Motor

Peugeot 3008 cutting an imposing shape

A pioneering vehicle, Peugeot's first completely in-house SUV - the 3008 - offers original solutions and optimal versatility to those in search of modernity, practicality, peace of mind and driving pleasure.

Introducing new and innovative design coupled with comfort, safety, and dynamic handling, the Peugeot 3008 represents a ground-breaking model not just for Peugeot, but for the crossover SUV segment as a whole. It is positioned as a vehicle combining the best of the SUV, the MPV and passenger car form factors.

The 3008's monocoque construction and advanced suspension with dynamic roll control render it stable and sporty yet comfortable, with a minimum of body roll for a vehicle of its type.

The sole agents for Peugeot in Sri Lanka and the Maldives is Carmart (Pvt) Limited.

It's CEO, Yasendra Amerasinghe stated that "the vehicle is aimed at active couples, families and adventure lovers who desire a car that compliments and enhances their lifestyle. It is particularly beneficial to those with children, as it's the only vehicle in its class to offer factory fitted dual LCD screens for rear passengers, so while one child watches a DVD, the other can be playing a video game, all while the parents listen to some soothing music.

Having earned the maximum 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests, the vehicle has been designed to offer maximum safety for both occupants and pedestrians.

Active safety is enhanced by the high levels of grip and stability, but in the event of an accident, the 3008's advanced passive safety relies its advanced structure, with three impact absorption channels at the front and the fitment of Bogé impact absorbers.

In addition to its innovative concept, the 3008 includes equipment that is rarely, if ever, found in the compact vehicle market segment.

The head up display where essential driving information is projected from the rear of the instrument panel visor onto an motorized, anti-reflective, translucent, polycarbonate panel is among the many unique features of the vehicle. This allows the driver to access information about speed, and cruise control/speed limiter without having to take his/her eyes from the road.

This system further enhances the 'aircraft cockpit' feel of the driving position by coming coupled with aircraft style dip switches on the dashboard.

Indian Royal Carriage comes to auction

Horsepower takes on a very literal meaning at the forthcoming sale in Surrey, UK, by specialist classic vehicle auctioneers, Historics at Brooklands, on November 24, when an extremely rare Indian artifact " a magnificent horse-drawn State Carriage owned by the Maharaja of Mysore, Southern India will be auctioned.

The coach, which dates back to 1825 and is believed to be of British origin, was used for engagements by the Maharaja to transport European royalty - including the Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.

Given the elegant design and sumptuous detailing, the coach can appropriately be described as a work of art, as indeed can be seen in a wall painting of it at the Mysore Palace Museum in the state of Kamataka, some 90 miles from Bangalore.

The imposing carriage features an ornately finished cruciform body with a vaulted, domed roof, situated atop double elliptic springs and iron-bound artillery patterned wheels. The base colour is olive green embellished with delicate meander boarders, floral and heraldic motifs and the family coat of arms. Most of the sixteen windows offer drop-down, decorated panels and shutters for privacy. The interior is upholstered in beige damask and the roof has decorative paintwork, carved border moldings and finials.

The exterior houses two seats that would have been used for servants and courtiers. The style of the coach is a fusion Indo-Islamic and European elements, the dome arguably the most prominent feature of the carriage owes its roots to Mughal/Islamic architecture.

S. Korean Kia posts record-high output at Slovak plant

South Korean car maker Kia Motors said that it had exceeded last year's record output of 252,000 cars by November at its Slovak plant fuelled by high demand, this despite Europe's economic downturn. "The plant produced 253,000 cars so far this year, surpassing last year's output of more than 252,000 units," a Kia press release said adding the plant plans "to assemble 285,000 cars this year." Kia also said it assembled 30,000 cars in October, making it the most productive month since the plant was launched in 2006.

"Kia, together with other Slovak car plants, is in a much better shape than the rest of the Europe," Vladimir Vano, chief analyst at Volksbank told AFP.

"Kia represents a successful new Asian entrant to the European markets, which thanks to its portfolio -- good cars for the bad times -- managed to raise its market share," he added. Kia, which employs 3,900 people in the central European country, earlier this year launched a third shift at its plant close to Zilina, northern Slovakia, which makes the Kia cee'd, Kia Sportage and Kia Venga models.

AFP