireson, marketing director, Ford of Britain, said: "Fiesta has been a UK favourite its entire lifetime and it was a natural choice to use this great icon to help mark our centenary. With a unique specification and affordable price, the Centura will appeal to thousands of customers, and we anticipate strong demand – who knows it might even become a collector's car one day!"

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Opel Says Second Generation Ampera Will be Cheaper

Even though deliveries of Opel’s extended-range hybrid aren’t expected to begin until early 2012, the company is already planning the successor to the Chevy Volt’s European alter-ego.
According to British magazine Autocar, the second generation of the Opel / Vauxhall Ampera is scheduled for release in 2015 and, if sources from within the company are reliable, it feature a more radical design and a lower starting price than the current model.
In the UK for example, the Vauxhall Ampera, which is already available to order, costs a rather steep £28,995 –and that is after the government’s £5,000 rebate. Opel engineers say that the battery pack alone costs around £7,000 but improvements in technology in the next four years will enable the company to reduce the cost by 50%.
However, that’s not enough. Opel CEO Nick Reilly said the price of the Ampera will be further reduced by economies of scale due to increased demand and more localized production: “We have an education job to do on the technology of the Ampera, but that will come in time. We hope that it will establish itself as a market leader and we’ll be able to capitalize on that with a cheaper, more expressively designed second generation model”.
Economies of scale could also come from fitting the Ampera’s extended-range powertrain in other Opel and Vauxhall models. If this happens, then the cost of tooling and manufacturing would drop significantly further lowering the costs.
Nevertheless, GM has to first assess sales of the model before it goes ahead with any decision, such as manufacturing its next generation in Europe, as it currently builds it alongside the Volt at its Warren, Michigan plant in the US. So far, things are looking good since 7,000 of the 10,000 units allocated for 2012 are already presold, with 75% of the sales going to fleet customers.
Opel would also like to give the next-gen Ampera a more aggressive style that will be more in line with the other models in its range.
The German firm's designers didn’t have a lot of freedom in the first generation because of the restraints forced on them by the car being a rebadged Volt. If they get the green light, the 2015 model will follow the company's new design “language” , recently previewed in the brand-new Opel Zafira Tourer.

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Seat Introduces New FR+ and Upgrades Cupra R in the Leon's Range

Banking on the success of the Leon FR that, last year, was responsible for one in four Leon sales in Britain, Seat introduced a new FR+ derivative, while also extending the FR badge to a broader engine range.
The Leon FR hatch is now available with a 1.4-liter TSI petrol developing 125-horses and linked to a manual transmission only, or a 2.0-liter TDI diesel with 140-horsepower and the choice of either a manual gearbox or a DSG dual clutch automatic transmission.
The FR badge adds new front and rear bumpers, twin chrome exhaust pipe, trademark silver-painted door mirrors, LED rear-light clusters, sports seats and steering wheel, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights and auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
The previous FR models have been renamed to FR+. Buyers can choose between a 211HP 2.0-liter TSI petrol and a 170HP 2.0-liter TDI CR diesel.
In addition to the FR's standard features, the FR+ trim adds 18-inch ‘Ibera’ alloy wheels; the SEAT Media System 2.2, which includes satellite-navigation with five-inch colour touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth audio streaming and SD card slot; Bluetooth phone connection; Bi-xenon headlights with AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) and front parking sensors.
Seat says that while the retail cost of the extra equipment when specified separately is £2,465 RRP, the price of the new Leon FR+ is up by only £1,070 RRP.
Prices for the revised FR lineup start at £18,205 RRP for the Leon FR 1.4 TSI 125 PS, and rise to £22,615 RRP for the Leon FR+ 2.0 TDI CR DSG-auto 170 PS.
Along with the changes to the FR range, Seat also added some new standard features to its flagship 265HP Leon Cupra R model, including a SEAT Media System 2.2, Bluetooth connectivity, Bi-xenon headlights with AFS and LED rear-light clusters.
The additional equipment not only comes at no extra cost, but Seat actually reduced the car's price by £10 to £25,995 RRP.

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Maserati UK Introduces New Sport Pack

A new sport package has been added to the available options for buyers of Maserati's GranTurismo S Automatic in Britain.

This Sport pack is said to enhance the GranTurismo S Automatic's performance by adding the MC Auto Shift software that allows for faster gear changes and a revised exhaust system, which keeps its bypass valves fully open in Sport mode to provide what the company describes as "an even richer sound".
The package also adds a variety of styling features including include body colored side skirts and front winglets, a black grille featuring the Maserati Trident logo with red accents, black mesh side grilles, smoked out headlights, an integrated rear boot lid spoiler and oval exhaust pipes.
The coupe's sportier looks are rounded off with Grigio Mercury Neptune-design alloy wheels.
Maserati says the 4.7-litre V8 continues to develop 440HP at 7000 rpm and a peak torque of 490Nm (361.4 lb-ft) at 4750 rpm offering the automatic coupe a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5 seconds flat and a top speed of 183 mph (295 km/h).
The package is priced at £3,840, lifting the total price of the GranTurismo S Automatic to £92,480 on the road.

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2012 Ford Focus UK Priced Under £14k

Ford is widening the options for UK buyers of the all-new 2012 Focus by confirming the availability of a new entry-level model called Studio which will be priced at £13,995 when it arrives in September.
The company said the new Studio will replace the Focus Sport, a final special edition of the previous model that has been on sale since October 2010 reacting sales of 15,000 units.
The base model of the new Focus series will be offered as a five-door hatchback powered by a 1.6-liter Ti-VCT gasoline engine delivering a rather feeble 85PS and a combined fuel economy of 47.9mpg UK.
Buyers can choose only from three colors - Panther Black, Moondust Silver and Frozen White.
Standard equipment on the Focus Studio includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a body-coloured rear spoiler, radio/CD player (note that Ford of Europe recently announced that it will phase out CD players in its cars), USB connectivity, air-conditioning, electrically-operated door mirrors and front windows, Ford Easy Fuel 'capless' refuelling, and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) system.

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MINI UK Launches New Soho Editions

Following the release of the MINI Clubman Soho edition last year, the British automaker decided to name all of its special edition models after London boroughs, districts, streets and landmarks.

As a result, the Soho nameplate has now been applied to the three-door hatchback and soft-top convertible model, both of which will be available in the United Kingdom in Cooper and Cooper D models from now until March 2012.
The Soho editions sport an exclusive ‘White Silver’ metallic paint, which is not available on any other current MINI Hatch or Convertible model, as well as 17-inch Black Star Bullet alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlights with black interior reflectors and white indicators.
As for the interior, the two MINI Soho models gain Anthracite headlining, a 3-Spoke sport leather steering wheel and ‘Piano Black’ interior surfaces.

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