This year Mazda plans to have two of the units out on display that will show off the new Sky Activ Technology from Mazda to improve the driving performance of its vehicles and its environmental performance.  Those who want customized models can also check out the Mazda Roadster, Mazda Demio, Mazda Premacy, and the Mazda Aexla.  Each of these will be on display following the Mazda theme for the show which is ‘Pushing the Boundaries of the Emotion of Motion’ highlighting Environmental Technology and the way that Mazda continues to push the boundaries when it ocmes to its eco-friendly changes.

Also on the docket is a presentation by Mazda that shows off the transmission and engines for the new SkyActiv system and will host a talk show at their stand that will feature segments by their engineers who worked hard to create the new technology.  At the outdoor venue space there will also be a demonstration where interested parties can watch the Mazda 787B racing machine in action as the rotary engine creates a unique form of energy efficient power.  This alone is reason enough to get out there and see what is offered.

The Mazda CX- is the first of the new vehicles by Mazda that will hit the market with the new Soul of Motion theme of design known as KODO and also the first to make full use of the Sky Activ technology.  This technology involves the chassis, powertrain, and the body of the car and is the highlight of the experience as it helps improve how eco-friendly the car is as well as offering a refined driving experience and a higher degree of safety performance while out on the road making it a practical choice for families as well as singles that want a high performance vehicle.

Also coming out soon with the SkyActiv technology is the Mazda Demio 13 that offers a very low center of gravity due to the many custom pieces that are used on the car that are actually aero parts.  Included in the list are the side skirts, the underskirt in the rear, and the underspoiler.  Toss in a 1.3 liter gasoline tank that has chrome garnishing that stands out brilliantly against the red paint of the car and you have a super smart and trendy vehicle that is also environmentally friendly making it a great sporty buy.

“We are talking here about cars which are generally two or three years old, but which bear the scars of much longer life,” said Mark Jones, the company’s manager of operations and logistics.  “Of the hundreds of cars we acquire each month, around six out of every ten need some type of remedial work for damage which is likely to be pothole-related,” he says.

Paint chips, dented wheel rims and bulging tyre walls are now very common, reports Mark, and there are also many instances of damage to shock absorbers and suspension systems.

Potholes can also knock the car’s steering out of alignment and present a severe driving hazard which might only come to light in an emergency, he added.

A large number of the faults are only revealed when a car undergoes ACF Car Finance’s 136-point safety and mechanical check which, due to its thoroughness, was recently accredited by the RAC.

“We like to present the cars we sell in a condition which is as close to factory-fresh as possible, so our inspection process delves deeply for anything needing attention,” said Mark.

“We carefully hand-pick every one of our vehicles, so the national percentage of pothole damaged cars could be much higher than the sixty percent we experience,” he observes.

The company, which operates showrooms near many major UK cities, says that this winter is likely to see a further worsening of Britain’s increasingly blighted roads.

“While councils continue slashing their repair budgets, we are forced to increase our allocation of funds for repairing damage of the type caused by potholes,” said Mark.

“I think our experience suggests that anyone buying a car privately ought to get an independent inspection carried out to uncover any hidden pothole damage,” he commented.

After Honda, the second and third most pothole proofs cars come fromToyotaand Hyundai, as less than 2% of their vehicles suffer from suspension and axle damage that can be directly attributed to potholes and other defects in the road. This is good news for drivers who own those cars as this winter, is has been said that theUKroads are set to become the worst state they’ve been in for a generation.

At the other end of the scale, the cars most likely to be affected by the pothole riddled roads of theUKare Mercedes-Benz. Land Rover and Chrysler. More than 10% of these cars suffer damage each year from potholes.

While the average payout for pothole-induced suspension damage is £309, Warranty Direct and Potholes.co.uk have indentified recent claims as high as £2,420.

Duncan McClure Fisher of Warranty Direct, said; ‘With last year’s road damage barely dealt with, a repeat of those harsh winter weather conditions could see our highways deteriorate to the worst state they’ve been in for a generation.

‘As councils struggle to solve the pothole problem, consumers can at least be smart about their vehicle of choice. We’ve found some cars have an uncanny ability to absorb the jolts from even the most severe road craters, while others aren’t so resilient.’

‘Particularly surprising is that high-end manufacturers are just as vulnerable, if not more so, than ‘value’ manufacturers. However, we wouldn’t lambast those at the bottom of the pile because the roads are just so bad.’

Anyone can report a road defect and share their story using Potholes.co.uk, which has contact details for councils across England, Scotland and Wales.

Top 10 most resilient manufacturers

(Chance of pothole induced suspension damage in an average year)

Top 10 least resilient manufacturers

(Chance of pothole induced suspension damage in an average year)

The start of the mass production of Honda’s new Civic hatchback has been postponed several times, due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan that resulted in a parts shortage and also by flooding around Honda’s Thailand factories.  The overall economic downturn has also had its negative effect, but the Japanese company’s attitude is optimistic and encouraging.

In his speech to Honda associates at Swindon Monday, Mr. Nishimae praised the commitment and persistence of the employees who have weathered the downturn and stayed on the job through some major challenges.  He expressed confidence in the future success and growth of production at Swindon and for Honda worldwide; he said, “Honda has turned a corner, and the future starts today.”

