Seat Ibiza FR TDI Car

The FR badging on the Seat Ibiza could equally stand for Frugal and Rapid as it could Formula Racing.

Seat has managed to squeeze its excellent 2-litre 143bhp TDI engine under the bonnet of its diminutive Ibiza, creating the only diesel hot hatch in its class – the Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI.

Seat says it is alone in a niche with the new Seat Ibiza FR TDI, a car that boasts more torque than a Mini John Cooper Works and even a Porsche Cayman. But superlatives aside, is there more to this frugal warm hatch?

It’s a very important car for the German car maker. Stuart Milne travelled to Spain to put Audi’s largest vehicle through its paces.

Since the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe went on sale in 2006, it has been a solid seller, finding homes with those looking for a well-built but affordable mid-sized SUV.

For 2010, it’s had a nip, tuck and a new engine to freshen it up, but is it enough to keep its reputation as a quality product?

Car Specifications Model Tested

• Model tested: Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI 5-door
• Price as tested: £16,875 (£16,465 - £16,875)
• Insurance group as tested: TBC
• CO2 emissions as tested:119g/km
• CO2 emissions range:119g/km
• Company Car Tax: TBC
• EuroNCAP result: *****
• Date tested: February 2010, Barcelona, Spain
• On sale: March 2010
• Road tester: Stuart Milne

The Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI may wear all the accoutrements of a hot hatch, but it is the car’s running costs that really impress.

The punchy TDI returns a massive 61.4mpg while emitting just 119g/km – we struggle to think of another car that is as easy on the wallet while still able to raise the driver’s heartbeat.

It’s a huge improvement on the previous diesel FR – that featured a 130bhp 1.9-litre engine that lacked the refinement of the new common rail unit, but the new car still manages to be greener and quicker.

Out on the road this is immediately evident. It’s quiet at tickover and the cabin is free from vibration. On the move it’s a similar story, and at speed the Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI reveals itself as a comfortable, surprisingly long-legged cruiser thanks to the laid-back, low-revving nature of the engine.

Pick it up by the scruff of the neck and its character changes, although the FR still has to be worked quite hard to get the best out of it, meaning frequent gearchanges are needed to keep the engine on the boil.

The three-door Seat Ibiza FR TDI Sport Coupe will reach 62mph in 8.2 seconds, the five-door we tested is 0.1 seconds slower, while both cars will knock on the door of 130mph.

Seat Ibiza FR TDI Gallery:

Powerful punch

You don’t get a sense of pace until the car is really motoring in the middle of the rev range – that’s where the thumping 236lb/ft of torque makes a difference. Nail the throttle in third and there’s some serious punch; ideal for overtaking.

Driving at speed requires a different approach than with the petrol equivalent. Where the petrol is eager to rev, the diesel demands the driver ride the wave of torque to push the car out of bends.

The quick steering is light at low speeds, but weights up as the speed increases, although it’s still a touch light, failing to inspire as much confidence as we would have liked. It is fitted with Seat’s XDS handling system, which brakes the inside front wheel during fast cornering for improved stability and grip.

A sports chassis sees suspension stiffened and lowered which adds to the driver appeal with a firm setup. However, as an everyday companion the Seat Ibiza FR TDI would appear to fit the bill well.

The Seat Ibiza FR TDI is the only hot Ibiza to be offered in both three-door Sport Coupe and five-door bodystyles, and represents the first time a six-speed manual has been fitted in this generation of the supermini.

Safe and well equipped

A good level of equipment is fitted as standard, including climate control, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, hill hold assist, a trip computer and a smattering of FR branding.

The standard Seat Ibiza scored a five-star EuroNCAP rating and the FR comes with ESP, tyre pressure monitoring and driver, passenger and side airbags as standard.

In the Ibiza FR TDI, Seat offers an interesting proposition – a sporty car with genuine green credentials and low running costs. That won’t be lost on buyers – the diesel FR will make up a massive 70 per cent of sporty Ibiza sales.

It might lack that last 10 per cent that makes the Ibiza Bocanegra such a hoot, but for performance motoring on a budget, the Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI is well worth a test.

