Thursday 28 May 2009

Big Scrapage Saving


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Wednesday 27 May 2009

Warringtons Launch Event


Warringtons Launch Event Tonight from 7pm to 9pm - Ring 0844 248 8427 to get your free ticket.

Ferrari F430 F1 Coupe Automatic 2 door (2008)


Ferrari F430 F1 Coupe Automatic 2 door (2008)


Make: Ferrari
Model: F430
Engine Size: 4.3
Colour: Black
Mileage: 3400
Fuel: Petrol
Doorplan: Coupe 2door
Transmission: Automatic
Date First Registered: 01/03/2008

ABS Brakes
Alarm Fitted
Alloy Wheels
Central Locking
Climate Control
Electric Windows
Full Service History
Immobiliser
Metallic paint
Multi CD Player
Leather Interior
Multiple Airbags
Power Steering
Reverse Parking Aid
Satellite Navigation
Tinted Glass
Traction Control
Front Parking Sensors
Remote Central Locking

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Aston Martin DBS Volante

Aston Martin DBS Volante
Aston Martin DBS Volante
Aston Martin DBS Volante

Aston Martin launch this year it's fastest ever production convertible. Aston Martin's 16th convertible in 95 years, the DBS Volante. The Aston Martin DB9 was conceived and designed, from the outset, as both a Coupe and a convertible (Volante). This uncompromising approach is typical of the whole DB9 engineering philosophy.

Aston Martin's newest convertible has drawn together learning taken from the engineering of previous soft-top cars has resulted in the Aston Martin DBS Volante possessing Aston Martin's quietest and most refined roof system to date. When raised, the fabric roof is insulated with a layer of Thinsulate material relieving cabin noise and protecting the inhabitants from the elements. The hood, which mirrors the lines of the DBS Coupe, lowers in just 14 seconds and can be activated at speeds of up to 30 mph at the touch of a button.

The roof effortlessly stows below the newly-sculpted tonneau cover which has been redesigned to enhance the muscular attributes of the DBS Volante. Housing the Roll-Over-Protection-System (ROPS) which deploys two roll bars in the event of the car rolling over, the rear humps lead your eye to the new carbon fiber deck lid which has been re-styled for the DBS Volante. Despite the seemingly vintage design, expect thorough insulation to keep the Volante nearly as quiet as the standard hard top.

It's nothing but the best for the DBS Volante. Benefitting from materials derived from the motorsport and aerospace industries, the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are made from carbon fiber all helping to reduce weight. The body is constructed around an alloy "tub" and uses carbon fiber and aluminum in its body structure. Standard equipment will included a paddle-shift manual gearbox with full automatic mode. The braking system uses carbon ceramic discs and the suspension is governed by Aston's Adaptive Damping system.

Keeping the weight to a minimum has been a keen focus with the new Aston Martin DBS convertible and of course with low weight you can enjoy a much faster car. Aston says it was able to keep the weight down (the DBS Volante tips the scales at 3,990 pounds) through the use of a lightweight roof mechanism, along with a carbon fiber hood, front splitter and trunk lid. Aston Martin claims a 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 190 mph.

As with the coupe, the Aston Martin DBS Volante is offered with carbon ceramic brakes as standard providing exceptional stopping power.

Aside from the fabric roof, the Aston Martin DBS Volante will be identical to its coupe brother. It will be powered by the same 6.0-liter V12 engine that delivers 510bhp at 6500rpm and a peak torque of 420 lb.ft at 5750rpm. It looks elegant and perfectly proportioned from every angle - with roof up or down DB9 is a thoroughbred sports car with GT levels of comfort and refinement. Its design philosophy is uncompromising and brings together everything that makes a sports car great with that unique Aston Martin character, borne out of craftsmanship and use of the finest quality materials.

Truly great luxury sports cars are few and far between. In a world where innovation is all too often hampered by compromise, pure performance is a rarity available only to the genuinely discerning. For the first time you can say that Aston Martins not only have one of the glitziest badges in the business but also genuinely make some of the best-looking and best-driving cars in the world too - and much more reliable ones at that.

Current Motoring affairs brought to you from MotorParks.co.uk Visit our Information and Events for more Motoring News and Information

The Van Scrappage Scheme

Since Alistair Darling's announcement on the 22nd of April 2009 about the proposed scrappage scheme, there has been lots of information about Car scrappage with adverts both in the media and on television adverts. However there has been a lot less coverage of the Van scrappage scheme.

