Car Reviews

Range Rover Evoque

 

Land Rover has released details and official images of the 2012 Range Rover Evoque, which made its world debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and will go on sale in North America in fall of 2011 as a 2012 model year. The Evoque is notable for its diminutive size at 17 inches shorter in length and 7 inches lower than the Range Rover Sport, measuring 171 inches in overall length. Land Rover calls its design “coupelike.” The 2011 Range Rover Evoque will be available with either a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, which will be sold in two versions, with 190PS or 150PS. The front-wheel-driver Range Rover Evoque powered by the 150PS 2.2-litre engine will offer a 130g/km* CO2 emissions level and a 58mpg fuel economy. The four-wheel-drive version powered by the same engine offers 50mpg* and sub 145g/km* CO2. MagneRide, magnetorheological adaptive dampers help the Evoque meet sporty or rough conditions without as much compromise as standard suspension tech. Electric Assist Power Steering (EPAS) is claimed to boost the sporty feel at the wheel, though our experience with EPAS puts us on the fence until we feel it for ourselves.

 

Inside, the interior is influenced not only by the Range Rover Sport, but by Jaguar as well. Seriously bolstered seats straddle a center tunnel where a rotary gear transmission selector rises to hand. The four-setting Terrain Response System dial has been replaced with buttons attending an illuminated menu and controls are mainly managed through an eight-inch touchscreen. Aural enjoyment is provided by the 825-watt, 17-speaker Meridian sound system with additional inputs for other peripherals. The Range Rover Evoque prices in the UK will start from £30,000.

BMW 6 SERIES CONVERTIBLE 650i

 

If you are looking for the comfort of a saloon with the thrill of a sports car then the BMW 6 Series could be for you. This 400bhp+, turbocharged rear-wheel drive V8 convertible is hiding a whole lot of power underneath its sleek and sophisticated exterior. A secret adrenaline junkie dressed up as a city gent, the 6 Series is full of surprises.

 

Whilst we would never judge a book by its cover, the stunning exterior of the 6 Series just begs to be admired. With the long and lean aesthetics of a saloon, the understated canvas roof is just the ticket for those who like to fuse comfort with cool. In fact, to go from city boy to sun-seeker, the canvas top rolls back at the touch of a button and the wind in your hair is a mere 19 seconds away!

 

The back seat of the 6 Series is actually a fairly passengerfriendly size, which is unusual for a two-door convertible; there is definitely enough legroom for shorter trips (though perhaps not for a jaunt over to the South of France!) With electrically adjusted and heated leather seats coming as standard, along with dualzone climate control, thrill seekers can live life in the fast lane without sacrificing their creature comforts from an enviable position within the 6 Series’ cool and classy cabin. The speedy 6 Series can reach 62mph in just 5 seconds and is electronically capped to a maximum speed of 155mph. The twin-turbo 4.4 litre V8 drives the rear wheels using an eight-speed automatic transmission (unless you prefer the DIY manual version which is accommodated via wheel-mounted paddle-shifters) and the gearbox shifts almost imperceptibly, with a fairly quiet engine unless you really floor it, which you may well be tempted to do! Not only is the 6 Series swift, you can also choose from various settings (sporting or comfort) at the touch of a button thanks to the Optional Adaptive Drive system. Even on the very sportiest of settings the 6 Series delivers an impressively smooth ride, managing to seamlessly fuse comfort with control.

 

Down to the nitty gritty, average fuel consumption is actually a fairly respectable 26.4mpg (okay, so not great but what do you expect with a car this big and this fast?) and C02 emissions of 249g/km mean that you might want to think about off-setting your carbon footprint if you decide to splash out on the 6 Series. With an on the road price of £73,430 the 6 Series is an excellent rival to the Audi A8 and Mercedes E-Class.

THE BMW 535D SALOON CAR

 

If you’re looking for a car with a daring combination of speed and luxury, then the BMW 535d is right up your alley. It is the fourth and most powerful diesel version of the new BMW 5 Saloon series, with its twin turbocharger, common rail direct injection technology and 3.0-litre straight-six all-aluminum engine. The BMW 535d is hailed as having one of the world’s most powerful six-cylinder diesel units: it calls for an exceptional 299hp available at 4,400rpm, and maximum torque (600Nm) available from 1,750rpm. Added to this, the twin turbocharger offers you maximum performance with an instant surge, and its eight-speed automatic transmission allows the 535d to accelerate from zero to 62mph in a cool 5.7 seconds.

