Perhaps the main benefit of the new Civic is that it offers drivers a number of environmental benefits whilst still having high levels of performance and power. This is designed to ensure that motorists can use their vehicles to the best of their ability, making the car an asset to any individual.

With any new car, there will be a number of new features and altered technologies designed to enhance the performance and functions which are offered. The new Honda Civic 2012 is no exception to this and there are a number of innovative features which are included in the improved design.

‘Idle Stop’

Perhaps one of the best features of the Civic 2012 is the ‘Idle Stop’ functionality. This is an automatic system which is designed to improve fuel efficiency and lower fuel consumption levels. The benefit of the system is that, as it is automatic, driver input is not required and therefore it does not disrupt the usual driving pattern.

The system works by monitoring the cars motion and automatically disconnecting the engine when the car is not moving for a long period of time. This means that if a driver is stuck in congested traffic then the car will automatically turn itself off. To re-engage the engine and restart the car all the driver needs to do is touch the acceleration pedal – just as they would do if they were pulling away with the engine running. This means less fuel is consumed but the driver doesn’t have to alter their driving style in any way.

ECO Assist

Another of the main features included in the Honda Civic is that of ECO assist. This is an intuitive system which helps drivers to monitor their habits in order to make them more conscientious and efficient when on the road. This is done through a colour changing speedometer which changes depending on the efficiency of the driving. The system will also advise drivers on the best times to change gear, ensuring that they develop good habits for future driving.

Lighting

Conscientious lighting is also included in the new Civic 2012, with the headlights becoming illuminated when the car is unlocked. This allows drivers to locate their car with ease and is a great feature for the vehicle. The system also works when the car is locked, with the headlights becoming illuminated for 15 seconds afterwards.

Suspension

The cabin of the new Honda Civic 2012 features their innovative ‘Magic Seats’ which help to create more space within the actual car. Because of the use of this, Honda was required to change the suspension used on the Civic in order to accommodate this feature. This led them to use a suspension system which utilises ‘fluid-filled bushes’ instead of a traditional one, providing great handling and performance whilst ensuring interior comfort is kept at a high standard.

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The Kia Soul has already been a huge hit in most of the country’s that it has debuted in with a particularly strong fan base in the US due in part to the fact that it attracts elderly drivers with its easy doorways and youngsters with its chunky looks, and partially due to the fact that the hamster commercials are impossible to get out of anyone’s minds.

Now just in time for 2012 there is a new model that features a 122KW/260Nm 2.0 litre engine with some new styling that makes the vehicle a bit more subtle to help it handle its mid-life time span just a bit better.  The range will still offer the 1.6 petrol Gamma engine even though it has been tweaked a bit to handle its new turbo diesel engine and altogether there are three different models to choose from with two different levels of equipment available.

On the outside the design has been reworked a bit with new side mirrors, taillights, headlights, new chrome flashy wheels, and a new grille that help the Soul look just a bit wider and a bit more modern and trendy.  The inside has also been improved with the addition of some noise reduction materials along with tilting steering so that you get to drive your new vehicle the way that you want.  Also built into it are new bling fans which are kind of odd looking, but no more so than the lighted door speakers that have since then been taken out of the cars design.

In terms of technology the new Soul+ will feature hill-start control to make the ride a bit smoother a lot with new VSM vehicle stability management to help make sure that you enjoy every moment inside of the Soul regardless of what type of terrain you are driving over.  Other safety gear that has been tossed into the package to make the upgrade to the new model worth it includes traction control, ABS, ESP, BA, ESP, and airbags in the front along the dash, along the side of both the front and back doors, and curtain airbags.

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The Veloster is Hyundai’s latest effort as creating a stylish coupe without making any compromises, and the first impression is that they have pretty much hit the jackpot this time. To start with it looks good, with a clever door arrangement that is somewhat similar to the much loved Mini Clubman. There is one door on one side and two on the other, but unlike the Clubman, the double doors are geared for the UK and open into the pavement.

The first model being rolled out at the back end of 2011 has a 1.6l petrol engine, perfectly adequate for urban driving. Word has it that later models will include the choice of a high power turbo version and also a diesel. This will be great boost for all petrolheads as the Veloster benefits from such a sharp chassis that it is easily handle more speed and power.

Once behind the wheel, the Hyundai Veloster is a lot of fun to drive. It is very agile, with good grip and is a rewarding drive for all motoring enthusiasts. The engine performs perfectly and it really is a joy to take it through its paces and to put your foot down when the speed limit allows it.

Although from the outside it looks as if those taller drivers may have some issue, it is extremely spacious inside and only those bordering on basketball height will feel cramped in any way. The interior is very well thought out and carries the designated amount of passengers in consummate comfort.

