BMW / 1 Series / 120d 5-dr hatch

Overview

DID you know that 

diesel accounts for around a quarter of BMW’s global sales, and for about half of all BMWs sold in Europe?

Combining six-cylinder power and refinement with four-cylinder economy, a burn in the X5 or X3 3.0d or 530d instantly reveals why.

Now the 1 Series has gone down the diesel route.

But to some eyes, with its boldness of design and engineering, the smallest BMW-badged passenger car is arguably the company’s purist, as well as one of its bravest.

So does the four-cylinder diesel 120d deliver?

Model release dates: May 2006 - November 2007

BMW / 1 Series / 120d 5-dr hatch

Overview

FRENCH cars do it.

Volkswagen Group and Mercedes-Benz cars do it.

And now BMWs do it, too.

Performance turbo-diesels, that is.

It’s all the rage.

Of course, the Bavarian car-maker has been at it overseas for decades, but only recently has our fuel been low enough in sulphur for BMW to begin importation of its 1, 3 and 5 Series diesels.

In early 2007, the smallest – the 120d – received a torquier, more economical engine in the mildly facelifted Series II.

At around $50,000, it’s expensive.

But is it worth the extra over the superb Ford Focus TDCi and VW Golf GT Sport TDI?

Model release dates: March 2007 - August 2009

News - Volvo XC60

Volvo recalls XC60 and S60

Fuel-line problems: Volvo Cars Australia has recalled its best-selling XC60 SUV 14 times since its early-2009 launch.

Volvo Cars Oz recalls XC60 SUV again, this time over potential fuel line faults

VOLVO Cars Australia has issued two recalls on its XC60 SUV over potential fuel-line faults, bringing to 14 the number of official recalls made on its best-selling vehicle since 2009

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The latest recalls, on small numbers of 2011 XC60s with either 2.0-litre T5 or 3.2-litre petrol engines, are part of a global action that also involves the new S60 sedan in T5 guise.

A recall statement issued on the website of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says the fuel supply line might have been incorrectly fitted on a total of 55 XC60s and S60s powered by the 2.0-litre T5 petrol engine.

“In a worst case scenario a fuel line connection may completely detach and the engine may stall without any prior warning due to no fuel supply,” it says.

“This may occur suddenly and without prior warning to the driver which poses an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.”

The notice also says that drivers of affected vehicles might notice a fuel smell.

Affected XC60 vehicles lie within the VIN range (final six digits on VIN number) 192616 to 195006, while the VIN range of affected S60 cars is 031679 to 033476.

Left: Volvo S60.

Owners of affected vehicles will receive a letter from Volvo, and are advised to contact their dealer to have the faulty male fuel pipe and the female fuel pipe replaced.

The other recall, affecting both 2.0-litre T5 or 3.2-litre petrol variants, is due to a possible production mix-up in which the connectors for the fuel pressure line and the purge line may have been switched.

The ACCC recall notice says that if this condition occurs, “the pressure line will be missing an O-ring, which could lead to fuel seepage in sub-zero temperatures and the customer noticing a fuel smell”.

The recall notice also says 22 cars are affected, including XC60 vehicles with a VIN ranging between 193110 to 193764 and S60 cars with VINs between 032029 to 032502.

Owners of affected vehicles also will be contacted by letter. They are urged to see their local dealer to have the connectors checked and the fuel bundle assembly under the car replaced if necessary.

Both recalls are part of wider global campaigns, and Volvo Cars Australia public affairs manager Jaedene Hudson told GoAuto that no real-world fuel line issues had been reported on either model.

When asked to comment on the seemingly high number of recalls involving the XC60, Ms Hudson said that “only three of them are XC60 specific. So I guess you could say that it's one of the few negatives you get as a result of platform sharing.

“So (for example) if it’s a faulty fuel line on a D5 engine then all models that have that particular engine will have to be looked at.

“The majority of those recalls are not actually safety related, they are compliance issues. Obviously we do the recalls to check (for faults) and of the ones we checked none of them were actually found to be faulty,” she said.

Since its early-2009 launch, the XC60 recalls have included problems relating to the engine cooling fan, fuel-line rail cover, power steering belt tensioner, driver's airbag and curtain airbags, as well as comparatively trivial details such as the wiper fluid level sensor.

Audi invests in electric future

Lightyears ahead: Quattro Concept heralds Audi's lightweighting strategy for future sportscars.

Volkswagen luxury brand announces largest ever investment as Audi plans EV future

AUDI will sink an unprecedented $A15 billion into the development of facilities and future models including next year’s redesigned A6, new Q5 Hybrid and all-new Q3, plus the R8 e-Tron that the Volkswagen premium division has now committed to releasing as Audi’s first electric sportscar by late 2012.

The German luxury car giant announced the largest single investment in its history on December 29, with €11.6 billion to be spent on upgrading Audi’s manufacturing sites and developing new models and technologies between 2011 and 2015.

