Posted by Alex Bale
Friday, January 11, 2013
They may be part of the same group, and even share a chassis, but the new Renault Captur is most definitely muscling in on the Nissan Juke's compact SUV territory.Teased earlier this week and now revealed here in full, the Captur takes both chassis and styling cues from the just-launched new Clio but bulks everything up into a much more muscular shape. Is it just us or are there hints of the old Avantime in the overall shape and stance? Maybe just us. Whatever, it's a handsome beast and that is just as true on the inside, where again Clio elements have been taken, put on a bit of muscle and are looking pretty darned good.
Renault is claiming best in class fuel economy and the two key engines will be the TCe three-cylinder petrol turbo and the long serving 1.5 dCi diesel, an engine which should see the Captur's emissions fall as low as 96g/km.
The Clio has already been much praised for its dynamic performance, so we can hope that the Captur will prove as invigorating to drive. Will the fact that it's shorter (slightly) the the Juke compromise interior space too much though? We'll find out when the Captur makes its public debut at the Geneva motor show.
Between this the and Peugeot 2008, it's looking like a good year for compact French SUVs...
Posted by Alex Bale
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Electric vehicles are set to lose one of their most distinctive features this year, as a new US law compels them to make noise at low speeds.In spite of the slience that mass electric motoring could potentially bring to our cities and towns, US lawmakers have decided that all electric and hybrid cars must emit an automatic warning sound at low speeds so that blind or partially sighted pedestrians don't walk out in front of them.The move is set to prevent 2,800 injuries and as many as 35 deaths per year.Currently, the Toyota Prius is designed to automatically emit a low whirring noise at low speeds (below 25kmh) and the Nissan Leaf has a similar system that works at the drivers' discretion. From this year though, all similar cars will have to have a system that works automatically, without driver intervention or choice. The proposed law is being introduced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration."Our proposal would allow manufacturers the flexibility to design different sounds for different makes and models while still providing an opportunity for pedestrians, bicyclists and the visually impaired to detect and recognize a vehicle", said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.
