Can a Volvo travel 827 miles on one tank of diesel?

That's the million dollar question in the fuel economy test. Two middle-aged men, Dom Jolly and Rufus Hound made a trip from the Volvo UK HQ in Marlow, Buckinghamshire to Milano, Italy and back again. Why? It's a journey about friendship and fuel economy, primarily the latter.

The car used is a 2009 Volvo V70 DRIVe which is powered by a 1.6 litre turbo-charged diesel engine, producing 109PS. Fuel economy is rated at 57.7mpg combined with a CO2 output of 129g/km. Prices start at £23,245.

The two part video can be viewed here.

Mercedes to be flexible with right-hand drive markets

Mercedes has promised to be 'fully flexible' with its next generation of cars so that anything available in left-hand-drive models can also be fitted for right-hand drive markets like hybrid technology and 4-Matic.

'We know we have maybe not done enough in the past, but in future there will be no restrictions,' said Dr Thomas Weber, the company's head of research and development. The head of Mercedes UK, Wilfried Steffen said with the next generation of cars, you will be able to have everything. We will prepare our vehicles for all markets.'

For many years, British buyers have been without the 4-Matic available on many cars sold in Europe and America because it was never engineered to fit into right-hand-drive models. The GLK compact SUV is not sold here for the same reason. That left Mercedes UK missing a rival for the BMW X3, Land Rover Freelander, Infiniti EX, Cadillac SRX and Audi Q5, as well as a series of cars that could compete with Audi's Quattro range.

The change of heart is particularly important with greater hybridisation of the range on the way. With countries all around the world targeting lower fuel consumption and CO2, none would want to miss out on technology that could help achieve those goals.

Dr Weber says there will be a hybrid version of every Mercedes 'above the C-Class', so that includes the E-Class, GL-Class, GLK, SLK, SL-Class and Viano and the flagship S-Class – at the Frankfurt show last Autumn the company announced it would offer a 90mpg, 74g/km hybrid version of the next-generation model, but that's at least two years away. A S-Class hybrid is already available.

In the meantime, the current car is to get a 4 cylinder diesel engine because of demand from markets where there are CO2-related motoring taxes. This will be badged S300 CDI and will be powered by a high-power version of the company's 2.2 litre turbo-diesel engine. Despite the relatively small capacity, it shouldn't be short of muscle – Dr Weber promises it will deliver 370lb ft of torque.

Price of diesel cars set to soar (UK)

If you think the premium for diesel cars is expensive now, wait until 2015 – when it will run into many thousands of pounds.

That's the prediction of Dr Thomas Weber, head of Group Research and Mercedes-Benz cars development, who says diesel vehicles will need expensive adaptation to meet Euro VI emissions standards being introduced in 2015. The move to Euro V emissions standards has already added costs to the production of diesel cars, with the need for costly fuel injectors and, in many cases, particulate filters.

Weber says: 'Exhaust treatment for Euro VI will add thousands to the cost of diesels in the factory. If, as a manufacturer, you want to be the market leader, you'll need to have a hybrid, too, which will add thousands more.'

The costs that diesel-car production will have to absorb means alternatively fuelled vehicles, such as Mercedes' B-Class F-Cell hydrogen fuel-cell will become more affordable when compared with diesel-powered vehicles.

Although questions remain over the production, transportation and storage of hydrogen, Weber says: 'We are deeply convinced it's an important technology and the right way forward.' While Weber does not rule out other technology, he believes that, in the long term, hydrogen will become cheaper than fossil fuels.

He predicts hydrogen will eventually fall from €8 to stabalise at around €3 (£2.70) a kilo which is enough to travel approximately 60 miles. There are no immediate plans to bring the fuel cell Mercedes to the UK, but 100 customers will soon lease the new Smart Electric Drive in this country.

The Smart is another strand of Weber's future fuel strategy.

2009 BMW X1, which is sold strictly with a diesel engine in the UK

Mini E trials kick-off (UK)

The Mini E electric car trial kicked off in Oxford yesterday as 40 customers picked up their cars from the factory. The first phase of the project will run for 6 months and is designed to evaluate the psychological, social and technical aspects of living with an electric car.

More than 500 people applied to take part in the trial through Mini's website, and the 40 successful applicants (hailed as 'the pioneers' by Mini) have all had special charging points fitted at their homes.

