MOTORS Edited by Mike Torpey T HE starting gate springs open amid screams and hollers as a pair of trained- to-the-minute racehorses blast up the narrow all- weather training gallop. Just a few yards away, an engine roars into life, four-wheel drive is engaged and the race is on – horse versus car. On this occasion, it’s first blood to the equine side, as the grey colt Unknown Villain leaves his mechanised rival trailing by the end of a six-furlong piece of work. Not far behind, though, another pair of colts hit full tilt, but this time the Peugeot has been able to combat the instant acceleration of the racehorses and has more than enough power on tap to stay abreast. This exhibition of horse power – pace and elegance on one side, 200bhp on the other – is hardly a daily occurrence at Manor House Stables, the training complex part- owned by ex-Liverpool and England footballer Michael Owen. But every day, a number of the 80-plus colts, fillies and geldings trained at the Cheshire establishment by Tom Dascombe are exercised on the gallops as they home in on fixtures like the up- coming Chester May meeting. It’s just that this week the complex has been central to the launch of Peugeot’s new diesel- electric powered 508 RXH, in a link-up aimed at spotlighting the complete thoroughbred experience. The 508 RXH, which goes on sale next month from £33,695, is a spacious five-seater family crossover model. Its Hybrid4 drivetrain consists of a 2.0-litre diesel engine producing 163bhp to drive the front wheels and a 37bhp electric motor to power the rear and is fitted with a six speed, semi-automatic gearbox. And because one of its four driving modes is ZEV – zero emission vehicle – we were able to drive the RXH silently and without any tailpipe fumes through two of the stable barns as valuable blue- bloods like Brown Panther, the progressive Anaconda and Wayne Rooney’s Switcharooney looked on just inches away. These horses have an important year ahead of them, as does Peugeot. Not only has the French manufacturer also launched the 3008 Hybrid4 – the world’s first diesel electric car – and a revamped 107 city car, but the new 208 supermini arrives in June. As part of what Peugeot calls its highly special “Hors-Series”, the 508 RXH is both upmarket and distinctive, as well as actually being four cars in one – a zero emission electric vehicle, an economic family car, a 4x4 and a 200bhp estate. Key to its appeal is a drive set-up which calculates when the car should be using just the diesel engine, only the electric motor or the best of both to provide the optimum economy or performance. There are four operating modes, accessed via a rotary dial on the centre console, comprising Auto – best for everyday conditions – ZEV electric mode for zero emissions, Four-wheel Drive in which both powertrains operate together for all-terrain grip, and Sport mode for quicker gear shifts and dynamic performance. Add to that little lot the potential for returning more than 70 miles per gallon in urban conditions, plus low CO² emissions of 107g/km, and you have a car worth serious consideration. As the halo model of the 508 range, the RXH certainly looks the part with its 40mm wider track, 50mm increased height and elegant profile. Inside, there’s plenty of space, brushed aluminium and shaded lacquers on the dashboard, decor in tinted copper shades, comfortable seating and a large panoramic sunroof while the 423-litre boot can be increased to a whopping 1,439 litres by folding the rear bench. You also get sat-nav with Bluetooth, a colour head-up display and 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, though the likes of leather upholstery and a massaging driver’s seat are extra cost options. Peugeot’s launch route across the Cheshire and North Wales countryside afforded the opportunity to test the RXH in various conditions, including in electric drive – available up to 40mph depending on throttle action – before the auto kicks in. You can manually flick the dial to Sport on the move, and feel the car spring into overdrive, to summon the full 200bhp punch on fast roads. And, to keep the driver in the picture, the dashboard display tells you where the power is coming from at any given time and how much charge there is left in the battery. The signs were all positive from a car that’s enjoyable and nicely composed to drive. On the downside, the official figures may indicate Combined economy of 68.9mpg, but we only got 42.1. There’s also nowhere to put the key if you opt to buy a Limited Edition model, which may be kitted up to the hilt – but costs a princely £36,000. by MIKE TORPEY RACE ACES RACING CERTS: Peugeot’s new 508 RXH joins racehorses on the gallops at Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables INSIDE: ON TEST – We drive the Mazda3 Sport Nav 5-door 4 ON TRACK: Learn racing skills with Rocket Ron 8
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MOTORS Edited byMike Torpey
THE starting gate springsopen amid screams andhollers as a pair of trained-to-the-minute racehorsesblast up the narrow all-
weather training gallop.Just a few yards away, an engine
roars into life, four-wheel drive isengaged and the race is on – horseversus car.
