Italian for “pocket rocket”

The Fiat 500, an Italian icon that first appeared on the continent in 1957 and was resurrected to great acclaim in 2007 has become a global success story. With people around the world paying closer attention to fuel economy and emissions than ever before, a small and fun car with a tiny footprint is just the ticket.

The 2010 Fiat 500 Abarth, one of the many high-performance models produced in conjunction with independent tuning company Abarth, is an even more exciting prospect. A tiny, turbocharged car with no small amount of style? What’s not to like?

The Abarth is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that cranks out 99 kW and 180 Nm of torque at 2500 rpm. When the car’s sport mode is engaged, this latter figure jumps to 206 Nm at 3000 rpm. While these numbers aren’t exactly mind-blowing in this day and age, the Fiat is a very small car, weighing in at less than 1000 kg.

The top speed for the Abarth hovers around the 205-km/h mark, decent for a city car if somewhat unspectacular. Fiat also estimates that this version of the 500 while accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Again: reasonable, if not exactly blood-pumping. (It’s worth noting that the frugal Fiat is also rated at consuming just 5.4 L/100 km of petrol in combined driving.)

But compact size and sufficient power translate into some honest grins behind the wheel. During a breakneck tour of Lake Como, the Fiat proved its worth, darting around like a rabbit (the animal, not the car) and offering enough performance off the line to keep things interesting. Even in rainy weather, the little car displayed refined road manners—a little bit of wheel spin in slick conditions from the front-wheel drive Abarth, but that was to be expected. The car clearly benefits from its torque transfer control system, a type of limited-slip differential for the driven wheels that keeps things in check even when the stability control system is switched off.

The Abarth also comes equipped with ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist and a hill holder system for starting on an incline. In the damp conditions, the brakes proved eminently capable of hauling the 500 down to zero in fine order. In other news, the steering on the car was a bit imprecise and the shifter on the 5-speed manual was a bit slack, but the clutch had a nice progressive feel to it.

From an engineering standpoint, there was one key disappointment though: the turning circle. By and large, European roads are the reason why small cars exist—their size comes in handy when confronting a large bus on a narrow side street or finding a parking space at a Zucchero concert. But the turning circle on the 500 was so surprisingly unmanageable, I had to reverse out of a tight 180-degree hairpin on more than one occasion.

When it comes to the interior environment, the Fiat plays the style card in much the same way as the MINI Cooper, so the intent is, no doubt, to market the car as an entry-level premium offering. This is a fine approach, as long as the vehicle in question has the proper amount of cachet and quality built right in. In the Abarth tested, the cachet was there, but the quality left a little to be desired.

First off, a consistent and mysterious rattle plagued the back seat area. The audio system seemed incapable of picking up radio stations with any clarity, even on the outskirts of Milan. The instrument panel menu switched between displaying all potential readouts and showing none, which made setting up the readouts a major challenge. And despite my best efforts, I could never locate a trip odometer, which made following my printed Google Maps directions a major pain.

As noted, the Abarth is a small car, so interior space is at a premium. The back seat is roomy enough for children, so the car should perhaps be classified as a 2+2 rather than a 4-seater. Due to the car’s round shape, though, headroom is decent for front-seat passengers and the visibility forward and to the sides is very good. The cargo area is also tiny at only 185 litres, but the back seats fold down to create enough space for a big run to the grocery store.

On the other side of the ledger, the Abarth does have a funky interior that includes sport seats, aluminum pedals with rubber inserts, a chunky steering wheel, and a leather-covered shifter and handbrake lever. The gauge set is impressive, too, with an analogue turbo pressure the icing on what is a very tasty cake. If the car-builders at Fiat can resolve the quality issues, they’ll have a very engaging little car to offer the world.

One thing is sure: The 2010 Fiat 500 Abarth has enough appeal to make it an interesting addition to the commuter car scene. There will never be too many small, fun, efficient cars in this world—in fact, they’re needed more than ever. There is some question about how it will be priced, though.

