The Ford Fiesta is now available with a power increase courtesy of approved tuning house Mountune.

The Mountune Performance Stage 1 package at £1,435 offers a high-flow air induction system, a high performance exhaust system including high flow catalyst and tubular manifold, and re-calibration the 2.0-litre Duratec ST engine to produce 163bhp.

The more powerful Mountune Performance Stage 2 package will cost £1,838 and adds new camshafts and valve springs to the basic package to deliver 185PS.

While not a massive power increase, the tuned Fiesta will now accelerate from 0-60mph in 7.9 seconds – a two second improvement, making it as quick as the previous generation Ford Fiesta ST.

Find more about new and Used Ford Fiesta at Ford Cars information hub

Peugeot is one of France’s big three car brands, alongside Renault and Citroen. However, having acquired Citroen in 1974, the company became PSA Peugeot Citroen in 1976, so there are effectively just two large French car manufacturers. Renowned for its great-looking cars, Peugeot has enjoyed a long association with Italian styling house Pininfarina, also well know for its work with Ferrari. While offering a huge range of production models, Peugeot is well known for its concept cars, which are creatively designed one-off motor show specials. Also, while many wouldn’t necessarily link Peugeot with motorsport, it has been racing since 1895, when it won the Paris to Bordeaux race. Between the 1960s and 1990s the focus was on rallying, but most recently the company has returned to endurance racing, with its 908 Le Mans racer.

PEUGEOT HISTORY

Peugeot built its first car in 1889, although the company started out in 1810 by converting a cereal mill into a steel factory. Although few people think of Peugeot as an especially innovative company, it produced the first engine with four valves per cylinder (in 1912), created the first coupé-cabriolet (1934), the first electric car (1941) as well as the first car to be fitted with a thermostatically controlled engine cooling system (in 1959). Other key points in the company’s history include producing the world’s smallest diesel engine in the 1200cc 204 of 1967 along with the world’s smallest four-door saloon, in the shape of the 104 of 1972. Since 1929, when the 201 was launched, all Peugeots have been named with a three-digit number, the centre digit always being a zero. However, in recent years the 1007 and 4007 have also joined the range.

Years of competing in all the major motorsport arenas, including The World Rally Championship, Le Mans endurance racing, Touring Cars and Formula One, has reinforced Peugeot’s reputation for reliability and performance. These fundamental features have been transferred to the current passenger car range which consists of 107, 1007, 206, 307, 407, 607 and 807 models.

PEUGEOT MODELS:

• Peugeot 106 : A hugely popular supermini produced by Peugeot from 1991 to 2003.
• PEUGEOT 107: Is one of a new generation of city cars and is the result of a joint venture between PSA and Toyota. Built in a new purpose-built facility, the 107 provides comfort for 4 with exceptional economy Add to the mix ABS braking, central door locking and up to 6 airbags and you have the perfect answer to today’s crowded city environment.
• Peugeot 206 : A supermini made by Peugeot since 1998, the current 206 is available as a three or five door.
• Peugeot 207 : A supermini introduced by Peugeot in January 2006, and available with three or five doors. It was the best selling car in Europe in 2007.
• Peugeot 306 : A small family car built by Peugeot from 1993 to 2002 as a three or five door hatchback, four door saloon, five door estate and two door cabriolet.
• Peugeot 307 : A family car produced between 2001 and 2008, the 307 was awarded the European Car of the Year title in 2002.
• Peugeot 406 : A large family car made by Peugeot from 1995 to 2004 and available as a saloon, estate or coupé.
• Peugeot 407 : A large family car produced by Peugeot since 2004 and available in saloon, coupé and estate versions, with both diesel and petrol engines.
• Peugeot 1007 – Is an impressive 4 seater with the “sesame” electric sliding door system as well as people carrier style sliding and folding rear seats. The option of 2-Tronic semi or fully automatic transmission provides a trend-setting flexible vehicle that will have the competition playing catch-up

PEUGEOT – DID YOU KNOW?

As well as its cars, Peugeot has also offered light commercials since 1895. Some have been car-based, but many have been bespoke vehicles.

Featuring signature Hamann black alloy wheels, modified front and rear bumpers, a new exhaust system and bigger brakes, the Hamann-modified 5 Series GT makes an already ‘awkward’ car slightly more vulgar.

There’s no word from Hamann on whether they’ve decided to mess with the engines, so we’ll assume the standard units apply. Which means the modded BMW’s 5 Series GT won’t get many ‘admiring’ glances – because it’s quick.

