Motoring: The ‘Twisted’ Defender; BMW; Toyota

THE iconic Land Rover Defender may have entered its last full year of production but the definitive off-roader will forever remain a British classic.

That’s not to say that enthusiasts don’t ever want to try and improve perfection and there are several aftermarket companies around the UK which are more than happy to help owners try.

One of the more respected companies is Twisted Automotive, which specialises in helping to overturn the agricultural reputation of the Defender and turn it into a vehicle which might stand alongside its more prestigious stablemate, the Range Rover.

The Thirsk based manufacturer has built an international reputation for quality engineering and a creative approach to meeting the needs of the most demanding customers.

Twisted specialise in taking the standard Defender and making extensive modifications, whilst keeping the essence of what the Land Rover should be.  It can spend over 300 hours improving everything from simple bolts, to full engine rebuilds and luxury interiors designed around the customer’s individual requirements.

Land Rover will cease production of the classic model in December and Twisted has already seen a jump in orders from across the world keen to preserve the heritage of one of the most instantly recognised vehicles in the world.

People come to Twisted to have the vehicle tailored to their exact requirements and this can include 500hp V8 engines or a fully equipped bar for the shoot. Each vehicle leaves the Twisted factory as individual as a fingerprint.

Whilst there are four levels in the standard Twisted range, it has undertaken a number of special builds, such as the Alpine model, to provide petrol heads and enthusiasts with the ultimate Defender.

The Twisted Alpine undergoes an extensive conversion from a new standard 110 XS. The original model was built in 2008 and replicated in 2013 for Tony Hawk, the world famous skateboarder, to complete the Gumball 3000 rally across Europe. The event started in Copenhagen and travelled through 13 countries, before finishing at the Monaco Grand Prix a week later.

The Alpine is based on the top of the range T80 model, with the addition of a unique seating arrangement for complete comfort. The conversion to an automatic gearbox provides an easy drive. The power upgrades, from a 2.2 TDCI diesel engine, give rapid acceleration that isn’t normally present in a Defender, with much bigger brakes to cope with the enhanced performance.

The T80 comes as standard with Twisted’s own Progressive Suspension, which is designed to aid comfort whilst also giving a predictable driving outcome when pushing the Defender harder into corners. The first part of the suspension travel is softer, which hardens through the coil to provide better handling and manners.

A custom roof rack gives great practicality, while a reversing camera and European Sat Nav bring the Defender all modcons. Each Alpine comes with air conditioning, remote central locking, ABS, traction control and heated windscreen and front seats.

The stylish interior gains space for passengers through various alterations, and comes with a more useable steering wheel in hand trimmed leather, with front and second row Recaro seats. A full leather trim is applied to doors, window surrounds and the dashboard, modified Recaro seats are finished in black nappa, with perforated contrast yellow stitch. The Alcantara headlining includes visors and vanity mirror.

An Alpine Double Din Media Installation provides Sat Nav, camera, radio, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, which are fitted following extensive work on the panel alignment, interior sealing and full internal sound proofing.

The exterior of the Alpine comes with custom Twisted 18″ black zero offset sport alloys, fitted with BFG 285 all terrain tyres. The famous Twisted grille and vent upgrade come in Fuji White. The alloy steering guard and body coloured mirrors all come in white.

The Twisted Alpine makes a bold statement and provides a luxury driving experience for fans of the Land Rover Defender.

The Alpine starts at £77,856.42 + VAT

Evolution rather than revolution for new BMW 1 Series

NEARLY two million BMW 1 Series models have been sold around the world since the introduction of the generation of the car a decade ago.

BMW’s latest incarnation does not try to be revolutionary, the manufacturer opting instead to build on the winning formula developed by its three- and five-door predecessors.

What is new is the introduction of power units from the latest BMW engine family, additional EfficientDynamics technologies fitted as standard, and careful enhancements to the exterior and interior design.

The level of standard equipment is now even higher, new options have been added and with new mobility services from BMW ConnectedDrive, there are more ways to increase the functionality and personalisation of the car.

The new model  features subtle but key design differences intended to refine the overall package. At the front, a new lower apron with larger air intakes and a horizontal bar combines with reshaped BMW kidney grilles and new headlamps that feature LED daytime driving lights as standard on all models. For the first time, full LED headlamps with low and main beam have been added to the options list, with Adaptive LED headlamps a further option. These follow the path of the road ahead, and also adapt their beam according to the type of road and conditions at any given moment.

