Kia Track’ster unveiled New hot hatch Kia takes on Ford Focus ST with a 247bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and four-wheel drive
These are the latest pictures of the new Kia Track’ster – a hot hatch concept car that was the star of Kia’s Chicago Motor Show stand.

The new three-door coupe points towards a dramatic addition to the Soul range, packing dramatic looks and a 247bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that drives all four wheels. Kia says the car is designed for use on the road and on racing tracks, hence its name.

“The idea was to make the Track’ster tough looking, like a bulldog,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer for Kia’s design studio in California, where the concept was produced.  “We wanted to base the car in reality so people instantly knew it was a Soul, but with a lot of attitude. It had to be a bold interpretation that would change people’s conceptions of what a sporty Kia could be.”

The Track’ster features a distinctive white and orange paint scheme and a dramatic bodykit which makes the car around 13cm wider than the standard Soul. It includes Kia’s signature grille with an air intake trimmed in lightweight carbon fibre, sleek headlights with LEDs and a large lower grille flanked by immense LED driving lights.

The roof, complete with spoiler, is accentuated in contrasting orange. Carbon fibre side skirts are also coloured orange and incorporate rear-brake cooling ducts. 

Inside, the Track’ster carries on the aggressive styling theme with deeply bolstered orange suede-covered racing seats, mixed with grey leather for the rest of the cabin. Grey suede is used for the sport steering wheel and door panels, while the dashboard has large red turbine-style dials. A touchscreen controls the sat-nav, stereo and air-con systems. 

In the back, the rear seats have been replaced by a tray and space for a spare tyre. “We saw the Track’ster as a performance-inspired concept that could spend time on the road and racetrack,” said Kearns. “The idea was to make the tools and equipment necessary to keep the car performing in top condition easily accessible.”

Kia says there are panels for stowing race helmets, suits and gloves. There is also a rear strut brace which incorporates a quick-release handle to allow for fast wheel changes.

Other highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 245/40 section Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres at the front and enormous 285/35 tyres at the rear.

Kia says the Track’ster has a 2.5cm longer wheelbase than the regular Soul – which helps to make it look even more sporty. Large 14-inch Brembo vented and cross-drilled disc brakes with six-piston calipers do the stopping at the front, while the rear discs measure 13.6-inches and have four-piston calipers.
 
The Track’ster has the show to match its go. Under the bonnet is a 247bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line-four cylinder which drives all four wheels through an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system and a six-speed manual gearbox with a short-throw shift. 

The concept also gets sports suspension. There are no official figures, but expect the Track’ster to do 0-60mph in under six seconds with a top speed of 145mph. 

Kia says that it has no intention to put the Track’ster into production, but insiders have hinted that with the drop-top Soul’ster likely to join the new Soul range, a three-door hot hatch won’t be far behind. 

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BMW Family Activity Sports Tourer – BMW Family Activity Sports Tourer Our spies have caught the front-wheel-drive BMW FAST family car in cold-weather testing
There are plenty of spy shots of new BMWs around, but this set are of the firm’s first front-wheel-drive model in over 50 years.

This is the BMW FAST, which stands for Family Activity Sports Tourer. The name is BMW’s code for the first car in a range of front-drive models it’s planning. Eventually the maker hopes to sell as many front-drive cars as it does rear-drive by 2020.

The FAST is a premium hatchback that’s designed to compete with the Mercedes B-Class and top-of-the-range MPVs such as the Ford C-MAX and VW Touran. It’s based on the same platform as the next-generation MINI, which is due to arrive in 2013. BMW will develop its new front-wheel-drive models in conjunction with MINI in a bid to share development costs.

The front-drive layout means cabin and boot space will be better than in the 1 Series, while a new generation of petrol and diesel engines will be capable of making up to 155bhp, while producing less than 100g/km of CO2.

As this platform will also be used for the next-generation MINI Countryman, it’s likely that a four-wheel-drive version of the FAST will appear. Expect the FAST to go on sale in 2013, possibly with a variation on the 1 Series name.

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BMW Family Activity Sports Tourer Our spies have caught the front-wheel-drive BMW FAST family car in cold-weather testing
There are plenty of spy shots of new BMWs around, but this set are of the firm’s first front-wheel-drive model in over 50 years.

This is the BMW FAST, which stands for Family Activity Sports Tourer. The name is BMW’s code for the first car in a range of front-drive models it’s planning. Eventually the maker hopes to sell as many front-drive cars as it does rear-drive by 2020.

The FAST is a premium hatchback that’s designed to compete with the Mercedes B-Class and top-of-the-range MPVs such as the Ford C-MAX and VW Touran. It’s based on the same platform as the next-generation MINI, which is due to arrive in 2013. BMW will develop its new front-wheel-drive models in conjunction with MINI in a bid to share development costs.

