A Life of Luxury – The Jaguar XJ Ultimate

The New Jaguar XJ Ultimate is the most luxurious and expensive version of Jaguar’s big saloon yet. It arrives in the UK in November and is expected to be approximately £120,000.

From Jaguar:

Work in luxury, relax in total comfort. Stretch out and let XJ Ultimate indulge you with everything at your fingertips. There’s the table that gracefully rises out of the centre console, the beautifully styled bottle chiller and the iPads docked in the backs of the front seats. A special place that you can call your own, XJ Ultimate is utterly distinctive.

Stretch out on the sumptuous semi-aniline leather of either of the two individually tailored rear seats. Offering recline, heating/cooling as well as four-way lumbar adjust, they can even treat you to a massage. The semi-aniline leather also extends to the front seats. A chauffeur switch can automatically fold the front passenger seat away offering maximum space for the rear seats.

Adding to the dramatic interior design is an electrically powered table. It rises gracefully from the centre console and can be rotated left or right as required. The rear section of the centre console also houses a 75cl bottle chiller for cooling drinks to the optimum temperature. Two handcrafted Goran Hongell ‘Aarne’ Champagne glasses are provided as standard with XJ Ultimate. The console also docks the Touch-screen Rear Seat Entertainment system remote control as well as rear climate controls and an array of connectors for any portable devices.

XJ Ultimate makes no compromise in quality in even its slightest touches such as the exquisite brushed aluminium clock, the brilliant LED courtesy lighting for rear passengers, or even the leather umbrella retainer points in the boot. At night experience the tranquillity of the cool phosphor blue illumination delineating the interior features, framing the treadplates, JaguarDrive Selector™, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), and door architecture.

The new Jaguar XJ Ultimate will be available in Grange Jaguar Brentwood, Exeter, Swindon & Welwyn when it arrives in the UK.

Visit us at:

www.grange.co.uk

www.motorparks.co.uk

Ford unveils text driving system

Texting while driving is, of course, illegal and stupid, and that’s why Ford has unveiled its latest piece of technology.

Part of the company’s SYNC in-car communication application, its new text-to-speech service reads out a driver’s text messages while the car is on the move.

To help advertise the usefulness of the service, Ford commissioned some market research and found that one third of drivers admit to texting behind the wheel. Despite that, 95 percent of those surveyed agreed it was dangerous.

Due to come with the new B-Max MPV first, before being added to the SYNC systems in the Focus and Kuga, it only works with BlackBerry phones at the moment, though Ford is looking to make other brands compatible.

Drivers are able to respond to text messages using voice recognition, although not to spell out unique replies – they’re given a choice of ten set text templates.

Ford’s Christof Kellerwessel said: “Text messages can be a distraction for drivers, so the benefit of a system that can read messages aloud from compatible smartphones is obvious.”

Phone use while driving is on the up, and has recently been slammed by safety groups including Brake, whose recent research found that 44 percent of young drivers say they text behind the wheel.

Ford’s system will at least go some way to mitigating the dangers, though the best advice is simply to forget about your phone while driving. When was the last time you received a truly urgent text message?

Visit us at:

www.dees.co.uk

www.motorparks.co.uk

Introducing the NEW FORD B-MAX at Dees

The new Ford B-MAX has been developed especially for the urban driver. While compact in size, its ingenious, easy-access door system gives you a 1.5m wide aperture to a class-leading, spacious and refined interior.

Alongside its unique design, the B-MAX has a multitude of technologies to make driving easier, more enjoyable and more efficient. For example, Active City Stop helps prevent collisions in slow-moving traffic, by automatically braking for you, if necessary. With Ford SYNC® you can control your music and phone, with simple voice commands – SYNC® can even read out your text messages. And a revolutionary 1.0 litre EcoBoost petrol engine delivers the power of a 1.6, with best-in-class fuel economy.

Find out more about the ingenious new Ford B-MAX: its design, driving experience, performance and efficiency and safety and security levels.

Come to Dees Croydon this Saturday 28th April for a sneak pre-launch preview.