Marshall Engines Engine Long Block 4 motor mount holes right-hand front of block

Marshall Engines Engine Long Block
Part Number: MEIF12214CW
Manufacturer Number: F12214C
Marshall Engines Engine Long Block Marshall Engines Engine Long Block
List Price: $2,390.13
Our Price: $2,025.53
You Save: $364.60
Core Deposit: ? The “core” is your old part. Send us your old part and the core deposit will be refunded to you upon receipt. Detailed instructions will come with your order. $577.50
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MARSHALL ENGINES PREMIUM LONG BLOCK ENGINE, REMANUFACTURED -- SOHC, head cast number YS4E, 4 motor mount holes right-hand front of block; Comes complete with adjusted valve train components, gasket set and new oil pump; Without breather hole in left-hand side of block; Cylinder heads are bake cleaned and shot blasted; Features high quality seals, installed valves and springs and 3-angled cut on valve seats; 100 percent mag inspected and pressure tested, vacuum tested for perfect seal, decks milled and surface checked, final oil pressure bench-mark tested on OHC heads, camshaft and followers installed; Crankshaft kit includes main and connecting rod bearings and is reground to factory tolerance for size, oil holes are completely chamfered then micro-polished to exceed the original finish ensuring proper bearing lubrication, a final wash is also done to ensure that every crank is clean, bake cleaned then shot blasted, checked for bend and journals polished; Shipped in foam-to-fit packing to protect crank and bearings; This purchase includes Marshall Engine's Extra Protection Warranty, special protection for your engine against overheating, lack of lubricant, contamination, detonation, pre-ignition, dry start, melted pistons and foreign object contaminations; The Extra Protection Warranty is an addition to the comprehensive protection against failures in parts and workmanship; Typically ships in 7-14 days.
Warranty: Marshall Engine's 3-year or 100,000-mile warranty

Chevy Camaro

2010 Chevy Camaro

The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro is getting a small price bump of $350 for the 2LT and 2SS models as well as a power and torque bump. The 2010 MY car was officially rated at 227 kW (304 bhp / 308 PS) with torque peaking at 370 Nm (273 lb-ft). However, as previously reported the engine has been re-certified for an extra 6 kW (8 bhp / 8 PS) out of the VVT direct-injection V6 engine, and torque was increased by some 7Nm (5 lb-ft). Production of the 2011 model begins on June 7.

"We are pleased with Camaro's success in the market during its first year of production," said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Chevrolet Marketing. "The 2010 model year has been a banner year for us, and we plan to build on this momentum."

Additionally customers will be able to order their cars in the optional SEMA-tested colour Synergy Green. Head-Up Display (HUD) also becomes available in the Camaro, the second Chevrolet to get it after the Corvette.

Vanilla Ice resurfaces with The Car Loft

Just when you thought the world was safe from Robert Van Winkle, the O.G. Vanilla Ice rears his frosted tips once again. Don't run for the hills just yet – the guy isn't bent on releasing a new attack on hip-hop this time. Instead, he's jumping feet first into hawking garage/loft condos for The Car Loft. Haven't heard of the project? There's probably a good reason for that.

According to the company's website, The Car Loft is what would have happened if someone had decided to fund and build the awesome garage/house we all drafted in first grade. The roughly 25x30 structures feature parking for up to four cars and a loft space up above for entertaining, sleeping or work. So far, so good, but we started getting skeptical when we heard each unit came pre-furnished with flat-screens, high-end tools, towels and plates monogrammed with the Car Loft logo. Oh yeah, each unit is completely hurricane-proof and features 24-hour surveillance you can monitor over the internet. No word on whether or not you have to pay extra for the robot that cleans up after you and dispense slushies at the same time.

Supposedly The Car Loft has already started its first compound in Delray Beach, and if it's successful, you can expect similar condos to crop up everywhere from Las Vegas to Detroit. Okay, maybe not Detroit. No word on how much these things are going to cost, but based on how often the word "exclusivity" appears on the Car Loft site, we're betting it's more than we've got stuffed under the mattress. More importantly, we've got to wonder how many high-rollers are going to want to wake up every morning smelling like they've spent the night under a Jiffy Lube.

Notes listing V8 2011 Ford Mustang GT Fuel Economy

With the new 3.5-liter V6, which was in 2011, the first car, Mustang 305 horsepower at 31 miles per gallon. Now rated 5.0-liter, 412-V8 engine was, and returns a best-in-class 26 miles per gallon on the highway and 17 in the city if it has 6-speed manual.

If you opt for the six-speed automatic, the 2011 Mustang GT is Highway 25 MPG City and 18 MPG return (equal to 9.4 lt/100km and 13.0 lt/100km, respectively).

Derrick Kuzak, said Vice President of Global Product Development, "The 2011 Mustang continues to exceed expectations in every category, and these figures, fuel consumption is another chapter in an incredible story ... For this kind of power and class to provide the fuel leading a comfortable, beautiful, a technical expert and affordable package - it is really unprecedented.

Ford) before, including the development of two new episodes (6-speed manual 6-speed automatic, and the use of Ti-VCT (Twin Independent Variable Timing Camshaft), that "the control valve in microseconds according to driver input. That, and the new aluminum block would not interfere.

Ford are just out of the board of directors. Chevrolet? Ball in your court.

