All New KIA

He hybrid SUV quintessential Toyota debuts its most appetizing version. After being updated just a few months ago with interesting equipment news, now it’s time to meet the 2023 Toyota RAV4 in GR-Sport trim. We talk about a variant of sports overtones that adds a plus in design and differentiationbut above all it maintains its qualities as an SUV and hybrid vehicle intact, becoming by right one of the most interesting versions of the RAV4 range.

With a market with more and better alternatives among hybrid SUVsthe Toyota RAV4 redoubles efforts to remain one of the leaders in the segment, now betting on a revision carried out by Gazoo Racing that gives it a welcome plus of character. The success of the GR-Sport trim on the other Toyota models where it is available is indisputable, which is why it was a highly anticipated finish on the RAV4.

On an aesthetic level, the Toyota RAV4 GR-Sport sports an exterior where the 19″ alloy wheels in glossy black finish, a new design of the front grille, two-tone bodywork with roof and mirrors in glossy black, new rear bumper, chrome exhaust and GR logos that identify this trim level. Inside we also find a sportier design that affects the seats, the upholstery, the moldings, the use of aluminum pedals or a specific instrumentation. From a technical point of view, the RAV4 GR-Sport only adds one sportier suspension.

Within the available equipment we find a very complete endowment where Full LED headlightsdual zone air conditioning, 12.3″ digital instrument clustermultimedia system with 10.5″ screen, compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Autoelectric tailgate, parking sensors and camera, active cruise control with lane assistant, emergency braking, etc.

These days we have been testing the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport and our colleague Juanma, who has had the opportunity to drive it on snow, tells us in this video that we have published in the Diariomotor’s TikTok channel some of the details of this car.

Already for sale in Spain, The Toyota RAV4 GR-Sport Plus has a price that starts at 50,600 euros before discounts or promotionsbeing able to opt for a Toyota Easy financing plan from 375 euros per month. The mechanics available in this configuration is the 225 hp 2.5 hybrid with all-wheel driveAlthough Toyota has confirmed that in 2024 it will also be available with the 306 CV plug-in hybrid mechanics and 75 km electric range.

In the Ferrari calendar there is a year with special relevance: 2026. The reason? From 2023 and until then, it has promised to launch fifteen new models: among them will not only be its first electric car, there will also be room for a hypercar. A few days ago, those from Maranello presented the economic results for 2022: an appointment that, a priori, did not seem very entertaining… until announced the arrival of four vehicles in 2023.

Comparing the balance of 2022 with that of 2021, Ferrari has reasons to be satisfied: its net profit has been 939 million euros compared to 833 million the previous year, a figure that represents a growth of 12.7%. One of the reasons that has led them to this position has been their sales: 13,221 units, representing an increase of 18.5%. Of course, the Italians have already anticipated that 2023 will be “even stronger”.

four new models

One of the arguments on which this announcement is based is its roadmap: it contains four new models. And no, the Ferrari Purosangue will not be one of them: Although deliveries have not yet begun, for those from Maranello, their first SUV is part of the novelties for 2022 because it was presented to society last September. Although they have not revealed a single detail about what we will see later, the hypotheses around the Italian news are as follows.

The convertible version of the Ferrari Roma

One of the theories is carried out by the convertible version of the Ferrari Roma according to the spy images that have been captured in recent months. There are those who believe that it will be located below the Ferrari Portofino M without actually replacing it… despite the risk of cannibalizing sales. And there are those who think that it will arrive, just, to replace it due to the baggage that grand tourism already accumulates.

The replacement for the Ferrari 812 Superfast

The following hypothesis speaks of the arrival of a model that should replace the Ferrari 812 Superfast before the end of 2023. A theory that is based on the test mules that have been sighted so far: although they were based on the Ferrari Roma, they had a V12 under their bodywork.

A new Ferrari SF90 Stradale

The third bet would star a new Ferrari SF90 that would also be more powerful: reason why they point to a special version after the camouflaged model that they intercepted at the end of 2022.

Icon series

The most imaginative idea is for the fourth and last model because it would consider the possibility of meeting a new and exclusive member of the Icona series, which It would arrive to keep the Ferrari Monza SP1, SP2 and Daytona SP3 company. Or what is the same: a new vehicle as unique as these and limited production.

When buying a new car it is important to pay attention to some details, to the small print of the price. The first, that of the conditions that are required to benefit from the price of an offer that, in most cases, usually involves financing the purchase at the dealership.