The company, said Nishimae, is committed to building cars and engines in Europe, and Swindon will be the base of their European manufacturing operations.  That commitment is further demonstrated by the launch of mass manufacturing of the 9^th generation Civic at the Swindon plant, which will result in creation of those 500 new jobs as the plant’s operation returns to a two-shift schedule.

The new jobs will be in addition to the current work force of 3,000; recruitment has already begun at a dedicated website www.hondamanufacturingcareers.co.uk.  Andy Piatek, Director at Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd (HUM) confirmed that Car Plant 2 would be going back to two shifts in early spring, and said recruitment would be a challenge, as car production is expected to double in 2012, but he has great confidence in Swindon’s ability to meet this challenge also.

Swindon will also be the only Honda plant building diesel engines; it currently assembles the 2.2 litre diesel, and in the second half of 2012 the shop will add production of a new 1.6 litre diesel.  At about the same time a new European CR-V will begin production at the plant.  All of this activity supports the assumption that Honda is firmly committed to its European and UK venues, a good sign for the economic future of its partners in business.

The Prime Minister also expressed gratification that Honda is demonstrating such confidence in its UK affiliations.  He considers the company’s announcement of its plans to be a boon to the workforce, manufacturing and the UK car industry, and the success of those plans to be crucial to the country’s economy.  Mr. Cameron also said the UK has a highly skilled workforce, and must be committed to stay at the forefront in research and development of new technology.

There are new songs and films, old songs and films, but it’s guaranteed that within minutes your foot will be tapping and you will be thinking back to the time you first heard this track or saw the film, and basking in the memories that will come flooding back.

Owned during the period 1994- 2007 by the Ford Motor Company, it was purchased in 2007 by a consortium company headed by David Richards for £479m, although Ford still retain a 12.1% stake in the company, with an approximate value of $77m.

The brand was really pushed to the forefront thanks to their association with the James Bond films, and the super spy flitting around in his DB5 made everyone associate the car with a playboy lifestyle around the Med. While this isn’t quite the image they convey today, it certainly did the British manufacturer any harm at the time, and after a break they reappeared in the Bond movies in 2002 and still features in them now.

The Aston Martins rolling off the production lines today are still stylish and elegant and a brand that frequently appears on car wish lists. They are, quite simply, modern cars for a modern world. Sleek and chic, owning an Aston Martin still makes a style statement, but it what goes on beneath the bonnet that make them so desirable as racing cars as well for personal use.

If you are seeking to turn your dreams into reality and become the proud owner of one of these prestigious motors, then you really should track down a certified Aston Martin Dealer. This is simply because they are experts in their field, and they will match you with your perfect car, as that is a big part of owning an Aston Martin, that you look right in the car.

The 2011 Aston Martin Virage, which set the Geneva Motor Show alight, is the new version of an old favourite, and is the first time a Virage badge has been seen on a new car since 1996. Curvaceous, sleek and ridiculously tactile, this model lives and breathes the very essence of Aston Martin and is the latest must have sports cars to sweep Europe.

Likewise, the new V8 Vantage S Coupe, this has serious power for the serious driver, all wrapped up in body that makes this a true thoroughbred amongst cars. Encompassing power, beauty and soul, the V8 Vantage S Coupe provides the kind of driving experience that you can’t fully appreciate until you try in first hand, and is a car that has real character.

There are those connoisseurs of Aston Martin who seek out old models and set about lovingly restoring them, and who can blame them? Classic car restoration is becoming more and more popular and it’s no surprise that the majority of these would kill to get their hands on a classic Aston Martin. No other car gets the same reaction, and quite frankly, none ever will.

Article published for Bramley

The changes have been made to every model of the A4 but in this review we are going to be looking at the saloon. Given the fact that this car hasn’t really had a great deal of changes to its actual design it is rather similar to the previous A4 on the road. The new car comes with a choice of 1.8 or 2 litre petrol engine and much like the previous versions of the car it has rubbery steering and a rather firm ride. Many people who are hoping for improvements in these areas with the new version of the car are going to be quite disappointed.

There is no question that Audi, as it usually does, have created a car with a lot of grip but it feels very confident going through corners but unfortunately the steering really lets the car down. For anyone who has driven the BMW equivalent they will know that it is a lot more enjoyable to drive. BMW have a great focus on the car’s ability to flow through a bend and this makes it feel very sporty, unfortunately this is something that Audi have not done.

If you are choosing to buy the Audi then you must not do it for its sporty performance, instead you must see it as a cruiser. When you are on the motorway the engine simply fades into the background and it provides a very refined driving experience. The only thing that is going to disturb the car in the car is the wind whistling past the wing mirrors.

There is also a diesel engine available for the car and while you might not think this is the best choice for the car it really is the engine that works best. It has a low torque and has a performance that seems very easy. The petrol engine seems to have to work harder and can even become noisy when revved aggressively.

So far we have said much about how this new A4 is slightly disappointing because of its similarity to the old model, but you must not forget that the previous A4 was a great vehicle. One of the most notable things about the car was the great amount of space for the driver and passenger and the build of the car is as excellent as anything you would expect from Audi.