Like it or lump it – the BMW 5 Series is here to stay. And that means it’s ripe for a bit of modding…

It comes straight out of the box with an award-winning 3-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine making 306bhp, a 3-litre diesel producing 245bhp and 400lb/ft of pulling power, and a meaty twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 churning out 408bhp. More than enough power to upset practically everyone.

The BMW 5 series mixes up saloon driving dynamics, a coupe profile and interior space equivalent to Beemer’s groundbreaking X5 SUV.

BMW claim the 5 Series GT is the perfect blend of driver fun and motorway muncher – and we hardly need to explain that they’re sort of good at building great driver’s cars.

• Search for used BMW 5 series cars.
• Read more about used BMW
• Read used BMW 5 series review.

With two turbochargers, ten cylinders and a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds, there’s plenty to like about the new Audi RS 6.

But when all that performance is poured into an estate car bodyshell, it enters a whole new game. Motoring Experts been calling the RS 6 Avant the greatest all-round performance car ever.

Audi’s RS–badged cars have always been superb straight line missiles, but lacking in the feel which makes the BMW M3 such a brilliant car.

But that changed with the Audi RS4 – a car I’ve already waxed lyrical on these pages – and the only car I’ve ever made myself feel sick driving.

It’s biblically powerful, with more grip than I’ve ever experienced in a car. Its fun too, with direct and responsive steering communicating every lump and bump through the steering wheel.

So it’s difficult to imaging the potency of the new RS 6; a car with significantly more power.

It’s powered by Audi’s most powerful engine yet – a 572bhp behemoth which counts two turbochargers, ten cylinders in Vee formation and a clever way of burning fuel in the cylinders as the headline features in a fearsome engine.

The RS 6 also packs the latest generation Quattro four wheel drive system and some electronic witchcraft called Dynamic Ride Control among its grip-related gubbins.

So, although no-one outside of Audi has driven the RS 6 yet, we can be fairly confident it’s going to be a blast

More motorsport victories than you can shake a shaft at, a gearbox which beats Ferrari and a Lambo-powered luxury barge.

And a supercar which beats a Porsche 911?

Yes – all this comes from a manufacturer which made its name in conservative, dependable and solidly-built luxury cars.

Audi turns 100 years old this week, charting a company history more complicated than the intestine structure of man. Ready?

It was first setup by August Horch, who named his company, erm, Horch. August Horch then quit and started another company, but couldn’t use his name because it was trademarked, and so translated his surname into Latin and used that instead.

Horch in Latin is translated as ‘Audi’ – which means listen.

So then Audi gets going, but there are three other carmakers in Germany. Then some war stuff happens, everybody shuts down, they all join together as Auto Union, make some motors, and then VW comes along and buys it up.

Anyway, long story short, Audi has made some pretty unbelievable stuff during its 100-year-tenure. And a lot of the good stuff has happened in the past ten years.

100 Years of Audi in Pictures

The Volvo brand is not exactly synonymous with dramatic styling. But they have a healthy pedigree of building fine estates. Volvo cars are usually known for safety and reliability. The Swedish manufacturer has set its sights on prising premium saloon drivers from the German trio of Audi A6, BMW 5 series and Mercedes E Class – as well as Jaguar’s highly-praised XF.

Here is a quick run-down of the best Volvo cars.

1. Volvo V70:

If you’re unimpressed with the plodding girth of SUVs but have the need of a lot of carrying space, the Volvo V70 is an excellent solution. A charm to drive unladen it can manage heavy loads with ease as well. It lacks a little sex appeal, but you buy a Volvo V70 with your head, not your heart.  Search and Compare Prices of  Used Volvo V70 Cars For Sale.

2. Volvo S40:

It might not sound sexy but the Volvo S40’s X-Factor is its calm-inducing qualities. Design-wise it’s understatement that wins the day, the Volvo S40 is very easy on the eye, both inside and out – just the wheels to make an urban commute more bearable but more than capable of dealing with the motorway slog too.  Search and Compare Prices of used Volvo S40 Cars For Sale.

3. Volvo S60:

The Volvo S60 might not be able to compete with some of its rivals on Volvo’s brand alone, but there’s still plenty to love about it. Its fantastic ride quality and impressive equipment levels alone are enough to drive plenty of buyers to the local showroom.  Search and Compare Prices of Used Volvo S60 Cars For Sale.

4. Volvo C70:

Volvo C70 is the contrast of serious and fun styling which should make it appeal to men and women equally rather than aiming at either gender’s wallet. Compare prices of used Volvo C70 cars.