The second is that of the monthly fee hook prices. More and more brands are trying to reach the customer by offering very attractive monthly installments. But it is important to analyze the conditions of this financing plan that, from our experience, usually involve high interest and unfavorable conditions.

But in the last few days we are looking at some offers that really are getting harder to find. We have seen some promotions with very low interest financing, such as some on select models from Opel, such as the Corsa, and also from Citroën, such as the C4 X.

In February some offers have emerged to buy cheap cars with very low interest, or even without interest, something unusual in recent months and years

The Fiat Panda that appears in the configurator images embedded in this article is that of the basic Hybrid 70 CV version.

Finance a new car at 0% interest

The case at hand goes further and proposes to finance the purchase of a new car at 0% interest. These types of offers are becoming less common. And obviously to finance the purchase that Fiat proposes in this month of February at 0% interest, specific conditions must be met that go through finance a maximum of €6,000, in up to 24 months, and in vehicles in stock. The Fiat promotion, on the other hand, is limited to 500 units of stock cars.

Today Fiat has a significant stock of Panda from €12,713, in its Hybrid version (70 HP microhybrid engine) with ECO label. In an access version of the Fiat Panda like this one, financing €6,000 at 0% interest would mean financing practically half of the purchase of the car without interest.

And it would also mean savings of several thousand euros compared to a financing plan without interest and under less favorable conditions. Without going any further, in January we told you about the Fiat Panda offer from last month, in which my colleague Sergio calculated how, in order to obtain that fee, the final price paid for the vehicle, with commissions and interest, increased by €3,369. .

If in January the best offer for the Fiat Panda involved financing with a very low installment, but a high interest cost, the current offer requires financing a smaller part, but without interest

The promotion is especially interesting for those who can afford to buy one of Fiat’s stock cars by financing just €6,000 in 24 installments of €250/month, paying the rest in cash, or obtaining credit for the remainder with another financial institution under favorable conditions. Which at the moment is not too easy in consumer credit.

As alternatives to this Fiat Panda with ECO label:

• He Fiat 500 is also available from €14,513in stock units that can apply this 0% financing promotion and with micro-hybrid mechanics and ECO label
• He Opel Corsa part of the €15,600, being more expensive, but also a bigger and more spacious car. This month it is also available with a financing promotion with very low interest which, under the conditions proposed by Opel, means that financing the purchase costs us only €924.56 more than the advertised offer price and we save €1,076 compared to the spot price. But the Opel Corsa in this promotion does not have an ECO label
• He Dacia Sandero is available from €12,640 in its version with the ECO label and financing the purchase, under less favorable conditions than those mentioned in this article for Fiat, or those for Opel, and €13,640 paying in cash

More images of the FIAT Panda:

You like cars and competition, but you cannot drive your car to the limit as you would like, and there are no roads where you can do it with peace of mind and safety. Have you ever tried one? car game, but in an environment where knowing how to drive is not really the most important thing. But, Have you tried a real simulator?

Even though it is a fairly minority world in the digital ocean and video games, the car simulation is taking a huge leap in the digital arena in recent years. The advance in the components allows to put the computers to the limit and the programs. Simulators are getting more and more advanced.

From car video games to simulators

When we talk about driving simulation, and even more about competition, it is try to drive well, to drive, and the higher the immersion, the higher the benefits will be. For this reason, forget about console controls or keyboards beforehand. You need a flyer.

There is a wide variety of steering wheels on the market, from the simplest to the most professional. Is Basic that the steering wheel has FFB (Force Feedback) that allows the forces generated by the simulator to be transmitted to the steering wheel. You can find very simple flyers starting at €200, reaching prices above €2000 in the case of the most professional ones.

The simulators can transmit any detail of the asphalt and tires, so that the better the steering wheel, the more you will enjoy the experience. The more affordable steering wheels do that, but only up to a limit. When the simulator and the steering wheel exceed a certain force, not anymore today, with which many details are lost.

With more complex steering wheels, you really get to savor the details of good simulators. and the sensations of driving: the hardness of the steering, the sensation of skidding or skidding, the transfer of weights, the vibrations, the understeer…

Do not forget the pedals. They are as or more important than a good steering wheel and it is a whole world apart, which we will discuss in another post. For now, just say that for a start in the simulation any set of pedals will do. Experience will determine later what type of pedal you need for your simulator.

And then there is the simulator. There’s plenty to choose from here, depending on whether you prefer a more sensation-based experience, pure simulation, or online competition.