Like the car scrappage incentive the Van scrappage scheme Darling proposed would "provide motorists with a £2,000 discount on new vehicles". The Scrappage scheme is set to incentivise all owners to trade in their older, more polluting vans for a newer, cleaner, more economical, safer model. Not only would motorists benefit but also the scheme would provide a short-term boost to the automotive manufacturing industry, retailers and the auto supply chain which had been badly impacted by falling vehicle sales.

From an environmental view point the idea is that the Van Scrappage Scheme would remove older vehicles from the road and encourage consumers to buy newer, more environmentally-friendly models. The van is then scrapped, the vehicle needs to be destroyed as so not to further pollute. The dealership from where you buy the new replacement van will arrange for collection and scrapping.


For your old van to qualify for the Van Scrappage scheme the van must meet all of the following requirements.

  • To claim the Scrappage Scheme benefits the van for scrappage must be a small van less than 3,500kg.

  • To be eligible, the vehicle you scrap must have been first registered on or prior to 31 July 1999

  • To claim the Scrappage Scheme, the owner must be the registered keeper of old vehicle for at least 1 year and the vehicle must have an up to date MOT


The scheme will be available to the first 300,000 eligible claimants or until 31 March 2010, whichever is sooner

The van Dealer must check that the old van qualifies, do all the paperwork and arrange for the old van to be scrapped.

The van Scrappage Scheme is a voluntary scheme for manufacturers, this means that not all van dealerships will be offering the van scrappage allowance. Only if a manufacturer joins the Scrappage Scheme will they give you £2,000 off a new van if you let them scrap your old one. The van scrapping scheme will run from May 18th 2009 until March 2010, or until the Government's fixed budget of £300 million runs out, so there is limited availability.

So if you have a ten year old van that has seen better days you could trade it in and trade it up for a brand-new van with a two thousand pound discount.

The Van Scrappage Scheme
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Thursday 21 May 2009

Win a free Valet

Win a free Valet Win a free Valet at Motorparks - simply fill in the form and click submit.




The Seat Leon

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From front to back, the Leon's body shows off the SEAT Dynamic Line. All the lines of the Leon's low profile body suggest forward motion. This gives the Leon the appearance of a modern coupe, when it is in fact a 5-door hatchback. But the Leon is more than just a pretty face, its widely stretched track and wheelbase offer smooth driving in the city and exhilaration on the open road.

The New Renault Kangoo Be Bop

The New Renault Kangoo Be Bop

On its launch in 1997 Kangoo's affable, expressive style revolutionised the leisure utility vehicle sector. Roomy and versatile Kangoo has been a success, selling over 2,200,000 units since it was launched. The New Renault Kangoo Be Bop matches family expectations more closely. Buyers were reluctant to embrace the cars in this sector initially but have warmed up to them considerably in recent years. The Kangoo's style is fresh and modern.

Ideal for escaping the crowd, Kangoo Be Bop offers open-top motoring at the rear thanks to its glazed sliding roof and rear tailgate window which slides down out of sight. There are two tilting glass panels at the front, plus a fixed central glass panel. Easy to control with great visibility, the new Renault Kangoo is extremely practical, plenty of room for passengers, or if need be, drop the seats and the Kangoo has all the space of a van.

All four passengers benefit from individual seats which enable them to profit fully from the ride experience. The front seats are as spacious as those of Renault Kangoo and benefit from 1,510mm of elbow room, as wide as anything on the market. The Car-like ride and comfort levels are due to production of the Kangoo from a Scenic platform.

Renault's decision to place durability first in cabin design was a very family-friendly choice. The car's large boot makes storing both shopping and pushchairs easy. Cargo space ranges from 660 liters to 2.8 cm3 with the seats folded down. Renault has aimed to bring elements of its Scenic MPV to the interior, creating what it likes to refer to as a 'mobile office' There's certainly a good quota of storage options provided in both models with large door pockets, an A4-sized compartment in the dashboard complete with pen holders and a 13-litre overhead shelf. Of course lots of storage space is great for families to store all the essentials.

Renault Kangoo Standard safety provisions include twin front airbags and anti-lock brakes. More airbags can be fitted on request. It has front headrests with increased protection and 3-point seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters, making the Kangoo a very safe car to drive.

Kangoo has a 10.4-metre turning circle - so parking shouldn't cause too many problems.

Renault is also committed to the environment, recently introducing Eco2 - models which are affordable, environmentally friendly and economical in terms of fuel consumption. Fuel consumption is low (53.3 - 55.3 combined MPG depending on model) and the oil change interval is long - 18,000 miles (or every year) for petrol engines and the 105hp 1.5dCi diesel version and 12,000 miles (or every year) for the 70hp and 85hp 1.5 dCi versions. Low repair and servicing costs were part of the initial design brief for these reliable, economical vehicles.

