In news that will surprise almost nobody, Audi has announced that it will be swapping the S5’s 4.2L V8 engine in favour of a lighter, almost as powerful, and much more fuel-efficient supercharged V6. Just as it did with the S4 range. The charged six will pump out 245kWs and a healthy 440Nms, meaning that only the power figure has dropped - down 15kWs - so Audi fans needn’t worry about performance.

It’s unlikely that the 4.2L V8 will disappear from Audi specifications lists just yet, as there’s every chance a twin-turbo version could see duty in new iterations of the S6 and S8. Both of which are currently powered by a de-tuned version of Lamborghini’s 5.0L V10 and could benefit from the improved handling and fuel efficiency the V8 could potentially provide. More...

Drivers can save by up to 40% on fuel costs

A local vehicle leasing company has claimed that drivers could be cutting back on their fuel consumption by up to 40%.

BestCarFinder have issued a list of small changes that can have a big impact for people looking to combat rising fuel costs and the credit crunch. The tips are all simple measures that drivers can implement to reap the benefits in the long term and include:

• Aggressive braking increases toxic emissions by more than five times and fuel consumption by as much as 40%. The best way to drive is to accelerate slowly and smoothly, then get into a high gear as quickly as possible. In city driving, nearly 50% of the energy needed to power your car goes to acceleration.
• Increasing your motorway cruising speed from 55mph to 75mph can raise fuel consumption as much as 20%. You can improve your gas mileage 10 - 15% by driving at 55mph rather than 65mph.

• Choose the right gear. Change up through the gears and into top gear as soon as possible without accelerating harder than necessary. Driving in a gear lower than you need wastes fuel; so does letting the engine labour in top gear on hills and corners.
• Under-inflated tyres can cause fuel consumption to increase by as much as 6%. Check tyre pressure at least once a month, when the tyres are 'cold' (i.e. when the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours or for more than 2 miles)
• Using a vehicle’s air conditioner on a hot summer day can increase fuel consumption as much as 10% in city driving – so use it sparingly. If it’s cool enough, use the flow-through ventilation on your car instead of the air conditioner. At low speeds, opening the window will also save reduce fuel consumption by reducing A/C use. At higher speeds however, using the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof.
• Choose the octane fuel which best suits your car. Premium, high-octane fuels aren't necessarily the best choice for your car; higher price doesn't guarantee better performance. In fact, such fuels don't provide any greater fuel efficiency. Many cars are designed to use regular low-octane fuel. Check your owner's manual to see what your car requires.
• Remove bicycle and ski racks when not in use. Excess weight also uses more fuel. Remove unnecessary items from inside the vehicle, trunk or truck bed. An extra 100lbs (48 kg) of weight can increase your fuel bill by 2%.
• Dirty air filters can also cause your engine to run at less than peak efficiency. Regular visual checks of the air filter will tell you if it needs replacing and your owner's manual will also recommend appropriate replacement intervals. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10% increase in fuel consumption.

A Spokesperson said:

“The news at the moment is full of the rising fuel costs. Several supermarkets have recently dropped their prices– costs are still at their highest for some time.

“However, people still need to use their cars and fortunately, there are lots that can be done to help people cut back on fuel consumption.

“By following our tips, people will be able to make a real difference to their weekly petrol bill.”

Consumer research firm Strategic Vision's Total Value Index is a measuring tool that combines what consumers have to say about their vehicles with various ownership measures calculated by Strategic Vision. Variables incorporated into the index include a consumer's expected reliability, expected fuel economy, price paid, and expected resale value. The Value Index has determined consumers are looking for the best pricing along with quality cues that indicate a vehicle's long-term value.

In the Total Value Index for luxury SUVs, the Q7 managed to beat out such strong competitors as the Mercedes-Benz GL and ML models, the Lexus GX 470, and the BMW X5. Standard equipment, technical innovations, and affordability in class were all used as vehicle measuring points in the Total Value Index. More...

Channel 4 have a great review of the new Mercedes .... on their site - Here is some of their findings, but you can read the full review on the link below

Overview

Facelift is too strong a word for the revised Mercedes M-Class. The big 4x4 is making do with the mildest of aesthetic revisions and a minor tweak for the V6 diesel models.

The biggest change is that the Sport trim has been set further apart from the SE trim, with more aggressive styling and huge 20" wheels, plenty of shiny metal work and a razor-effect front grille.