Every Mini E is fitted with a data-logger, with the information collected over the coming 6 months by Oxford Brookes University, and then shared with governments and other car makers across the globe. The aim is to improve the design and the infrastructure of electric cars.

The Mini E is based on the Mini hatchback, but it has just two seats because the space usually reserved for rear passengers is needed to store batteries.

The 35kWh lithium-ion battery powers a 201bhp electric motor, so performance is impressive. In fact, the 'E' accelerates faster than a petrol-powered Mini Cooper, even though it weighs around 300kg more. If you charge it at home, the overall CO2 impact equates to roughly 68g/km.

That's around half the CO2 emitted by a 1.25 litre Ford Fiesta and will reduce over time as more of the UK's electricity is generated from renewable energy sources, such as wind- and solar power.

BMW charges £550 a month for every Mini E, but thanks to a helping hand from the Government's Technology Strategy Board, each of the 40 UK customers has to find only £330 a month. That's about the same cost as leasing a Volkswagen Golf, and includes all servicing, insurance and maintenance bills.

The only other cost to Mini E drivers is for the electricity and, by charging it overnight at home, that equates to about a penny a mile – that's £1.50 for a full charge from empty. During peak hours, the cost rises to about £4.00.

To sign up for the second stage of the trial – due to start in mid 2010 – log on to www.electricmini.co.uk.

About the Mini E:

Top speed – 95mph (electronically limited)

0-62mph in 8.5 seconds

Maximum range – 155 miles

Charge time – 4.5 hours

Power – 201bhp

Torque – 162lb/ft

Battery – 35kWh, Lithium-ion

Weight – 1,465kg

Ford Focus & C-Max recalled (EU)

Ford is recalling 30,000 of its Focus and C-Max models in the UK because of a safety problem.

The American car maker has warned salt from gritted roads could damage its cooling system and cause the engine to catch fire. The safety recall affects all 1.8 litre and 2.0 litre Ford Focus and C-Max TDCi diesel models built between 20th February 2004 – 31st May 2006.

The problem was first identified in the Summer, but many owners are only now receiving recall letters. The Winter gritting season has also made it more urgent for owners to react. Ford said there was a risk of corrosion build-up in the cooling system from salt and grit put on roads during the Winter months. Recalled vehicles will be fitted with a water shield to prevent the car's fan control module from corrosion.

Owners are being urged to book their car in for a short service free of charge. Up to 65,000 models could be affected in Europe, with 29,451 of them in the UK.

Owners who are unsure whether their car is affected or not can call the Ford customer relationships centre on 0845 841 111.

Bentley Mulsanne pricing announced (UK/U.S)

Bentley's flagship Mulsanne begins production at the Crewe plant next Spring 2010. First deliveries of the Mulsanne will happen in Summer 2010 in the UK, while U.S deliveries will begin in fall. The Mulsanne has a £220,000 price-tag and that’s before you start adding in your options. For the U.S, the MSRP of $285,000 excludes taxes and delivery charges. Over 1,000 potential customers from the Europe and the U.S have been given a live preview of the car.

Said to be the most luxurious Bentley ever built, the Mulsanne puts its occupants in the very cusp of luxury motoring. Buyers will be offered a choice of 114 paint colours or a unique colour of their own making, 21 carpet colours, 24 interior leather hides tanned using a decade-old process and a total of 9 wood veneers. It takes about 9 weeks to complete one Mulsanne from scratch.

Though classic in its general approach, the uber-limo will also get very modern features such as Bluetooth connectivity, SIM card reader, iPod connection, 3G MMI system and what Bentley says is the world's most powerful sound system installed in a production car – a 20 channel 2,200w mobile music station.

Power is supplied by a lightweight 6.75 litre twin-turbo V8 producing 500bhp and 1,000Nm (740 lb-ft) of torque. It comes with a cylinder de-activation and variable cam phasing feature to help cut fuel consumption and C02 emissions.

2010 Vauxhall Astra officially launched (UK)

Opel’s UK division, Vauxhall is celebrating the retail launch of the all-new 2010 Astra yesterday as the first customers who placed their orders soon after the model went on sale in September received the keys to their cars.

In the UK, the new Astra hatchback is available with five petrol engines ranging from an 87PS 1.4 litre to a 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol unit producing 180 PS, while diesels span from 110 to 160 PS in either a 1.7 CDTi or 2.0 CDTi engine.