The front-drive layout means cabin and boot space will be better than in the 1 Series, while a new generation of petrol and diesel engines will be capable of making up to 155bhp, while producing less than 100g/km of CO2.

As this platform will also be used for the next-generation MINI Countryman, it’s likely that a four-wheel-drive version of the FAST will appear. Expect the FAST to go on sale in 2013, possibly with a variation on the 1 Series name.

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New Audi TT exclusive – New Audi TT exclusive Exclusive images show dramatic look of next Audi TT coupe, which will be lighter for better efficiency and performance
The next Audi TT will be much lighter, more efficient and better to drive than ever. And we have exclusive images to prove that it will remain the sharpest-looking car in its class.

Engineers working on the third-generation TT want to close the handling gap to the Boxster – produced by Audi’s fellow VW Group brand, Porsche. But they aim to do so without affecting the Audi’s reputation for style, luxury and everyday usability.

Although the overall teardrop silhouette will be retained, the styling will be sharper and more aggressive than the MkI and MkII TTs. Inspiration comes from the e-tron and e-tron Spyder concepts seen at 2010’s Detroit and Paris Motor Shows respectively, and the pronounced curve along the flanks marks a departure from the current car’s fuss-free styling.

Slimmer headlights and a hexagonal grille sharpen up the front end, while full-width LED tail-lamps emphasise the wide, muscular haunches. Although the car in our images is the 2+2 coupe, the TT will also be offered as a Roadster – and this will stick with a lightweight fabric roof.

The new TT is expected to go on sale in 2014, although we’ll get our first glimpse of the car some time in 2013.

For all the details on the new Audi TT, check out this week’s Auto Express, out 8 January 2012.

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Aston Martin V12 Zagato We get exclusive studio access to the new £400k special which is based on V12 Vantage
When Aston Martin and Italian design house Zagato get together, something special usually happens.

The relationship spans more than 50 years and has spawned classics like the DB4GT Zagato and the DB7 Zagato. Now Aston has released pictures of the production-ready V12 Zagato – and we were granted an exclusive studio session with the car.

The Zagato is based on a V12 Vantage and has been clothed in a combination of hand-rolled aluminium and carbon fibre. This cuts 100kg from the Vantage’s kerbweight and results in the spectacular shape you see here.

The aluminium double-bubble roof and bulging haunches are Zagato trademarks, while the diffuser, spoiler and carbon front splitter hint at huge performance. A ‘Z’ pattern in the grille mesh repeats the Zagato logo.

Each car takes a painstaking 2,000 man hours to build; simply painting it one of the four unique colours – Scintilla Silver, Alloro Green, Alba Blue or Diavolo Red – is the work of 100 hours.

Under the body the 510bhp 6.0-litre V12 is left untouched, while special ‘Z’ embroidery features on the headrest and parcel shelf. The dash and centre stack are trimmed in carbon fibre.

Only 150 examples will be made at Aston’s HQ in Gaydon, Warks, in a facility built especially for producing the One-77. The 
UK price for the V12 Zagato is an eye-watering £396,000.

Read this week’s Auto Express (out 8 January 2012) for an exclusive Q and A with Aston’s design chief Marek Reichman.

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Fiat Panda prices announced – Fiat Panda prices announced Prices have been announced for the new Fiat Panda, starting from £8,900
The new Fiat Panda will start from £8,900 when it goes on sale at the end of February. Buyers can choose between three new trim levels and three engines, all of which are Euro 5 compliant. 

Entry-level Pop replaces Active trim, and starts from £8900 for the 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol. This engine costs £9550 in mid-spec Easy trim and £10,050 in flagship Lounge.

The two-cylinder 85bhp 0.9-litre TwinAir petrol engine is only available with Easy and Lounge trims, priced at £10,750 and £11,250 respectively. The DualLogic automatic ‘box is offered as an option with this engine for a £750 premium.

Lastly, the 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel engine is available across the range, priced at £11,100 for the Pop, £11,750 for the Easy and £12,250 for the Lounge.

Pop comes fitted with electric windows, central locking, four airbags and body coloured bumpers, while Easy trim adds remote central locking, air-conditioning, roof rails and an upgraded audio system.

At the top of the range, Lounge models come with body-coloured handles, side moulding and heated door mirrors, fog lamps and 15-inch alloys.

ESP and a new Low Speed Collision Mitigation system – similar to Volvo’s City Safety system, which automatically brakes the car to prevent a low speed collision – are available as options.

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Car sales stable in January – Car sales stable in January UK car sales steady in January, and Ford Fiesta is still the UK number one

The UK car market grew by just 0.03 per cent in January 2012, with 128,853 vehicles sold, only 42 more than January 2011.

The Ford Fiesta sold 7,824 to be comfortably the top-selling vehicle, with the Focus giving Ford a one-two finish. The brand holds the biggest slice of the market at 15.57 per cent, and was the only make to register a market share in double-figures.

