European

The furniture shop assistant was doubtful we could take a large cabinet with us. Scratching his head, he asked, ‘So you have a van, then?’ ‘No sir. We have a Fabia.’After clearing up any misconception we were talking about cover model Fabio’s less-handsome brother, the assistant ended up impressed by the capacity of the relatively unknown Skoda Fabia. It removed any doubt Skoda’s little Fabia wagon is practical, with plenty to offer a growing - and shopping -family.Price and EquipmentFor $23,290 the Skoda Fabia 1.2-litre 77TSI DSG comes with 15-in steel wheels, tinted windows, multi-function leather steering wheel, Bluetooth, multi-function trip computer, cruise control, ESC, ABS, ASR, EBD, roof rails, air conditioning with pollen filter, eight speakers, heated door mirrors, 12-volt socket, auxiliary input socket, three-year unlimited km manufacture’s warranty, full-size spare wheel, and a cooled glove box.TechnologyWith outputs of 77kW and 175Nm -- and 0-100km in 10.3 seconds -- the front-wheel drive Fabia wagon won’t make revheads swoon. But for a wagon, the turbocharged, 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine has plenty of pep. The seven-speed DSG transmission gives smooth gear changes -- though the vehicle has a surprisingly loud idle. Official fuel combined is 5.3L/100km, and we came fairly close, reaching 6.7/100km combined, and 9.1/100km urban with a full load.DesignThe versatile Fabia can fit your family, your friends, or the large wooden cabinet that took our eye. By easily dropping the 60/40 split-fold rear seats, the already large 480 litres of boot space extends to 1460 litres. The back seats are a bit rigid for adults, and the front passenger seat would fold back more easily with a lever rather than having to slowly grind the large dial.The dash is easy to use and the cabin has a nice feel, helped by the optional, partial leather seats that give a more upscale look. Visibility is reasonable except for some rear blind spots – taken care of in our test car by the optional rear parking sensors.The cargo area is easy to load, and luggage restraint hooks, heaps of side storage, and roof rails make for plenty of options for carrying gear, although, having just one cupholder in the rear may cause some battles for territory. And it’s as handy for play as for work. After slogging away on our weekend renovation project, we slid our surfboards into the back of the Fabia and escaped to the beach.SafetySix airbags, Brake Assist, ESC, ABS, ASR, and EBD help this wagon protect your family, and your overpriced furniture.DrivingWhile not nearly as fast as the 132kW/250Nm Fabia RS, this wagon isn’t dragging. If you want to zip in and out of school drop offs, Fabia may be your ride. If you want to fly through drop offs, making the kids duck and roll on exit, perhaps you should consider the RS. There is a bit of tyre and cabin noise but nothing too obnoxious, so -- don’t count on that to drone out the kids squabbling over that single cupholder.The 77TSI’s handling is surprisingly sharp, brakes are solid (even with a heavy load) and acceleration is great. Little trouble handling turns, McPherson suspension on the front axle, and a smooth ride for all passengers - the Fabia 77 TSI is a family friendly package.VerdictFabia is an affordable, practical wagon well suited for young families.

The carmakers were praised by survey compiler Interbrand for "becoming more attuned to the emotional connection consumers have with their cars" and tailoring social media and internet services to individuals.Audi's virtual showroom in London was cited as the future of automotive retailing and the "next big thing" in terms of engaging customers throughout the purchase cycle."Audi City, is revolutionizing the future of retailing by combining digital product presentations and personal contact with dealers," Interbrand notes. Other carmakers, including BMW and Infiniti, are working on similar projects.The Audi concept does away with the massive - and expensive - car showroom in favour of a store the size of a regular retail outlet that uses an array of nine 72-inch screens to show virtual full-size vehicles.Motion sensors and wireless interactivity let customers add interior and exterior options to customise the car. The finished product is then saved onto a USB stick for future reference.South Korean duo Hyundai and Kia were two of the biggest movers in the 2012 survey. Kia's value increased by 50 per cent over last year to place it 87th overall and put it alongside parent company Hyundai as a global powerhouse.Toyota maintains its place as the dominant carmaker with a worth of more than $31 billion, just ahead of prestige brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Volkswagen is the fifth-ranked carmaker but the parent company also has Audi and Porsche in the listings.Honda's production problems in the past 12 months were reflected in an 11 per cent drop in the company's worth, though it still sits in 21st place.TOP AUTO BRANDS(values converted from US$ at a 1.03 exchange rate) 