Prices start from £15,675 for the entry-level S model. ESP, 6 airbags, DRL’s (daytime running lights), 16” steel wheels, air conditioning, driver’s seat height adjustment, 60/40 split folding rear seats, electric front windows, electrically/heated door mirrors and high and reach adjustable steering wheel all come as standard.

Exclusiv trim adds cruise control, steering wheel mounted audio controls and ambient lighting which comes in at £16,450, adding £775 over the S model.

Sports orientated SRi trim-level adds Exclusiv equipment, plus electric parking brake, front fog lights, sports front seats, lowered sports suspension, 3 spoke leather steering wheel, darkened headlamps, trip computer and ambient interior lighting. Starting at £17,565, it adds an £1,115 premium.

SE – set to be the biggest seller is priced at £18,850. The £2,400 premium over the Exclusiv trim adds 17” 10 spoke alloy wheels, 3 spoke sports leather steering wheel, electric rear windows, electric parking brake, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, front fog lights, automatic windscreen wipers & front headlamps, trip computer, alarm, chrome window surrounds, front armrest, illuminated vanity mirrors and Flex floor luggage compartment.

Elite is the plushest Astra trim-level. Starting at £19,830 (£980 over the SE), Elite features perforated leather seats w/ heat function & part-electric driver’s seat, climate control w/ humidity control, rear armrest and electric folding door mirrors.

Options include xenon headlamps w/ LED DRL’s (AFL – adaptive forward lighting), metallic & pearlescent paints, alloy wheels, parking sensors, climate control, DAB radio, satellite navigation system, Bluetooth, FlexRide, electric folding door mirrors, Infinity premium sound system and tyre pressure monitoring system.

The company said that initially, Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant will build the new Astra for all European markets. The UK will take the biggest market with around 25% of all production headed to British buyers.

If you’re in Australia and you want one of these, think again. The Delta II based Chevrolet Cruze will be available instead, as a Holden.

Toyota Hilux pricing announced (UK)

Toyota has upgraded its Toyota Hilux pickup to offer better performance, lower carbon emissions and more equipment.

Its 2.5 litre D-4D diesel engine gets a 20% increase in power and extra torque. Maximum output has been increased from 118 to 142bhp and peak torque – at 2,000rpm, is now 252lb-ft - up by 13lb-ft. Toyota has introduced a high-output turbocharger and new fuel injectors to improving throttle response and performance. To cope with the extra power, the pistons have been upgraded to a new high-strength material.

The new Hilux is due to go on sale in Spring 2010. The Hilux accelerates from 0- 62mph in 12.5 seconds - an improvement of 2.5 seconds - and emissions are now at 217g/km. Increases in Hilux's gross vehicle weights have yielded improvements in payload performance, notably for Double Cab models where capacity has increased by 35kg on the HL2 Double Cab and 25kg on the HL3 Double Cab. The high-power 3.0 litre D-4D diesel engine is now available exclusively in the Invincible Double Cab. This has carbon emissions of 219g/km.

Leather upholstery and satellite navigation with Bluetooth are now options on the Invincible, and two grey upholstery cloths have been introduced. There is also a new two-tone leather option for the Invincible.

Satellite navigation with Bluetooth is offered as an option on the HL3 Double Cab. A Sport Deck and an Urban Pack (front guard, scuff plates and front and rear parking sensors) are available for both the HL3 and Invincible Double Cabs.

Prices start at £17,380.75 for the base HL2 Single Cab, rising to £23,590.75 for the flagship Invincible model with the 3.0 litre D4-D engine.

Click here for more information.

Citroen C3 pricing announced (UK)

Citroen UK has revealed prices on the all-new C3 supermini. Bigger, quirkier and more refined than before, the new C3 supermini will start from £10,790 for the entry-level VT model.

All model have a 5 speed manual except the 1.6 HDi 110bhp. The 1.6 VTi 120bhp can be specified with a 4 speed automatic. With co-efficient drag of Cd 0.30, fuel economy of 74mpg can be achieved. At 3.94m long, the new C3 is 5cm shorter than the Clio.

