This week's motoring news in brief
Speed limiters for vans
VANS AND light trucks should be fitted with mandatory speed limiters in the EU to prevent them exceeding 120km per hour and improve fuel efficiency.
The recommendation comes in a paper setting out the European Parliament’s preliminary stance as the EU debates cuts to carbon emissions from vans.
The document suggests “mandatory speed limiters for light commercial vehicles” as one solution.
“These vehicles are almost exclusively used for commercial purposes and do not need to exceed 120km per hour,” it adds.
Europe is targeting vans two years after setting mandatory fuel-efficiency standards for cars in a hard-fought battle that pitted environmentalists against powerful car makers in Europe. The US also set fuel-efficiency standards for cars last month, demanding a 42 per cent improvement by 2016.
– Reuters
VW Gold to go electric
VW IS to begin public tests on a fleet of 500 electric Golfs next year – with one car destined for Ireland – ahead of full production in 2013. The new Golf blue-e-motion accelerates to 100 km/h in 11.8 seconds with a range between charges over 145km. It has an electric motor developing 113bhp and 270Nm of torque.
New Lamborghini supercar
LAMBORGHINI is putting the finishing touches to its latest supercar, the Murcielago replacement, likely to be named the Jota.
Photos taken in the south of Europe show pretty much every major angle, revealing the car to be lower than its predecessor.
It will also presumably weigh less, thanks to the increased use of aluminium and carbon fibre. Inspiration for the styling comes from the Estoque and Reventon concepts.
The number of cylinders in the engine will remain the same. It’s believed power will be sourced from a direct-injection V12, putting out up to 700bhp.
Given the Audi links with Lamborghini these days, a four-wheel-drive system is almost a certainty.
LISTEN UP!
On this week’s Motors podcast, in association with Bridgestone, we test-drive Toyota’s plug-in Prius Hybrid as two test cars make their way to Ireland for initial trials. We also talk to Opel’s creative designer Kenjiro Tajima as the firm launches its new Meriva with reverse-opening doors. In our in-car road test we assess the revamped Toyota Auris.
Listen to the show at irishtimes.com/motors/podcast