On this occasion, it’s first bloodto the equine side, as the grey coltUnknown Villain leaves hismechanised rival trailing by the endof a six-furlong piece of work.
Not far behind, though, anotherpair of colts hit full tilt, but thistime the Peugeot has been able tocombat the instant acceleration ofthe racehorses and has more thanenough power on tap to stayabreast.
This exhibition of horse power –pace and elegance on one side,200bhp on the other – is hardly adaily occurrence at Manor HouseStables, the training complex part-owned by ex-Liverpool and Englandfootballer Michael Owen.
But every day, a number of the80-plus colts, fillies and geldingstrained at the Cheshireestablishment by Tom Dascombeare exercised on the gallops as theyhome in on fixtures like the up-coming Chester May meeting.
It’s just that this week thecomplex has been central to thelaunch of Peugeot’s new diesel-electric powered 508 RXH, in alink-up aimed at spotlighting thecomplete thoroughbred experience.
The 508 RXH, which goes on salenext month from £33,695, is aspacious five-seater familycrossover model.
Its Hybrid4 drivetrain consists ofa 2.0-litre diesel engine producing163bhp to drive the front wheels anda 37bhp electric motor to power therear and is fitted with a six speed,semi-automatic gearbox.
And because one of its fourdriving modes is ZEV – zeroemission vehicle – we were able todrive the RXH silently and withoutany tailpipe fumes through two ofthe stable barns as valuable blue-bloods like Brown Panther, theprogressive Anaconda and WayneRooney’s Switcharooney looked onjust inches away.
These horses have an importantyear ahead of them, as doesPeugeot. Not only has the Frenchmanufacturer also launched the3008 Hybrid4 – the world’s firstdiesel electric car – and a revamped107 city car, but the new 208supermini arrives in June.
As part of what Peugeot calls itshighly special “Hors-Series”, the 508RXH is both upmarket anddistinctive, as well as actually beingfour cars in one – a zero emission
electric vehicle, an economic familycar, a 4x4 and a 200bhp estate.
Key to its appeal is a drive set-upwhich calculates when the carshould be using just the dieselengine, only the electric motor orthe best of both to provide theoptimum economy or performance.
There are four operating modes,accessed via a rotary dial on thecentre console, comprising Auto –best for everyday conditions – ZEVelectric mode for zero emissions,Four-wheel Drive in which bothpowertrains operate together forall-terrain grip, and Sport mode forquicker gear shifts and dynamicperformance. Add to that little lot
the potential for returning morethan 70 miles per gallon in urbanconditions, plus low CO² emissionsof 107g/km, and you have a carworth serious consideration.
As the halo model of the 508range, the RXH certainly looks thepart with its 40mm wider track,50mm increased height and elegantprofile.
Inside, there’s plenty of space,brushed aluminium and shadedlacquers on the dashboard, decor intinted copper shades, comfortableseating and a large panoramicsunroof while the 423-litre boot canbe increased to a whopping 1,439litres by folding the rear bench. You
also get sat-nav with Bluetooth, acolour head-up display and 18-inchalloy wheels as standard, thoughthe likes of leather upholstery and amassaging driver’s seat are extracost options.
Peugeot’s launch route across theCheshire and North Walescountryside afforded theopportunity to test the RXH invarious conditions, including inelectric drive – available up to40mph depending on throttle action– before the auto kicks in.
You can manually flick the dial toSport on the move, and feel the carspring into overdrive, to summonthe full 200bhp punch on fast roads.
And, to keep the driver in thepicture, the dashboard display tellsyou where the power is comingfrom at any given time and howmuch charge there is left in thebattery.
The signs were all positive from acar that’s enjoyable and nicelycomposed to drive.
On the downside, the officialfigures may indicate Combinedeconomy of 68.9mpg, but we only got42.1.
