12


Thursday, February 10th, 2005 HondaCivic H


ONDA’S Civic is a car that broke the mould in any number of ways. As well as being the model most responsible for estab­ lishing the Japanese compact car’s credibility in


the UK, it is also a hatchback that has been care­ fully marketed. Honda recognised that buyers of three-door cars


wanted a very different package to customers look­ ing for more family-friendly five-door models, so created two quite different product lines when the current generation Civic was launched a few years back. Although in this


way, Honda was able to steal something of a march on the oppo­ sition, times change and many manufac­ turers soon wised up. Honda has respond­ ed and the latest Civics underline why they are among the most popular family hatchback picks around. If anything, the


a moment, they’ll be left with products that are seen as old hat. All three-door versions get a mesh grille to


Changes underline why Cifis Is 4 k


underline their sporting credentials while the Sport model adopts a Type-R style front spoiler, colour coded front grille, three-light projector headlights, revised tail lights, side sills and 16 in. alloys with chunky 205/55 R16 tyres. The flagship sports model, the Type-R, also benefits from a lighter fly­ wheel and clutch assembly. With reduced inertia to battle, the Type-R can now notch off the sprint to 60 m.p.h. in a startling 6.4 seconds. A unique Type-R grille, blue projector lights, improved NVH (noise, vibra­ tion and harshness) tuning and door mounted indicators are also fitted. Five door models


among most popular tiatchbaofis


get a three-bar grille as well as a revised tailgate and rear bumper ensemble. A


latest changes have driven the three-door and five- tailgate spoiler is added and the tail lights have door models still further apart.


also been revised. A number of changes, however. The three-door versions have become sharper go right across the Civic range. Extensive fine-tun-


and more aggressive while the five-door models go ing of the suspension and the power steering sys- for extra equipment, greater refinement and a terns give the cars much crisper handling and bet- more upmarket feel.


ter steering feel. The revised variable ratio steering These changes are necessary as there is a sea rack and recalibrated spring, damper and anti roll


change going on in this sector. Significant now bar settings are specifically tuned for three-door rivals are coming thick and fast and it’s apparent and five-door models as well as the Sport, 'Type S that, if manufacturers take their eye of the ball for and Type-R variants.


PrestonsGroup.Com Prestons BMW Honda Jazz


W 01282 720742 H


ONDA’S Jazz is one of the best superminis you can buy. It is well built, smartly styled and fun to drive.


The problem with the Jazz range has always


been one of choice. Want a diesel engine? Tough. Want a quicker version? No dice. These would seem to be the key areas Honda needed to address but instead of offering an oil burner and a pocket rocket, it has decided to launch a junior sibling and give the remainder of the line-up a wash and brush up.


It’s quite an odd


decision. The 1.2- litre engine supple­ ments the 1.4-litre power plant and develops almost as much power. Where­ as the existing 1.4- litre unit is good tor 83 b.h.p., the 1.2- litre is only five ponies shy at 78 b.h.p. Top speed is identical and it is only a mite slower to 60 m.p.h. Fuel consumption


Prestons MINI 01282720741


- iwww.hillendale.co.uk


or a Sport, gets 15 in. alloy wheels, door-mirror mounted LED indicators and a sharper look to both the front and rear light clusters. The interiors have also been given a refresh on


the SE and Sport models with a more hard-wear­ ing textured seat fabric. Accord-style self illumi­ nating instruments and a sportier design for the steering wheel. Other refinements include a revised stereo system with wheel-mounted controls, an exterior temperature indicator and chrome detail-


Trick seating system is made brake. Should you opt for the CVT


gearbox, proper shift paddles replace the rather unsatisfying buttons. An innovative


retraction system means that y ou ’re able to collapse the rear seats into the footwell with the headrests in place. What’s more


goes up from 48.7 m.p.g. to 51.4 m.p.g. which would seem to make the 1.2-litre version the sensi­ ble pick. Well it would if Honda hadn’t hobbled it somewhat. Whereas the 1.4-litre car is treated to a refresh


fendlyas pissilie around the car to manually slide the front seats forward - it can all be accomplished from the rear door thanks to a convenient set of levers. The result is a perfectly flat load floor 1740mm in length. Sports fans will appreciate the fact that if


of its styling, the 1.2-litre model is only available you then recline the front passenger seats, there is in base S specification and continues with the old enough room inside the diminutive Jazz for a pair car’s lights, wheels and door mirrors - for the time of 240cm long downhill skis! Honda has focused on being at least.