This is Mini's baseball cap car because the roof looks like one. It's also been described as looking like someone dropped a brick on it and also as a helmet. Whatever, they all seem apt enough.The gold and black striped test car would cost more than the kick off price of $42,990, probably a lot more when you tally up all the options but the good news is, you won't be disappointed.Why? Because the Cooper S Coupe has excellent performance and handling and is generously equipped in standard trim. Mini has plenty of options to add but you might only be tempted by a couple such as the stripes.Satnav is an option and there are numerous other goodies.  But you do get Bluetooth phone, multiple audio connections, climate control, power assisted ancillaries, park distance control and other stuff.Our test car was a six speed manual with a sweet shifting action and close intermediate ratios for sporty driving. It will put away a 0-100kmh sprint in 6.9 seconds bet feels quicker. Fuel economy averages 6.3-litres/100km - quite impressive when you consider the Mini's performance potential. The engine, from PSA (Peugeot) also used in various BMW models, is a 1.6-litre, direct injection turbo petrol with 135kW/260Nm output (on overboost). The look inside is modern and classy and the interior offers plenty of comfort and sporty seats. It's all soft feel and multi textures with a huge speedo in the middle that's fairly useless because of the position. Lucky there's a digital read out directly in front of the driver on the instrument pod.The Coupe is a real attention grabber that takes onlookers one way or the other, no fence sitters. We love it because it's so whacky in a cute/tough kind of way. The active rear spoiler pops up at speeds above 80kmh adding to the sporty effect generated by those imposing black alloys, the squat appearance, the muscular rump and the large tailgate covering the surprisingly big load space.There are two interior roof bubbles to give more headroom and there's enough seat adjustment for people over 185cm to get comfy.But what you need to know is how good this car is to drive. It's a step back from the hard core JCW model but is arguably a better day to day drive -- a real hoot.  There's a Sport button just in front of the gear stick that optimises a number of functions including throttle response, steering and suspension as well as opening flaps in the exhaust to give a muted 'pop' on the over-run. It sounds excellent and we had the Sport button on all the time.Though relatively small in capacity, the engine delivers maximum torque from as low as 1500rpm which translates into superb throttle response across a wide engine operating range. You can feel it in the seat of your pants and under your right foot. It's addictive. So is the way this car corners. Like a kart is no exaggeration.It sits flat and through fast corners and simply scuttles through with barely any body or wheel deflection. The brakes are right up to the task and the steering is quick and well weighted. Having a wheel at each corner is a big advantage for a front wheel drive hot hatch like this.

A new Volkswagen Golf is a major event in the world’s automotive industry. One that’s closely analysed by competitors from every manufacturer on the planet.With over 29 million sales to date, the Golf has been a huge success. Indeed if you also factor in the number of people who have bought a second-hand Golf over the last 38 years, ownership is now well in excess of 100 million.We, and over 1500 journalists from 98 countries, were invited along to the launch of the all-new Golf. Held progressively over at five-week period in Sardinia, Italy, the event consisted of extensive technical presentations and extended test drives over some challenging countryside.TECHNOLOGYPower comes from new-design turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines. The former have a capacity of 1.2 or 1.4 litres; the latter with displacements of either 1.6 or 2.0 litres. Only the larger petrol and diesel units were available for us to test at the media preview.All engines are designed keep their weight to a minimum, with as much 40 kilograms having been removed compared to the previous generation.Officially measured fuel savings of between 14 and 23 per cent are an impressive part of the new-gen Volkswagen. Fascinatingly the 1.4-litre petrol engine only runs on two of its four cylinders under light running conditions. Other than a tell-tale message on the dashboard we were never able to pick whether the Golf was running on four cylinders or two.Manual and automatic transmissions will be offered in most models. Full specs for engines and transmissions in Australia are to be finalised before it goes on sale in March 2013.DESIGNStyling has never been of major importance to Golf buyers as they are generally quite conservative people. They don’t want to own a car that will look like an old fashion fad before the time comes to trade it in. So the all-new Golf Mark 7 retains styling cues to its predecessors, but comes with some sharp new lines on its sides to match the latest trends.The frontal appearance is very much to the current VW theme, with a neat grille that ties in with modestly shaped headlights. Taken on its own it could be seen as any one of a number of Volkswagen models. Though those who have been studying the shape of the new cut-price Volkswagen up! small car will spot some of the cheeky looks of that car in the lower grille area.Volkswagen Golf Mk7 naturally has the distinctively kinked C-pillar that has been a feature of the car since its introduction in 1974. We recently road tested Golf models 1 through 7 at a classic car event at Volkswagen’s headquarter in Wolfsburg, Germany and noted the way the cars have evolved over the years. While they had grown in size, they retained familiar looks and similar feel