Motoring Newsbriefs

Nov 24 2009 Maurice Glover

Milestone AudiAudi is to celebrate its centenary in car manufacturing by staging an unconventional preview of its next flagship model at an art and design exhibition in the US.

The premium German brand will showcase its new A8 limousine next week in a special section of the Design Miami exhibition called The Art of Progress.

The reveal will be part of an exhibition of works from the Rubell collection and a special lighting feature.

'The art of progress is a common passion among artists, designers and engineers,' said company design chief Stephan Sielaff.

New Kia motorA NEW engine family is set to give next-generation Kia models higher power, lower tailpipe emissions and greater fuel economy.

Developed over four years, the Theta II range of petrol units feature direct injection and have cost the Hyundai-Kia group £88 million.

The first, a 2.4-litre four cylinder motor, will make its debut in a new Korean product next year and other versions sharing its GDI technology will arrive in UK market models during 2011.

Compared with a conventional power unit of the same size, the GDI produces seven per cent greater torque at low speed and 10 per cent improved economy.

'This motor convincingly demonstrates our advanced powertrain engineering capabilities,' says group chief technology officer Dr Lee Hyun-Soon.

Corsa handwarmerVAUXHALL Corsa drivers can have warm hands as well as warm feet this winter.

Just in time for the cold weather, the manufacturer has added the ultimate luxury item to the list of standard equipment on SE versions of its supermini model - a heated steering wheel.

Fitted along with heated front seats, the leather wheel takes driving comfort to a new level and means an end to fumbling for gloves with numb fingers.

The feature is available as a £210 option on Exclusiv, Sxi and Sri three and five-door models.

Waterless washENVIRONMENTALISTS have developed a novel way to keep your car clean without using a drop of water.

After supplying polishes to the trade sector for three decades, Astra Automotive is launching a 'wash' product that dispenses with the bucket and sponge but still banishes dirt and achieves gleaming surfaces.

Called EcoGleam, the wonder wash also protects bodywork, alloy wheels, plastic chrome and glass with a clear and long-lasting protective coating of wax.

The product lubricates, emulsifies and removes all types of dirt, road dust, grease, diesel, insects and brake dust without damage surfaces.

'It does not contain silicone, Teflon, PTFE or CFC so it can be safely applied to all types of surface and because it cleans and polishes without liquid, it doesn't pollute the environment with harmful soaps and suds and saves gallons of water at every wash,' said a spokesman.

Suggested retail price is £10.93 for a pack to clean six average size cars, a pair of latex gloves and two micro fibre clothes.

Rare RollsA RARE Rolls-Royce will be on offer in the line-up for an annual sale of collectors' cars next month.

One of only two survivors of just 17 examples built, the 1906 Light 20hp Tourer is expected to go under the hammer for at least £500,000 at the Bonhams sale in London.

After the First World War, the car became part of a collection owned by Rolls-Royce aficionado Stanley Sears. In 1983, it was acquired by Thomas Love, who already owned the world's oldest Rolls-Royce.

'As such, the Tourer is unusual and historically significant. We're not surprised that it has attracted pre-sale estimates of up to£600,000,' said a spokesman.

A second car from the late Thomas Love's collection is also being offered as part of the sale. The 1913 Rolls Royce 40/50hp Open Drive Limousine, which he actively campaigned in the Veteran Car Club, is expected to reach between £180,000 - £250,000.

Insurance jargon busterAN online service has been launched to help motorists get to grips with some of the jargon used by insurance firms.

Motor insurer swiftcover.com set up the service after survey findings revealed that more than 40 per cent of drivers don't know what is covered by their car insurance because they are unable to understand the terms used in their policies.

The research also showed that one in five drivers believes car insurance policies are deliberately designed to confuse.

'Some drivers struggle with the terms used in their insurance, but it's vital that they read and understand their policies so they know the extent of their cover. Our jargon-buster service has been set up to make the terms clearer and ensure drivers get the right cover.

'Car insurance is very complex and the wording can be fairly complicated. Now drivers can simply enter the term they find confusing and they'll get a full explanation in plain English.

'Surprisingly, almost a quarter of the people questioned had no idea what voluntary excess means, despite the fact that many people increase their voluntary excess as a way to reduce the cost of insurance premiums,' said marketing director Tina Shortle.

.The firm's research found: 17% of drivers wrongly believe that fully comprehensive means they can drive any car 9% think fully comprehensive means anyone can drive their car 13% of people think social, domestic and pleasure use covers any journey, so long as they are for fun! 4% think only journeys after 6pm and at weekends are covered by the term social, domestic and pleasure use 51% do not know that material fact is the information that you give to your insurer that could affect your insurance policy, such as having points on your licence