Dees Ford Croydon
2 Imperial Way
Purley Way, Croydon
CR0 4RR

Visit our Ford dealership in Wimbledon & Croydon.

www.dees.co.uk

www.motorparks.co.uk

Citroen reveals massive Numero 9 DS concept

This three-metre long shooting brake coupe is the Citroen Numero 9, a concept that gives China its first proper taste of the DS line.

Due to be unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show next week, the Numero 9 previews the next three cars due under the ‘posh’ DS brand, says Citroen.

It’s also, probably, a precursor to a DS9 coupe, which could well be the flagship DS car across the globe, but is more likely to be a Chinese market speciality – how likely is anyone in Europe to buy an enormous French luxury coupé for over 30 grand?

The next three DS cars due, for certain, are an SUV, a luxury executive saloon and, peculiarly, a C-segment saloon – peculiar because the vast majority of C-segment cars, in the UK at least, are hatchbacks. Think Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.

The Numero 9 sits on 21-inch wheels and is awash with chrome detailing, so discreet it isn’t. It’s also quick, with a 295bhp output from a – you’ve guessed it – hybrid drivetrain.

The plug-in setup means the car has a 30-mile or so electric only range, and the electric motor can also act as a booster for the 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine. The result is a quick car, but one that returns 166mpg and 39g/km. It’s also four-wheel drive. Amazing.

Citroen’s DS line is doing especially well across Europe, with 200,000 cars shifted so far – 25,000 of them in the UK. That’s largely thanks to the excellent little DS3. How well the bigger stuff will do remains to be seen.

www.motorparks.co.uk

New Renaultsport Twingo 133 revealed

Renault has revealed the new Twingo 133 RS, the baby of the Renaultsport bunch.

The car conforms with the new styling direction of the updated Twingo range, revealed recently, but also adds elements seen in the current Renaultsport pack, comprising the Clio 200 and the Megane 265.

Most notably the car gets the F1-style blade in the front bumper, while around the back there’s a new diffuser, twin chrome tailpipes, and more aerodynamic rear wheel arches.

Mechanically the Twingo remains as was, with Renault claiming that “its performance and grin-inducing driving characteristics remain intact,” although there has been a slight drop in CO2 emissions.

The three percent efficiency improvement means the 1.6-litre petrol car with 133bhp now returns 150g/km and 43.5mpg.

A Cup pack is available for those that want the firmest Twingo experience, adding lower, stiffer suspension, as well as a set of 17-inch black alloys with wider tyres than the standard ones.

The Twingo RS is available now at Motorparks priced from £13,565.

http://www.motorparks.co.uk

 

Motorparks Wins Hitwise Top 10 Award Again!

Motorparks, the UK’s number one car dealer website, has just been awarded an Experian Hitwise Top 10 Award for the fourth time in succession since launch.

Experian Hitwise monitors over 8 million online consumers in the UK to provide independent, verifiable data about the websites they interact with.

Motorparks ranked no. 9 for market share of visits in the category ‘Automotive dealers’ for January-December 2011.

‘This award recognises that Motorparks commitment to providing top quality service pays off with fantastic online market share,’ Ian Godbold marketing director comments.

“We constantly review and update the site, keeping pace with changes in technology and the way consumers interact with websites, and it does not stop there, we’re in the process of a new website build that will feature the latest online functionality and continue  to improve and enhance the customer journey”

However,  it’s the dedication and commitment to exceptional offers and first class guest delight that is key to driving visitors back to our site, and it is a result of this commitment and dedication that helps us achieve awards like the Hitwise Top 10.’

www.motorparks.co.uk

www.grange.co.uk

www.hitwise.com

Jaguar F-Type Roadster – The production name for the C-X16 Concept

The Jaguar F-Type is the production name for the C-X16 Concept and will arrive as a Roadster first in early 2013.

Despite Jaguar making it clear that F-Type isn’t supposed to continue the lineage of the D-Type and E-Type per se, it’s a nice nod to the past in a car that is the future.

