What's New: July 2004

Audi A3 Sportback

With the A3 Sportback, Audi is seeking to define a new segment in the premium compact class, combining the sporting elegance of a coup? and the versatility of a five-door vehicle, with sophisticated technology and well-defined driving dynamics. The Sportback features four and six-cylinder engines developing up to 184 kW (250 bhp), front-wheel or quattro permanent four-wheel drive and optonal DSG transmission.

The A3 Sportback shares its drivetrain, suspension and wheelbase wth the A3 three-door, but offers more space and variability thanks to its rear end which is 83mm longer than on its three-door counterpart.

The front end is dominated by the striking single-frame radiator grille, part of the new Audi family face introduced with the 12-cylinder A8 and the new A6 . The rearward-sloping roof line and raked beltline shift the visual centre of gravity of the A3 to the rear end, creating an impression that the entire car is about to leap forward. The high tail lamps accentuate the trapezoidal design of the rear end giving the Sportback a powerful appearance from behind.

The interior design of the A3 Sportback combines sportiness and elegance, with a low seat position, a high and wide centre console and the clear subdivision of the instrument panel. The three and four-spoke steering wheels can be recognised by their trapezoidal central element, the lines of which allude to the design of the single-frame front grille.

The luggage compartment has a capacity of 370 litres, 20 litres more than the three-door Audi A3. This can be increased to as much as 1,120 litres by folding down the rear seat back. The first deliveries are planned for early September 2004.

Honda FR-V

Honda has released details of the FR-V, a compact people carrier based on the CR-V platform to be launched in November. The short, wide stance helps create a dynamic, wedge-style exterior and a spacious, modern interior. Six independent seats are arranged in two rows of three, with the front and rear center seats mounted on long slides that allow for a V-pattern seat layout. This provides three-person, side-by-side seating without excessive vehicle width. When slid back, the front center seat forms an intermediate row between the front and rear rows, bringing front and rear occupants closer together, and making conversation easier.

According to Honda,"six seats are plenty for most small families. With all the seats in two rows, it's easy for everyone in the car to talk to each other". Any of the three rear seats can be folded flat into the floor for a large loading space. The central front seat can be folded for extra-long loads or to act as a table. In this position it features a fold-out extension with storage drawer.

The FR-V will come with a choice of three engines including one diesel unit. The two petrol engines will be Honda's 1.7-litre VTec and 2-litre i-VTec units. The turbo-diesel engine will be a 2.2-litre with a power output of 103kW and 340Nm of torque.

BMW M5

Following the Concept M5 revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2004, BMW has announced first details of the upcoming M5 to be launched in Europe in January 2005. The M5 features unique front and rear facias and side sills, BMW M's signature four tailpipes, and wider wheelarches housing the 19-inch M5 wheel design. The front fenders incorporate an air duct which helps engine bay cooling, and a new door mirror design.

The fourth generation M5 will be the most powerful BMW road car ever built, generating 507bhp and surpassing 100bhp per litre.The new BMW M5 is powered by a normally aspirated five-litre V10 engine - a first for BMW - with the two five-cylinder banks arranged at a 90-degree angle. Redlined at 8,250rpm, the 507bhp and 520Nm of torque propels the car from zero to 62mph in 4.7seconds and to 124mph in 15 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

Power is transmitted through a seven-speed sequential gearbox with Drivelogic, which offers eleven different change patterns. The new M5 also features a new DSC traction control system specifically developed for the car. The M5 also comes with an 'MDrive' button on the steering wheel, offering a one-touch function that changes the settings on the car to an enhanced sporting character. This is set up via iDrive with the owner choosing SMG, Electronic Damper Control and DSC modes and the rate of support of the Active Seat Control side bolsters. Once programmed, the driver presses the MDrive button to transform the character of the M5.

The functions of the Head-up Display alter depending on the driving mode selected. The default setting sees speed, navigation instructions, check control messages and cruise control settings projected onto the windscreen in the driver's line of sight. However, if MDrive is activated the display changes to a rev counter including vehicle speed that both flash at the driver when the next gear needs to be selected.

Mitsubishi Colt CZ3

Mitsubishi Motors has released the first picture of its top of the range 150bhp Colt CZT from the all-new 3-door Colt CZ3 range. The Colt CZ3 range, including the turbocharged variant, will make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, and will go on sale early in 2005.

The CZ3 is shorter than its 5-door sister model, with a lower roofline, more sculpted body sections, wide sills, longer doors and teardrop rear quarter windows. All exterior panels, except for the hood and front bumper, are unique to the CZ3. It was developed at the request of Mitsubishi Motors Europe and designed at Mitsubishi Design Europe.

The Colt CZ3 range will be available with either a 5 speed manual gearbox or 'Allshift' automated manual transmission coupled with a choice of four engines: 1.1 litre 75bhp, 1.3 litre 95bhp, 1.5 litre 109bhp petrol engine and 1.5 95bhp direct injection diesel.

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