VW puts Tiguan through final tests

Volkswagen has released pictures of its new small 4x4, the Tiguan, undergoing final testing in Namibia, and the word is that it will be a serious 4x4, not just a leisure-based SUV.

VW is planning to sell two versions of the Tiguan. One, called 'Trend & Fun' will have a low-slung front end and is intended to be a strict on-roader. But the 'Sport & Style' version will have a reworked front end that will increase its slope approach angle from 18-degrees to 28-degrees, significantly enhancing its off-road capability.

The Tiguan will also have an electronic system similar to Land Rover's Terrain Assist, which at the push of a button will pre-set all the electronic chassis systems to work better in=off-road conditions. Hill descent and hill start controls will be standard.

VW will also offer Park Assist on the Tiguan, which uses parking sensors and electronically-controlled steering to automatically steer into a parking space while you just work the clutch and throttle.

Five engines will be available on the Tiguan. 150bhp, 170bhp and 200bhp petrols and 140bhp and 170bhp diesels. It will go on sale shortly after its official debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

Toyota forced to withdraw Prius ad

Toyota has been forced by the UK Advertising Standards Authority to withdraw a television advert for its Prius hybrid car because it made erroneous claims about the car's environmental performance.

According to the ASA, Toyota's claim that the car produced around 1-tonne less of CO2 per year than a conventional car was based on the figures relating to the US market and were not indicative of European driving conditions, or, for that matter, the diesel-powered European competition.

According to a report in this morning's Guardian newspaper, the ASA agreed the Prius emitted "significantly less" CO2 than some other cars with greater engine capacity, but added that "we did not consider their evidence demonstrated that it emitted one tonne less than equivalent vehicles with diesel engines or that it took into account the average annual distance driven by private cars in the UK".

Toyota has pulled the ad from UK airwaves, but it's not known if it will have to alter its Irish advertising yet.

Anniversary Rolls-Royce

One would have thought that Rolls-Royce would never have to stoop so low as to offer Special Editions of its models, but then, a Special Edition Rolls is a wee bit different to a Rip Curl Clio (no disrespect to Renault implied).

This then is the Rolls-Royce Phantom Silver, built to celebrate the 100th birthday of the original 1907 Silver Ghost, the car that established Rolls' reputation for quality and engineering prowess by driving non-stop between London and Glasgow. 27 times. in a row.

A journey that would be entirely easy in the modern Phantom, what with that whisper quiet 6.75-litre V12 doing to driving. To distinguish the Phantom Silver from lesser (if that's the right word) Phantoms, Rolls-Royce has added silver paint (obviously), a solid silver Spirit Of Ecstasy mascot, unique leather and straight-grained wood inside and a specially commissioned solid silver Conway Stewart fountain pen. Which would be handy for signing the €550,000+ cheque you'd need to land one of these remarkable cars on Irish soil.

Let us know how the saving goes...

First pics of new 308

Peugeot has released the first pictures of its crucial new 308 hatchback, the car that the PSA group hopes will move it back into contention with the Ford Focus, Opel Astra and VW Golf.

And despite middling reviews for the 308's predecessor, the 307, it still sold well, shifting more than 3-million units in its lifetime, and winning European Car Of The Year. But it was criticised for bland styling, so-so handling and poor quality.

Certainly, the new 308 couldn't be accused of being bland. It takes the basic proportions of the 307 and adds the detailing seen on the 207 to it. It's not beautiful, but it's certainly distinctive.

Inside, the news is better again, and it looks like Peugeot has been working hard to ward of criticism of its cabin quality in recent models. The surfaces all look soft-touch and expensive, and the centre console and HVAC controls all look much better integrated than on the 307.

Whatever it's like to drive, the 308 will be a landmark car for Peugeot. PSA bosses have already promised that this will be the last car they make that's heavier than its predecessor (by around 150kg model for model). All future cars will be lighter than before to the benefit of fuel consumption and emissions. Even so, Peugeot is claiming that the new 308 will be a very environmentally friendly car, which could mean that we'll get to see the production version of PSA's diesel stop-start system, which brings exceptional economy and Prius-beating emissions to the table.

The 308 will go on sale before the end of the year, with 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol engines, and 1.4 and 1.6 diesels.

Renault debuts new Laguna

This is the all-new Renault Laguna which will go on sale in all major European markets before the end of this year. Renault is claiming it represents a dramatic step forward in the saloon car market, bringing new levels of quality, refinement and environmental frendliness.

That last claim is certainly borne out by the performance of the 1.5dCi diesel model, for which Renault is quoting and emissions figure of just 136g/km of CO2. That's a remarkable level for a large, comfy executive express.

So far, just four engines have been announced. The 1.5 diesel and its 2.0-litre sister oil-burner, and two petrol engines, a 2.0 and a 2.0 Turbo. There's no word yet on whether capacity-sensitive Ireland will get a 1.6 or 1.8 petrol, but if the oft-discussed new CO2-based VRT import tax finally gets the go-ahead, then we'll all be driving the 1.5 anyway.

Just as significantly, Renault is claiming that the new Laguna represents a major leap in quality for the French car maker. Renault boss Carlos Ghosn spoke of matching Toyota levels of quality with this new car, and from what we've seen so far of the gorgeous, soft-touch interior, he may not have been too far from the truth.

One thing though; if this car is such an improvement, why does it look so much like the old one?

VW ditches Proton deal

Volkswagen has reportedly pulled out of a long-mulled deal to buy Malaysian car maker Proton. Proton, which is still state owned, has suffered in recent years because of the deregulation of the Malaysian car market, which has seen other makes muscle in on its former protected turf.

The VW deal had been working away in the background for some months, and it was thought a couple of weeks ago that an announcement was imminent. But the Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi issued a statement last week that read: "I have decided, since Volkswagen is not interested in the proposal that Proton wants in terms of equity, Proton needs to talk to other people."

VW was reckoned to be interested in Proton for its low-cost far-east manufacturing base as well as its access to burgeoning Asian markets. And that's without taking into account Proton's ownership of Lotus, whose expertise in vehicle dynamics and hybrid technology would have been very useful to VW.

Now the Germans and the Malaysians are looking elsewhere. VW may return to its South American bases in Mexico and Brazil, as it looks to produce a cheap, rear-engined car for low-cost markets (which could also be sold in Europe as a rival to the Mini and the Fiat 500). Proton is rumoured to already be having behind-the-scenes talks with Hyundai-Kia about a possible takeover.

Newly-independent Chrysler announces massive investment

The divorce from Mercedes may only just be over, but Chrysler isn't hanging around to argue over who gets to keep the Franklin Mint limited edition collectors' plates. Oh no.

The firm has just announced a massive investment in new engine and gearbox technologies, to the tune of $3-billion. A new factory will be built in Mexico to construct a new family of V6 engines that Chrysler says will push the limits of fuel-saving technology, as Detroit readies itself for a legislative onslaught on its gas-guzzling products.