The CR-Z also gets a three-mode drive system

The long-awaited 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe made its world premiere in production guise at Detroit Motor Show today. Compared to last year's Tokyo show concept, the U.S.-spec model seen here has remained more or less the same with changes limited to the different alloy wheels, the larger exterior mirrors, the Honda logo that has moved from the grille to under the bonnet and the revised tail lamp crystals.

The strictly two-seater CR-Z also retains the concept model's lightly futuristic interior boasting a multi-layer dashboard and three-dimensional instruments with a blue color scheme.

The coupe also gets a mid-ship console behind the front seats to optimize cargo space while a hard-shell separator can be closed to create additional hidden storage.

At the heart of the coupe is a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine with Honda's compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system.

The CR-Z's 10kW electric motor assists in acceleration and also acts as a generator during braking or coasting to capture kinetic energy that recharges the 100-volt IMA nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The gasoline engine can automatically turn off during vehicle stops to further improve efficiency.

The hybrid system delivers a combined peak output of 122 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft. of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm with the standard six-speed manual gearbox and 123 lb-ft when combined with the optional CVT.

The CR-Z also gets a three-mode drive system that allows the driver to select between individual modes of performance for Sport, Normal and Economy driving styles. The system, which affects the settings for steering, engine response, motor assist and air conditioning, is activated through three backlit buttons to the left of the steering wheel.

While Honda did not announce performance figures for the U.S.-spec model, a leaked brochure of the JDM CR-Z makes word of a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of 9.7 seconds, which if true, isn't exactly what you'd expect from a car that's the spiritual successor of the CR-X.

What the Japanese automaker did reveal are the preliminary fuel economy estimates. Honda anticipates that the CR-Z will achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 36 city/38 highway mpg for the CVT-equipped models and 31 city/37 highway mpg (7.6 lt and 6.4 lt/100km respectively) for the manual cars.

Again, nothing to be excited about. For example, the latest Toyota Prius that is powered by a 134HP hybrid powerplant and can sprint from 0 to 60mph in 9.8 seconds returns 51mpg city and 48mpg highway. Heck, even the BMW 335d sedan with its mighty 260HP diesel achieves 36mpg on the highway.

When the CR-Z arrives at Honda's U.S. dealers later this summer, it will be offered in two trim levels, base and EX.

Standard features on the base model include Vehicle Stability Assist, an audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry and cruise control.

The CR-Z EX will add High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlights with Auto-On/Off, fog lights, a 360-Watt premium audio system with seven speakers including subwoofer and Bluetooth, and perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel.

But even this brilliant engine fails to save this car

Who said Germans don’t have sense of humor?! Well he should check this out! Behold the magnificence of Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS, a car that is based on Porsche Cayenne Turbo and designed to look like Porsche Carrera GT inside and out. If there were an award for the ugliest tuned car ever, this would won it in a heartbeat!

Gemballa has actually gone to simply enormous length to make this car look like a CGT, but they should have stopped somewhere along the way and ask themselves WHY?! It’s a big chunky SUV, what’s the point for it to look like a wide and low supercar? But they haven’t, and they made the car. The result is, well you see what the result is! A ridiculous car which is like the bastard child of a snake and an elephant! GOD it’s awful!

Now if you scroll down and see the car’s interior where they have ruined the whole design for the sake of that CGT-like central console, you’d be convince too that something’s really wrong with the designer’s brain!

The Tornado has one good feature though, its engine. Based on the V8 Turbo, the car packs a massive punch in form of 750 horsepower and 1,050 Nm of torque. That means 0 to 100 Km/h in 4.3 seconds and top speed of as near as makes no difference 300 km/h.

But even this brilliant engine fails to save this car, as it costs an insane 400,000 Euro! Who in the world would say no I don’t want a McLaren SLR, I don’t want a Pagani, I wanna spend half a million dollar on a stupid and ugly car which scares children!

This engine is known for delivering good performance while being really

In 2010 VW will offer the lovely Scirocco with the award winning 1.4 TSI engine from the Golf, as an entry-level model for the British market. This engine is known for delivering good performance while being really efficient and fairly clean. It develops 122 hp and 200 nm of torque, and returns 6.4 liters/100km (44 MPG) and 146 g/km of CO2.

However if you are looking for performance, this is not the car for you. 0 to 100 km/h in this takes 9.7 seconds and it has a top speed of only 200 km/h. So if you want a fast Scirocco you are much better off with a 2.0 liter TFSI engine.

Pricing for Scirocco 1.4 TSI starts at £18,860 and for that you also get a decent amount of kits. It comes standard with six airbags, six-CD changer stereo with iPod connectivity, rain and light sensors, air conditioning, multifunction steering wheel and 17-inch Donington alloy wheels. It also has ABS and ESP by default.