The suspension makes light of the bumps and potholes synonymous with British roads, and as you would expect with a coupe, it remains firm at all times and prevents any major rattles or shakes entering the cabin. Hyundai are renowned for their reliability, and all new models come with a 5 year unlimited mileage warranty and in their later models this has proved to very rarely used.

The cleverly designed and well equipped Hyundai Veloster great value for money as it is cheaper than most of its rivals. Overall, this is a great coupe that delvers on all levels and will bring great joy to anyone who is savvy enough to buy one.

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The Hyundai i20 benefits from a long wheel base, giving it a confident and athletic stance and more space inside than you would imagine. This car has the perfect combination of being small and nippy enough to cut through the traffic and make parking a breeze, but also having enough space inside to comfortably accommodate passengers and the shopping.

The cabin of the i20 has been impeccably laid out, a vital feature that lets down many of its contemporaries. Light, spacious and very airy, everything is within easy reach which makes driving a pleasure. Every model of the i20 comes with remote central locking, electric front windows, air conditioning, and full stereo/CD audio system complete with auxiliary connections. It also has 6 airbags, ESP and the front head restraints are active.

You have a choice of 2 engines in your Hyundai i20, 1.2l or 1.4l, and these have manual, automatic, diesel and petrol variations. These are all you want in this car and they all perform perfectly within the i20. The fastest 0-60 mph is 11.6 seconds, courtesy of the 1.4l 5 speed manual, while the 1.4 manual 5 speed engine delivers the top speed of 112 mph.

The level of safety and security that the i20 delivers is second to none. The top quality body structure, brakes, suspension and the personal safety aspects all add up to one of the safest vehicles on the road. As well as the ESP, Electronic Safety Programme and the multiple airbags, the i20 also boasts side impact bars and a seat belt reminder system. Other safety features include child proof door locks to the rear and engine immobiliser.

As far as value for money is concerned, Hyundai have got this exactly right too. Priced between £9,266 and £13,266, including VAT, you are getting an awful lot of car for your money. The i20 looks great, is an absolute pleasure to drive and we are going to be seeing many of these vehicles on our roads.

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Ford, like many other car manufacturers, are aiming to reduce the carbon footprint left by the outdated SUV models, but unlike the other motor companies, Ford have promised to stay true to their old SUV roots.

The new Explorer is set to offer better MPG and more room in the seven-seater than its older counterparts, however it will have less towing capacity and a lesser off-road ability.

Many say it’s very different from the older SUV models and closer to a remodel of the Ford Taurus sedan, but with whispers in the wind of promises to deliver an Explorer capable of almost 30 MPG highway driving, customers may still be swayed into buying the new Ford Explorer as their new family SUV.

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Nissan became the first major car manufacturer to release a mass produced all electric vehicle earlier this year when it made the Nissan Leaf available world wide.

Powered by an 110bhp electric motor, the Leaf is capable of completing 100 miles between charges and has a top speed of 92mph. Thanks to these impressive statistics, the Leaf has been heralded as the beginning of a new era in automotive design; but is it a case of too little, too soon?

Possible cost savings

The increasing running costs required as a result of car ownership are becoming a major headache for all motorists. In a survey conducted by UK based price comparison company MoneySupermarket.com, 65% of drivers admit that they will take running costs into account when they purchase their next vehicle; with 5% claimed that they had already been forced off the road altogether.

Nissan’s Leaf model has therefore been presented as the answer to motorists’ problems, with the average driver completing 12,000 miles annually standing to save approximately £1,600 per year on fuel alone. A basic 1.6 litre Ford Focus which is capable of 40mpg will cost the average driver almost £1,900 per year in fuel costs to complete 12,000 miles. In comparison, it would cost just £300 to charge up the Leaf with mains electricity in order to complete the same mileage.

In addition, a number of insurance companies will now offer discounts of up to 5% for owners of environmental cars. With the average driver now paying £892 for insurance each year; this equates to an annual saving of £44.60. This may not sound much, but accompanied with the fact that the Leaf is exempt from road tax charging results in a combined additional saving of about £200.

otorists therefore stand to save approximately £1,800 every single year by buying a Nissan Leaf over a standard petrol version of the popular Ford Focus model.

The obstacles

The potential £1,800 annual cost saving is mouth watering but doesn’t really show the whole picture; with the Nissan Leaf costing £25,990 to buy from new. This is almost £10,000 more expensive than a brand new petrol version of the Ford Focus.

With a annual running cost saving of £1,800 over the Focus if prices remain at their current rates, it would take over five years to recover the additional cost of buying the Leaf before the owner started to benefit from a cost saving.

Additionally, the Leaf is far more impractical than the Focus. While it would take just a couple of minutes to fill the tank of the Focus with fuel; even with its quick recharge function enabled, it would take 30 minutes to recharge the Leaf’s battery to 80% of its total capacity (i.e. an additional 80 miles before another recharge is required). This is obviously an inconvenience, particular when the lack of availability of recharging stations around the country is considered.