As part of the massive spend, Audi says it will create 1200 new high-skill jobs in 2011 – compared to 500 experts and 780 trainees this year – and earmark more than €5 billion ($A6.5b) for its German production plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.

“Innovation requires people,” said Audi AG board member for human resources Thomas Sigi. “For this reason, we want to hire around 1200 experts in 2011 who will primarily bolster our electromobility and lightweight construction fields of competence, as well as the implementation of our growth strategy.”

Audi said about 80 per cent of the total investment, or more than €9.5 billion ($A12.3b), will go to developing future technologies such as electric and hybrid drive systems for new products including the R8 e-Tron, which Audi has committed to producing from late 2012.

Left, from top: Audi Cross Coupe concept, Q5 Hybrid tech drawing, A8 Hybrid, A1 e-Tron and e-Tron Spyder concept.

Before then, next year will see Audi introduce a number of new models, including the R8 GT hypercar, all-new RS3 hot-hatch, all-new A7 Sportback, redesigned A6 range (including a petrol-electric hybrid version from 2012), a hybrid version of the mid-sized Q5 crossover and the all-new Q3 compact SUV – all of which should go on sale in Australia by the end of 2011.

The Q5 Hybrid – Audi’s first full hybrid model - and fourth-generation A6 have already been revealed ahead of production in Germany, while the Q3 – as previewed by the Cross Coupe concept at the 2007 Shanghai motor show - will be produced by Volkswagen’s Spanish subsidiary in Martorell.

While Audi’s new A8 limousine and all-new A1 compact hatch have just been released in Australia (with the latter expected to spawn further body style derivatives), the next volume-selling Audi to be replaced should be the A3, which will be replaced by a third-generation model line-up comprising three-door hatchback, five-door Sportback, two-door cabriolet and, for the first time, sub-A4 four-door sedan guises by 2013.

Apart from planning hybrid versions of most of its core models and committing to an all-electric version of its R8 sportscar, Audi has revealed a string or hybrid, electric and lightweight show cars, including the A5 Coupe-based 300kW/1300kg Quattro Concept and the 1000Nm diesel-electric e-Tron Spyder.

Future A1 derivatives will include the flagship 1.4 TFSI three-door, followed by the five-door A1 Sportback and A1 Hybrid, as previewed by the A1 e-Tron concept.

The VW Polo-based A1 – priced here from $29,990, making Audi Australia’s first sub-$30,000 model - will be integral to Audi’s ambitions of selling more than one million vehicles (a feat it has achieved only once before, in 2008) this year, representing a 5.3 per cent sales increase over 2009, when it posted about 950,000 sales.

As part of its ‘Route 15’ business plan – which has now been superseded by the ‘Vision 20/20’ strategy for 2020 - Audi aimed to become the world’s number one luxury brand by selling 1.5 million vehicles annually by 2015.

“With this investment, we are laying the foundation for sustained, profitable growth, and supporting our claim to leadership in the premium car segment,” said Audi AG board member for finance and organisation, Axel Strotbek.

“In addition to our foreign sites, the German sites will also profit greatly from the Audi brand’s good worldwide prospects for growth, especially in China.”

2012 Aston Martin Virage Review Creamy British V12 Summary Rating: Styling (95%) Accessories (84%) Space and Access(70%) Comfort (85%) Performance (80%) Driving Dynamics(82%) Safety (80%) General Appreciation(90%) aston martin is keen on being authentic, and will remain so, as this is what makes them a very attractive brand. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) That's right, an Aston Martin. But not just any Aston Martin. A 2012 Virage.  Feels good, don't it? Believe me, it's better than you think. The simple mention of the name Aston Martin can conjure up emotion, performance and exclusivity. It is difficult to dissociate the two, but James Bond also comes to mind hence Monaco All this good stuff is synonymous with the famed British brand that will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in less than two years. Let's take a few moments to explore each element that make up what Aston Martin stands for.  We begin with emotion. Each Aston Martin is closely related to one another, some having even criticized the ostensible inbreeding, and all are more attractive than the other. From the basic (ha!) Vantage to the very most ultimate DBS, all share a glorious flowing shape that is above any type of criticism. Even Jeremy Clarkson likes it. The most distinctive features are the predatory front fascias and the part where the roofline meets the rear haunches. Occasionally, car designs fall flat in one respect or another. No so with the Aston. Regardless of angle, colour or location of the sun, these cars are exceptionally beautiful.  In fact, my time at the wheel of the Virage clearly demonstrated that the average Jane and Joe cannot help themselves but to do a double take or stare. I've driven Porsches, Mercedes and Lotuses, but never had I been the recipient of so many gawks. The Virage is the discerning man's or woman's Aston Martin. It slots in above theDB9 as the uber luxurious car from that lineage. The 20” wheels are stunning, no less, as are the multiple curves on the Aston's body, but where the car really feels special is when we climb aboard. First though, you get to open the unique and curb ding-saving swan doors. A pure delight to behold, especially when standing behind the car. The 20” wheels are stunning, no less, as are the multiple curves on the Aston's body. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)