The version tested had a sticker price of 30,000 euro—a lot of money for a commuter car, to be sure. In order to prove successful in markets outside of Europe, the Abarth needs to be priced according to its true worth—and its true worth is something less than that of a MINI Cooper, from a quality and dynamics standpoint.

One final note, though: In Ferrari-mad Italy, it was interesting to see how many locals stopped and stared whenever the dull grey Fiat with the blazing scorpion symbols roared past. This alone speaks volumes for the potential impact the 500 Abarth can have outside of Italy.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

The 2010 Jaguar XK V8 Coupe has gone from being a pussy cat to a real Jaguar.

Model Tested:

• 2010 Jaguar XK V8 Coupe; 5.0-litre V8; six-speed automatic coupe: $224,200

Options:

• None fitted;

Exhaust note to die for, revised styling and design, new V8 engine.
XK-R is only $25,000 more.

CarAdvice Rating:

The previous Jaguar XK V8 Coupe, powered by the outgoing 4.2-litre V8, was always more pussy cat than Jaguar. With a 0-100km/h time of 6.2-seconds and barely more power than a modern Commodore, it was nothing to write home about.

Comparing the brand new 5.0-litre V8 Jaguar XK V8 Coupe to the outgoing model would be like comparing gold to wood. Power has been increased by 26% to 283kW and torque has risen by a staggering 100Nm.

In addition to the added power and torque, the new XK V8 Coupe has slashed its 0-100km/h time by almost an entire second, now completing the dash in 5.5-seconds.

To the untrained eye, the exterior of Jaguar’s latest update looks much the same. Upon closer inspection of the front end, avid fans will find new gills, more chrome and restyled headlights.

At the rear the taillights have been rejuvenated by virtue of LED lights styled to give the XK an aggressive new look. The side panel gets a vertical breather slat that integrates the Jaguar nameplate.

Inside the cabin, a restyled interior mimics the flowing lines and gadgetry of the XK’s more sedate XF sibling. The rising gear lever and updated control system now also grace the XK.

Our test vehicle was fitted with opulent and richly varnished wood grain that suited the interior down to a tee. The climate controls have now also been simplified to make climate changes a breeze – pardon the pun.

The seats feel sportier than the outgoing XK and come with an adjustable side bolster to hold the driver in tight. In addition to being heated, the seats are now cooled via ducts in the base and back of the seat. Our test vehicle also had a heated steering wheel – the perfect companion for a chilly Melbourne winter morning.

525W of Bowers and Wilkins audio brings music to the ears. High output Kevlar mid-range speakers and specially designed aluminium dome tweeters work in unison with a sub-woofer to emit a sound to match the car’s stellar exhaust note.

Jaguar’s new 5.0-litre V8 features 32-valves and is mated to a ZF Sachs 6HP28 six-speed automatic gearbox. The gearbox can be controlled by paddle shifters on the steering wheel, or by simply selecting the ‘D’ or ‘S’ mode (Sport) modes on the gear selector.

You will be guaranteed to have tingles running down your spine the first time you hear the new XK V8 Coupe turn over. A slightly hesitant starter motor fires all eight cylinders to life, offering a bevy of exhaust rumble from the rear.

Stationary exhaust note is equally as impressive inside the cabin. Tap the throttle at idle and the V8 makes its presence known by barking back at you.

The exhaust note only gets better as the revs rise. The active exhaust system continuously adjusts butterfly valves at the rear, increasing the veracity of the note based upon speed and throttle input.

At full throttle the exhaust emits its peak bellow onwards of 3800rpm. The car can literally be heard kilometres away. The sound is barely lost inside the cabin too, giving passengers the pleasure of taking in all the V8 has to offer.

In traffic, the Jaguar XK V8 Coupe is fairly easy to place. The long nose is visible and the blind spot behind the drivers head is nowhere near as bad as some of its competitors. Large wing mirrors with excellent coverage help survey spots in traffic missed by head checks.

