The Skoda Superb is the Czech can manufacturer’s flagship model; it is a full size family car. Skoda has been producing the modern version of the Superb since 2001; it is based on a stretch out version of the Volkswagen Passat. Skoda utilise a lot of components and power trains from parent company Volkswagen to build the Superb.

The current version of the Superb has been around since 2008, this particular model uses the Skoda Octavia platform that has been stretched. The new car is described as a five-door five-seat liftback saloon, with an innovative tailgate that can double as a regular separate saloon boot, and full liftback, known as 'Twin-Door'. The Superb also comes as a 5 door estate.

There are seven engines to choose from, four being petrol and three being diesel. The petrol range starts off with a small yet powerful 1.4 litre TSI that has 123 bhp, followed by a 1.8 litre TSI with 158 bhp and then there is a 2.0 litre TSI with 197 bhp. The largest petrol engine is the 3.6 FSI that’s comes in the VR6 model, it has 256 bhp. The diesel range kicks off with a 1.6 litre TDI that has 103 bhp, followed by a 2.0 litre with either 138 or 168 bhp.

The Skoda Superb in Oxfordshire has created quite a name for itself, it has won numerous awards since its launch and been recognised by respected enthusiast clubs. The latest award by an enthusiast magazine is the 2012 Tow Car of the Year award by the Caravan Club. It was also named Best Estate Car 2011 by Diesel Car Magazine.

The Editor of Diesel Car magazine said, "The big Czech is our favourite estate because it shows emphatically just how clever car packaging can be. It superbly marries nimble road manners, robust performance and great value for money with one of the biggest boots and largest cargo bays around."

German car maker Audi has been producing the A6 model since 1994; it is currently in its fourth generation of production. The current model went on sale last year and is available as a saloon and estate (Avant). When it was introduced in 1994 it replaced the Audi 100 as an executive saloon car, the 2011 model has followed that.

Most of the UK models will be sold as diesel models; customers will have a choice of a 2.0 litre unit with 175 bhp and a 3.0 litre unit with either 201 or 242 bhp. For petrol enthusiasts it will be available as a 2.8 litre petrol with near enough 300 bhp!

Being an Audi means that the A6 is packed with the latest and most innovative technology. The new Audi A6 in Surrey comes with all the gadgets from the new A8 with the addition of a head-up display and Active Lane Assist. It also features an optional full-LED head lighting system.

The S6 has become a very popular high performance Audi, in the new generation this is rumoured to be available only as an estate (Avant). All previous generation S6 models have been mainly sold in the Avant body style so this was expected.

The Audi S6 Avant is rumoured to get the single-turbo version of the new engine, with an output around 440bhp. A twin-turbo version with around 555bhp is believed to be reserved for the RS6 version but will be seen first in a new entry-level Bentley Continental GT V8.

Along with the S6 Audi may very well reveal the S7 and S8, the high performance versions of the new A7 and new A8. This will complete the S Range line up for Audi; all Saloon and hatchback models will have a high performance derivative.

New Volkswagen Beetle for 2012

I really like my Volkswagen Beetle, but I’ve had it for so long now that it feels really old. So I have decided that it’s time to buy a new car but I won’t change the car brand or the model, as I have chosen the new Volkswagen Beetle for sale.

Volkswagen dealerships in the UK are currently taking orders of the new Volkswagen Beetle, which is expected to be delivered in spring 2012. I don’t mind the waiting for the new car, as I believe my old car still has life in it to go on for a little longer.

The new Volkswagen Beetle is available in three trim levels, Beetle, Design and Sport and will initially be available in two engines, a 1.2 litre TSI 105PS with a seven speed DSG transmission and a 1.4 litre 160PS TSI with a six speed manual gearbox, the prices are:

·         The 1.2 litre is available in Beetle or Design trim from £16,590

·         The 1.4 litre is available in Design or Sport trim from £19,470

Later on this year, three other engines are expected to be added, a 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion Technology 105 PS, 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS and 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS alongside an optional six speed manual gearbox for the 1.2 litre TSI model.

I have decided to go for the top of the range Volkswagen Beetle Sport, which comes with air conditioning, remote central locking, an RCD 310 CD system with DAB radio, 18 inch alloy wheels in two styles, tinted glass, cruise control, sports seats, parking sensors, gloss black door mirrors, dashboard and door panel and 2Zone electronic climate control.