There’s also nowhere to put thekey if you opt to buy a LimitedEdition model, which may be kittedup to the hilt – but costs a princely£36,000.
byMIKE TORPEY
RACEACES
RACING CERTS:Peugeot’s new 508RXH joinsracehorses on thegallops at MichaelOwen’s ManorHouse Stables
INSIDE:ON TEST – We drive theMazda3 Sport Nav 5-door 4ON TRACK: Learn racingskills with Rocket Ron 8
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MOTORS Friday, April 27, 20124 ★★★★
roadTEST
with MIKE TORPEY
roadtest
SpecCheck
ECHOMotorsNews
MOTORSMazda3 2.0 Sport Nav 5-door
MMaazzddaa iinnggooooddccoommppaannyy
APPLYING the word Sportto a particular car modelcan prove somewhatconfusing. For instance,does the manufacturer
mean this version boasts moreperformance, or does it actuallymean there are a few sportystick-ons?
Sure, some more spokes on youralloys always looks racy, and a bodykit or spoiler adds a touch ofaggression.
But what you really want Sport todo is fulfil what its name suggests –and sharpen up the whole drivingexperience.
That’s the view Mazda took withits recent upgrade of the Mazda3,the outgoing version of which wasthe second best-selling car from theJapanese brand’s UK line-up.
So the company’s engineersfine-tuned the suspension andsteering to deliver an extra dose ofwhat it calls “Toitsukan” – more
linear steering feel for bettercontrol and assured predictability,plus a smoother ride and improvedrefinement.
And they didn’t just limit it toSport versions, of which there aretwo new ones in the stable, but tothe entire range.
What was already an enjoyablyprecise hatchback to drive now hasmore edge to go with all-roundboosts in everything from residualvalues and benefit-in-kind tax billreductions to improved fueleconomy and performance.
The new-look Mazda3 line-upfeatures 18 models with a choice ofthree petrol and two diesel enginesin six trim levels and kicks off withthe 1.6-litre S petrol model at£14,995.
According to industry analysts,the range will now retain 34 percent of its value three years or60,000 miles down the line, whilecompany car drivers will also makefinancial savings due to CO²emission cuts of up to 3.5%.
These are the drivers Mazda feelsneed to sit up and take notice.
And, in the case of the 1.6-litrediesel, it means low CO² emissionsof 115g/km – putting it into the 17%company car tax bracket for dieselmodels – and a combined cycle fueleconomy of 65.7mpg.
The tested 2.0-litre Sport Navmodel is a fine car to drive, thoughnothing like so frugal, my own fuelfigure averaging only 32.7mpg over170 miles of predominantly urban
motoring. What buyers can def-initely rely on, though, is advancedsafety-boosting equipment likeDynamic Stability Control and theEmergency Stop Signalling asstandard on every model, togetherwith six airbags.
Sport Nav models look the part
with a styling kit featuring frontand rear sports bumpers, side skirtsand grille, plus 17-inch alloys,cruise control, heated front seats,rear parking sensors, Bluetooth,integrated colour sat-nav and apremium 10-speaker Bose soundsystem.
SAVINGS WITH STYLE: Company car drivers will make financial savings due to CO² emission cuts on the Mazda3 Info from Arnold Clark Liverpool, 67 Sefton St, L8 6PY. Tel: 08446 926610
MAKE: MazdaMODEL 2.0 Sport NavENGINE: 1,999cc, 4-cyl petrolPOWER: 151PS at 6,200rpmPERFORMANCE: 0-62 in 10.4secs, top speed 128mphECONOMY: 42.2 miles per gallonCombinedCO² EMISSIONS: 157g/kmBiK RATING: 21%INSURANCE: Group 19 (1-50)
PRICE: £19,195 on the roadWHAT’S HOT: Performance,equipment, comfortWHAT’S NOT: Fuel economy
Jaguar’s XJ Ultimate is extra specialJAGUAR Land Rover has started‘Engineering To Order’ with a newspecialist division it calls ETO.
The division is responsible forextending the Jaguar and LandRover brands with a series of'special edition' models as well asa range of personalisationoptions allowing owners to tailor
their cars.And to showcase the bespoke
operation the company has liftedthe lid on the stylish Jaguar XJUltimate model at the BeijingAuto Show.
Company chief Dr Ralf Spethsaid: "The specialist ETO divisionis the next step in the evolution
of JLR as a fully-integratedpremium automotive business. Itis an extension to our world classengineering capability andfurther proof of JLR's passion tomeet customers' demands."
Following the recent success oftwo earlier ETO-built cars – thelimited edition Range Rover
Autobiography Ultimate and the186mph XKR-S, the division islooking to further expansion.