Parking is easy courtesy of front and rear parking sensors. The front parking sensors are especially useful as the front end of the XK sits quite low. Ripping the front end off on a gutter would be far from pleasing.

If you were to drive the old XK back to back with the new XK, you would be staggered at the massive difference. The new Jaguar XK V8 Coupe feels alive and ready to take on anything thrown at it.

Steering response is far sharper with weight now increased, on top of accuracy. The sports steering wheel sits nicely in the hand and is easy to manoeuvre while driving tight and twisty sections of road.

The front end of the car sits extremely flat on turn-in to a corner. If you bury the throttle on the way out, the sizeable 285mm rear tyres offer no remorse and not even a hint of letting go. The composure and positive attitude of the drivetrain is to be commended.

The brakes are relentless and do an excellent job of bringing the 1660kg Jaguar XK V8 Coupe to an abrupt halt. Brake pedal feel is perfectly linear with a slightly firm brake pedal.

ZF Sachs is known for its excellent gearboxes. The 6HP28 six-speed automatic gearbox fitted to the Jaguar XK V8 Coupe is no exception. If you feel adventurous enough to swap cogs on your own via the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, you do so at your own peril, as the ‘S’ (Sport) mode takes care of everything in tremendous fashion.

The Sport mode will hold gears and blip on downshifts to offer the most from the driving experience.

Acceleration isn’t so much fast as it is exciting. While the naturally aspirated XK V8 Coupe doesn’t have the firepower of its supercharged XK-R sibling, the experience associated with nailing the throttle is one that easily surpasses the need for staggering acceleration.

Jaguar’s official fuel consumption figure of 11.2L/100km was seemingly out of reach when I started the road test. I didn’t believe the car could get anywhere near that figure.

Much to my surprise it managed to come in at 12.1L/100km with a mix of highway and city driving.

Starting at $224,200, the Jaguar XK V8 Coupe is an excellent proposition for the buyer after a car with style, elegance and a bark to match its bite.

While it won’t set the world on fire in terms of straight line acceleration, it will most certainly impress every step along the way.

The only downside is that the supercharged XK-R that produces almost 100kW more at 375kW is just $25,000 more.

It’s hard to imagine why you wouldn’t go the whole hog and couple hair raising performance with mind blowing style and an exhaust note to match.

Ratings:

CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive:
How does it Look:
How does it Go:

Road Test the Rivals:

• Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe

Specifications:

• Engine: 5000cc V8
• Power: 283kW @ 6500rpm
• Torque: 515Nm @ 3500rpm
• Induction: Naturally aspirated
• Transmission: Six-speed automatic
• Driven Wheels: Rear wheel drive
• Brakes: Four wheel discs
• Top Speed: 255km/h
• 0-100km/h: 5.5-seconds
• CO2 Emissions: 264g/km
• Fuel Consumption: 11.2L/100km (ADR)
• Fuel Consumption: 12.1L/100km (As Tested)
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 litres
• Fuel Type: 95RON PULP
• ANCAP Rating: 5 star
• Airbags: Six
• Safety: ABS Brakes with EBD and BA. ESP.
• Warranty: 3 years/100,000km
• Weight: 1660kg
• Wheels: 245/40ZR19 (front) 285/35ZR20 (rear)

*Pricing is a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer and does not include dealer delivery, on-road or statutory charges.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

Toyota has announced today that it will recall over 1.1 million Toyota Corolla and Toyota Corolla Matrix cars for an engine defect in the US, which is said to cause spontaneous stalling. The recall is said to affect American-sold vehicles only, with model years ranging from 2005 to 2008.

The problem is down to the engine control module, or engine computer, whereby critical components are made from materials that could be prone to cracking over time. This is said to cause stalling problems. According to reports, there’s been at least three accidents caused by the defect, leading to the recall being issued.

