Porsche Panamera S E-hybrid scores £5k government grant

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 27 November 2013 12:30 You’d have thought the last thing a buyer wealthy enough to afford an £89k Porsche Panamera needed was a £5000 discount on their mammoth new supersaloon. But, thanks the Panamera S E-hybrid cracking the eco numbers, that’s exactly what the UK government is offering. The Panamera S E-hybrid has joined a list of just 15 cars eligible for Britian’s ‘ULEV’ (ultra low-emission vehicle) status, approved by OLEV (the Office for low-emission vehicles.) Yes, in real life, it’s ridiculous, but on paper, the S E-hybrid is a wunderkid of low-emission motoring.

Mazda 2 (2015) first to get new 1.5 Skyactiv diesel

By Michael Karkafiris Motor Industry 11 June 2014 15:32 Mazda’s new 2 will be the first model to premiere the company’s latest downsized Skyactiv diesel engine, it has confirmed. The Japanese car maker today revealed the technical specifications of its new 1.5-litre oil-burner, which promises to be highly efficient and low-polluting. The new member of the eco-friendly Skyactiv engine family produces 103bhp at 4000rpm and 184lb ft of torque between 1500-2500rpm, says Mazda.

Bentley Continental GT & GTC get 8-Speed ZF ‘box

The new Bentley Continental GT, GTC and GT Speed with the W12 engine are getting the new 8-speed ZF gearbox. Improved economy and performance. When Bentley revealed the Continental GT V8 they did so complete with a new 8-speed ZF auto ‘box rather than the 6-speed ‘box the W12 GT and GTC get. But now they’ve managed to get the new 8-speed box bolted on to the W12 GTs to improve performance and economy.