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The latest Budget means...

The latest Budget means that motorists are facing an extra ÷£1,000 in taxes. While Chancellor Alistair Darling delayed increasing the price of fuel, he did signal that the taxation system would change to punish the most polluting motors.



The model shown here...

The model shown here is actually the limited-edition Sportstyle, but these pictures reveal how muscular the new Smart"s quirky shape can become with only a few minor styling changes. The aggressive Sportstyle will not be made available to UK buyers of the ForFour, but the accessory pack gives the biggest clue yet as to how the hot Brabus range-topper will look when the wraps are finally taken off in 2005.


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It"s not the first time...

It"s not the first time the firm has offered a Fiesta Zetec S, but there has never been a diesel version before. The car goes on sale in the UK in Dec-ember and will be powered by a new 89bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder oil-burner. It will be joined by a 99bhp 1.6 petrol variant, and both models will get an ST- style bodykit including 16-inch alloys.

Shares Salons

As well as the new lamps...

As well as the new lamps - which use a curved plastic casing and jewelled inner reflectors - the company"s stylists have also updated the rest of the front end with a jutting grille, complete with silver slats, lower air intakes and integrated foglights.

At the rear, new tail-lamp units and a sportier lower bumper round things off. Inside, VW will update the dashboard, raise trim levels, provide more equipment as standard and improve material quality. The sweeping changes are designed to freshen up the Touareg to compete with new rivals such as the Range Rover Sport and Audi Q7.

As for the mechanical components, most of the updates will focus on the powerplants. VW engineers are said to be happy with the SUV"s performance off-road, while its on-road manners will receive only subtle tweaks, with improvements to the ride quality and steering. When sales get underway in mid-2007, the Passat 4MOTION"s new 247bhp 3.2-litre V6 should replace the entry-level 220bhp unit. Other engines will get power upgrades.

With increasing demand for luxury SUVs, VW will add a 420bhp 6.0-litre W12 model to the line-up this year, which will also feature in the facelifted range. The high specification Touareg is expected to have a price tag of approximately ÷£60,000.




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