Toyota Motors, North America manager of technical affairs, wrote in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,

“Toyota concluded that this problem would likely continue to occur, and, therefore, in order to address customer concerns, decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall of all vehicles within the affected range.”

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

To help Pebble Beach celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Concours d’Elegance motoring event in Carmel, California, Rolls-Royce developed this Rolls-Royce Phantom 60th Anniversary Special Edition as a one-off celebration.

The special edition comes with a complete picnic kit topped off with fine silver cutlery, a pull-out champagne service set, oiled teak decking and a refrigerated storage compartment low down in the boot. The package also comes with a bespoke leather luggage set complete with embossed Pebble Beach, 60th Anniversary badging.

Torsten Muller-Otvos, Rolls-Royce CEO, said in a recent report,

“This 60th Anniversary Special Edition is the embodiment of our Bespoke capabilities in Goodwood. It demonstrates the ability of our designers and artisans to create something absolutely appropriate for an occasion and ultimately, something exceptional to cherish forever.”

Only this single example will ever exist, making it one rare and exclusive Stillwater Blue Rolls. We should mention, this only example was quickly snapped up by one very keen and obviously rich buyer at its debut public unveiling at this year’s event.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

Hyundai was caught testing the upcoming Hyundai i40sw recently. Although heavily camouflaged, the car seems to have a similar front end design to the Russian, Hyundai RB Concept.

It could possibly be a wagon version of the Russian concept, or a completely new design, created as a wagon from the ground up.

Daytime running LEDs entwine the front headlights – like the Hyundai RB Concept – while there’s also wing mirror indicator lights, very similar to the Hyundai RB Concept as well.

The tailgate is very heavily laden with black camouflaging that deters any sort of comprehension to any other model in its range, although the wheels appear to be from an i30.

The car was said to be undergoing hot weather testing somewhere in Southern Europe. All that heavy camouflaging material would have certainly added to the conditions.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

This Hyundai RB Concept is said to be a special vehicle developed especially for the Russian market and, sources say, these images replicate how the production version will eventually look.

Said to be powered by two new ‘Gamma’ engines including a 1.6-litre twin cam four cylinder and a 1.4-litre of matching configuration, the car will also come equipped with a constantly variable transmission.

In a recent Hyundai press release, the company has taken big strides in creating a car that looks and feels very modern, sophisticated and dynamic. Phrases such as ‘orchid strokes’ and ‘fluidic sculpture’ are used to describe the car’s design philosophy. And we must admit, it does look very good.

Production of the car is scheduled to start at Hyundai’s plant in Saint Petersburg, Russia (Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Russia) in January 2011, and will go on sale in Russia during the first half of 2011.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

Following the ‘accidental’ email leak from last week, Lotus has released the first official details and photos of its Lotus Evora S and the Lotus Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) automatic option.

The Lotus Evora S uses a highly tuned version of the Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine found in the standard Lotus Evora, gaining an extra 52kW of power all without the help of a supercharger.

The Lotus Evora S develops peak power of 258kW at 7,000rpm and maximum torque of 400Nm at 4,500rpm – combined with a six-speed manual transmission this sees the zero to 100km/h sprint time drop to just 4.8 seconds.

“We were proud of the Evora but we’re even prouder of the Evora S, I feel like it does the true Lotus experience justice. The really great thing is that as we move forward the standard Evora should also benefit from some of these developments.” said Lotus Chief Executive Officer Dany Bahar.

Despite this newfound power, the Lotus Evora S still manages a combined fuel consumption figure of just 10 litres per 100km on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 235 grams per km – becoming slightly more with the larger wheel option.

Along with the power boost, the Lotus Evora S comes with a sport pack as standard which features a ‘sport’ button allowing the driver to control throttle response and activate the exhaust by-pass valve.

This same button also raises the rev limit of the engine and activates a more performance oriented calibration for the dynamic stability control settings.