In 2004 the big guys at Volkswagen decided that a new model needed to be added to the Golf range to fill a void between the Golf and the brand’s smallest MPV – the Touran. The design gods at VW came up with the Golf Plus - It is 95 mm (3.74 in) taller than the standard Golf, but 150 mm (5.91 in) shorter than the Touran. It was the perfect go between the Golf and Touran.

The Volkswagen Golf Plus in London comes with four engine choices, 2 petrol ones and 2 diesel. The smallest petrol engine is the 1.2 litre TSI with 107 bhp and a 1.4 litre TSI with 121 bhp. The petrol range is made up of a 1.6 litre with 89 or 103 bhp and a 2.0 litre with 138 bhp. The diesel engine models are the most popular, whether you are doing high miles or weekend driving the diesel makes the most sense for a large car.

Based on the older Golf the Plus handles very well for a large car. The Golf Plus strikes the ideal balance between comfort and control, which is expected from a Golf based model! Due to its taller body the Plus does have a little more body roll than the hatchback, but that is expected and acceptable.

There is also a BlueMotion model of the Golf Plus offering excellent fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions. The BlueMotion model uses the latest 1.6-litre common rail TDI 105 PS engine combined with a number of BlueMotion modifications. It can achieve 65 miles to the gallon and only emit 127 g/km of CO2.

The media is continually under pressure to report on exciting stories which are going to sell newspapers. Unfortunately there are sometimes  ‘slow news days” and you get the feeling that the journalist are just desperate to fill up their columns. For example:

Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s car takes a beating after trip to safari park!

Is this news? Most people with young children will at some point take them to a Safari park for a day out. Since Safari parks became quite common in the early 70s, visitors have been aware that your Audi Q7 essex car is probably going to get damaged. Your even more at risk if you go through the money enclosure. Of course as this was Wayne and Coleen the newspapers found it necessary to report on it. The reported actually stated that the primates were particularly paying attention to the Rooney’s car. Perhaps they wanted an autograph!

Are any articles about Amy Childs really news? Most people don’t even know who she. is Unfortunately it looks more and more likely that she is going to be gracing the front pages of newspapers for some time to come. For those not in the know, Amy Childs was formerly in the reality soap, “The Only Way Is Essex”! This weeks “hot” headlines were along the lines of “Amy Childs goes rock chick”. Who cares? Furthermore it is now Winter and it looks like she is wearing less than in the Summer.

I enjoy popular culture but I think it is time that the newspapers started to take themselves more seriously otherwise this world will find itself in more trouble than it is already. Have you ever watched the film “Idiocracy”?

The horrific crash on the M5 during Friday’s rush hour has shocked many people. Reports suggest that it is the worst road incident in the UK for about 20 years. Seven people have been killed and up to 50 were injured, some with life changing injuries. Unfortunately emergency crews are all too familiar with dealing with these types of incidents on a regular basis. Five people are killed on British roads every day and for emergency services, it is all in days work.

The cause of the crash is currently being investigated. The weather on Friday evening was particularly bad with heavy rain causing problems with visibility. However the investigations have begun with a nearby bonfire and fire work display. Some eyewitnesses said that smoke from the event was drifting across the carriage way and making visibility even worse. I feel sorry for the organisers of the bonfire and just hope they had all the necessary permits to host the event.

For the families of the victims who died in the Audi A6 London car crash, explanations as to the cause of the incident may give them some closure. However it may be some time before the investigation is completed. Perhaps we should follow the lead of America who are currently considering putting “black box” type recorders in all vehicles. The system would record vehicle data and in the event of a crash it could be a quicker and cheaper way of determining what caused the accident.

We should all learn from the incident on Friday night, slow down and keep your distance.

Volkswagen re-introduced the Golf Cabriolet in September this year, it made a return after being absent in the line-up for nearly 9 years. The new soft top Golf is smaller than the Volkswagen EOS in London and has a fabric roof compared to a hard top retractable. The soft top on the Golf opens in an impressive 9.5 seconds.

Volkswagen did a lot of work to get rid of the roof on the Golf, modifications include reshaped sill sections, diagonal bracing bars in the front and rear under body, boxing-in of the space between rear sub frame and spare wheel well, and enclosure of the bottom of the engine bay. And there I was thinking it was a simple roof chop!

The Golf Cabriolet has already been voted Open-top Car of the Year at the 2011 Scottish Car of the Year awards. It collected this first award within the first month of going on sale, there will be many more to follow.