So as well as handcrafting theXJ Ultimate, ETO will also beresponsible for the Range RoverEvoque Special Edition, acollaboration between LandRover and Victoria Beckham.
*Offer only applicable to ŠKODA Fabia Hatch SE 1.2 12V 69PS in Black Magic pearl effect, Brilliant Silver metallic and Anthracite Grey metallic with standardspecification. Offers may be varied or withdrawn at any time, and are subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. Prices andspecifications are accurate at time of print. Discount only applies to RRP of vehicle. Optional specification cannot be added on this offer. Offer available on ordersplaced by 31st May 2012. At participating retailers only. Cannot be taken in conjunction with any other offer. †Base price of £11,930 was available 12th March 2012to 8th April 2012 and from 1st June 2012.
Official fuel consumption in mpg (litres/100km) for the Fabia Hatch 12V SE 1.2 MPI 69PS: Urban 38.7 (7.3),Extra Urban 62.8 (4.5), Combined 51.4 (5.5). CO2 emissions for the Fabia Hatch SE 1.2 12V SE 69PS 128g/km.
Available in Black Magic pearl effect, Brilliant Silver metallic or Anthracite Grey metallic with alloy wheels,air conditioning, ABS, electric windows, trip computer, CD player and remote central locking as standard.
The ŠKODA Fabia Hatch SE 1.2 69PS
NOW £8,950*OTR WAS £11,930 OTR
For more information contact us at:
Alex Lawrie38 Sandhills LaneLiverpoolL5 9XN
08442 098083www.alexlawrieskoda.co.uk
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MOTORS Friday, April 27, 20128 ★★★★
MOTORSRacingwith RocketRonTHERE are magic moments
in biking when it all comestogether – nailing a cornerat Silverstone, taking theracing line and hitting the
rev limiter on the exit is one ofthem.
I’d like to say I had the frontwheel of the Honda CBR600RR inthe air, too, but you can’t haveeverything.
At least I’d finally got the coathanger out of my leathers, asDarren Jones, my instructor at theHonda Ron Haslam race school, putit. And at some point along the wayI’d even overtaken someone on aFireblade, although I have to admitI was concentrating so hard on myown riding that I took little noticeof the people we passed.
The afternoon of the Premiercourse began with a full briefing onthe International circuit, coveringeverything from lines, brakingpoints and gear changes, to throttleusage and steering.
Then on to the track to meet theinstructors – one for every tworiders – and the first of threesessions. Darren has a real racepedigree, with two 350cc productionchampion titles under his belt along
with being 2008 national endurancesupersport champion and 2004Aprilia RSV Mille champion.
That race experience certainlyshowed as he led the way, keepingan eye on us even as he hung off thebike in the corners.
As we got used to the track wepicked up speed and it was great tostring together a few corners on abike as superbly poised andbalanced as the CBR600RR..
Then off the bikes for the firstde-briefing, where Darren deliveredthe ego-deflating verdict that I rodetoo upright, with my arms toostraight.
I had to change position, get theballs of my feet on the tip of thefootrests, relax my arms, get down
behind the screen and rev hard onthe straights and – top tip – slidemy backside off the seat to hang offin the corners: “Not too much, justuntil you feel the wind up your . . . ”
Back out on track for the secondsession and things were a lot better,I was riding more smoothly andconfidently, taking the two right-
handers at Club as one, grabbing agear on the way, nailing the Linkcorner and hitting the limit on theHangar straight. I was reallybeginning to feel at home on theCBR.
At the day’s final de-briefing,Darren gave me a very encouragingassessment – thanks, Daz – and the
tiredness was forgotten for the ridehome, where I was able to put intopractice some of the techniques Ihad learned.
And, of course, to cap a fantasticday, I got to meet “Rocket” RonHaslam – one of the best ridersBritain has ever produced – andhave a certificate to prove it.
by JULIANWELLEN ● THE Honda Ron Haslam raceschool offers courses for alllevels, from 12-year-olds onCBR125s to the £389 Elite classon CBR1000RR Fireblades, withfull telemetry to monitor yourprogress.● This year’s season runs untilOctober. There is a £40discount for bookings for May.
Details at www.ronhaslamraceschool.com or call 01332883323.
ON TRACK:Julian Wellenat the RonHaslamRacing School,at Silverstone