The Jaguar F-Type will arrive first as a Roadster in spring 2013, before the F-Type Coupe follows on a year later. Jaguar say the challenge was engineering the F-Type as a Roadster so they wanted to crack that before they delivered the Coupe F-Type.

Jaguar are keen to deliver an F-Type that’s as close to the C-X16 as possible, but the Coupe won’t be getting the nod to the E-Type that we saw in its side-opening rear hatch. It’s not a practical solution and, nice though it was to see, that will bite the dust when the production F-Type Coupe arrives in 2014. But otherwise expect an F-Type that’s faithful to the C-X16 Concept.

Engines on offer are likely to be a a fairly broad spectrum including the new V6 petrol and the V6 diesel with a hybrid setup of some description arriving a bit further down the line. As for driving dynamics, Jaguar reckon the F-Type will be as sharp – if not as powerful – as the XKR-S.

http://www.motorparks.co.uk

http://www.grange.co.uk

Story from CarsUK.net.

Grange Aston Martin Track Experience

Grange Track Experience Days are held at the Millbrook Proving Ground situated
just 40 miles north of London in Bedfordshire. It is the UK’s leading multi-purpose
test track facility, covering over 700 acres with 38miles of challenging test
environments.

On a Grange Track Experience Day we have exclusive use of the Millbrook
facility including the purpose built Aston Martin Hospitality Clubhouse. As a
participant you will have the unique opportunity to experience the range of Aston
Martin sports cars with one to one instruction from the highly trained Aston Martin
pro drivers. There is no better way to experience what it feels like to unleash the
awesome power of an Aston Martin along the one-mile straight with no
restrictions other than your own nerve.

The day is divided into two sessions the first session commencing at 9.00 and
concluding with lunch at 12.30, the afternoon session will begin with lunch at
12.30 and end around 5.30. Light refreshments will also be available throughout
the day.

This unique driving opportunity is heavily subsidised and offered to you at a fraction of the cost of any similar driving event, places are strictly limited and therefore we would urge you to book your place as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Price £299.00 including VAT
To book your place contact Althea on 01277-249555 or althea.brophy@grange.co.uk

New Seat Ibiza in Swindon Motorpark from next month

The new Seat Ibiza supermini will be launched next month in the UK and will be available to view at Swindon Motorpark. The new Seat Ibiza boasts reshaped headlights that now include sculptural elements inside the clusters similar to the new Alhambra MPV and the recently-revised Exeo family of executive class saloons and estates. The front grille is smaller and sharper with the front fog lights taking a rectangular shape. The rear of the new Ibiza has redesigned tail lights and the rear bumpers have been changed with sharper lines tracing the rear ‘diffuser’ section.

The new model is introduced next month without a price increase the entry-level Ibiza 1.2-litre 60 PS E in three-door SC bodystyle remains available at just £9,995 RRP on the road.

Managing Director of Seat UK, Peter Wyhinny, said “we’re really excited about the imminent arrival of the new Ibiza in the UK. This stylish new supermini ticks all the boxes for buyers by being not just significantly more modern to look at, more stylish, more practical and, with the debut of the Ibiza ST FR, significantly more fun. But, crucially, our best-seller is now also even more affordable, too! Seat celebrated record sales in the UK in 2011 and, with the arrival of the new Ibiza, I’m confident we can look forward to continuing that success through 2012 and beyond.”

For more info, email swindonmotorpark@cambriaautos.co.uk

www.motorparks.co.uk

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Aston Martin has revealed the production-ready V12 Zagato that will appear in showrooms later in 2012. How much will the Aston Martin Zagato V12 cost? Prices will start from £400,000. The new Aston Martin V12 Zagato becomes Aston Martin’s new range-topping car and is a modern day descendent of the original 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato. It was that car’s 50th anniversary in 2011 that inspired the creation of a new V12 Zagato.

For new and used prestige cars, visit us on the URL’s below.

Grange Aston Martin located in Brentwood, Exeter, Swindon & Welwyn Garden City.

http://www.grange.co.uk

http://www.motorparks.co.uk