Four engines carry over, a 187bhp and 221bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel, a 302bhp twin turbo V8 diesel and two petrol's, a 5.5-litre and 6.2-litre V8. The old 3.5-litre V6 has been dropped.

Equipment increase across the range, but so does the price. The SE is now £250 more expensive while the Sport trim rockets by £2,500, but Mercedes says this more than covers the cost of the new kit.

The big ML news comes next year with the arrival of Mercedes' all-new hybrid power train, but for now is this 'facelift' enough in a struggling segment to take the battle to the BMW X5? More...

At Best Car we always try to be the first to provide industry changing deals, and this week we have done just that!  To help businesses who are suffering with this 'supposed' credit crunch, we are putting out these great headline deals which should perk up those credit crunch blues

First up...

How about a fantastic Audi A4 2.0 TDI 143 SE 4dr on a 24 Month Contract with 10,000 miles p/a FOR JUST £197.34 a month

Next... More...

BMW is back with another rendition of its ActiveHybrid system—this time in its flagship 7-series—with the world debut of the BMW Concept 7-series ActiveHybrid in October at the 2008 Paris auto show.

The automaker pairs the car’s twin-turbo, direction-injection, 4.4-liter V-8 engine with an electric drive for what is known as a mild hybrid—meaning the car cannot operate on electricity alone. Rather, the electric motors reduce fuel consumption and emissions—BMW claims by 15 percent—through such means as an automatic start-stop function that turns the vehicle off when it otherwise would be idling.

The idea is to make the car more efficient without compromising performance. The conventional version of the new 2009 7-series with the V-8 offers 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque and BMW says that is not diminished—in fact, the 20-hp electric motor will boost acceleration. Combining the two powertrains should produce about 415 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque, we are told. Channeling the power is an eight-speed automatic transmission. More...

Porsche has continued its tradition of only implementing minimal changes to the styling of its iconic 911 range for the current model’s midlife facelift, but at the same time engineers have introduced a wide range of new technologies to keep the car up to date and competitive as the world's favourite luxury sports car.

Highlights of the update include all-new flat-six power units displacing 3.6 and 3.8-litres featuring direct-injection, and the option of the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) dual-clutch transmission, both of which inprove performance and fuel economy.

At the moment the only models in the 911 range to receive the updates are the Carrera and Carrera S, both available in either coupe or cabriolet body styles. Updates for the other models, including the 911 Turbo, 911 GT3, and 911 GT3 RS , as well as the respective 911 Targa models, will come in the near future. More...

While it may be a little late to the dual-clutch party, in BMW's situation this may be a case of better-late-then-never. Before the year is out, BMW will be offering drivers of the 335i Coupé and 335i Convertible the option of a new seven-speed double-clutch sports automatic transmission,replacing the previous optional 6-speed Steptronic gearbox. The six-speed manual will remain as standard.

The new seven-speed transmission delivers faster acceleration than the six-speed manual, reduces fuel consumption and emissions and can be controlled via the gear selector or steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. As with other dual-clutch setups, the seven-speed double clutch transmission shifts without interrupting the drive from the engine to the rear axle, enhancing acceleration and shifting comfort.More...

Best Car Finder are pleased to announce the launch of a stunning new deal on the new Audi A4 2.0 TDI SE in both Saloon and Estate versions and too top it all off we are throwing in GSM Phone Preparation for Free!!

Our stunning two year deal is based on a 3+23 profile and with 10000 miles allowance a year it comes in at £289.99 plus VAT for the Saloon and £299.99 plus VAT for the Avant (Estate Version).

So Hurry whilst stocks last!!!

Go to our Audi A4 2.0 TDI SE 4dr Deal

Go to our Audi A4 2.0 TDI SE Avant Deal

At a time when fuel prices are on every one minds as well as the cost of road tax and all the other inflationary price rises, talk of pay as you go road usage has been met with guarded opinion.

The Government has reopened discussions on this subject with the view trialling black box technology in 100 vehicles in Leeds, Milton Keynes, Essex and South West London.

In principle, this would mean that drivers would pay on a weekly or monthly basis dependent on their movements which would be tracked by satellite. This concept alone has also been cause for concern.

Want to beat the rising costs of owning a car - consider leasing? Click Here.