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2010 Hyundai i45 spy photos, testing in Sydney this morning Following our spy photos this morning of the upcoming 2011 Hyundai Accent, an eagle-eyed CarAdvice reader in Sydney has sent through these images on the new 2010 Hyundai i45 testing on local roads. The Hyundai i45, which will replace the Hyundai Sonata, is set to arrive here in Australia in the second quarter of this year. Powered by an all-new 2.4-litre direct injection petrol engine, the new Hyundai i45 will develop 150kW of power and will be mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Based on overseas reports, the new mid-size sedan will boast a fuel consumption figure of just 6.8L/100km highway and 10.6L/100km around town. Although Hyundai Australia hasn't yet released final specification details, we're hoping the R-series 2.0-litre diesel from the new Hyundai ix35 finds its way under the bonnet. In the US, standard equipment includes heated front and rear seats, Bluetooth connectivity, ESC, ABS, tyre-pressure monitoring and on all levels of trim, touchscreen satellite navigation. CarAdvice will keep you posted on any more details as they come to hand. . 2011 Hyundai Accent spy photos Pictures this morning from auto.ifeng.com show the upcoming 2011 Hyundai Accent testing in California, USA. The next-generation Hyundai Accent, which is sold as the Hyundai Verna in some markets (note the badge on the boot lid), sees the small sedan take on a mini-Hyundai i45 look with a more rounded, arcing greenhouse and prominent chrome-finished grille flanked by larger headlamps and squared-off fog lamps. The car’s sheetmetal is also more deeply sculpted, with lines similar to those seen on the new Hyundai ix35. At this point, little more is known about the next-generation Hyundai Accent, though we can expect a mix of petrol and diesel powerplants. A Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) hybrid variant, similar to the Kia Forte LP1 Hybrid (Kia Cerato LPI Hybrid in some markets), is also a strong possibility. (With Autonews & Auto Ifeng) . Volkswagen Scirocco natural gas-powered racer to compete at Nürburgring 24-hour Volkswagen will field three natural gas-powered Scirocco race cars in next month’s legendary Nürburgring 24-hour endurance event competitors have dubbed ‘Green Hell’. The Volkswagen Scirocco GT24-CNG coupés are all fitted with a 2.0-litre TSI engine, powered by compressed natural gas. The engines develop 243kW, but reduces CO2 emissions by 80 per cent as compared to a conventional petrol-powered engine. The cars will be driven by a mix of experienced racers and upcoming young drivers including Jimmy Johansson (S), Florian Gruber (D), Nicki Thim (DK) and touring car ace Peter Terting (D) who steered a pioneering gas-powered Scirocco GT24-CNG to victory in the alternative powertrains category last year. The second car comprises experienced endurance racers from a variety of international disciplines. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Q), who finished second in Volkswagen's 1-2-3 at this year's Dakar Rally, is joined by former DTM driver Vanina Ickx (B), endurance racing legend Dieter Depping (D) and two-time winner of the Nürburgring 24-hour, Klaus Niedzwiedz (D). Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Management Board for Technical Development and Prof Dr Stefan Gies, Head of Chassis Development for Volkswagen are paired with journalists Bernd Ostmann (D) and Peter Wyss (CH) in the third Scirocco. The third vehicle is fitted with an innovative active electro-hydraulic differential in place of the conventional system, which is fitted to the other two cars. The electronically controlled system will undergo the ultimate test of endurance, and is designed to combine the functionality of the conventional system with improved handling characteristics and a reduction in understeer. Further developments of the 2009-spec cars include a larger braking system to reduce maintenance intervals during the gruelling 24-hours, and the integration of additional lights in the front bumper to improve nighttime visibility. Early testing has seen impressive lap times on the Nordschleife circuit with Nicki Thim posting a lap record for a front-wheel drive vehicle with a time of 8m 47.337s during the latest round of the preparation races. As final preparations are made for this year’s event, Volkswagen Motorsport will continue to extensively test the three Scirocco GT24-CNG racers, including contesting one final Endurance Championship race on the Nürburgring at the end of this month. The Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race will take place from May 12 to 16. . Toyota, Fiat, MINI already under Europe's new CO2 emissions target Toyota, Fiat and MINI are leading the way in Europe’s moves to reduce its CO2 emissions. With a new average target of 130g/km being set across manufacturer’s model lineups for 2012, the trio are already well ahead of the mark on 124.55 g/km, 124.61 g/km and 129.98 g/km respectively. Hyundai is also very close to meeting the target, still two years away, with