Buyers can get their hands of the 1.5-litre dCi in 60, 70 or 84bhp form. All are quiet and economical with good response at low engine speeds to negate the need for constant gear changing. Renault Kangoo insurance groups start at group 4 and rise to group 5. All models are fairly cheap to insure.

Air con is a desirable extra. Equipment and trim are adequate rather than generous; RXE is best on early cars, Expression on current models. Air con is a desirable extra.

Renault are dedicated to giving customers what they want - every new car offers that extra 'Va Va Voom' - in terms of design, style, technology and safety. Unlike their more up market counterparts, these cars allow buyers to purchase more affordable people carriers with van-like functionality. The Kangoo drives like a family car but offers all of the practicality of a small van.



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The Jaguar Quiz

Love Jaguar Cars? Take the Jaguar Quiz to see how much you know about Jaguar. Test your knowledge in the Motoring Challenge.

The Jaguar Quiz
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The Jaguar Challenge. How much do you know about Jaguar? Test your knowledge in the Motoring Challenge.


1) Who was the founder of Jaguar, and in what year did was the company created?

Answer:
Two motorcycle enthusiasts, Sir William Lyons and William Walmsley founded Jaguar. The company was originally founded in 1922 and was named SS Cars Ltd, and the name was changed to Jaguar in 1945.


2) The first Jaguar was developed in 1935, what was the name of the First Sports car in the Jaguar family tree?

Answer:
S.S.90 - Lyons' first true sports car - so named to imply its anticipated top speed. The model's chassis was essentially that of the revised S.S.1 with an underslung rear and 15 inches extracted from its central section. The engine, the 2.6-litre unit with a bore and stroke of 73 mm x 106 mm, had been mildly modified and now developed around 75 bhp. The side-valve cylinder head had been retained although the camshaft was peculiar to the model, and the aluminium cylinder head was an S.S. fitting.


3) How did Jaguar come to be called Jaguar?

Answer:
Pre-war SS Cars Ltd had a change of. It was Bill Rankin who was to come up with a list of animal and fish names, and Lyons "... immediately pounced on Jaguar because it had an exciting sound". And the company became S.S. Jaguar.

It was towards the end of WWII in 1945, that Lyons was the first to recognise that the SS initials had become tarnished by their identification with the Schutzstaffel in Nazi, so in April 1945, SS Cars became Jaguar Cars.


4) In September 1948 Jaguar announced its first new post-war, stopgap model. Why was there a need for a stopgap model?

Answer:
A more radical saloon was being conceived by William Heynes; a forward thinking automobile engineer. After the war manufacturing was keen to move away from wartime production activities and to once more produce consumer goods. The new Jaguar Mark VII was still on the drawing board at the end of the war, so a 'stopgap' car was launched to fill the void. It would be another two years before the Mark VII was ready for production.


5) Who designed the iconic leaping Jaguar bonnet ornament?

Answer:
It was also Bill Rankin who, as a keen amateur sculptor, was to design the famous leaping Jaguar mascot for the car's radiator.


6) In what year was the Mark VII saloon introduced, and what foundations did it lay for Jaguar?

Answer:
The Mark VII saloon introduced in 1950 laid the foundations of continuing prosperity for the Jaguar Car Company. It was the culmination of years of development and was designed to sell in larger quantities than the XK sports car, at approximately 100 per week compared with the XK's 60.


7) 2 years after The XK 120 Fixed Head Coupe was introduced, another car was introduced. What was the name of this car?

Answer:
In 1953 the XK 120 Drophead Coupe was introduced with a fully-trimmed convertible hood. The XK 120 proved to be a super competition car.


8) Who did Jaguar buy in 1960, and what were they concerned about with it?

Answer:
Daimler, and they were worried about the chassis flex. Jaguar built a prototype Daimler Dart replacement with a neater body style but decided not to proceed with production.


9) Until 1967, leather seats were a standard with Jaguar cars. Why did it become optional, and what other piece of the car became optional?

Answer:
To reduce the costs of the vehicle. Fog and spot lights also became optional at this time.


10) Why was it a problem when Sir William Lyons retired in 1972?

Answer:
In 1972 Sir William Lyons retired; his retirement was followed by a period of confusion and confusing changes at Jaguar. Whole departments, such as sales and service, disappeared into BL power.