from generation to generation.Though the car itself is slightly larger than the Golf 6 the overall weight is up to 100 kg less than before. This assists in performance, reduced fuel useage and lower CO2 emissions.It’s likely that only five-door Golfs will be imported as three-door models have been slow sellers in previous generations.As well as the advantage of relaxed travelling the very quiet Golf engine hides the fact that it has a stop-start function so drivers who aren’t interested in cutting pollution are less likely to switch of this clean-air function.External noises are almost completely shut out thanks to a stiff body design and numerous sound dampening features.Boot space is useful at 380 litres with the cover in place and all seats in use, and up to 1270 litres with the rear seat backrests down. Cleverly, the luggage cover stores neatly under the boot floor when not required, so you don’t have to try and find space for it amongst the luggage or even have to stuff it onto the back seat.The windscreen pillars are reasonably slim and don’t overly hamper the view outside.SAFETYActive safety features normally only found in larger, much more expensive cars include Lane Assist that actively steers the car back into the correct lane or away from the edge of the road (providing there are clear line markings at the road’s edge); City Emergency Braking at speeds up to 30 km/h; crash anticipation and preparation; and adaptive cruise control.In some ways the safety feature of all are seats designed to provide the correct driving position from the point of view of ergonomics.DRIVINGThe biggest impression made by the all-new Volkswagen Golf is of sophistication. It is as smooth and quiet as a car a couple of sizes larger. The Golf’s engine is almost electric-motor quiet at idle and little noise intrudes into the cabin, even when it’s accelerated hard.Handling is neat and precise and the car is easy to point and willing to change direction. Comfort is good and even on some of the very rough Italian roads we punted it over it was never knocked off track.VERDICTThe latest Volkswagen Golf is an extremely impressive car in many ways. In particular the level of performance offered by relatively small engines and the highly refined feel inside the cabin.

It wears a Peugeot badge and chic French wardrobe but the 4008 is actually the Mitsubishi ASX under the skin. The 4008 rolled out of the same Mitsubishi factory in Japan and landed on our shores in March. It started to gain some showroom traction since then, and notched up 110 sales in August, but the ASX more than tripled that result.VALUEPriced from $28,990 the Peugeot 4008 is $3000 more than the base model Mitsubishi ASX. The 4008 gets extra features like speed sensitive power steering, six speakers to the ASX’s four, a cooled glove box, rain sensors, illuminated fade technology, metallic finish inserts on doors, automatic headlamps and LED daytime running lights.But it misses out on the ASX’s chrome door handles, hill holder, remote boot release and spare wheel space saver. And the 4008 gets a three-year 100,000km warranty, while the ASX has a more generous five-year 130,000km one.TECHNOLOGYThe 4008 has a 2.0-litre engine producing 110kW of power and 197Nm of torque, mated to either the five-speed manual tested here or a six-speed constantly variable transmission. The base model is only available in front wheel drive, however the top spec Allure has the option of front wheel drive, four wheel drive or “lock” mode for when you’re bogged.DESIGNThe 4008 has a wide nose with a large floating grille and sharp headlights. The exterior has mild wheel arches holding 16-in wheels, body coloured bumpers and door handles, power door mirrors and tinted windows. The interior is simple, without fiddly technologies and there are plenty of storage spaces for your bits and pieces. The space should be fine for young families but not for those with long-limbed teenagers.Cheap seat material is used in the base model Active; one passenger likened it to “train seat material.” However, the top spec Allure has attractive leather on the steering wheel, shift knob and seats.SAFETYSafety features include seven airbags, ABS technology, electronic brake force distribution and electronic stability, daytime running lamps and rear view mirror with electric anti glare. There’s no hill start assist with the 4008 base model, a bit of a letdown considering this is a feature in most new SUVs including the Mitsubishi ASX.DRIVINGThe 4008 doesn’t live up to Peugeot’s usual standards when it comes to the driving experience and this is probably because you become more aware of the Mitsubishi under the skin. The automatic 4008 we previously drove was sluggish and poorly matched to the engine, as it often struggled to find the right gear. However, the manual in this test is a more exciting option, as it provides greater driving control and gives it a bit of life.A large amount of road noise enters the cabin and the suspension doesn’t handle bumpy roads well. However, the 4008 does the job well enough around town, manoeuvring easily through traffic and turning in a tight 10.6-metre circle, making it a capable parker and nimble around narrow city corners. Overall, while the drive isn’t impressive, it’s a practical SUV with a price tag that’s easy on the wallet.VERDICTIt’s a case of style over substance, but if you’re looking for an attractive compact SUV, the 4008 is worth a test.

