VW Sharan BlueMotion already on sale in Germany

The BlueMotion moniker is the denomination that Volkswagen gives to its low CO2-producing models. Such a label might not seem appropriate for a 7-seat minivan, but that didn't stop the Sharan BlueMotion from making its introduction at Geneva in February. Now, the Sharan BlueMotion is on sale in Germany. The BlueMotion designation means CO2 emissions of 159g/km compared to the 177g/km from the regular model. Average fuel consumption of the new van is 6 l/100 km (38mpg U.S.) which is quite impressive for a seven-passenger vehicle of this size. The Sharan is propelled by a 140hp 2.0L TDI engine with a diesel particulate filter at the exhaust. Prices start at €32,200.

VW Sharan BlueMotion already on sale in Germany

The BlueMotion moniker is the denomination that Volkswagen gives to its low CO2-producing models. Such a label might not seem appropriate for a 7-seat minivan, but that didn't stop the Sharan BlueMotion from making its introduction at Geneva in February. Now, the Sharan BlueMotion is on sale in Germany. The BlueMotion designation means CO2 emissions of 159g/km compared to the 177g/km from the regular model. Average fuel consumption of the new van is 6 l/100 km (38mpg U.S.) which is quite impressive for a seven-passenger vehicle of this size. The Sharan is propelled by a 140hp 2.0L TDI engine with a diesel particulate filter at the exhaust. Prices start at €32,200.

Citroën says its cheaper to drive in the UK today than it was in 2000

We're driving, driving, driving like it's nineteen-ninety-nine. Well, not exactly, but Citroën says that owners of its cars in the UK may actually be driving for less money per mile on average than they did eight years ago. Here in the states, gas was über-cheap in the year 2K, but in the UK, where both petrol and diesel has always been more expensive, the price was quite a bit steeper due to fuel protests in September of that year. In fact, Citroën claims that the increased efficiency of its models more than makes up for the increase in the price of gas that took place between the year 2000 and today, even when adjusted for inflation. It's not all good news, though, as the price of oil continues to rise. "Whilst improved fuel efficiency and advances in vehicle design have reduced the cost of filling up, in real terms, the economic benefits of improved efficiency could soon be canceled out altogether if prices continue to rise at their current rate, although our commitment to reducing CO2 and harmful emissions will not be lessened," according to Marc Raven, spokesman for Citroën.

Audi RS6 Spied

The sedan version of the Audi RS6 has been caught on testing in Germany. The shots suggest that Audi is preparing a little butt-lift for the entire A6 range to fall in line with its new posterior styling direction, but is using the RS6 to showcase it first.The front fascia in unchanged from the avant model but you can see the rear styling design that of the A4. Engine will come from the Avant’s V10 which will give impressive performance figures of 0-100km/h in 4.6 secons.

Ford Kuga

Ford has released a new images of its 2009 Kuga Crossover that was unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show. The Kuga is a good choice if you think about compact crossovers in the U.S. market. In Europe, the Ford Focus (Euro-model) based Kuga will go on sale this summer where it will be initially available with a 136Hp 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine that’s good enough to offer an average fuel consumption of 6.3 lt / 100 km or 37.3 MPG to the front-wheel-drive version and 6.4 lt / 100 km or 36.7 MPG to the all-wheel-drive variant.

Lexus LS named Chauffeur CotY

Already a favourite among CEOs in the city, the top of the range Lexus LS 600h L has been awarded chauffeur car of the year, by The Chauffeur magazine in the highly competitive $100,000 to $200,000 category.

Judged closely against the German flagship saloons from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, Lexus won the top spot in the toughest category for the most popular vehicles chosen by the chauffeuring industry. Key factors behind the judges’ decision included the Lexus hybrid system which allowed for lower emission and competitive fuel economy, build quality, and the reclining and massaging rear seats which can adapt for shiatsu back and shoulder massages with varying intensity.

Lotus Eagle

Meet the Lotus Eagle in camo. This spy photo give us the best look yet at Lotus’ all-new sports car an Elise-based 2+2 called the Eagle. The hard-top Eagle features room in the back for two small passengers and swaps the Elise’s four-cylinder engine for a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6. The Eagle looks very similar to the Europa, but with a longer wheelbase. Sitting above that car in the company’s range, the Eagle will be the most refined and practical model to come from the Elise platform. The Eagle should get a proper name and shed the extra bulk at the corners in time for this summer’s London Motor Show, sales will start toward the end of the year.

VW Up!

Meet the VW Up! The up! scheduled to make its debut in dealerships in 2010, and will compete with an emerging army of chic, eco-friendly small cars such as the Fiat 500. The up! was displayed as concept at last Frankfurt Motor Show. It has a super-compact, rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive powertrain, and promises to be incredibly environmentally friendly, with low CO2 emissions. The final version will maintain all the cheekiness and stand-out style of the concept. At the front, the VW up! gets headlights inspired by the Golf, as well as a reprofiled bumper with redesigned air intakes and integrated indicators. VW Up! will get petrol or diesel guises, and have a capacity of around 600cc. Both units are likely to be turbocharged, and VW is targeting CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km and combined fuel economy of 94mpg. A 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol motor is under consideration, too. The up! will be the first version to go on sale, however, with a basic car designed for emerging markets such as China, India and Russia costing from as little as $8,000. A more luxurious variant for European buyers will get goodies such as climate control, and carry a price tag of around $15,000. The final, production-ready VW up! is expected to make its world debut at a major motor show next year.

Apocalypse Preparation: Geiger Ford F650

When the fit hits the shan, we've got two phone calls to make: our Cayman Islands-based banker and Geiger cars. For 99,000 euro we can protect our loved ones while punching through some of the most wicked terrain this side of Dakar in the robust luxury of the German tuner's interpretation of the Ford F-650. Weighing in at 5.2-tons and stretching over 21-feet long, the Geigerfied uber-truck finds motivation from a tweaked 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel putting out 320 hp and 738 lb.-ft. of torque. Grunt is shoveled to a six-speed Allison 3000 automatic gearbox and on down to a biggie-sized driveshaft that powers the four, 22-inch rear wheels. Both the suspension and brakes are air-powered, and if we're willing to shell out a bit more cash, we can get chrome fuel tanks, leather, navigation and, surprisingly, gull-wing doors. We think this would compliment our imaginary post-apocalyptic stable that also includes our all-time favorite RV, the Wothahellizat.

Toyota to make a bigger iQ, no hybrid model

We got to see Toyota's iQ in production form at the last Geneva Motor Show, and so far, we like what we see. We're still waiting for specific details regarding what will power the "small yet premium " 3+1 and whether or not it'll make it over to the states. Already, though, we are hearing that there could be a larger version of the vehicle built on the same platform. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose? Maybe, but it could also help Toyota to defray the cost of the vehicle, which shares no major components with other Toyota models. The larger model could allow Toyota to compete with both the smart fortwo and the Mini, not to mention VW's upcoming up!. In other iQ news, Toyota is reportedly not planning on adding a hybrid option to the iQ, instead relying on a choice of two gas and one diesel-powered engine options. The reasoning behind not offering a hybrid relates again to the size of the vehicle. There's just no room to store a battery. Plus, the battery would add too much weight to the little car. Stop/start, though, is expected to make an appearance here.