New Renault Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet to Hit UK Showrooms in July

Renault has confirmed UK pricing and specification for the all-new Megane Coupé-Cabriolet, which completes the French automaker's C-segment range. The new the hardtop convertible models comes in a choice of two trim levels, Dynamique TomTom and GT, priced from £21,595.

Buyers of the four-seater drop-top model have a choice of six engine and transmission combinations. The range includes a 1.4-liter turbo petrol with 130HP, a 2.0-liter petrol with 140HP that's hooked up to a CVT, a 1.5-liter diesel with 110HP that's linked to a dual clutch transmission and a 1.9-liter diesel with 130HP.

The lineup tops out with two GT versions, one powered by a 2.0-liter turbo petrol with 180HP and the other by a 2.0-liter turbo diesel with 160HP.

All Megane CC models come equipped with comes with a an electric panoramic folding glass roof, 17-inch alloys, 4x15W radio CD with Bluetooth and AUX input, air conditioning, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, fixed glass wind deflector, hands free keycard, speed limiter and fully integrated Carminat TomTom satellite navigation as standard.

The GT variants benefit from numerous upgrades including 18-inch alloys, bespoke sport front and rear bumpers, dark chrome surround for the windscreen frame and waistline, with matching door mirrors, door handles and front fog lights, as well as sport seats, aluminium-faced pedals, an analogue rev-counter and polished carbon interior trim.

Version	Engine	CO2 g/km	Combined MPG	Price OTR
Dynamique TomTom	1.4 TCe 130	169	38.7	£21,595
	2.0 CVT 140	184	35.3	£22,595
	1.5 dCi 110 EDC Auto FAP	130	56.5	£23,595
	1.9 dCi 130	149	48.7	£23,095
GT	2.0 TCe 180	188	34.9	£24,880
	2.0 dCi 160	175	42.2	£25,830

Peugeot UK Launches 3008 with More Powerful Diesel and Six-Speed Auto

Peugeot will expand its 3008 crossover range in the UK this June with the introduction of the 3008 HDi 163 FAP Automatic variant, which will be available in two trim levels, Sport and Exclusive, priced from £21,395 and £22,795 respectively.

The latest 3008 model gets a new and more powerful 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that delivers an output of 163bhp at 3,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 340 Nm (258 lb-ft) at 2,000 rpm. The HDi 163 is only available with a six-speed automatic gearbox that features two driving modes - automatic and sequential selection control.

According to the French automaker, the 3008 HDi 163 FAP Automatic completes the 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint in 10.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 127mph (204km/h).

It returns 32.5 mpg UK city, 52.3 mpg UK highway and a combined fuel economy of 42.8mpg UK which is equal to 6.6 lt/100km and 35.6mpg US.

Both trim levels come equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels with energy saver tires, rear parking aid, cruise control, radio / CD player with MP3, leather steering wheel, front fog lights, electric windows, air-conditioning, automatic electric parking brake with hill assist, ESP, six airbags, ABS with EBFD, and remote central locking as standard.

The Exclusive version adds several goodies to the standard specification including a panoramic glass roof, automatic headlights and wipers, head up display, distance alert, rear side window sun blinds, tire pressure sensors, alarm, chrome front & rear bumpers and side rubbing strips, and dual zone digital air-conditioning.

BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Completes 1,013 Mile-Long Journey from UK to Munich and [Almost] Back on One Tank

Motoring journalist and TV presenter Tom Ford has managed to complete what he claims to be a record-breaking journey from the UK to Munich and almost back to Britain with a BMW 320d EfficientDynamics saloon on a single tank of fuel.

Ford filled up the diesel-powered bimmer at the Channel Tunnel and made it to Munich, Germany, then as far back as Lille, France on the return before needing to refuel completing a total driving distance of 1,013 miles or 1,629 kilometers on one tank.

Although Ford said he switched the air con and radio off as "a concession to fuel saving", the journalist stated that he didn't use efficient driving techniques such as coasting, or drive deliberately slowly for the trip, which was covered in yesterday's Sunday Times newspaper.

According to Ford, on the way to Munich, he achieved highs of 75.9mpg UK [63.2 mpg US or 3.7lt/100km] , and didn't dip below 65mpg UK [54.1 mpg US or 4.4 lt/100km] for the entire trip. Overall, he achieved an average speed of 59.3mph [95.4km/h] and 68.9mpg UK [57.4 mpg US or 4.1 lt/100km].

"I was prepared for this car to fail in the real world. I was wrong," said Ford. "Although I did try and be careful and drive in a feather-footed manner, I did cruise at a reasonable 65ish mph [105km/h] on the autoroutes and autobahns, so faster than the usual economy run pace."

"Think about it in the context of everyday motoring: comfortably more than 1,000 miles on one tank of diesel means just 12 fills a year for the average motorist – and even driven normally I still think you're looking at 750-800 miles per fill. BMW's EfficientDynamics: it does what it says on the tin," Ford concluded.

The 320d EfficientDynamics sedan is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that develops 163HP between 3,500rpm to 4,200rpm and 360Nm of torque from 1,750rpm to 3,000rpm.

It propels the BMW from zero to 62mph (100km/h) in 8.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 137mph or 220km/h while returning a combined fuel consumption of 4.1 lt/100km, equal to 57.4mpg US or 68.9 mpg UK, and a CO2 rating of 109g/km in the EU test cycle.

To achieve these figures the uber-frugal German sedan comes with a suite of fuel-saving technologies including Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering, a longer transmission ratio, lowered suspension and the use of specially designed aerodynamic alloy wheels with Michelin EnergySaver tires.

BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Gallery

2011 Dodge Journey SR Rally Look Special by Irmscher

A new special edition version of the Dodge Journey crossover has been launched in Germany. The Journey SR is the outcome of the cooperation between Dodge and German tuning firm Irmscher, which has developed numerous special edition models for carmakers in Europe, the most recent being the 'Chevy Cruze Irmscher Edition'.

The Irmscher treatment for the Dodge Journey is purely cosmetic as there are no performance enhancements for the SR that keeps the standard model's 140HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine.

On the outside, the Journey SR combines a metallic black finish with twin-rally stripes in vintage orange that run throughout the body and black alloy wheels with an orange hue on the rims. Optionally, Dodge offers the Journey SR in a Inferno Red Metallic color with black stripes.

The lower front apron, roof spoiler, chrome tail pipe and tinted rear windows complete the exterior changes.

Inside, the Journey SR features a leather treatment for the instrument panel, aluminum sport pedals, a chunkier leather sports steering wheel, chrome / aluminum accents and unique floor mats.

In Germany, prices for the 2011 Journey SR 2.0D by Irmscher start from €31,190.