While the impracticalities would be tolerable for someone with a daily commuting distance of less than 100 miles, the time it takes to recover the cost difference between buying a brand new Leaf over a Focus can perhaps be considered to be the final nail in the coffin.

Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is the most obvious green car alternative, being as it is perhaps the most famous green car on the road. Introduced in 1996, it has become the car of choice for supporters of the green movement who are keen to show off their allegiance.

Capable of 65.7 mpg, the Prius would cost the average driver doing 12,000 miles per year just £1,140 per year in fuel costs. This is on top of the fact that it is exempt from road tax and will also be eligible for the 5% discount offered by some car insurance companies. This equates into a possible saving of almost £1,000 per year over the running costs required with a Ford Focus.

However, the Prius suffers from the same problem as the Leaf as it is over £4,000 more expensive than the Focus. It would therefore take four years to recover the additional costs required to buy the Prius before cost savings were experienced.

Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion

The Polo Bluemotion is a new hybrid which has been launched by Volkswagen which uses diesel fuel. It is capable of 80.7 mpg, and although diesel costs more per litre than petrol, the improved mpg still means that it cheaper to run then the Prius, costing the average driver doing 12,000 miles per year about £950 per year in fuel alone. Like the Prius and Leaf, it is also exempt from road tax and eligible for the 5% insurance discount. All of this combined opens the possibility to a possible saving of £1,200 compared to the running costs of a basic Ford Focus.

emarkably the Polo Bluemotion is available from just £14,860 to buy from new; this is over £1,000 cheaper than the less fuel friendly Ford Focus. It also beats the Leaf when it comes to practicality, with the Polo being no different to run than a conventional petrol motor.

However, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. The 74bhp 1.2 litre diesel engine is very underpowered and requires quite a lot of revving to get moving; a feature which isn’t awful good for your fuel consumption.

Time to go green?

Fuel costs are out of control, as demonstrated by the fact that 65% of motorists admitting being forced to consider alternatives to next time they purchase a vehicle. When motorists reach this stage, there will be three main alternatives.

The Nissan Leaf can effectively be ruled out; not only is it incredibly impractical, but it is also very expensive. This obviously justifies the incredibly technological advancement made with the vehicle, but simply negates the running cost savings available and hence makes the vehicles unaffordable for the majority of motorists. Toyota’s Prius model suffers from a similar problem, because if fuel prices remain at their current rate it will take 4 years to recover the additional cost of buying the model before running cost savings become available.

Volkswagen’s hybrid Polo is therefore presented as the answer to this problem, with its low initial purchase costs finally heralding the introduction of a hybrid which is available to the masses. However this does come at a price; with the power available from the engine being rather lacklustre. This reduction in available power would likely be acceptable to someone who already owns a car with a 1.2 litre engine or less, but would come as a spectacular shock to someone with a 1.6 engine or bigger.

It looks like the car manufacturers have a lot of work to do before environmental vehicles are adopted by the majority of motorists.

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The New Honda Civic will arrive in September

Honda will be launching their new Civic in September at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. The new model has been developed specifically for the European market, and the Civic is to be offered exclusively as a five-door hatchback, and compete in the C-segment. It will hit showrooms across Europe in early 2012.

To heighten the anticipation before the new Civic is revealed, Honda will be releasing a series of short films which detail the development of the car. The second of these will focus on the low emission technology and the new i-DTEC engine. This offers an exceptional combination of low CO2 emissions and high performance.

The 2.2 litre i-DTEC engine has been updated and combining this with the improved aerodynamics on the new Civic has produced a car that has the power output of 150PS but only emits 110g/km of CO2.

A thorough analysis of the performance of the engine has resulted in several improvements. The oil that flows through the engine is now carefully managed to reduce any loss in circulation, and the build materials have been revised, thus reducing friction in the moving parts. All of the models with the manual gearbox will benefit from the ‘Idle Stop’ technology which will achieve a reduction on CO2 emissions of 5g/km.

Careful attention has been paid to every aspect of the new Civic’s design with focus on refining the aerodynamics through extensive wind tunnel testing to reduce drag and improve high speed stability.

“To achieve a good CO₂ figure, you need to optimise every aspect of the car,” says Katsushi Watanabe, Development Leader for the engine. “Reducing the emissions was our key target and we’re proud to say that we have achieved this without compromising the high performance character of the engine. We want our customers to have fun when they drive this car.”

Find out more by watching the new i-DTEC film release. The film is hosted on an interactive media player where all the films will be shown and automatically updated. You can easily download films and images or even embed the whole player in your site. http://multivu.com/players/English/51356-honda-motor-europe/

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