Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013: Classic Weekend on Lake Como

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On the weekend of 24 – 26 May 2013, the spectacular grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and Villa Erba in Cernobbio on Lake Como will once again be transformed into a unique stage for the most beautiful automobiles and motorcycles from the past and the most extravagant concept cars of the present day. First held at the same location in 1929, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este today ranks as the most traditional show of its kind in the world. It lays on an extensive programme throughout the weekend, maintaining an exclusive ambience for those involved but at the same time offering the wider public a chance to experience the “Classic Weekend” on Lake Como in the company of classic car and motorcycle enthusiasts. As well as the automobile Concorso for invited guests in the grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este on the Saturday, the adjacent parkland of Villa Erba will open its gates to all car and motorcycle aficionados on the Friday evening for an open-air cinema, and on the Saturday and Sunday for the Public Days.

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Car of the Week: Renault Clio V6 Renault Sport

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After such a long time now finally a new "Car of the Week"!!

I've discovered this model car by maisto at the beginning of this week and immediately knew that this Clio V6 by Renault Sport had to be the first CotW since such a long time without any ...

The wide-body Clio V6 was built by Renault Sport up from 2001 as a "successor" of the famous Renault 5 turbo (built from 1980 - 1984). It was based on the Clio MKII and is a 2-door hatchback with a Rear mid-engine and rear-wheel-drive layout.
The V6 engine was upgraded to around 230 PS (169 kW; 227 bhp) and placed in the middle of the vehicle where the more ordinary Clios have rear seats - making this car a two-seater hot hatch. This Phase 1 models were built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing.

When the Clio V6 Phase 2 was launched in 2003 it was the most powerful serial produced hot hatch in the world with 255 bhp (190 kW), exceeding the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA (250 PS (184 kW; 247 bhp)) and the SEAT León Cupra R (225 PS (165 kW; 222 bhp)). The Phase 2 were built by Renault Sport in Dieppe.

Though based on a utilitarian hatchback, the Renault Clio V6 is not a practical family car. With an average fuel consumption of 12 litres per 100 km (24 miles/gallon; 20 mpg-US), this resulted in an empty fuel tank in just over 300 miles (480 km). The loss of the back seats and most of the boot space, due to the engine placement, results in a severe restriction in luggage space - there is only a small space in the front where the engine used to be, suitable for a holdall or week-end groceries, a small netted area behind the seats plus a small stash area under the tailgate.

Lisa

Škoda 450 / Škoda Felicia

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Who of you remembers the movies "Some like it hot" or "Ben Hur"? And who remembers in what year the famous Barbie was born? It was all in 1959. And what nice Skoda was built in this year, can you guess, ... a cute one ... got it? If not, I mean the Škoda 450 / Škoda Felicia. Never heard about it? Let's change that ;)

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Cars at the IBO in Friedrichshafen Part 2

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Now Part 2 of the Cars seen at the consumer fair IBO in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

For Part 1 with US-Cars only check out: US Cars at IBO Friedrichshafen Part 1



Lisa

RENAULT ZOE – UK PRICING AND SPECIFICATION

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ZOE Expression comes with an on-the-road price of £13,650, after the Government Plug-in Car Grant deduction, while the Dynamique Zen and Intens versions cost £14,750. Battery hire is from £70 per month. In line with some other Renault model price increases applicable from 5 April, ZOE will be priced £13,995 and £15,195.

Standard equipment on Expression includes:

15-inch Aerobase wheel trims on Michelin ENERGY E-V tyres

R-Link – voice controlled TomTom satellite navigation with 7” touchscreen

4x20W radio

USB input, jack, SD multimedia and Bluetooth®

‘Range OptimiZEr’ – bi-modal braking system, heat pump and Michelin Energy E-V tyres

Chameleon charger allowing recharge time of 30 mins to 9 hours

Econometer, battery gauge and integrated mileage counter

Eco mode: reduces power delivery and reprogrammes heating and air conditioning systems to maximise range

Z.E. Connect – remote monitoring of battery charge and range

Z.E. (hot/cold) pre-conditioning of interior temperature (when vehicle on charge)

Z.E. Voice – low speed pedestrian warning

Climate Control

Cruise Control

LED DRLs

ESC, ASR Traction control and Understeer control

Hill Start Assist

Renault keycard

ISOFIX mountings on front passenger seat and outer rear seats

TFT instrument display

Height and reach adjustable steering wheel

Privacy glass to rear side and tailgate windows

R.A.I.D. (Renault Anti-Intruder Device) auto door locking over 5 mph

Speed Limiter

Additional equipment on Dynamique Intens and Dynamique Zen:

• 16-inch Aerotronic wheel trims on Michelin ENERGY E-V tyres
• Hands-free keycard
• My Z.E. Inter@ctive – remote battery charging and air conditioning/heating activation
• 4x35W Arkamys 3D digital sound system
• Auto lights and wipers
• Z.E. Digital – remote access to R-Link store e.g. email access)
• Leather steering wheel
• Electric rear windows
• Rear parking sensors
• Dynamique Intens only:
  - Rear parking camera
  - Dark interior ambience
• Dynamique Zen only:
  - ‘Zen’ interior with Teflon upholstery protection
  - ‘Zen Take Care by Renault’ – active scent diffuser, ioniser, toxicity sensor

Options:

• 16-inch Aerotronic alloy wheels £400 (Expression)
• 17” Tech Run alloy wheels (Dynamique versions) (not available with MICHELIN Energy^TM E-V tyres) £310
• Metallic paint £495 (Energy Blue, Calico Grey, Neptune Grey, Diamond Black, Brazil Brown)
• Renault i.d. metallic paint (Arctic White) £595
• Renault solid i.d. paint (Iceberg Blue) £225
• 4x35W Arkamys 3D sound system £250 (Expression)
• Z.E. Inter@ctive – remote battery charging and air conditioning/heating activation £150 (Expression)
• Z.E. Live Services (HD Traffic updated, speed camera alerts, TomTom Places search and weather forecasts) 3 year subscription £150
• TomTom additional mapping - Europe £110

VERSION	BIK	Basic Price (£)	VAT (£)	Total Retail (£)	Less PiCG (£)	Total Retail after PiCG (£)	Delivery Charge (£)	First Reg Fee (£)	OTR after PiCG (£)
Expression	0%	14,444.44	2,888.89	17,333.33	4,333.33	13,000.00	595.00	55.00	13,650.00
Dynamique Zen	0%	15,666.67	3,133.33	18,800.00	4,700.00	14,100.00	595.00	55.00	14,750.00
Dynamique Intens	0%	15,666.67	3,133.33	18,800.00	4,700.00	14,100.00	595.00	55.00	14,750.00

Battery rental for ZOE	Miles
	up to 7,500	9,000	10,500	12,000
Contract term*
36 months and more	£70	£77	£85	£93
24 month	+£10
12 month	+£10

Ordering for ZOE is already open, prior to arriving in showrooms on 7th June.

Lisa

Toyota GT86 Cup edition, limited to 86 units

Hey Guys
Toyota just launched a new limited edition of their affordable sports car GT 86, the Toyota GT86 Cup edition.

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HONDA IS READY FOR WTCC 2013 #HondaRT13

2013 Honda Civic WTCC

Hey Guys

Following the completion of its final development test in Aragon, Spain this month, Honda Racing Team JAS is ready and raring to go for the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship. The Championship will begin with the Race of Italy on 24 March 2013, finally ending in Macau on 17 November after twenty-four races.

Honda will be entering a two car works team. The drivers are Italian Gabriele Tarquini – 2009 World Touring Car Champion - and Portuguese Tiago Monteiro. Honda’s R&D has developed a completely bespoke 1.6 litre 4 cylinder direct injection turbo-charged petrol engine to power its Civic WTCC race car in the Championship, with Mugen providing trackside support.

The team got off to a flying start at the end of last year, entering the Civic WTCC into the last three races of the 2012 championship. This saw Monteiro claim the car’s first podium finish at Macau in November, while the Civic WTCC gained the second-fastest time (at 2:31.844) at the same race.

The Honda R&D and J.A.S. Motorsport teams have put the Civic WTCC through its paces with their winter development testing programme. In December 2012, the car spent 3 days in the Honda R&D wind tunnel in Tochigi, followed by another 3 days in Valencia and Aragon in January and February respectively.

Commenting on the technical evolution of the 2013 Honda Civic WTCC, Andrea Adamo, Chief Designer, Honda Racing Team JAS, said: “Following extensive testing, we have made a number of improvements to the Civic WTCC. We have improved the car’s aerodynamics and enhanced the suspension design, as well as the front structure of the car. We have also fitted the brakes with bespoke front and rear calipers in cooperation with AP Racing.”

The Honda Racing Team JAS will be pitted against a private team, Hungarian-based Zengő Motorsport, who confirmed earlier this year that they will enter the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) with the Honda Civic WTCC. The car will be driven by Hungarian driver Norbert Michelisz. J.A.S. Motorsport will build the car for the team to the same specifications as Honda’s own Civic WTCC.

In line with Honda’s philosophy of sharing the joys of racing with its customers, a “Honda fan zone” will be introduced in the paddock of the European rounds of the 2013 WTCC; giving spectators the chance to get closer than ever to the Honda racing world.

About WTCC

• WTCC is the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
• Vehicle specification is strictly regulated by FIA Super 2000 category
• All vehicles which compete in the championship are based on mass production cars with more than 4 seats.
• The championship is reserved for cars powered by a 1.6 litre petrol engine, turbo-charged with direct injection.
• The distance of each race varies between 50 km and 60km
• The full racing season covers 12 racing weekends (two races per weekend)

Technical specifications of the 2013 Honda Civic WTCC

Engine
• In line 4 cylinder direct injection turbocharged with intercooler;
• Capacity: 1.6 litres;
• Dry oil sump;

Weight and Dimensions
• Mass: 1100 Kg;
• Length: 4300 mm;
• Wideness: 1830 mm;
• Wheelbase: 2605 mm

About the Blogger Roadtrip

On Friday March 22nd two german Blogger (Camillo and Tom) will go on a Roadtrip to Monza to join the WTCC Race. To stay updated, follow their Hashtag #HondaRT13 on Tiwtter and Instagram. Have fun Guys!


Some more german Blogger also wrote about Honda:

• Got Diesel? Honda Civic bekommt sparsamen 1.6er Diesel
• Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC erscheint im April
• Neuwagen-Vorstellung: Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC – Japaner stellen leichtesten Dieselmotor vor
• Neue Diesel-Technologie im Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC
• Honda Civic mit neuem 1.6 i-DTEC Dieselmotor
• Der Verkauf des neuen Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC startet bei 20.450 Euro
• Hoffnungsträger 1.6 I-DTEC Diesel im neuen Honda Civic

Lisa