While Ford improved, Vauxhall dropped a massive 20.91 per cent, yet remained next best with 9.40 per cent market share. Its best seller was the Corsa, in fourth, backed up by the Astra in fifth and Insignia in seventh. 

The GM-owned brand was almost overtaken by Volkswagen, who closed within 521 cars of Vauxhall to finish third with 8.99 per cent of the market. The Golf was the UK’s third-best seller and the Polo sixth.

Audi was fourth, selling 8,563 vehicles to improve on January 2011’s 8,302, which gives the brand 6.65 per cent market share. Peugeot came fifth with 7,282 vehicles sold for a 5.65 percentage.

MG’s revival saw it become one of the biggest improvers, selling 107 cars, which is more than Chrysler (98), Ssangyong (43) and Infiniti (33), although all three brands improved on the previous January’s result.

The biggest declines were, Saab (predictably at -99.2 per cent) followed by Abarth (-37.18), Proton (-32.35) and BMW (-28.39) trailing Renault (-27.54) and Mitsubishi (-26.97).

According to the SMMT’s figures, sales of diesels grew by 6.3 per cent, with petrol dropping 7.0 per cent. The SMMT has revised its 2012 sales forecast to 1.92 million units; a 1.1 per cent fall from 2011’s 1.94 million.

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Toyota Yaris Hybrid New Yaris Hybrid is confirmed as the most efficient production Toyota ever
A new Toyota Yaris Hybrid has been confirmed as the most fuel-efficient Toyota hybrid to date. The Yaris Hybrid will deliver a claimed 80mpg and 104g/km, bettering both the Auris and Prius hybrids, which return 89g/km.

The Yaris Hybrid will use a new 1.5-litre petrol engine that, combined with the electric motor, produces 99bhp. The engine itself is 10 per cent smaller and 16.5kg lighter than the system used in the Auris and Prius. The electric driveline components have also been reduced in size and weight, including the motor itself, the Power Control Unit and transaxle, which is shorter and lighter. 

The nickel-metal hydride battery pack is located under the rear seat, so boot space is the same as in the standard Yaris. 

The new hybrid supermini will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and goes on sale in June with an expected starting price of £15,500.

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VW Golf GTI Cabriolet Volkswagen is set to unveil the Golf GTI Cabriolet at the Geneva Motor Show
A new VW Golf GTI Cabriolet is set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month, Auto Express has learned. 

A soft-top GTI debuted at 
the Worthersee tuning event in Austria last year – where it starred alongside an R Cabrio – and it’s rumoured that the new model will be a last hurrah for the MkVI Golf, which will be replaced in 2013. 

It would be only the second time that a Golf GTI Cabriolet has been available – the last was the MkI version in the eighties. 

While the GTI’s engine has been offered in the Golf Cabriolet and Eos hard-top for some time, a full GTI-spec car hasn’t been available. The move would allow UK customers to buy a ‘proper’ drop-top GTI, with the 208bhp 2.0-litre turbo matched to GTI-specific suspension (including optional Adaptive Chassis Control) and a GTI interior incorporating tartan seats. Six-speed manual and DSG gearboxes would feature, 
as would 17-inch alloys.

The Worthersee GTI wore 19-inch Glendale alloy wheels – available as a £1,005 option over the GTI hatch’s standard Monza 17-inch alloys. It also had the Edition 35’s LED lights, plus an aggressive bodykit with bespoke front and rear bumpers and side skirts. It’s been suggested this car is an optioned-up production-ready GTI Cabriolet and not 
a one-off show model.

That’s not all, though. There’s a good chance that VW could also put the Worthersee Golf R Cabrio into production. This would be the most powerful VW convertible produced, with a 268bhp 2.0-litre turbo and four-wheel drive.

The GTI Cabriolet is likely to cost around £27,000 – around £4,000 more than the hatchback. An R version would be priced at around £35,000. The GTI version would arrive in showrooms 
by September.

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VW up! GTI rumoured Volkswagen up! GTI with more potent turbocharged three-cylinder engine rumoured
Volkswagen could be working on an up! GTI according to company sources. The up! GT will go on sale early next year – but Auto Express has been told there’s no reason a more potent version wearing the GTI badge can’t go on sale. 

We drove a prototype version of the 108bhp up! GT earlier this year, and engineer Torsten Oehmke told us it was possible to get even more power from the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo. “We might be able to achieve 130bhp in future,” he said. “The six-speed box could certainly handle the extra power and torque.”

We asked Oehmke if a more muscular model could carrythe GTI badge, and he told us: “That’s a question for our marketing department. If it asks us to call the car GTI, so be it. There is definitely room above the up! GT.”

Oehmke also confirmed that the 108bhp engine will also be made available to Skoda and SEAT, so they can produce hotter versions of the Citigo and Mii city cars. Plus, the engine will appear in the Polo.

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