We discard the “games” of bumper cars and other arcade games where driving doesn’t really matter, and even those that can be played with a controller or keyboard. In a simulator it is about having a steering wheel in your hands and driving or racing. In future articles we will detail some of the 6 best simulators on the market.

Otherwise, a good pc and a good screen (the bigger the better). They can also be three screens or even virtual reality glasses. On consoles there are also simulators, but not all on all platforms, while on a PC you can have all the simulators and, what is more important, it allows you to configure many parameters, something necessary to get the most out of your virtual experience .

They are, according to Lamborghini, the farewell for its atmospheric V12 before it is replaced by a new V12 hybrid that will arrive with its next flagship. A couple of One-Offs arrive from Sant’Agata Bolognese to say goodbye to their iconic engine: with all of you, the Lamborghini Invincible and the Lamborghini Autentica.

Created by Lamborghini Centro Stile and with the two owners involved in this process from the beginning, the new models look to the brand’s recent past for inspiration: in them we can recognize elements of the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, Reventón or Veneno. Their starting point is the Aventador and, therefore, they are built on its carbon fiber monocoque chassis, which they have also used in several limited production special editions.

The ‘heart’ of the two One-Off

It is not its only point in common with the Lamborghini Aventador. Both the Invincible and the Autentica are powered by the naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 which, like the Ultimae, develops 780PS and has a maximum torque of 720Nm. A power that is transmitted to all four wheels through a seven-speed ISR transmission: they are also equipped with the Lamborghini Dynamic Steering system that provides four-wheel steering.

Despite having different names, they resemble the coupe and roadster variants of the Lamborghini Aventador: They share most of the body elements with them, although there are others (such as the roof, parts of the rear or aerodynamic details) that are different. The Invincible Lamborghini sports the Rosso Efesto on its body, matching the exposed carbon fiber parts. The Lamborghini Autentica, meanwhile, is painted in Grigio Titans with Matt Black and details in Giallo Auge.

aesthetic differences

Despite having different names, they resemble the coupe and roadster variants of the Lamborghini Aventador: with them they share most of the elements of the bodywork, although there are others (such as the roof, parts of the rear or aerodynamic details) that are different. The Invincible Lamborghini sports the Rosso Efesto on its body, matching the exposed carbon fiber parts. The Lamborghini Autentica, meanwhile, is painted in Grigio Titans with Matt Black and details in Giallo Auge.

The front of both have a sharp and low shape with arrow-shaped headlights and a prominent front spoiler. The vented hood is reminiscent of the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, created solely for the racetrack. In the profile it is easy to see that the proportions show its connection to the Aventador, although the differences are evident, for example, in the side air intakes, which are larger, or in the wheel arches, which have a certain touch of the Countach. . The alloy wheels, by the way, are single nut and their design seems to draw a spider web.

The rear is the most personalized and futuristic part. It has two optical groups formed, each one, by three hexagon-shaped LED lights. In the middle of both, but in a lower position, the triple exhaust outlet appears. The bumper is integrated and the air vents are multiplied, typical of track-focused Lamborghini models. The Invincible has a fixed rear wing similar to the Sesto Elemento, while the Autentica features double winglets and two domes behind the headrests.

Inside the Invincible and Authentic Lamborghini

In it inside, The Lamborghini Invincible features a combination of Rosso Efesto, Rosso Alara leather and Nero Cosmus Alcantara accents. The Lamborghini Autentica follows the chromatic style of the exterior by mixing Nero Ade leather, Alcantara with a two-tone Nero Cosmus finish and Grigio Octans and Giallo Taurus for the seams.

The basic design is similar to other Lamborghini models, but the details are in charge of marking the distances for the Invincible and the Autentica: the air vents are hexagonal (like the taillights), there is a considerable dose of carbon fiber and they have a digital instrument cluster with unique graphics for each model. Also noteworthy is the absence of a central screen for the non-existent infotainment system.

In case there is a clueless driver in the room: on February 5, 2023, the European Union regulations that include sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine entered into force. Among them, the ban on importing diesel and oil derivatives from that country stands out. If we take into account that around 40% of EU imports came from there, the measure promises to have consequences: The price of diesel will rise, but in Spain it will not be so noticeable.

The increase in diesel prices will come, but not immediately. since they were announced sanctions on Russia Several months have passed before they have entered into force: time to collect reserves. The real reaction to this ban will come when this stock starts to run out and needs to be replenished. Luckily, Spain did its homework several years ago.

How much oil did Spain buy from Russia?