Your £10,790 will buy you a 1.1i 61bhp in VT trim. VT trim adds ABS with EBD and EBA, MP3 compatible radio/CD player w/ audio controls and 6 speakers, 60:40 split folding rear seats, twin front airbags, electrically adjustable door mirrors, front electric windows and multi-function trip computer. This engine pumps out 134g/km of CO2 with combined fuel economy of 48.7mpg. From 2011, even more efficient powertrains - as well as Citroën's second generation Stop & Start system will be presented. Two diesel engines will emit CO2 at just 90g/km and 95g/km, whilst models fitted with Citroën's new generation 3 pot petrol engines will emit less than 100g/km – replacing the 61bhp 1.1i.

Set to be the most popular trim level, VTR+ starts at £12,690. This gets you a 1.4 VTi petrol engine that produces 95bhp. Standard equipment includes VT plus a 1.35m panoramic Zenith windscreen w/ sunblind and sun visors, air conditioning, 15" alloy wheels, Gear Efficiency Indicator (GEI), front fog lights, ambient interior lighting, x6 airbags, ISOFIX mountings, heated door mirrors, leather steering wheel and cruise control w/ speed limiter. The 1.4 HDi 70bhp starts at £13,790.

Flagship Exclusive is priced at £15,670. The 1.6 HDi 110bhp 6 speed manual starts at £16,140. All diesels (Euro V – 1.4 HDi 70bhp, 1.6 HDi 90bhp and 110bhp) have emissions of 115g/km or less. The 1.6 litre VTi 120bhp petrol engine pollutes 158g/km with combined fuel economy of mpg. Exclusive trim adds VTR+ plus digital air-conditioning, front and rear 'one-touch' electric windows, electrically folding door mirrors, part-Alcantara upholstery, 16" alloy wheels and dark tinted rear windows.

Special edition Airdream+ adds VTR+ specification and rear parking sensors and Bluetooth® w/ USB box. Powering this eco-model is a specially tuned 1.6 HDi 90bhp diesel engine with DPFS (Diesel Particulate Filter System), that returns 74.3mpg combined with CO2 emissions of 99g/km, thus making it tax-free.

Options include ESP, 10 exterior colours, 16” & 17” black diamond dripped alloy wheels – the latter offering a so-so ride on UK roads, MyWay colour satellite navigation system w/Bluetooth® and USB connectivity, 8 speaker Hi-Fi system, Visibility Pack (automatic headlights and wipers and auto-dimming rear-view mirror) and leather interior.

The large 300 litre boot outperforms the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai i20 & Accent, Kia Rio, Chevrolet Aveo, Vauxhall/Opel Corsa, Skoda Fabia, Seat Ibiza, Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris, Peugeot 207, Fiat Grande Punto/Punto Evo, Renault Clio, Mazda2, Nissan Micra, Daihatsu Sirion/Subaru Justy/Perodua Myvi and Dacia Sandero. The Honda Jazz still outshines rivals with its 399 litre boot.

Gary Savage, Citroën UK's Managing Director, said, "The stylish, grown-up, yet fun Citroën C3 is impossible to confuse with any other car. Retaining the exuberant charm and friendly personality of its predecessor, the new C3 represents a bold, contemporary, dynamically rewarding and fresh approach to the compact family vehicle, and provides a unique offering with that sensational panoramic Zenith windscreen.

In these exciting times for Citroën, new models such as C3 clearly show the confidence of the brand. This new car illustrates our determination to exceed expectations, to do away with convention and to provide practical benefits through the use of Créative Technologie."

Orders are being taken now with first deliveries on the 15th January 2010.

Aston Martin Rapide pricing announced (UK/U.S)

Aston Martin's Rapide will be launched early next year, with prices starting from £139,950. A 470bhp with 600Nm version of Aston Martin's 6.0 litre V12 engine should allow it to blend supercar performance with its limousine credentials. Top speed is 188mph.

Standard UK equipment includes standard specification including: Bang & Olufsen sound system tailored specifically for Rapide, heated memory seats, dual cast brakes and Adaptive Damping System.

As Aston Martin's first production four-door sports car, the Rapide has been designed to blend extra practicality with the company's trademark sports-car dynamics.

The cars are being built at Aston Martin's Rapide factory in Graz, Austria. Each car will take around 220 hours to create. Orders are being taken now, for deliveries from April.

Across the pond however, the Rapide will start at $199,950 in the United States. The Rapide will take on the Porsche Panamera, although the Turbo variant starts at $132,600.