 

The BMW 5 Series Saloon have set the benchmark for a superior driving experience in the executive sector, and the 535d model does not disappoint. With its dynamic capability comes efficiency: the latest generation common rail system operates at a maximum pressure of 2,000 bar and guarantees a particularly accurate supply of fuel. To top it off, the 535d is as parsimonious as it is powerful, averaging a combined fuel consumption of 46.3mpg. Utmost dedication has been given to creating innovative, finely engineered suspension components for the BMW 535d. The new aluminum double track control arm on the front axle allows clear separation of wheel guidance and damping. Also, while the dampers are able to respond particularly sensitively to bumps or rough areas of road, the configuration of the front axle, with the precisely matched wheel camber, keeps the tyres consistently on the road for optimum grip and a smooth ride.

 

Inherent safety is an essential component of the BMW 535d’s success. The passenger cell of the new BMW 5 Series is extremely stiff. Intelligent use of high-strength multi-phase steel and hot-moulded ultra-high-strength steel give the body structure increased rigidity of approximately 55 per cent. Traffic information, emergency call functions, online information, a telephone enquiry services, on-board camera and sensor information have also been introduced to allow the driver to be fully aware of their surroundings.

 

The 535d model has the distinctive look of the BMW 5 Saloon series. It has a long wheelbase and short overhangs, long bonnet, dynamic lines, athletic body and the coupé-like, sleek roofline. All in all, it is designed and built to ensure the sixth generation retains the legacy created by the first five. Drivetrain Customers will be able to choose from three diesel powerplants and four petrol engines from launch, which utilise a range of innovative technologies including single and dual turbocharging and High Precision Direct Injection, as well as award-winning EfficientDynamics technologies.

Lexus CT 200h

 

The new Lexus CT 200h provides a winning combination of luxury, quality and environmental benefits. Powered by Lexus Hybrid Drive, this 5-door family car delivers exceptionally low CO2 emissions and great fuel efficiency while still driving and looking great.

 

You have probably seen the CT 200h as it is represented in its incredibly smooth advertising campaign featuring Kylie Minogue. But we wanted to know is if the car itself lives up to all the hype? Well, like Kylie herself the CT is small. However unlike the singer the car is relatively understated; its focus being on smoothness and quiet luxury instead of showy excess. Unlike mild hybrids, the CT can run on electric power alone at speeds up to 25 mph for a distance of one mile; no emissions are created, no fuel is used and progress is near silent. All this means that if you come to a halt or travel at low speeds the petrol engine will turn itself off and CT will operate automatically on its electric motor – particularly useful in urban traffic. And you don’t need to worry about recharging the battery; it will automatically recharge itself as it is used. If that’s not impressive enough, the car handles extremely well combining smooth, exciting driving with excellent fuel economy and extremely low emissions. The hybrid technology intelligently combines a 1.8-litre petrol engine, high-output electric motor, advanced compact battery and seamless hybrid transmission. Running costs are understandably low and according to Lexus the reduced brake wear drives them down even further.

 

If you are looking for a calm and tranquil driving then the CT may be your vehicle. You won’t even have to feel guilty about damaging the environment. The Lexus Hybrid Drive produces significantly fewer harmful emissions of CO2, CO, NOx and HC than non-hybrid vehicles. According to Lexus, unlike diesel cars, including diesel hybrids, the petrol/electric hybrid engine of the CT produces no particle mattes. This means that the CT avoids contributing to the creation of soot or affecting air quality. This all sounds pretty serious, but like its pop-singing ambassador the CT is also a tremendous amount of fun to drive. A low centre of gravity with a high-rigidity bodyshell, a lateral performance damper system and new double wishbone rear suspension, all contribute to delivering high speed stability, smooth and precise handling. With all the perks you would expect from a premium Lexus the interior lives up to the careful design of the exterior creating a comfortable and enjoyable environment from which to experience the outdoors without causing any damage on your journey.