“It’s the next level of Evora experience. It communicates with you better, the suspension setting has been fine tuned for added power and control so it responds even more to direction. It’s an instinctual car, the experience is pure.”

In addition to the Evora S, Lotus has also officially introduced the automatic transmission option for the Lotus Evora, calling it IPS or Intelligent Precision Shift.

The six-speed automatic transmission – not available with the Lotus Evora S it seems – can be used in both manual paddle shift or fully automatic driving modes, along with a ‘sport’ mode which takes control over the task of switching gears in a more aggressive manner.

“The Evora IPS is set to broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a slightly different market. We hope it will be popular with established automatic locations such as Asia, the Middle East and the US. It’s been a long time since Lotus created an automatic and we’ve spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the Evora drive experience.”

The Lotus Evora S and Lotus Evora IPS option will make their official debut at the Paris motor show on September 30.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

The guys at GT Channel have managed to snap this ultra-widebody Honda CR-Z in the making. It’s unknown if Honda is indeed planning to include a Honda CR-Z into Japan’s main grand touring car championship, Super GT (previously called JGTC), where the extravagant bodywork would certainly fit in.

Although it doesn’t seem to be as eco-friendly as its road-going counterpart, obvious by the large V-configured, mid-mounted engine, the widebody design does flow naturally off the original aerodynamic body.

We’d guess that most of the panels would be made from fibre glass, while the doors appear to be carbon fibre, evident by the setting door skins fresh from the high-pressure autoclave.

It would be great to see a field of hybrid touring cars formed into one championship, possibly a thing for the near future. This car would run in the GT300 class, taking little brother position behind the Honda NSX GT500 car.

Testing of the GT300 championship commences in our Spring, before the winter takes hold in Japan and before the 2011 Super GT championship starts in March. Testing of this Honda CR-Z could be spied in the upcoming months so we’ll keep you updated, if it is a GT300 racer that is.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

The Australian Comsumer and Competitor Commission has just issued a recall for all normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 Jaguar XF and Jaguar XK models, years ranging from 2010 to 2011. Only 81 cars are said to be affected.

The recall was issued because of a faulty fuel pump communication that may occur shortly after start-up, leading to stalling of the engine. Once restarted, the communication is regained and no further issues are said to result. If the engine does begin to stall, a loss of power assisted steering may also result causing very heavy steering.

Jaguar is recalling the vehicles on a national scale. Specific chassis numbers are:
Jaguar XF 2010 MY – R36913 to R59480
Jaguary XK 2010 and 2011 MY – B28268 to B39482

Owners of the cars will be contacted by Jaguar via mail, where they will be advised to visit their local dealer. At the dealer, technicians will upgrade the computer software on the car to rectify any possible petrol pump communication connection.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

Make no mistake this is a prestige offering in the medium car segment, but at a small car price

The ‘90’ in ‘90TSI’ refers to the kilowatts the engine develops in the latest addition to Skodas’ Octavia model range, and after a couple of hours behind the wheel, I can tell you without any qualms whatsoever, this car is the prestige bargain of the century.

You’d be right in thinking that 90 kilowatts might have had hard time hauling around the mass of the Octavia 90TSI wagon we drove today as part of the launch program by Skoda Australia, but that’s just not the case when you factor in the extra wide peak torque curve.

The 1.4 litre TSI engine delivers 200 Newton-metres of good old fashioned pulling power, from 1500-4000rpm, and that’s more than enough for this family chariot to feel like a fun, if not, sporty car to drive.

Proportionally, the Octavia wagon looks like a large vehicle, but once you’re comfortably nestled in behind the wheel, it feels like you’re steering nothing bigger than a Golf, such are the dynamics and versatility of this engine and the progressive way the car puts the power down. It’s also quiet inside the cabin, but with just the right dose of engine note, when you have cause to prod the right pedal.

My first test car was fitted with only one option, the DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) 7-speed transmission, and what a treat this piece of technology is. Super smooth shifts, with almost no loss of power between those shifts.