5. Volvo XC90:

The Volvo XC90 performs very well on most fronts. It’s a very competent car, whether you intend to go off-road, simply ferry the family about or pitch your use somewhere between the two.  Search for used Volvo XC90 cars for sale.

6. Volvo S80:

The refreshed Volvo S80 is being pitched into one of the toughest markets at the toughest of times. Compare prices of used Volvo S80 cars on Auto Trader.

7. Volvo V50:

The Volvo V50 offers a package of practicality and good driving which might just fit the bill. How much fun you want will depend which engine you opt for. Search for used Volvo V50 cars for sale.

8. Volvo C30:

Volvo C30 is a real alternative to the other formulaic models in the small family car market. There are few other car makers with the guts – or the vision – to build a car as radical as the Volvo C30. Compare prices of used Volvo C30 cars.

The used Volvo cars are often bought beacuse of Volvo’s safety and reliability features.

The original Skyline debuted in 1957 and was made by the Prince Motor Company – which merged with Nissan in 1966 – as a mid-size mass-market saloon.

But Nissan wanted to take on the Porsche 904 in the GT class of the Japanese Grand Prix, and in 1969, premiered its first race-spec GT-R to the world – a GT-R which featured a 2-litre engine producing 160bhp.

Italian giant Fiat is poised to merge with Vauxhall as its parent company struggles in the credit crunch.

The new company would sell up to seven million cars a year, making it second only to Toyota in the global market.

Vauxhall employs more than 5,000 workers in the UK and there are fears their jobs may be at risk.

Fiat, which also owns Ferrari, is considering combining its car-making operations with GM’s European arm and its 20 per cent interest in manufacturer Chrysler.

This would create a car giant with around €80 billion (£71 billion) in annual revenues, the firm said.

Around 1,200 employees are based at Luton and 2,500 at Ellesmere Port with the rest at dealerships across the UK.

Vauxhall was originally founded in London in 1903. It has been wholly owned by the General Motors group since 1925 and responsible for around 20 per cent of its European revenues.

used vauxhall vectra

Vauxhall is most renowned in the car market because of its quality and affordability. The used Vauxhall cars are mainly bought as the buyer knows that the car will last. Here is quick summary of the used Vauxhall car models and why the used Vectra tops the list.

The used Vauxhall Vectra cars are popular cars bought in UK owing to the refined ride level which competes with best cars in its class. Vauxhall has done a great job of tailoring the Vectra’s ride and handling to its customers needs. It is easy to drive, making you feel at home, and immediately impressing with its hushed ride.

The practicality considerations for used Vectra make it an ideal buy. The boot is a massive 500-litres and the right shape for suitcases and large bags. The seats are very comfortable and the armrest is in just the right place for relaxed motorway driving. It also has a very high safety rating which is priority for majority buyers. The standard Vauxhall Vectra is a superb long-distance cruiser, managing to eat motorway miles with ease. But show it a corner and it becomes flustered, hampered by vague steering.

The used Vauxhall Vectra are cheap to run cost-wise. It comes with good fuel economy from 26mpg to 49.5mpg from the worst petrol to the best diesel. The Vectra parts are easily available due the model being so popular in UK market.
The other Vauxhall models which includes the Astra that combines the compact nature of a hatchback with the power of a saloon. A used Vauxhall Astra makes a great family car.

The used Corsa on the other hand is trendy small car and attracts first time drivers. The Vauxhall Zafira is more like a family car with enough space and good practicality accommodating large families.

Search for used Vauxhall cars on Auto Trader’s Vauxhall hub. Its quite convenient to compare prices of various models and check their reviews.

Search for Used Vauxhall Cars of Auto Trader

The Concept gives an indication of what the all-new Volvo S60 will look like when it’s launched in 2010. “The all-new S60 will be one of the strongest players in a segment where the competition is razor-sharp,” says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.

The Volvo S60 is the Swedish company’s rival to the executive car class leaders; the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes E Class. “The concept car’s exterior gives a clear indication of what customers can expect of the all-new S60. On the inside we’ve been even more daring,” says Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin.

The front of the Volvo S60 Concept sports the enlarged iron mark in the trapezoidal grille. The two lamps that flank the grille emphasise the vertical stance of the front and highlight the bonnet’s V-shape.

The Volvo S60’s ride quality is its real star turn. Even with big 17-inch alloy wheels and a sports-tuned chassis, the S60 is a supremely comfortable and quiet car to drive on all but the worst road surfaces.

Read complete review about new and used volvo s60 cars. Find latest news on new volvo cars to be launched. It gives a  complete specification of used Volvo cars on Auto Trader UK.