 

The CT 200h is an attempt by Lexus to allow the ecologically aware driver to both have his cake and eat it. Stylish and fun and offering drivers the choice of selectable modes for the hybrid system: Normal, Eco EV (electric vehicle), and Sport from £23,485.00 the CT may very well achieve this aim.

Airpen from Pentel. This is one pen that just might really be mightier than the sword! In fact, Pentel’s new digital pen is a far cry from the humble biro. A specially designed digital pen and a memory unit with Bluetooth capability, the airpenPocket is actually able to receive and send data. Sounds great, but how does it work? Simple! You use the pen to take down a note and whatever you have written is automatically recorded in the device memory unit. The data can then be transferred to your PC through Bluetooth. The Airpen may not look slick (it looks like your average ink pen, with a navy blue barrel and silver logo) but a humble aesthetic belies a smart interior. Compatible with Smartphones and tablet devices, Pentel is also rolling out applications for Android-based devices – the ultimate ambidextrous writing tool!

Apple iPad 2. There is no denying that the Apple iPad 2 looks beautiful. Like all Apple products it is all smooth lines and shinny surfaces. Three major improvements have been made to the original model: • It is 1/3 thinner, and has a slightly smaller surface area thanks to a thinner bezel, with a sloped edge. It’s also about a quarter lighter than the older model (making it incredibly portable) and these small differences have clearly added to the aesthetic of the machine. • The iPad 2 has two front and back facing cameras which will enable exciting new applications such as FaceTime video chatting • The iPad 2 also has a dual-core 1GHz processor, which, according to Apple will double the speed and improve graphics by nine times. Apart from these modifications the iPad remains largely the same. The problem remains that although wonderfully clear for inside use the iPad screen is still difficult to read when viewed in direct sunlight. However, the iPad 2 remains amazing fun; A luxury toy that everyone should have. Samsu

B&W Zeppelin Air iPod Dock. The Zeppelin Air is the latest of Bowers & Wilkins premium iPod sound systems. The first to incorporate Apple AirPlay technology, allowing users to wirelessly stream music direct from an iTunes PC or an Apple iOS device. Incredibly beautifully designed and carefully put together this is one of the most elegant speaker systems on the market as well as one of the cleverest. Aesthetically, it follows the same distinctive rugby-ball lines that Zeppelin is known for: large at 640mm wide and a weighty 6.2kg. You will need to get the system rigged up to your home’s Wi-Fi network but once this is done the Zeppelin Air becomes a pleasure to use. Switch on iTunes, click the AirPlay button and you will have music instantly playing on the speaker dock. You can stream to multiple Zeps and adjust the volume independently on each from iTunes’ AirPlay window. Alternatively, you can stream from any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad running iOS4.2, again via your Wi-Fi network. This system is simply amazing and so stylish that even if it did nothing more than look good it would be worth keeping around.

Samsung Tic Toc mp3 player. Aimed at the budget end of the mp3 market, Tic Toc is a screen-free music player that’s billed by the Korean tech titan as being, “…for young women who want the latest fashion gadgets.” This sounds like it may be a fairly useless piece of technology. However, Tic Toc is actually a very good mp3. It is larger and more rounded than the iPod Shuffle, with an smart egg cup-shaped dock. The interest comes from the fact that by shaking the Tic Toc three times, you can skip through different modes to match your mood. There’s normal, which plays back tunes in order, shuffle and then fast and slow modes. The latter two being what really make Tic Toc stand out. Shaking it to fast is great to motivate you during exercise and slow can be incredibly relaxing in your chill out time. The 4GB of storage is a good amount and the sound is relatively rich while the headphones are surprisingly sharp. At £10 less that an iPod shuffle our verdict is that it is a good mp3 option to take to the gym or to buy for a gift for a teenage girl. Reliable, relatively well priced but not the most exciting product on the market.

Olympus VN 8600pc digital voice recorder. This flash based digital voice recorder from Olympus gives first-time users the ideal combination of simplicity and features. It is lightweight at 66 g and with bigger full-dot displays, easy-to-use recording modes and double the memory this is a great addition to the VN series. The model boasts long battery life and an enhanced ergonomic design, while being PCcompatible. It can be used for anything from recording meeting, interviews or brainstorming moments to capturing and sharing holiday sound bites and notes-toself. Sometimes there is just no time to write things down and this voice recorder offers the perfect solution.

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