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CAP Blog > CAP Blog > Martin's Blog
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Jun
9
Written by:
Martin Ward
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
This week’s manufacturer news
AUDI – The A6 Le Mans special edition has been re-badged to S Line special edition. Standard features and technical specifications remain the same.
RENAULT – Has announced the introduction of the new Clio Gordini 200 special edition. Available with a 2.0 litre 200bhp engine and limited to just 500 units, the Gordini’s key features include: Malta blue paint with white Gordini stripes, white F1-style front blade, Gordini leather seats, body colour GT rear spoiler and 17” Gordini alloy wheels. It is expected to go on sale at the end of July.
VOLKSWAGEN – Has introduced a new 7 speed DSG gearbox to the Tiguan range, replacing the 6 speed auto. The new gearbox reduces CO2 emissions from 186g/km to 170g/km.
Test car – Aston Martin V12 Vantage
 Aston Martin was founded in 1915 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. These two engineers sold and repaired Singer Cars in London and Lionel’s passion was racing Singers at the Aston Hill Climb. When they built their first car for racing, they called it an Aston Martin. The company was sold in 1947 to tractor and gearbox manufacturer David Brown. David Brown decided to use his initials on some Aston Martins, hence the DB model names, with the most famous being the DB5 which was used in the James Bond film, Goldfinger.
 The V12 Vantage is easily recognisable as an Aston Martin even from a great distance. From every angle it is an Aston and it looks brilliant regardless of whether it is close up or a hundred metres away. The shape of this car is stunning and it certainly attracts a lot of attention.
The V12 6.0 litre engine is sold alongside the V8 but produces 517ps in comparison to the V8’s 426ps. The V12 goes from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds, but it does feel quicker than this when driving it. It has a top speed of 190mph but you would struggle to find any road or even a race track where you could actually do it. Even the German Autobahns would not allow this sort of speed; 190mph is quick!
 The car we tested was fitted with the standard Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres which provide the Vantage with outstanding handling capabilities. However, we were warned by Aston that the tyres had to be warm and that we had to be extremely careful if there was any moisture present on the road surface. The handling takes some getting used to and some training would be required to really tame the Aston’s power; it is not the sort of car you can just get into and feel as though you can drive it safely and with confidence immediately. The car is exhilarating, but you have to treat it with respect or it will try and bite you. All the power that this car possesses could quite easily lead to a mishap.
The Vantage also has a standard carbon ceramic braking system that delivers immense stopping power. A slight touch on the brakes and the car doesn’t just slow down, it stops.
 The whole car is handcrafted and built at the Aston Martin factory in Gaydon, which is a modern plant that is spotlessly clean. The quality throughout is superb and the fit, finish and materials used are quite outstanding. The premium leather used has no imperfections and the seats are comfortable enough so that you could travel long distances in this supercar.
The exhaust note has to probably be the best in the business. The roar that it makes on start up is phenomenal, it really does sound fantastic. If anyone is standing within close proximity when the engine fires up, the noise will almost certainly make them jump back either in amazement or fear. The cost of this beast is £140,000.
First driving impressions – Seat Ibiza ST, Sitges
 This sector of the industry has never been popular in the UK; it has had some success in a handful of other European countries, but not over here. A B sector estate car has never been at the top of many buyers’ lists. If they were desirable vehicles then Ford would have produced a Fiesta estate, and Vauxhall would have produced a Corsa estate; the reason why they haven’t is understandable as there have been some noticeable disasters in the past such as the VW Polo estate, to give one example. The models available in this sector at the moment include the Peugeot 207 SW, Skoda Fabia or Renault Clio, but none of these have caught the public’s imagination either. Why there is such a reluctance to buy these small, compact estate cars remains a mystery as they are practical, they offer more space than the equivalent hatch and don’t cost that much more. This type of vehicle is popular and sells in large numbers in Spain, which is home to Seat, so introducing the Ibiza ST (sports tourer) there makes sense, but they have also decided to introduce it here so it will be interesting to see how well it does in the UK market.
 The one thing that can be said for the ST is that it does have some style. It isn’t just another ‘boxy’ looking car; it looks quite appealing from every angle and it has been specifically designed as an estate, not just as a hatch with a section added on at the back. It measures 4227mm in length, which is 175mm longer than the hatchback. The luggage space is more than adequate for a small estate as it has up to 430 litres of space with the rear seats folded down. The back seats are also split folding, so the car can seat three people with one part of the seat folded and this provides a lot of useable space.
 In Spain we tested the new 1.2 litre TSI engine, which on paper doesn’t really sound large enough and certainly not very exciting, but this little engine is a pleasure to drive and is very lively, yet it’s still quiet. It produces 105ps, goes from 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds and has a combined fuel consumption figure of 55.4 MPG. The CO2 emissions figure is a very impressive 119g/km. However, if it is an ultra-low CO2 figure that the customer is looking for then the 1.2 litre TDI ECOmotive would be the one to go for. It produces 75ps and has a CO2 figure that is only 94g/km, making it one of the lowest emitters available today in the UK.
The Ibiza is well equipped in all three body styles; the three door coupe, five door hatch and now the ST. Three trims are available: S, SE and Sport, with prices starting from £12,020, but the favourites would have to be the 1.2 litre TSI SE with a price of £13,990, or the ECOmotive SE which is priced at £1,000 more.
We drove the Ibiza ST on a variety of roads around Barcelona and found it to be quiet, refined and very comfortable. It also gives you the impression that you are in a much larger car when driving it. The Ibiza, no matter what body style it comes in, is well put together and offers a high level of quality throughout.
Will the Ibiza ST beat the system and make inroads into a sector that has traditionally struggled? At a cost of only £800 more than the hatch, this versatile and practical small estate car might just be able to.
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