Thursday 14 May 2009

Wish You Were Here



A Massive Weekend Event at Dees Ford - www.dees.co.uk

BMW 3 SERIES 330d SE Saloon

Current Motoring affairs brought to you from MotorParks.co.uk Visit our Information and Events for more Motoring News and Information

The New Renault Clio GT Gets a Facelift





The new Renault Clio GT is due to land on the dealership forecourts during May this year just in time to get sporty for the summer. The Clio GT is intended to slide neatly between the Dynamique and Renaulsport versions of the Clio.


The sportier Clio due to its facelift is strikingly different to the Renault Clio that we are used to. The Clio GT gets a bunch of dynamic cues carried over from the new Megane which make the frontal styling more aggressive. There’s a squarer, deeper grille at the front, while at the back the rear lights have been sharpened, and the fog lights and reversing lights have been pushed out to the far corners.

The revised design of the rear lights extends the waistline across the hatch, while the uncluttered approach to the design of the central part of the rear bumper further emphasises New Clio’s dynamic stance. The reversing lights and fog lamps are positioned low down and to the extreme corners of the rear bumper.

Clio GT’s power steering is also more direct for swifter response and greater driving pleasure. The performance of the Clio GT’s specific suspension settings. New Clio GT is easily recognizable from the rear thanks to its twin exhaust tailpipes and lip spoiler and features an exclusive body colour, Malta Blue.

Sporty details inside the car include drilled aluminium pedal covers and extra side support for the seats, plus GT-badging for the front seats.

Renault’s latest navigation solution has been co-developed with TomTom and will be dual branded. The navigation solution, easily updateable on the internet, has a large colour screen, and will include traffic and speed limit information, as well as safety camera locations. Carminat TomTom is operated by a user-friendly Bluetooth remote control, and covers some 40 countries across western and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, plus Turkey and South Africa. This new GPS navigation system is compatible with the new range of audio systems available for New Renault Clio. Carminat TomTom, the first fully integrated and affordable GPS navigation solution, a really nifty bit of kit.

Renault expressed in a recent press release about the ne Clio GT “New Clio opens a fresh chapter in the Clio epic that began in 1990 and has seen the model go from strength to strength
New Clio carries over the same qualities that saw Clio III take the 'Car of the Year ' award in 2006, namely benchmark cabin space, safety, comfort and road holding, as well as the same rigorous build quality that has made it one of its segment's most reliable models “

So if you are a fan of the Renault Clio Family, you’re going to love the new Clio GT. The Clio model has been Europe’s top-selling cars since its introduction in 1990.

The Renault Clio GT price will be announced later, before it will go on sale in May this year.


Current Motoring affairs brought to you from MotorParks.co.uk Visit our Information and Events for more Motoring News and Information

Thursday 7 May 2009

Follow MotorParks on Squidoo

Follow MotorParks on Squidoo

MotorParks is now On Squidoo.

Visit us http://www.squidoo.com/MotorParks






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Ferrari Virtual Tour ~ GrangeTV


This Video is Taken From the Grange TV Library at www.Grange.co.uk




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The New Aston Martin V12 Vantage

The New Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Since December 2007 we have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, and it does seem to have been well worth the wait.

Aston Martin showed the V12 Vantage, its most potent production sports car in the marquee’s 95-year history at the Geneva motor show. Based on the hugely successful V8 Vantage, the V12 Vantage will feature a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp, and 570 Nm of torque with a top speed of 190 mph and 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds.


Aston Martin engineers have positioned the engine as far back and as low as possible in the car to contribute to the 51:49 weight distribution. Containing the weight within the Aston Martin V12 Vantage’s wheelbase, results in a low polar moment of inertia, creating a car which has a natural agility. Aston Martin claims that the V12 Vantage RS weighs less than 3,537 pounds compared to the 3,594 pounds of the V8 Vantage. Aston Martin says that the V12 Vantage RS concept is the fastest accelerating road car ever built by the company; with a 0-60 time of just under four seconds, the RS has as much power as Ferrari’s quickest car, the 599GTB, but weighs some 880lb less.


Unique to the V12 Vantage is the ability to toggle button between two powertrain modes. The default ‘normal’ provides a more progressive, throttle response, suited to more everyday situations. Selecting ‘Sport’ mode delivers a sharper throttle response together with a sportier exhaust note.


Common to both road and race cars is the VH architecture platform upon which the Aston Martin V12 Vantage is based. Consisting of extruded, pressed and cast aluminium alloy, bonded together with aerospace-grade adhesive, the backbone of the car works collaboratively with the powertrain and suspension to create an exceptionally responsive driving experience.


