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<channel>
	<title>Carbloggin!</title>
	<atom:link href="http://carbloggin.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://carbloggin.com</link>
	<description>automotive passion</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:12:20 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
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		<title>Bentley EXP 9 F SUV Concept &#8211; Ugly or What?</title>
		<link>http://carbloggin.com/suv/bentley-exp-9-f-suv-concept-ugly-or-what/</link>
		<comments>http://carbloggin.com/suv/bentley-exp-9-f-suv-concept-ugly-or-what/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:05:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carblogger</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SUV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bentley]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://carbloggin.com/?p=181</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Bentley EXP 9 F It seems Bentley will finally jump on the high end SUV band wagon sometime in 2015. The EXP 9 F concept was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva International Salon to some fanfare and reaction to it has been a little less than enthusiastic. Mainly it has to be said for the way it looks. &#160; Lets face it, this is the ugliest Bentley ever seen and is probably high up on some people&#8217;s lists for ugliest SUV ever conceived (this side of the SSangYong Musso of course). &#160; Some people would argue that that the ugliness of the Porsche Cayenne when it was launched, didn&#8217;t stop it becoming a hit, and that&#8217;s true but the car pictured above will probably be somewhere in the £140,000 range when it is launched and that&#8217;s a hefty was to &#8230; <a href="http://carbloggin.com/suv/bentley-exp-9-f-suv-concept-ugly-or-what/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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<td height="20"><a href="http://www.carbloggin.com/images/wallpaper-1600x1200-bentley-exp-9-f.jpg"><img src="http://www.carbloggin.com/images/post-image-600x450-bentley-exp-9-f.jpg" alt="Bentley EXP 9F" border="0"></a></td>
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<b>Bentley EXP 9 F</b><BR><br />
It seems Bentley will finally jump on the high end SUV band wagon sometime in 2015. The EXP 9 F concept was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva International Salon to some fanfare and reaction to it has been a little less than enthusiastic. Mainly it has to be said for the way it looks.
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<td height="20" align="justify">Lets face it, this is the ugliest Bentley ever seen and is probably high up on some people&#8217;s lists for ugliest SUV ever conceived (this side of the SSangYong Musso of course). </td>
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<td height="20" align="justify">Some people would argue that that the ugliness of the Porsche Cayenne when it was launched, didn&#8217;t stop it becoming a hit, and that&#8217;s true but the car pictured above will probably be somewhere in the £140,000 range when it is launched and that&#8217;s a hefty was to part with when you know people will be sniggering at you as you drive down the street. </td>
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<td height="20" align="justify">So, should Bentley gamble and go ahead and launch this car as planned. Well, given that it will come with a 600bhp W12 engine as well as a version sporting a V8 diesel and there will be lots of luxurious leather and wood to go around as well, yes, they probably should. However, I think Bentley should take on board some of the feedback from Joe Public and tweak the looks a little. Sometimes, less is more chaps .</td>
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<div align="justify">By the way, if you really, really want to, there&#8217;s a 1600&#215;1200 wallpaper version waiting for you if you click the image above.</div>
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		<title>Top Tips for Saving Money on Motor Trade Insurance</title>
		<link>http://carbloggin.com/general/top-tips-for-saving-money-on-motor-trade-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://carbloggin.com/general/top-tips-for-saving-money-on-motor-trade-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:00:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carblogger</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://carbloggin.com/?p=177</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The spring can be a profitable period for operators in the motor trade, with March usually seeing a peak in activity which follows through into the next few months. Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders confirms that activity in March was better than had been expected, with private registrations up 7.4 per cent from the previous month. This flurry of activity in the new car market then filters through the re-sale sectors, presenting opportunities for traders. With this in mind, now is the ideal time for smaller traders to make sure all their business operations are in order, which includes the use of a suitable insurance policy. Policies come in a variety of forms, with different levels of cover available and a range of prices, but having the incorrect coverage can prove costly in the long run. &#8230; <a href="http://carbloggin.com/general/top-tips-for-saving-money-on-motor-trade-insurance/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The spring can be a profitable period for operators in the motor trade, with March usually seeing a peak in activity which follows through into the next few months. Data from the <a href="http://www.smmt.co.uk/">Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders</a> confirms that activity in March was better than had been expected, with private registrations up 7.4 per cent from the previous month. This flurry of activity in the new car market then filters through the re-sale sectors, presenting opportunities for traders.</p>
