Unveiled in three-door...
Unveiled in three-door form for the first time at the SEMA show last week, the new Accent (pictured) is based on the Kia Rio platform. But with sharper lines, sporty alloys and bulging wheelarches, it"s more distinctive. Under the bonnet, the Accent will come with a 1.6-litre petrol engine, while a 1.4 petrol and a 1.5 diesel should arrive later in 2006. An official European debut is scheduled for January"s Brussels Motor Show.
Sat-nav could soon save...
Sat-nav could soon save your life – that’s according to Nissan. The Japanese car maker has just revealed its fourth-generation Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV). The firm has fitted the newcomer with a hi-tech development of its standard on-board navigation system. By communicating with similarly equipped vehicles, it can warn of other drivers who are about to pull out of unsighted roads. The company claims that serious accidents could be reduced by 60 per cent if the gadgets in the ASV make production.
IT HAS already been crowned Car of the Year in our New Car Honours 2007, and now Ford’s Mondeo has been named Towcar of the Year. The Caravan Club’s annual contest pitted 36 models against each other, and the judges – including Auto Express road tester Lesley Harris – picked the 2.5-litre Titanium Estate as champion. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to see the winner in action.
DO YOU know your tyre pressures? If not, then you can simply log on to the Internet for the answer. Campaign group TyreSafe has teamed up with computer expert Experian to create an online guide. Type in your reg number, and the service will give you the figures. TyreSafe claims correct pressures will save fuel and increase safety. Visit www.tyresafe.org for details.
NINE OUT of 10 motorists regularly violate the Highway Code with a blast of their horn. A survey by esure.com found UK drivers toot over 30 billion times a year. And three-quarters of those asked thought using the horn contributed to road rage, with 13 per cent driving aggressively as a result. When asked what sound they would prefer to hear, most opted for an elephant’s trumpet!