The driving position is intended to be more welcoming with enhancements to the design, and the materials and fabrics used. In particular, there is a new cloth fabric for the seats.

The BMW Radio Professional and iDrive operating system continues to be standard across the entire range so all new 1 Series models feature the freestanding, 6.5-inch Control Display, the control wheel mounted on the centre console, and the direct menu control and favourites buttons.

BMW claims the new engines bring a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 12%, while simultaneously providing more power and sharper responses.

The new four-cylinder diesel engine used in the latest BMW 1 Series is offered in a choice of three outputs: the 118d generates 150hp and 330Nm of torque, the 120d has 190hp and 400Nm, and the 125d, with its multi-stage turbocharging, provides 224hp with 450Nm of torque, enabling this model to reach 62mph from rest in just 6.3 seconds. BMW says the 118d can achieve a fuel consumption figure of just 74.3mpg, but even the 125d manages a highly credible 61.4mpg.

The majority of new 1 Series variants are fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, however, the 120d xDrive all feature as standard the eight-speed Steptronic gearbox otherwise available as an option.

The BMW 1 Series is offered in three trims – SE, Sport and M Sport. The range of standard equipment fitted to all models includes remote control central locking, keyless engine ignition, electric window controls, electrically heated exterior mirrors and the Driving Experience Control switch.

Also included is automatic air conditioning, a multi-function leather steering wheel adjustable for height and reach, a rain sensor including automatic driving lights control and a front passenger airbag that can be deactivated. BMW Radio Professional including CD player with DAB, six loudspeakers and an AUX-In socket, and Bluetooth audio streaming functionality are other standard equipment features along with the iDrive operating system. Completing the offer is 16-inch alloy wheels, extended storage, sliding front armrest and fog lights.

Building on this is the Sport, which costs an additional £1,000. The specification for this car is enhanced to include 17-inch alloy wheels, ambient lighting, black high-gloss interior trim, Sport exterior styling elements, Sport steering wheel and Sports seats.

For an additional £2,700 above SE specification, M Sport comes as standard with 18-inch M Sport alloy wheels, aluminium hexagon interior trim, M Aerodynamic body styling, M Sport suspension, Sport seats, Alcantara upholstery and an M Sport leather steering wheel.

The new BMW 1 Series is on sale from March 28, 2015 priced at £20,245 OTR for a three-door 118i SE and £20,775 OTR for a five-door 118i SE.

New RAV4 is the business for Toyota

TOYOTA has added a new RAV4 to its SUV range, the Business Edition. While the name makes the model’s target market clear, the company is hoping the generous equipment levels and the brand’s reputation for reliability will see it reach a wider audience.

The standard specification is led by Toyota Touch 2 with Go, the latest development of Toyota’s touchscreen-controlled multimedia, connectivity and navigation system. This includes DAB digital radio, Bluetooth, a rear-view camera and access to on-line information and entertainment services, via Toyota’s customer portal.

The driving experience is supported by cruise control and dual-zone climate control. Automatic headlights and windscreen wipers are provided, together with an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Chrome trim on the front bumper adds a dash of style quality, while inside the cabin the seats are upholstered in smart black Beaumont fabric.

The features are all in addition to the Active grade specification, including 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps, power-adjustable door mirrors and a four-speaker audio system with USB and Aux-in connections.

A single version is available, powered by the 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine, with six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. Toyota claims a combined cycle fuel consumption at 57.6mpg and 127g/km CO2 emissions. The Business Edition also secures the lowest insurance group rating in the RAV4 line-up at 25E.

The RAV4 Business Edition is on sale now, priced £23,995 on the road.

Elsewhere in the range, enhancements for 2015 include a fresh chrome finish for the RAV4 Active’s five-spoke 17-inch alloys and the addition of silver front and rear under-runs for the Invincible.

New RAV4 owners also now have access to additional equipment options, including heated, leather front seats (Active, Business Edition and Invincible) and Toyota Touch 2 with Go Plus, which adds extra functionality, voice command recognition and thee years of free map updates. The colour choices include a new Deep Titanium metallic.

Drive safely.