the Mini and the Alfa Romeo Mito

The engines are coupled to the standard manual or the option of a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG S tronic gearbox. There is a fair amount of power for a small car All have impressive economy and have good mid range pulling ability.

Prices start at £13,420 for the 1.2 TFSI SE going up to £21,800 for the 1.4T Quattro which does the 0-60 mph sprint in just 6.9 seconds and on to 140mph. Not bad for a super mini! The A1 is essentially a Polo but with better engines, a better cabin and better looks. The 1.4 that has been lauded in the Polo is amazing in the lighter A1, reaching 60 in just 8.9 seconds. Even the base 1.2 get to 60 in 11.7 seconds, which will be enough for most people. You can lease the 1.2 or diesel from just £194 per month plus vat.

With CO2 emissions from an astonishing 45 g/km for the upcoming 12kw e-tron, to 140 g/km, and tax bands from A - E, the A1 may initially have a higher price than some of it's competitors but comes into it's own on running costs and reliability.

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New ALFA ROMEO MITO

The new MiTo in Guildford is available with a diesel or petrol engine, the petrol engine is fundamentally a 1.4 litre unit with different power output levels. The petrol unit also comes with the new MultiAir technology which responds more keenly and is cleaner than conventional engines. The diesel engine is available as either a 1.3 litre or a 1.6 litre, the bigger diesel is much livelier but equally lively, the smaller seems more refined and brisk.

Being a sporty supermini the MiTo tries to handle like a fully fledge sports car, the ride is quite firm and harsh but that hasn't resulted to precise cornering, the MiTo's cornering ability could be better. The Sportiest trim, the Cloverleaf has the best suspension set-up, it corners better and the ride is much more forgiving.

Even the most basic cars come well equipped. The entry SE spec gets air conditioning, sports steering wheel, 16-inch alloys wheels and a brace of airbags. The Sport trim adds more heavily bolstered seats, 17 inch alloy wheels and stiffer suspension, while S-Line means leather seats and some aluminium trim.

If you're considering options to buy a new car, then an Audi leasing plan may be the best option. The Audi badge is sought after second hand, and with the level of fit and finish Audi are putting out now, there is no reason for that to change.

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The Performance of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

The Performance of 8C Competizione
It's special, a sports car 2-door (coupe) was built with special tires 20 inches dimension (245/35) for the front wheels and (285/35) for the rear wheels, mounted on perforated rims in fluid formed aluminum. And many observers called phenomenal by automotive and also by the magazine Road & Track is the braking system on the 8C-Competizione, with a speed of 97 kilometers per hour (60 mph) just 32 meters are needed stopping distance (105.0 feet), amazing is not it? Officially, this car may be driven up to the speed of 292 kilometers per hour (181 mph), but the practice could be driven higher than the limit was set.

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the Alfa Romeo 8C Spyder stock

Novitec has kept the body and overall design of the Alfa Romeo 8C Spyder stock, as to preserve the already popular appearance. The only exterior modification for the 8C is Novitec's three-piece NA3 wheels. Measuring 9Jx21 up front and 11.5Jx22 at the rear, the five double-spoke wheels are fitted with sporty Pirelli 255/30 ZR21 front and 315/25 ZR22 rear tires. Finishing the stance is a threaded coil-over suspension with adjustable ride height and damper rates.

Novitec will also custom tailor the interior with a large selection of fine leather and alcantara for Alfa Romeo 8C Spyder owners.

The reduced weight has a crucial contribution in obtaining performance figures worthy of a sports car, with the 4C reaching a top speed of 250 km/h (155mph) and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds.

Alfa also also claims that the suspension ensures "maximum agility and road handling.” Add the weight distribution (40% on the front, 60% on the rear) to the equation and you have the most interesting Alfa Rome in years.

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2012 Alfa Romeo 8C

The German-based car tuning specialists at Novitec have a long history of tuning Italian cars. The company is divided into a number of branches based on the type of cars they modify. There's Novitec Tridente for Maserati cars, Novitec Rosso for Ferrari, and for the other Italian automakers such as Fiat and Alfa Romeo, there's Novitec.

One of the most celebrated designs to come from an Italian automaker in the past decade has been the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. The car was built to honor the eight-cylinder racing cars at the height of Alfa's motorsport success. The 8C proved to be immensely popular, and from this popularity, spawned a convertible variant. Just in time for the warm summer months, Novitec has introduced a tuning program for the Alfa Romeo 8C Spyder.

Not only does the 4C resemble the 8C, it also uses some technology and materials derived from the Ferrari-powered supercar, such as carbon fiber, aluminium and the rear-wheel drive system. However, the small coupe doesn't get a V8 engine but a more modest 1.75-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol borrowed from the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde. This engine develops 200 horsepower and is mated to a twin dry clutch transmission dubbed “Alfa TCT”.

If you think 200 ponies is a little tame for a sports car, Alfa points out that the 4C has been engineered to weigh less than 850 kilograms (1,874 lbs) for a power to weight ratio of around 4 kg/hp, an impressive figure made possible by the extensive use of carbon. The body is made completely of carbon fiber, while the rear frame structure and the crash boxes use aluminium extensively.

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New BMW Z4

If your desire for fun outweighs practical needs a roadster could be the car for you - with the BMW Z4 one of the most eye-catching.

The BMW Z4 is one of the more intriguing sports cars currently available. It's known for its engaging handling and steering, thrilling inline six-cylinder engine and distinctive styling. Recent improvements have made the latest Z4 the best yet, and older models are still a very viable choice for a used sports car.

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2013 The Ford Taurus is one of the most popular family sedans

Ford unveiled their 2013 model of the Ford Taurus SHO at the pre-New York Auto Show event and made quite a spectacle of it. After building suspense amongst the crowd, the model was uncovered and Ford executives explained the latest and greatest additions to the new SHO. Train, a famous pop artist, then took the stage and rocked the Ford party attendants for an hour worth of hits.

Ford Taurus Super High Output enthusiasts are going to have to wait until spring 2012 to get their hands on the 2013 Ford Taurus SHO, but that won't stop them from salivating over the recent release. The design, technology additions and improvement to performance have kicked the 2013 Taurus SHO up a notch to battle with the large sedan powerhouses.

Ford utilized their resources and tapped into their loyal SHO enthusiasts and forums for guidance on what to put into the latest model to take it to the next level. "Listening to SHO buyers and enthusiasts encouraged us to strengthen the design and the driving quality for the new 2013 model," explained Gordon Platto, Chief Designer at Ford. "For us, this was a clear indication that SHO customers have passionate feelings about aesthetics and design as well as performance."

Ford design members took that information and put their heads together to construct the 2013 SHO that improved the design and performance of the car. Ford's approach with the SHO brand typically had the higher performing model blend in with the standard model. The only difference you would typically see was when the turbocharged engine revved up and took off on the streets. Ford switched their stance slightly with the 2013 Taurus SHO and took a subtle step to differentiate itself in looks from the regular mode

The latest model of the Taurus comes in SE, SEL, Limited and SHO trims. The basic kit includes alloy wheels, power accessories, a tilt and telescope steering column, six-speaker stereo and a power driver seat. The 2010 Ford Taurus X engine on the SHO model is twin0supercharged with a sport-tuned suspension as special upholstery.

The model is a big improvement from the 2009 model in everything but engine which remains the same, but is still expected to do well in the market and help gain some popularity back for the brand. Comparison to the 2006 model will however leave buyers very impressed as the 2006 model had a 3.0-liter engine allowing for lower performance levels.

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