an average CO2 figure across its range of 131.02g/km. Publisher of UK magazine Clean Green Cars, Jay Nagley says although the move is a positive step forward, many manufacturers still have a way to go. "We are now seeing real progress by some mainstream car manufacturers on CO2, but there are still wide variations in performance." said Mr Nagley. Vehicle manufacturers refer to the rate of descent required to meet the new target as their "glidepath", but Mr Nagley says mainstream manufacturers with a current average much over 140g/km are going to have to work very hard on their glidepath if they are to get their average down within the required time frame. Presently, the European manufacturer with the most work to do is Mercedes-Benz with an average of 173.83g/km – 20g/km higher than either Audi or BMW. On average, the industry CO2 emissions rate is falling at 5 per cent a year. In Q1 of this year, the figure fell 5.39 per cent on the same period last year. In the UK, much of the recent gains are being attributed to government’s vehicle scrappage incentives that have removed many older vehicles from the road, leading people to buyer smaller, more economical cars. Year-on-year CO2 reductions: 2009 Q1 average: 153.90g/km 2010 Q1 average: 145.61g/km . Aston Martin 007 LMP1 Car takes Second Place after leading at Long Beach After the Lola Aston Martin Le Mans car claimed pole position in the Le Mans Series qualifying at Southern California's Long Beach circuit, everyone new that Aston Martin was out for a win. With Adrian Fernandez behind the wheel, the 007 car was the quickest in the first practice session with a time of 1m13.213, some 0.072 seconds ahead of the second placed LMP1 (Le Mans Prototype 1) car. Normally conditioned for long distance endurance races, this 100-minute dash was always going to be a tough call for the Aston Martin. That said the car ran with maximum downforce, allowing it to better tackle the hairpin like bends of the tree lined circuit with sufficient grip from the Michelin tyres. But two-safety car periods meant that the initial lead established by driver Harold Primat, was severely eroded with the number 37 car grabbing the lead from the Aston Martin. If that wasn't disappointing, another car made contact with Primat, sending him into a tyre barrier, causing rear end damage and back to third position. The offending car was held for a stop/go penalty, which allowed the 007 car to regain second position. Another pit stop and driver change was made under yet another yellow flag, which meant that Adrian Fernandez was behind the safety car for 13 minutes before racing resumed. With only 4 minutes remaining in the race, Fernandez made a desperate run and took the lead in the final lap, only to concede the hard fought gain when he ran slightly wide through turn five and had to settle for second place across the finish line. Nonetheless, it was an outstanding result for the team, and its third consecutive podium finish in the hotly contested Le Mans Series. Clearly disappointed, team principle George Howard-Chappell said: "We're very disappointed to have lost first place so close to the end. It was however a very exciting race and the team had as lot to deal with throughout. Everyone did a great job, but it is a real shame not to win today." Adrian Fernandez said: "As I took over the car mid way through the race, there were issues with brake fade, but I managed to climb back up to first position before the end by staying as consistent as possible and keeping clear of traffic. It was a real shame to have lost first place." . Ford Territory Ghia Turbo Review & Road Test Five years on and it’s still just as fun to drive. Model Tested: 2010 Ford Territory Ghia Turbo; 4.0-litre, six-cylinder, turbo-petrol; six-speed automatic; SUV: $66,820* Addictive straight line performance, features, versatility. Fuel consumption, outdated. CarAdvice Rating: Launched in 2004 as Australia's take on the all-road going station wagon, Ford's Territory was an immediate success with the public. It wasn't until late 2005 that Ford decided to go down the forced induction path with the Territory. Ford took the engine from the XR6 Turbo and moved the front-mount intercooler to a top-mount unit, giving the Territory a new-found snarl and design. The Territory has remained largely unchanged since 2004, likewise with the Turbo model. With the latest SYII upgrade, Ford announced that it would only offer the Turbo model in Ghia guise, leaving us with the car pictured above. The concept of the turbocharged Territory is great – in theory. The inherent issue lies with the car's weight, some 2.1-tonnes. We will talk about the impact of this more later. Inside the cabin, the Territory is still a great place to be, despite its age. The Ghia specification picks up leather seats, colour TFT screen, six-disc CD-player, electric driver's seat, dual-zone climate control and a flip-down Apline 10.2 inch DVD player with wireless headphones to entertain the kids. The seating position is quite high, giving the driver a feeling of power over other motorists. The Turbo model also