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CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, May 23, 2013
Noticeboard
Citroen’s hypnotic DS Wild Rubis debuts in Shanghai
Ford Focus is found to be best-seller in 2012
THE DS Wild Rubis concept car was unveiled recently at the Shanghai Motor Show. Designed in Paris, the Wild Rubis concept car is the latest expression of the DS line. A vehicle of powerful and sophisticated styling, packed with technology, it allies attractive design with unique sensations at the wheel. A vehicle with a life-like, hypnotic gaze, it features full-hybrid plug-in technology delivering unparalleled performance: 50km range, 295 bhp with the boost and 43g/km of CO2. The Wild Rubis concept car is fitted with groundbreaking full-LED headlights, made up of three mobile lighting modules, surrounded by scrolling indicator lights at the base and a diapason-shaped light signature on the edge. Every time the concept car starts up, the three lighting modules in the headlights and the special sound effects combine to create a unique experience. Crystal-like sounds have been specially developed to magnify the various lighting configurations (headlights, indicators, etc.), while the movement of the three lighting modules is accompanied by a mecatronic sound effect.
Polk data points to over 1m in global sales
Meanwhile, the full-hybrid plug-in technology of the Wild Rubis concept car is perfectly in line with the Brand's environmental strategy. The drivetrain comprises a 225 bhp (165 kW) 1.6-litre THP petrol internal combustion engine. The engine is combined with a 70 hp electric motor positioned on the rear axle, powered by lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged from a domestic socket. With its plug-in hybrid drive train, Wild Rubis can also run in full-electric mode, with zero emissions, over a range of 50km. Additionally, when the driver presses the accelerator pedal hard in order to have more torque immediately, the boost function combines the torque of the internal combustion engine with that of the electric motor, allowing the Wild Rubis concept car to reach exceptional levels of performance (295hp), without compromising fuel consumption (43g/km of CO2). Finally, the vehicle can switch to 4WD mode, in which the electric motor drives the rear wheels and the internal combustion engine drives the front wheels to maximise grip over difficult terrain.
The Wild Rubis concept car showcases powerful and sophisticated styling, married with technology
Members of the crew of the USS Gravely, which berthed in Larnaca, practised with members of the Peaceplayers basketball teams in Kiti recently. Peaceplayers brings together Greek Cypriot and Turk-
THE Ford Focus is officially the world’s best-selling vehicle nameplate, and the Ford Fiesta the world’s best-selling subcompact car, according to the automotive data and trends forecasting leader Polk. Polk global market registration data revealed sales of the compact Focus totalled 1,020,410 cars worldwide in 2012 to take the title of world’s best-selling vehicle overall. It also confirmed the Ford Fiesta as the best-selling subcompact car globally, with 723,130 registrations last year. “Focus and Fiesta represent the culmination of our One Ford global product strategy,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service and Lincoln. “Our global products are resonating with consumers – especially in the best-selling, most competitive segments – with their unique combination of fuel efficiency, high quality, rich content and fun-to-drive personalities. Through One Ford, we’re able to bring economies of scale and fantastic value to customers all around the world.” The Focus in Europe last year became the first Ford to be offered with the innovative 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine that went on to be named the “International Engine of the Year 2012”. In addition the 250 PS Focus ST went on sale in Europe and in markets worldwide. In 2012, Ford also launched the stylish new Fiesta, followed this year by the 182 PS Fiesta ST.
ish Cypriot youth to play basketball together. The US Navy crew members were happy to have the chance to meet the young people and have some fun during their three-day visit to Cyprus
The Focus was crowned the world's best-selling vehicle overall for 2012 The Fiesta’s latest success follows confirmation that Ford’s global B-car was the best-selling small car in Europe in 2012 according to automotive data intelligence provider JATO Dynamics*, with European consumers buying a new Ford Fiesta every two minutes on average.
Market gains for Focus were driven by consumer demand in China and the United States. China registrations were up 51 per cent last year, with the market responsible for just more than one out of four Focus vehicles sold globally according to Polk data. US Focus sales were up 40 per
cent in 2012, also contributing to the car’s global growth. Meanwhile, global new vehicle registrations for the Ford F-Series – America’s bestselling pickup for 36 straight years – totalled 785,630 trucks last year, putting it in the No. 3 spot among all vehicles sold worldwide.