This summer VW presented the Golf R Cabriolet at the Worthersee tuning festival in Austria. The R Cabriolet has the same engine has the hard top model, producing 266 bhp via a turbo charged petrol engine. It can do the 0-60 sprint in less than 6 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph – making it the fastest convertible Golf to be ever produced.

The R model differs from the normal Golf Cabriolet, it comes with a ‘sports chassis’ and sits 25mm lower than the standard Cabriolet and it has 19-inch Talladega alloys. The Golf R Cabriolet uses 17-inch internally ventilated brake discs and special blue high-performance brake callipers to make sure the car stops!

Also at the show was a GTI version of the cabriolet, more on that later!

When I decided to work for my uncle, my mum was very disappointed. My uncle runs a business of selling used cars in Wimbledon , which means I am around cars all the time and that’s something my mum didn’t want to happen. She always wanted me to be girly, she wanted us to go shopping together, have girly days out but since I can remember I have hated all those things.

I have always been interested in cars, as a young girl I would spend my weekends helping my dad to clean his car. I am always on the internet reading up on all the latest news about cars, and last night I read about the new 2012 Honda Civic which will feature an improved version of the 2.2 litre i-DTEC engine.

Improvements to Honda's 2.2 i-DTEC diesel engine provides 10PS more than the previous engine whilst reducing emissions, which has been reduced by 29g/km compared to the model it replaces. These enhancements come courtesy of refinements including the oil flow through the engine, which has been carefully managed to reduce circulation loss, engine materials and components have also been revised in order to reduce friction.

Katsushi Watanabe, Development Leader for the engine, said: "To achieve a good CO2 figure, you need to optimise every aspect of the car. Reducing the emissions was our key target and we’re proud to say that we have achieved this without compromising the high performance character of the engine. We want our customers to have fun when they drive this car." Visit Wilsons if you're looking for a used cars Wimbledon dealer in your area.

If you live in and around London you will be familiar with the term “Chelsea Tractor”, it is a term used to describe mums driving to and from school in a large 4x4. Models such as the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and the BMW X5 fall under the tractor category. These large models are chosen by mums as they offer a sense of greater security and the higher seating position offers a better view of surroundings.

A recent survey carried out by a used car retailer indentified the BMW in Colne X5 as the most desired “Chelsea Tractor”. More than 600 people were involved in the survey, with the BMW X5 chosen as the vehicle that most parents are envious of.

The BMW X5 was launched in 1999 and was one of the first premium sport utility vehicles to hit the UK and BMW Colne showroom. The X5 quickly became popular amongst car buyers looking for premium luxury, safety and off roading. I doubt the majority of X5s, or any other SUVs have actually ever seen a muddy field or a steep incline!

The survey was carried out as the new academic year started and the school runs resumed. For commuters the increase in traffic was evident, my journey time to work has almost doubled since schools have opened. Apparently one in five cars in the UK are involved in the morning and afternoon school run. Unfortunately there were no figures for the number of X5s making up the one in five figure.

Personally I would opt for the Range Rover; to me it demonstrates more class and prestige and is the original premium 4x4.

Ford has been producing the Kuga since 2008, it is a compact crossover SUV model based on the Ford Focus and the C-Max. The Kuga is built at the Ford plant in Saarlouis, Germany. The compact crossover market is very competitive and the Kuga is up against the Citroen C-Crosser and the Peugeot 4007 as well as other models from premium brands.

Ford is targeting the high end premium market with the Kuga, and this is evident in the fact that the Kuga is only available in Zetec and Titanium trim levels. In the UK, the Kuga is retailed at around £20,500.

The new Ford Kuga comes with two diesel engines and a turbo charged 2.5 litre petrol. The 2.0 litre diesel is available with either 138 or 161 bhp; the petrol unit has a power output of 197 bhp. All three engines variants offer smooth and flexible power delivery, with enough power and grunt to deal with off road use too.

The Kuga utilises the Ford Focus suspension, just sitting 80mm higher off the ground. The adapted suspension offers a great compromise between comfort and handling. The all wheel drive model uses cleverly technology which sends power to the front wheels normally and only uses all four wheels when it deems necessary.

Jurgen Putzschler, Ford vehicle dynamics supervisor, said: "The Kuga's intelligent AWD system splits the drive only when it's required, sharing the torque between front and rear wheels on demand. The result is extremely competitive fuel consumption, coupled with remarkable traction when required."