28 Asian LEADER
1 Jan - 14 Jan 2014
motoring news
Volkswagen V
Amarok
named
2014 pick-up
of the year
olkswagen’s highlyacclaimed Amarok has
scooped the prestigious
‘Pick-up of the Year’ title from
specialist off-road publication,
4x4 Magazine.
Seven pick-ups underwent
intensive testing by 4x4 Magazine, each judged on their
off-road ability, performance on
the road and value for money.
The pick-ups were also tested
as a working vehicle including
motoring in brief
Tax disc to be scrapped after 93 years
T
ax discs are to be
axed, chancellor
George Osborne has
announced in his 2013
Autumn Statement.
But motorists will still
pay an annual Vehicle
Excise Duty (VED / road tax) fee.
The round paper certificates we all currently
display in our car windows have served as proof of
this road tax payment since 1921. But now the rise of
technology means they are increasingly unnecessary
in our constantly connected world – the police can
simply look up electronic records instead.
The question is, will you miss the tax disc after
its gone – or have you wasted too much of your life
queuing in the Post Office every time it comes to the
renewal?
97% of UK Lexus sold in 2014
will be hybrids
S
peaking during the
European launch of
the new Lexus GS300h
– the new entry-level
hybrid in the executive GS range – Lexus
UK director, Richard
Balshaw, revealed that 97% of all Lexus sold in the
UK next year are likely to be hybrids.
The GS300h’s deputy chief engineer, Yukihiro Kito,
als confirmed to MSN Cars that the return of dieselpowered Lexus vehicles is unlikely to happen any
time soon – if at all.
According to Kito-san, diesel just does not make
sense for Lexus given the markets the company is
chiefly competitive in, which is to say the USA and
Asia.But what about the UK and Europe? Junior
executive, executive, and luxury sales are dominated
by turbodiesels here.
This is where new models such as the GS300h –
and smaller IS300h – come in. Combining a 2.5-litre
four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and
battery pack, these now offer CO2 emissions that are
directly comparable with their diesel rivals.
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comparing towing capacity and
engine capability, resulting with
Amarok as the overall winner.
According to 4x4 Magazine,
the multi award-winning Amarok was praised for its 4-wheeldrive 4MOTION technology
which gives the driver maximum control on any surface
and features Electronic Stabilisation Programme, Electronic
Differential Lock, on and off
road Anti-lock Braking Sys-
New Peugeot 308
shortlisted for 2014
European car of the year
P
eugeot’s stunning New 308
has made it to
the final seven models
shortlisted for the prestigi