Of course, you don’t have to buy an Octavia wagon, for many, the Octavia Liftback would be the better choice although, few would argue that it’s not as visually appealing as the wagon. What Skoda calls the ‘Liftback’ is actually a hatch, but the clever design makes it look like a traditional sedan with a boot and what a boot it is, the word ‘huge’ comes to mind.

It’s been a while since I climbed aboard a Skoda Octavia, and the first thing you notice is that rock solid prestige ‘thud’ when you close the door. Even in this base model, you can’t help feel that you’re sitting in a premium marque and it sure is a nice place to be.

It’s not about any one feature, it’s the whole package, from the quality plastics and materials, the superbly bolstered and comfortable seats (which you would expect to find in a proper Euro sports car), together with a first class ride quality.

Even the steering wheel is a thick rimmed, leather bound, sports style tiller, with easy to use remote audio controls. There’s also cruise control, power windows and remote central locking as standard kit, as well as a full inventory of active and passive safety features.

Driving down into the Galston Gorge in Sydney’s Berowra Valley, there were plenty of hairpins and quick corners to test the handling of the 90TSI, and it didn’t disappoint. Turn in is accurate and the steering is quick to respond, while body roll is non-existent at the speed limit, even in the wagon. This thing feels very planted on the road.

Skoda, like its big sister brand Volkswagen, have always had the Midas touch when it comes to suspension tuning. While the Octavia’s ride is suitably firm to combat any hint of lean in the bends, it’s always complaint, ironing out potholes and bumps on the worst of our tarmac.

Forward and side vision is good too, there’s plenty of window depth around the Octavia, despite the rather thick A, B, and C pillars, which clearly add to the structural rigidity of the car.

On my return journey back to the airport, I hopped into the $24,990 entry model 90TSI with a six-speed manual transmission, which I was more than ready to rule out given how easy the DSG box is to live with.

How wrong could I have been, and precisely the reason why test-driving different variants is mandatory before making that final purchase decision.

I seriously doubt there exists a smoother, more slippery manual transmission than what Skoda have employed in the Octavia 90TSI. This car puts the fun back into the daily drive. Slipping into any one of the six gear ratios requires fingertip shift effort only, while the sheer smoothness of each gear change, makes for an incredibly enjoyable driving experience. Would I take the manual version over the DSG? The short answer is, yes.

The other good news in the Octavia stable is the addition of SatNav on the 118TSI and 103TDI variants as standard equipment. That alone, is a saving of $2590 off the previous iteration.

The RS gets the SatNav too and also picks up another useful piece of standard fit technology in the Extended Electronic Differential Lock (XDL).

Skoda has loads of potential especially in Australia, with sales this year up 50 percent on 2009 numbers. That means around 1800 new Skoda club members for 2010 and the Octavia model range will be a big part of that sales drive.

The biggest problem Skoda has here in Australia, after supply, is getting folks to at least visit a Skoda dealer. Once they test drive the cars, dealers report a one in five success rate, which is not at all surprising, given the value for money proposition this marque represents.

The list of customer satisfaction awards and Car of the Year wins for Skoda throughout Europe is long and indeed impressive, but again, not surprising to anyone who has actually driven a Skoda.

There are currently twenty-four Octavia variants to choose from in Australia, from $24,990 for the 90TSI Liftback with the six-speed manual transmission, through to the halo car, the Octavia RS Wagon with DSG for $43,790.

If Skoda Australia boss Matthew Wiesner, has his way, we will see the introduction of the Yeti (compact SUV) and with any luck, the highly regarded Fabia and Fabia RS although, arrival times for these models is unknown at this time.

Expect a full review of the Skoda Octavia 90TSI on CarAdvice in the coming weeks.

Driven: Octavia Wagon 90TSI 7 speed DSG – $27,290

Driven: Octavia Sedan 90TSI 6-speed manual – $24,990

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.