On a shiny black stage at the Paris motor show this week, start-up Exagon Motors displayed its baby: The Furtive eGT, France's most luxurious automobile.Exagon executives brag their E400,000 ($501,000) hybrid comes with customisable leather interior, rigid carbon-fibre frame and body, and two powerful electric engines. But, while rich on technical prowess, Exagon's vehicle is missing an element that traditionally surrounds luxury goods: a legacy.Despite France's long list of luxury brands, from Veuve Clicquot to Chanel to Falcon business jets, the country has struggled for more than a half century to break into the luxury car market that is now dominated by a quartet of German auto brands: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche.“In France, which is, after all, the country of luxury goods, there is a big hole in the automobile sector,” says Exagon chief executive Luc Marchetti, who owns auto racing team Exagon Engineering. The company has orders for 60 vehicles and hopes to begin deliveries early next year.Marchetti isn't alone. France's biggest carmakers Renault and Peugeot Citroen are eager to put an end to a prolonged absence from the luxury segment that has left them vulnerable to the region's slowdown. Their mid-range vehicles are under a two-pronged attack by premium brands such as Mercedes, which is moving downmarket, and by new Asian rivals aggressively expanding in Europe.The result is a squeeze on profits that is hitting mass-market suppliers the hardest. In the first half of this year, for instance, Porsche had an operating profit margin of 18.7 per cent. By contrast, Renault's automotive division was barely profitable and Peugeot Citroen's automotive division was deeply in the red. French carmakers are trying to find a way out with a new luxury recipe.“To be on premium car buyers' shopping list, your brand must be positioned high enough, and to elevate your brand you need to be selling high-end cars,” said Frederic Saint-Geours, head of brands at Peugeot and Citroen. “We're trying to jump-start such a virtuous cycle.”As part of their new push into luxury, Peugeot is upgrading dealerships with a more exclusive experience; Renault is digging into its portfolio to see what old brands might appeal to luxury-car buyers; and in some cases both companies have consulted with major fashion house designers for advice.The results of those efforts are on display this week at Paris's auto show. Last week, Peugeot showed a new, convertible version of its successful DS3 sub-compact, one of a new series of DS prestige cars that it hopes will pull its Citroen brand upmarket. The company has sold 250,000 DS cars since their 2010 launch. Renault, meanwhile, is close to a decision on reviving with a partner its Alpine sports car brand. 

...AMG high-performance car ever designed.

The Golf is back to its best with the arrival of the seventh-generation German baby. A road-up re-work has brought everything from a bigger new body to a three per cent boost in showroom value. The seventh-generation Golf drives like a shrunken luxury car, not a traditional tiddler, and is going to make life tough for anyone shopping in 2013.They will have to judge it against the all-new Toyota Corolla that's just around the corner as well as all the value contenders, including the locally-made Holden Cruze. The new Golf is not as sharp to drive as the Ford Focus, and it wil not have a $19,990 driveaway pricetag, but it is loaded with technology and comes with the promise of a 100-kilogram weight loss and up to a 23 per cent economy improvement.The Golf is more than just a car, too, as it signals the arrival of a new 'toolbox' for model development inside the Volkswagen Group. Around 40 individual models will eventually be spun from the MQB mechanical package that provides the foundations for the newcomer, some as small as Polo and others as big as Passat.More than 95 per cent of the parts in Golf 7 are new, a contrast to the outgoing car which was more like a 5.1 update than a true sixth-generation Golf. "This is the most important car for brand Volkswagen," says Albert Meltzow, head of the Golf project. "It is important that it is a practical everyday car. Every year we sell around 700,000 Golfs."Volkswagen applies predictable spin at the press preview of the car in Sardinia, with only two engine choices - a 1.4-litre turbo petrol and 2.0-litre turbodiesel - and cars fully loaded with infotainment, luxury and safety equipment. That makes it tougher to be judgemental, but the first impression is good. Very good.VALUENo-one is talking yet about the starting price for the Golf in Australia. But global marketing boss Jurgen Stackmann confirms to Carsguide that European prices have been held steady at the level of Golf 6, with a value boost of three