Drivers who own a diesel car do not have to fear shortages: the supply in Spain is assured and the sanctions against Russia, by themselves, should not pose any problem in this regard. The Spanish Association of Petroleum Product Operators (AOP) has recalled that Between 25 and 30 different types of diesel arrive in our country from between 20 and 22 different countries.

Data from the Corporation for Strategic Reserves of Petroleum Products (CORES) reveal that in 2022 (from January to November), Spain imported 5.56 million tons of diesel: 714,000 came from Russia, 12.83% of the total. In 2021, the last year with complete data, our country bought 8.44 million tons and 771,000 (9.1%) originated in that country.

Spain will not be affected so much…

Despite the prediction of the industry, there is good news for Spain: the rise in the price of diesel will not be as noticeable as in other countries of the European Union because we are less dependent on Russian diesel.

Between 2008 and 2012, about 7,000 million euros were invested in Spanish refineries to make them more flexible and competitive, that is, to be able to process different types of crude oil from different origins apart from Russia. This movement was not replicated in the rest of Europe, where the refineries in charge of diesel began to close because working with said fuel was no longer so profitable.

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, as stated Europe Press, assures that in Spain there is “a good diversification of imported crude oil”. To this must be added an extensive network of oil pipelines that facilitates the complete distribution of petroleum products, 42 days of strategic reserves of CORES, controlled by the Administration, and other security reserves of the industry.

… but it will affect you: how?

The absence in the Russian diesel market will result in an increase in its international price: It should not be forgotten that Russia is one of the main exporters of crude oil and refined diesel. It will be this factor that does have an impact on diesel prices in Spain and, although the effect will not be as acute as in other European countries, it will be noticeable.

Not in vain, since 2023 began, the increase in the average price of diesel has been 2.6% and, according to the latest EU Oil Bulletin, it is up 1% compared to the previous week: now, the liter costs 1.7 euros. If we make this comparison between 2023 and 2022, the difference is greater: 2.6%. Thus, filling a 50-liter tank costs fourteen euros more than a year ago.

The last year has been that of the confirmation of MG Motor as one of the most important manufacturers of the current scene. For two reasons. The first, to have a car that today has no rival, because no brand is currently capable of offering an SUV of its size and space, as equipped as the MG ZS available from €13,990.

Second, a range of reasonably priced electric vehicles that, like the MG 4 from €20,480 (including discounts and aid from the MOVES Plan) have ensured that this brand that produces its cars in China is able to offer electric cars at the price of diesel and gasoline.

But what about the king of budget cars? Has the reign of Dacia ended?

The Dacia are no longer so cheap, but in economic cars with an ECO label they continue to offer one of the most complete and, above all, affordable ranges on the market

The king of cheap cars

There was a time when we could buy a Dacia Sandero for less than €17,000. At the time of writing this article, the The cheapest Dacia Sandero started at €12,040 (with the €1,000 discount for financing the purchase) and €13,040 in cash.

How did we arrive at these prices? The Dacia Sandero is one of the best examples to explain car inflation and why new cars are getting more expensive. The reasons to explain its price increase are the following:

1. The rise in prices is temporary. The price of new cars has increased, in all cases. And Dacia has also been immersed in this price escalation, for reasons that have affected the entire industry (production bottlenecks due to a shortage of semiconductors and other components, more expensive processes, raw materials and logistics…)
2. A generational change with which the Dacia Sandero has made an important leap in quality. The Sandero is less and less that cheap car of yesteryear, with a very modest perceived quality. And it is getting closer to other general utility
3. Disappearance of “bare” access ranges of equipment. The cheapest Dacia Sandero is more equipped than before

The best economic purchase with the ECO label

As we told you, it has merit that MG is marketing an MG ZS from €13,990when the cheapest Dacia Sandero Stepway starts at €14,170 with discount for financing and €15,170 in cash. But here is the great advantage of Dacia. The Sandero Stepway that is available with this offer price already includes, as standard, a 100 CV bifuel LPG mechanism with which it receives the ECO label.

If we opt for the “normal” Dacia Sandero and not its Stepway version, we find that the price of the cheapest Sandero is €12,640 with a discount for financing and €13,640 in cash.

Dacia Duster, Jogger and Sandero Stepway range.

We recommend reading two very necessary articles on the matter:

1. Our guide to LPG and how it allows cars like the Sandero to get the ECO label.
2. Our guide in which we reviewed the Dacia ECO label, in which there are different LPG models and, for a few days, the first Dacia hybrid car