picks up a sports steering wheel that sits snugly in the hand and lends to effortless cornering. The generously sized boot is great for transporting kids to and from sporting events, likewise with the weekly shopping. The in-house built cargo blind is a total disaster though. The cheap, folding cargo blind doesn't sit flush with the edges of the boot and is a nightmare to use, it certainly looks like a Territory afterthought. Visibility out the front and rear is excellent. The Ghia comes with a reversing camera and one that Ford should most certainly be proud of. The reversing camera is crystal clear during daytime and exceptionally bright at night time (one point that dogs many of its competitors). The night time clarity also helps due to the privacy glass fitted to the Ghia. Seven seats can also be optioned on the Ghia Turbo. Our test vehicle was fitted with the seven seats and they proved to be very easy to erect and drop back into their flat folding cubby hole. Don't expect to fit anyone older than 10 in the third row though, it's a pretty tight squeeze. The dual-opening tailgate is a great idea (with one button for the main tailgate and one for the glass section), but the glass on our test vehicle always felt like it wasn't closed properly and was flimsy. Sitting at the top of the Territory tree, the Ghia Turbo retails for $66,820, with the third row of seats a no-cost-option. While the Ghia model is the most expensive, the Territory range starts at $39,890. Behind the wheel, the Territory Ghia Turbo is an extremely versatile vehicle. It feels well balanced on the road and takes all bumps with aplomb. The steering is more on the heavy side, but works well with the whole package. The only let down is the brakes. The pedal feels very spongy, with most of the braking occurring at the latter end of pedal travel. If you didn't think the naturally aspirated Territory had enough power, you are sure to be gobsmacked with the Ghia Turbo. Packing 245kW of power and 480Nm of torque, the turbocharged 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine is keen for a play whenever a boot load of throttle is thrown at it. The induction noise, along with the menacing exhaust note leaves a smile on the face each and every time the throttle is flattened. Torque is channelled through a six-speed ZF Sachs automatic transmission that does an excellent job of managing the whole package. A tiptronic mode can be selected, along with a sports mode that aggressively holds gears and shifts down high in the rev range of the previous gear as required. While the Ghia Turbo hauls in a straight line, it's left in the lurch when it comes to cornering. There is an exceptional amount of body roll and when it has had enough, it throws in the towel and understeers with intent. Luckily, the Ghia Turbo isn't marketed as a corner tearing sports car (it leaves that for the likes of the doubly priced BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne, et al.). The only downside to this exhilarating package is the fuel efficiency (or lack thereof). Our test car didn't see an average fuel consumption under 14.5L/100km, despite spending over 60% of the time behind the wheel on the highway. At highway speeds, the engine seems to be teetering on boost, meaning the lightest throttle application sends the turbo into a haling flurry. It's hard to imagine how anybody could afford to pay for the amount of fuel this car consumes, especially when you consider it will spend most of its time in city style driving conditions. The SYII Territory meets Euro IV emissions, so won't see any changes until the new model arrives for the 2011 model year. If you are interested in buying a diesel SUV, I would hold off until Ford releases the diesel Territory. If it's anything like the current model, it will be exceptional value for money and the type of thing we love to see coming out of Australian manufacturers. It’s likely to pack the same amount of torque as the turbocharged petrol Territory, but will consume far less fuel. If, on the other hand you're after cheap thrills, it's hard to go past the Territory Turbo. If it wasn't for the ludicrous fuel consumption, I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. Ratings: CarAdvice Overall Rating: How does it Drive: How does it Look: How does it Go: Road Test the Rivals: Holden Commodore SS-V Sportwagon Specifications: Engine: 3984cc inline six-cylinder Power: 245kW @ 5250rpm Torque: 480Nm @ 2000rpm Induction: Turbocharged Transmission: Six-speed automatic Driven Wheels: All wheel drive Brakes: Four wheel discs Top Speed: N/A 0-100km/h: N/A CO2 Emissions: 337g/km Fuel Consumption: 14.2L/100km (ADR) Fuel Consumption: 14.6L/100km (As Tested) Fuel Tank Capacity: 75 litres Fuel Type: Unleaded ANCAP Rating: Five star Airbags: Six airbags Safety: ABS brakes with EBD, BA. ESP. Spare Wheel: Full size spare Tow Capacity: 2300kg/750kg (braked/unbraked) Warranty: 3-years/100,000km Weight: 2127kg Wheels: 235/55R18 *Pricing is a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer and does not include dealer delivery, on-road or statutory charges. .