per cent thanks to extra standard equipment.The pricing has already sparked a round of discounting by rival brands in Europe, as they rush to convert customers before production of the Volkswagen flagship gets up to speed. Australian deliveries will begin in the second quarter of next year, but there is no detail yet on pricing, equipment, or even the engine choices. The Golf will definitely continue as a five-door hatch, with the three-door body reserved for the GTI and the R model that will follow."We'll try to keep the price as close as possible to the current car. But there is a significant increase in the standard equipment," says Karl Gehling, spokesman for Volkswagen Group Australia.TECHNOLOGYThe heart of Golf 7 is the MQB - translated as Modular Transverse Matrix - that provides the mechanical package for a car that is both bigger and lighter. It's not a traditional mechanical platform, but a range of parts that can be built - almost Lego style - into a range of different cars.But there are also all-new engines, lightweight suspension - although a basic rear axle is still fitted to cheapie Golfs - stop-start fuel saving, an electronic parking brake and a lot more. Infotainment is a major component for the Golf, with everything from iPhone-style 'swipe' controls for the TFT display screens to a driver-adjustable display layout. The engines at the press preview drive are the 1.4 petrol with 103 kiloWatts/250 Newton-metres and the 2-litre diesel with 110/320, promising economy of 5.0 and 4.1 litres/100km.DESIGNThere is nothing radical about the look of Golf 7. You can easily pick it as a Golf from 200 metres away, thanks to the DNA that carries through from earlier models, but it's not until you get closer that you see the fastidious detailing and restrained panel work."There are cues that are hallmarks of the Golf," says Stefan Wallburg, exterior designer. "Compared to the outgoing car, I think this is an evolution. If you compare them side-by-side, you will see the changes." Inside, even the switches are new and there is more obvious quality in the look and feel of all the materials.The new design brings a payoff in the cabin, where a longer wheelbase has liberated an extra 14 millimetres of rear knee room and another 30 litres for the boot, while head clearance is also improved despite a lower roof and Volkswagen claims improvements for shoulder and elbow clearance.SAFETYThe Golf will be a five-star ANCAP car. It gets six airbags and the regular ESP/ABS combination, but there is also a huge range of extra safety equipment starting with the multi-collision braking system that automatically applies the brakes to prevent secondary impacts.The package for Australia is still being decided, and there is likely to be an extra cost for the extra gear, but the range of safety stuff available includes lane-assist and anti-fatigue system, radar cruise control and city emergency braking. The press preview cars have a space-saver spare tyre but there is no decision yet on puncture protection down under.DRIVINGThis is a very mature, very refined car. That much is obvious from the first kilometre at the wheel. Golf 7 is extremely quiet, it absorbs bumps like a costly luxury car, and you can see and feel the extra space and luxury equipment.It's the sort of car you would happily drive from Sydney to Melbourne, or just down to the shops, knowing it's going to cause minimum fuss and reward you with impressive efficiency and minimum fatigue. Tackling a wide range of roads and surfaces in Sardinia, the new Golf refuses to be unsettled. It turns light and easy, has good cornering grip, is easy to park - there is, of course, an optional auto-park package - and generally just gets the job done.The boot is roomy and flexible with a low loading lip and an easy-close hatch, there is plenty of space in the back seat, and everything fits nicely. There are a couple of glitches on some test cars, with wind noise on one and a recalcitrant infotainment system in another, but these are some of the first Golf 7s to come down the line. What's not to like? I'm still not convinced about DSG gearboxes, and there is still some shunting during three-point turns with variable shift quality, and it's impossible to really rate the engines or suspension so far from home.Also, without a pricetag there is no way to say how it will line up against the new Corolla, or even the Mazda3, Cruze, Mitsubishi Lancer and the rest. But I know the new Golf is an utterly competent and very impressive car. The overall refinement is incredible. Volkswagen has hit all its targets and that means Golf 7 should now be the first choice for anyone shopping for a small car.VERDICTThe new Golf is the new benchmark for the small-car class. It's the car to recommend to your family and friends.