making this trick seating system as user-friendly The 1.4-litre car, now available as either an SE as possible.


impressive s t i l l is that this action does­ n’t involve scurrying


m


sectors and change in the way the business is man­ aged. One thing that has remained a constant is the corporate philosophy that, when it comes to road cars, rear-wheel drive works best. It is not as if the company can’t build a winning front-wheel drive


B


car - witness the MINI - but it is merely a real!- values are deeply


imbued within the BMW psyche and power going to the rear wheels for per­ fect weight distribu­ tion is one of them. The latest 1 Series may offer a new direction for BMW but some things are reassuringly familiar. Designed to com­


pete in the compact executive sector, the 1 Series might be truncated in length


MW is a company undergoing a lot of change. Change in its styling direction, change in its entry to unfamiliar market


miienaaie Tel: 01282 723731


BMW1 series


GTis around too, but after just 100 metres behind the wheel of the 1 Series it’s apparent they’re start­ ing at a distinct disadvantage. The slick body con­ trol, the perfect balance in corners and the supremely judged damping shows that BMW’s faith in the rear wheel drive layout has not been misplaced and their mastery of chassis dynamics shouldn’t be taken tor granted. Open one of the narrow back doors and you’ll spot the payoff right away. There is less room in


Its mastery of chassis liynamiGS shoulii not be taken for granted


but spend any time behind the wheel and you’ll soon realise you’re not being shortchanged any of BMW’s look and feel. Where front wheel drive has traditionally scored


is that it’s easy and cheap to manufacture a trans­ verse engined hatchback with a front gearbox and


MPV. If you want the latest urban bauble that will turn heads and get tongues wagging, the 1 Series will be more your thing. The 1 Series is a car that keeps you looking, try­


ing to see what the designers were trying to pull off. If it was to merely make a very controversial


drive going to the front wheels. You needn’t worry shape, they’ve succeeded. You’ll forgive it the about a bulky transmission tunnel running moment you sit inside. through the cabin so it works in terms of packag- None of the engines are entirely new but they’re ing too. There are some great front-wheel drive still very well regarded power plants.


the back of the 1 Series than you’ll find in a supermini like a Honda Jazz. With a six-footer behind the wheel, leg room is shockingly bad and the trans­ mission tunnel means that you won’t ever want to travel piggy in the middle on the rear bench. That is not what the 1 Series is all about. If you want a practical car, go and buy a mini-


proposition. The burghers at Munich don’t want us to think of it as a sunshine’n’smiles roadster. This is a sports car. The Z4 aims to replicate the “best in class’’ una­


A


nimity that is spread across much of the BMW range and back up sales with substance. The Z4 is uncon-


l t h o u g h on paper the BMW Z3 was a runaway success, the top brass at BMW were beginning to view it as something of a liability. Its successor, the Z4, is a very different


punt the Z4 from standstill to 60 m.p.h. in 7.4 sec­ onds and on to a top speed of 140 m.p.h.The 2.5i develops a maximum output of 192 b.h.p. at 6,000 r.p.m. and the 3.0i 231 b.h.p. at 5,900 r.p.m. Accel­ eration from 0-60 m.p.h. is reached in 6.8 seconds in the 2.5i and 5.7 seconds in the 3.0i. Top speeds are 146 m.p.h. and 155 m.p.h. respectively. The 2.5i weights just 1,260 kg, the 3.0i being only slightly heavier at 1,290 kg. All of which points to the fact that you have a serious amount of shove emerging


