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Smart, BMW and Nissan unveil latest models
publication date: Feb 22, 2011
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author/source: Robin Roberts
| Smart has unveiled the perfect solution for owners who literally have
designs on making their smart fortwo even more individual.
The smart foryou customisation programme offers enthusiasts the chance to
enhance and personalise the appearance of their smart with unique graphics that
can be applied to the body panels and tridion safety cell.
Both private and fleet customers will benefit from smart foryou,
business
| users having the opportunity to personalise their fleet vehicles with graphic
designs advertising their company details.
The fun, cool character of smart is reflected in 33 exclusive designs that
are available from launch. Designs available include ‘Flying Flag', ‘Modern
Flame', ‘Double Sport Stripe', ‘Graffiti', ‘Rainbow' and ‘Butterflies'.
Depending on feasibility, smart foryou can also accommodate owners who wish
to order totally bespoke graphics. Customers will be able to purchase
individual elements, packages that include designs for front, side and rear
body panels, and full body wraps.
Designs are available from only £50, rising to £1900 for a full ‘Carbon
smart' body wrap. All graphics are guaranteed for five years. | | | | BMW has launched its new sub-brand to take it into a new
environmentally friendly niche.
The BMW i sub-brand was announced along with its first two models, the i3,
an all-elecric city car previously known as the Megacity project, and the i8,
the production version of the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept unveiled at the
2009 Frankfurt Motor Show - a sporty, environmentally friendly car for longer
distance.
Both will be built at BMW's plant in Leipzig with the i3 being launched in
2013 and the i8 around a year later.
And there will be more to follow although all the company will say for now
is that 3 is not the smallest number and 8 is not the highest. BMW has
apparently trademarked the numbers i1 to i9. |  | Sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson said that the BMW i joins the M
brand to set a balance within BMW Group.
"M stands for performance and exciting on one hand and i is for
visionary cars and sustainability.
"As we demonstrate with the i3 and i8, the i brand is not just about
city cars. It is a range of vehicles that can be small and trendy or sporty and
lifestyle."
According to BMW, letter "i" stands for innovation and started
with "i-drive" in 2007.
Along with its new sub brand, BMW is also launching a set of premium
mobility services concentrating on four areas, connecting drivers with
available parking, smart navigation using real time traffic information,
intermodal transport linking in with public transport and car sharing schemes.
| | | | Nissan's focus on reducing emissions is not just restricted to creating
electric vehicles such as the award-winning Nissan LEAF.
The company now
introduces a new petrol engine which produces just 95g/km of CO2 making it one of the lowest in the world today.
Known as the DIG-S, the engine is a direct injection unit with a
supercharger - hence the car's name: Direct Injection Gasoline-Supercharger.
|  | It
delivers sparkling performance, frugal economy and exceptionally low emissions.
It has been designed to meet and exceed the everyday driving demands of the
modern world and is the ideal partner for Micra, Nissan's small city car.
Technical innovation has been packed into the engine. The DIG-S uses the
Miller cycle and direct petrol injection to raise the compression ratio to 13
to 1 for greater combustion efficiency and a supercharger for instant throttle
response and added power. As well as delivering ultra low CO2
emissions, the lightweight, low-friction 1,198cc three-cylinder unit produces
the power expected from a conventional 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine.
The results are spectacular. The DIG-S engine produces 72kW (98PS) and
142Nm, while CO2 emissions are 95g/km for the manual version and 115
g/km for the CVT version. Maximum speed is 112mph for manual. Combined cycle
fuel economy figures for the manual Visia version is 68.9mpg. |
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