Virtual Car Broker

The Government has agreed to provide £270m of financial support to Vauxhall to help secure the future of 5,000 UK workers.

Car Broker Motoring News general motors, GM vauxhall, lord mandelson

It's been a good week for driving with the top down, but a difficult seven days if your name is Andrew Humberstone.

Audi R8 Spyder
We've reviewed Audi's sensational new R8 Spyder and reckon it's as close to perfect as you're likely to get – with its roof up or down.

If you've got £111,995 to spare it's an excellent way to invest your cash. If not, well, there's always the lottery.

Petrol or diesel?
If your budget falls short of a new Audi R8 Spyder, we've introduced a new tool on whatcar.com to help you decide whether a petrol- or a diesel-powered car will be cheaper for you.

Good times for the planet
It's also a good week for average new car CO2 emissions, which have plummeted as motorists tighten their belts and choose more economical cars.

The findings come in a new report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which reveals the scrappage scheme has also helped to slash emissions at their fastest-ever rate since records began.

A sorry week for Surrey
Things don't look so healthy in Surrey, which has the most potholes of any county, according to a survey by Kia.

Surrey County Council rubbished the report, but not because it thinks it doesn't have a lot of holes – instead, the council claims it has far more than Kia reckons. At least it's fixed 15,000 since the end of the cold snap.

Alfa Romeo fails their customers
Humble pie has been on the menu for Andrew Humberstone this week. He's the boss of Alfa Romeo in the UK and admitted that Alfa has failed to deliver the right products as well as decent levels of quality and service. Humberstone says the brand is 'at a crossroads', so let's hope it takes the right turning.



Get interactive with whatcar.com...

Car Broker Motoring News Model News

Fiat doesn't waste time on false modesty when talking about its new Multiair engines. 'This will become the standard for petrol engines,' it says.

We're going to be seeing a lot of them, too. They're already in the Fiat Punto Evo, and now they're making their way into Alfa Romeo's supermini, the Mito.

What is Multiair?
Multiair is an electro-hydraulic form of variable valve operation that delivers exactly the right amount of air (and fuel) the engine needs at any given time. Think of your lungs – you breathe more deeply when running or climbing stairs than when strolling into the kitchen.

In the Mito
There are two versions of the engine in the Mito – both 1.4-litre turbocharged units. One develops 135bhp and is in Lusso and Veloce models, which have either a five-speed manual or six-speed twin-clutch semi-auto gearbox. The other, with 170bhp, is reserved exclusively for the Cloverleaf, which is available only with a six-speed manual.

The Cloverleaf also gets variable damping control, operated through the DNA switch that allows you to change throttle and steering response in every Mito. Alfa says it has also worked on the suspension, manual gearshift quality and interior trim of the range.

The good news is that those engine boffins aren't wrong: these are corkers – torquey, refined and quiet unless you want them to be otherwise. Even then, the sounds are pleasingly raspy. To those qualities, the Cloverleaf adds some real fizz.

Shame about the chassis
If only the chassis was as good. The Lusso and Veloce neither ride nor steer with the authority expected of a semi-sporty 'mini. At times it's downright crashy, and the gearshift is still not good enough. So, you fear the worst from the Cloverleaf, which has even larger wheels. Actually, though, it's much better – more precise and better damped, although there's still room for improvement.
Roger.Stansfield@whatcar.com

What Car? says
Great engines, but there's still work to be done on the chassis


Get interactive with whatcar.com...

Car Broker Motoring News Model News

What Car? has three exciting and exclusive previews of new cars coming up – and you could be on the guest list.

Preview the Nissan Juke
From 4-6pm on Wednesday, March 17, we're inviting readers to get up close and personal with Nissan's new Juke – a supermini-sized crossover that offers something different to the norm.

Preview the Vauxhall Meriva
The second preview is from 4-6pm on Monday, March 22, and is your chance to try out the clever doors and seating flexibility in the next-generation Vauxhall Meriva.

Preview the Renault Wind
Then on Friday, March 26 we are revealing Renault’s new baby roadster, the Wind – the company's rival to the Mini Convertible and Peugeot 207 CC. This event will take place from 2.30-4.30pm.

Free M&S vouchers and MP3 transmitter
All the previews will take place at What Car?’s HQ in Teddington, Middlesex, and every participant will take home £20 of M&S vouchers and a free Belkin MP3 FM Transmitter. There are six places available on each preview.

Sign up now
If you would like take part in any of these events, email us here readertestteam@haymarket.com by midnight this Sunday, March 14.

Make sure you include the following information:
• What car you currently drive;
• Where you'll be travelling from on the day;
• Your mobile number;
• Which preview you want to attend, and why you want to see the car.

We'll contact the successful entrants this Monday, March 15.

Your comments and photographs will appear in future issues of What Car? magazine's Reader Test Team feature. You'll also be asked to speak on camera for footage to be broadcast on whatcar.com.

Please note that you will not be able to drive the car – this is a chance to give your views on its design, ergonomics and specification.

Car Broker Motoring News Model News

Have you or a friend bought a car recently? If so, we are looking for volunteers to come and speak to us about it.

To take part in our focus group, you need to have bought a car in the past six months, have had a full choice of brands (and not been restricted to a car make because of a company car scheme) and not bought a car through the scrappage scheme.

The focus group will take place at What Car?'s offices in Teddington, Middlesex from 7pm to 9pm on March 22.

It is an informal event and tea, coffee and snacks will be served.

To sign up, contact Julia Dear on 020 8267 5739 or e-mail her on Julia.Dear@haymarket.com

Car Broker Motoring News Buying and Owning