ventional all over. Most of the atten­ tion has been paid to what designer Chris Bangle describes as the “flame surfaced” flanks. These feature a curved line along the bottom of the doors that at first looks as if the car’s sills have collapsed. Give it time and you’ll get used to them. Everywhere you look there are details that catch the eye, sometimes clashing in a “look at me” clamour. BMW to use electric power steering and is also It is not a beautiful car, but it’s certainly strikingly hugely torsionally stiffer than the somewhat wob- muscular. This bodes well for the car’s serious bly Z3. sports car positioning and is backed up by the The BMW Z4 is such a huge improvement over engines on offer. You have the choice of either a the Z3 it could perhaps have been badged a Z5. £24,450 2.2-litre car, a £27,125 2.5 or a £31,325 Despite this, it ’s a more focused item than the 3.0-litre straight six. Vital statistics? The 170 b.h.p. mass-market Z3 and its styling divides opinion to a 2.2-litre straight-six engine is one of the better far greater extent. At the moment the juryis out engines in the BMW panoply — and there are a on the Z4. It is a fine effort, but one suspects there number of notables included. It has got enough to is more to come from this product line.


A sports car that is strikingly muscular and eye-calcliing


beady headlights. The difference in


philosophy between the Z3 and Z4 is immediately appar­ ent as soon as you take a look at the dirty side. Whereas the Z3 used the ancient semi-trailing arm suspension of a 1985 vintage 3- series, the Z4 is bang up to date, using a proper multi link arrangement. It becomes the first


Thursday, February 10th, 2005


13


The Power of Dreams


A car this good shouldn’t be this affordable.


The Civic Range from £10,000.


................... f o V


The new BMW 1 Series


The Ultimate Driving Machine


12 models, 5 engines


including diesel and IMA, 3 body-styles and


6 levels of specification.


Visit Greenacre Honda - www.greenacrehonda.co.uk Greenacre Street, Clitheroe 01200 423108


854 Whalley New Road, Blackburn 01254 245666 £16,815.00 £4,487.00 £12,327.00 £294.00 £199.00 £8,185.00 Bowker Hyndburn Road, Accrington. t.01254 872222 www.bowkerbmw.com


Economy figures for the Civic range: Urban Cycle 47.1-23.0 mpg (6.0-12.3 L/IOOkm). Extra Urban Cycle 65.7-40.4 mpg (4.3-7.0 L/IOOkm). Combined Cycle 57.6-31.7 mpg (4.9-8.9 L/IOOkm). C02 116-212 g/km.


Mode) shown is Civic 5dr 1.6i '/TEG SE with optional metallic paint at extra cost. Total cash price includes ^M75 delivery and number plates. C39 first registration fee VED in line v.'ith Government Legislation. All figures are correct at the lime of going To press but may be subject to change. Models subject to availability.


required. We can arrange finance and hiring facilities for you. Oflicial Aiel Economy Figures for the 1 Series range. Extra Urban 62.8 - 45.6mpg (4.S -6.2 l/IOOkm). Urban 36.7 - 25.7mpg (7.7 -11.0 1/km). Combined 50 4 - 3 5 8rnpq (5 COj emissions 150 - 190g/km


Finance example is based on a 36 month BMW Select agreement. BMW 1161 with an annual mileage of 10.000 miles. ‘On the road cash price is based on the manufacture's recommended retail orlce and Indue BMW Emergency Service, 12 months road fund licence, first vehicle rMisIratmn fee r^ii^ry, number p^tes and VAT. Figures are correct at time of going to print and are subject to change without notice tn e new BMW 1 ' road. Moderfeatured is the BMW 116i with optional alloy wheels Star ^ o k e Style 1427/75Jx17 at £8511 All finance Is subject to status and availability to over 18’s in the UK only ( excluding the Channel Islands). Guarantee's aSd'tademnittasmavhl


i-a v • • i-


I includes 3 year dealer warranty, 1 Series from £15,690 on the


£19,732.96 Typical 9.9% APR


# :


On the road cash price*


Deposit


Ammount of credit


First monthly payment


34 monthly payments


Optional final payment of


Total ammount payable


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