Carbon ceramic brakes are standard (398mm discs at the front, 360mm rear) and they're wrapped in 19in lightweight forged alloys and Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber. The tyres have been designed especially for the more powerful Vantage and help it to achieve the highest cornering forces yet from an Aston, with 1.3g possible.


Having established that the New Aston Martin is a hugely powerful engine which has been shoehorned into as smaller car as possible to ensure that it can accelerate and travel to its maximum capacity, our attentions turn to the looks of the vehicle. It has to be said that it is a stunner. It has been criticised for looking very similar to previous Aston Martin models, and whilst the grille, splitters, sills, bumpers and boot have all been altered it does look distinctively like an Aston Martin; and that’s as it should be sleek and stylish and instantly recognisable. Aston Martin hasn't really troubled the elite sports car sector in the past but the V12 changes all that and in some style.



No data has yet been released of the Carbon emissions of the V12 Vantage, however Aston Martins are not known for producing the greenest cars in the world, but the construction does compensate somewhat.



Aston has always been different, always been about understatement, and indeed could have the chance to really innovate towards a more environmental long standing.

Only 1000 V12 Vantages will be made, and deliveries start later this year, autumn 2009.





Current Motoring affairs brought to you from MotorParks.co.uk Visit our Information and Events for more Motoring News and Information

So you think you know about Volvo?

So you think you know about Volvo?

So you think you know about Volvo – here is a quiz to find out who is the ultimate Volvo Guru. Some of the questions are easy, some a little more difficult. See how many of the questions you know the answers to.







1) What does Volvo Mean?



Answer: Volvo derives from the Latin 'I roll'.






2) What was Volvo's first car that went into production?



Answer: Volvo was founded by Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, allegedly during a meal consisting of crayfish, in 1924. Their first car, the 1944cc Jakob, was in production by 1927.






3) Volvo to maintain production during World War two, what was Volvo's first post war car?




Answer: Volvo's first post-war car was the stylish PV444, which had been conceived in 1942 and featured independent front suspension and coil springs at the rear.






4) What year did Volvo produce its 10,000th car?



Answer: The first production milestone of 10,000 Volvo’s was reached in May 1932 and it was not long before Volvo dealers were asking the company to develop a more inexpensive car "for the people". This was the PV 51 model of 1936, similar to the more expensive PV36 in design, but smaller in size and less well equipped.





5) What year was Volvo's first Sports car the P1800 launched?



Answer: Volvo's first sports car was the P1800, unveiled in 1960. Considered to be an excellent touring car with it's sleek coupe lines, the P1800 went on to find fame in "The Saint" TV series with Roger Moore behind the wheel, much to the annoyance of the British Automobile Industry.








6) Which car was Volvo's first front wheel executive car?



Answer:
A completely new and different Volvo was launched to the world in June 1991. The Volvo 850 was Volvo's first front wheel drive executive car, with a transverse, five-cylinder engine. Its high level of safety combined with real driving pleasure won the car many independent awards.






7) In 1993 Volvo was going to merge with another Car manufacturer, Which other manufacturer was this?



Answer:
The proposed merger with Renault fell through in its final stages in 1993 leaving Volvo as one of the few remaining independent car manufacturers. This marked a key turn in the company's plans and paved the way for Volvo's new dynamic product strategy with the introduction in 1996 of the sleek and more rounded designs of the Volvo S40 and V40.





8) Why was the Volvo 144 such a significant car when it was launched?



Answer:
In August of 1966 a new car model was presented. It was called the Volvo 144. In terms of safety, this car was extremely advanced. It had disc brakes all round, a split steering column and a new lock on the three-point safety belts. The body had energy-absorbing crumple zones at the front and rear. Even the door locks had a safety design.



The 144 also meant the introduction of a triangle-split dual-circuit brake system. The car had two brake circuits and, if one of them failed, 80% of braking effect was still available.





9) What was Volvo's first turbocharged car?



Answer:
The first turbocharged car from the Volvo Car Corporation - The Volvo 240 Turbo with a B21 ET engine developing 155 hp was a true performance model with the sort of driving characteristics people expect of a sports car.





10) What year did Volvo introduce its first Bi-Fuel car?



Answer:
1996 saw the introduction of the Volvo 850 Bi-Fuel. It was fitted with twin fuel systems, allowing it to be driven on either petrol or methane gas. This meant that it already satisfied the California emission legislation for the year 2000.





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