Class-leading handling and ride will jumpstart the Renault Clio’s launch in the light-car market next year. A lack of airbags may deflate some of that edge, at least among potential buyers who want the maximium protection for rear-seat passengers. It’s still a five-star car, though, and one of the best driving vehicles in the light car segment.VALUEPrices haven’t been set for the Clio - it doesn’t go on sale until midway through next year - but Carsguide predicts it will be around $16,500. That’s based on Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar’s assertion the car will be priced between the top-selling Japanese model (the $15,790 Mazda2) and the best-selling Euro vehicle (the $16,990 Volkswagen Polo).Specification likewise hasn’t been set for the local cars, but expect the base model - a 900cc turbocharged three-cylinder - to come with cruise control, keyless entry, daytime running lights and possibly even satnav as standard gear.TECHNOLOGYThe optional R-Link seven-inch touchscreen is an Android-powered system developed by Renault and TomTom. It is a multimedia interface with satnav and an embedded SIM that lets it connect to the internet and download apps that (in Europe) range from alerting drivers to the nearest and/or cheapest fuel, provide speed camera warnings and prioritise internet radio stations based on users’ previous preferences.A dual-clutch automated manual transmission will be available on the mid-range petrol engine - likely the 1.2-litre turbo - and the top-end turbo diesel. All models should have engine idle stop/start.Outputs for the turbocharged 1.5-litre diesel aren't huge -- 66kW/220Nm -- but it has impressive economy at 3.4L/100km, making the diesel Clio the most fuel-efficient engine in its class. In Australia it will only be sold with the EDC dual-clutch transmission, so expect around a $4000 premium over the base price.STYLINGA compact, classy package with plenty of interior space should put the Clio on a lot of short lists. The 300-litre boot takes two big suitcases with ease and there’s room for two adults in the back without the front occupants having to keep their seats forward. The materials look and feel good and the only complaint is the seat is made for a bigger butt than mine.Even then, the fabric has good grip but I’d prefer the side bolsters to have thicker padding to offset cornering forces. The front end is dominated by the big Renault badge set on a piano-black horizontal stripe across the bonnet that gives the car road presence. The scalloped door panels don’t hurt either, while the rear of the five-door hatch is solid, if not sensational.SAFETYIt will be interesting to see if ANCAP adopts the five-star rating EuroNCAP has given the Clio. The light car comes with four airbags, meaning the rear passengers aren’t cushioned in a side-crash, much like the VW Up!.Renault admits the decision was price-driven but argues the structural strength and dual-stage seatbelt pretensioners provide more than enough protection for back-seat passengers. Software includes the expected ABS with stability control and hill-start assist.DRIVINGThe Clio has the capacity to surprise, at least not when it comes to the 900cc engine that is expected to be the entry point for the range in Australia. The lightweight engine isn’t the quickest cab in the field off the lights but once underway it is hard to fault, pulling cleanly from low revs right up to redline.The Ford Fiesta was Renault’s benchmark for ride and handling and they’ve come very close to bettering it, though a definitive test will have to wait until the Clio lands here. The car’s poise through corners shames much more expensive models and changes of direction are taken in its stride. Understeer eventually appears but a tiny lift off the throttle will have the car tracking true again.The electric steering is light around town and adds effort as the pace picks up. The good news is it’s pinpoint precise at any speed. The suspension coped with rural Italy’s patched-up roads with barely a shake and while larger bumps at speed could momentarily unsettle the torsion-beam rear, it is something most owners won’t feel.A brief stint in the diesel shows it is on a par with the best oilburners coming out of Europe, with on-the-go performance that impresses. Like the 900cc petrol, the engine is functional ahead of frisky, with low-down torque that happily copes with third gear roll-on acceleration from 30km/h.VERDICTThis is the best regular Renault on the market. It drives as well as it looks and, airbags aside, will rate as one of the smarter choices in the light car pack. 

Stephan Winkelmann says the Gallardo LP560-4 has new front and rear-end styling as he presents it alongside a 570-4 Edizione Tecnica. The two cars move the Gallardo story forward, but more in design than anything else.Giant triangles cut new lines on the front of the 560-4 and there is also a freshening at the tail, with enlarged air intakes and dark 19-inch alloys with contrasting machined spokes."The new front end is characterized by triangular and trapezoidal forms – two shapes that are highly typical of the Lamborghini design language. Divided by diagonal elements in body color and in black, the overall look of the front end is broader and more forceful, giving it an even stronger bond with the road," says Lamborghini.The Tecnica pack brings a fixed rear wing and carbon-ceramic brakes with three bold new paint schemes: matt black with orange roof arch and front air intakes, matt white with orange pillars and intakes, and orange body with matt black roof and intakes.