<p>With this in mind, now is the ideal time for smaller traders to make sure all their business operations are in order, which includes the use of a suitable insurance policy. Policies come in a variety of forms, with different levels of cover available and a range of prices, but having the incorrect coverage can prove costly in the long run. It is therefore advisable to take expert advice and choose a policy, such as <a href="http://www.staveleyhead.co.uk/motortrade/">Staveley Head motor trade insurance</a>, which can be individually tailored.</p>
<p>For many motor traders looking to grow their business, the cheapest policy may seem like the best option, but there is a balance to be achieved between the level of cover and the price paid. Too much indemnity on the policy and you&#8217;ll pay higher premiums, but have too little and you will be required to make up the shortfall after any claim.</p>
<p>To achieve this balance and ensure you save as much as possible on an insurance policy, it is important to consider some variables. Firstly, how many cars do you expect to sell in a year? If it is no more than three, a simple private insurance policy that can be transferred from car to car may be a better option.<br />
Secondly, you need to think about whether your premises need insurance. If you are operating from home then, after checking with your broker, you may find that this is sufficient. It should, however, be supplemented with cover for transporting motor vehicles. Lastly, think about what type of cars you are selling, and adjust the indemnity level accordingly. If you change the type of cars you sell, update your policy as soon as possible. Remember, you don&#8217;t need cover for supercars when you&#8217;re selling hatchbacks!</p>
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		<title>What is the Unique World Like of an Olympic Athlete?</title>
		<link>http://carbloggin.com/general/what-is-the-unique-world-like-of-an-olympic-athlete/</link>
		<comments>http://carbloggin.com/general/what-is-the-unique-world-like-of-an-olympic-athlete/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:48:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carblogger</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BMW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://carbloggin.com/?p=172</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; The life of an Olympic athlete must be intense and exciting, especially in the run up to the London 2012 Games. The whole world is anticipating the biggest sporting event of the year which will take place in England’s capital and a number of documentaries have been launched to offer an insight into the talented sports men and women. &#160; But many of the athletes will attain attributes which can be likened to a vehicle such as power, determination, speed and endurance; and these videos will offer a guide into the comparisons. &#160; The films, which have been published on YouTube, focus on an Olympic or Paralympic athlete from the BMW London 2012 Performance Team and they can be watched by clicking here. In support of the London Games, the documentaries explore what it really takes to deliver the &#8230; <a href="http://carbloggin.com/general/what-is-the-unique-world-like-of-an-olympic-athlete/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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<div align="justify">The life of an  Olympic athlete must be intense and exciting, especially in the run up to the  London 2012 Games. The whole world is anticipating the biggest sporting event  of the year which will take place in England’s capital and a number of  documentaries have been launched to offer an insight into the talented sports  men and women.</div>
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<p align="justify">But many of the athletes will attain attributes which can  be likened to a vehicle such as power, determination, speed and endurance; and  these videos will offer a guide into the comparisons<em>.</em></p>
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<p align="justify">The films, which have been published on YouTube, focus  on an Olympic or Paralympic athlete from the BMW London 2012 Performance Team  and they can be watched by clicking <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE-eA8APcc&amp;feature=relmfu">here</a>. In support of the London Games, the documentaries  explore what it really takes to deliver the ultimate performance on the world  stage be it swimming, gymnastics or more.&nbsp; </p>
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<p align="left"><strong><em><u>Form and  Function</u></em></strong></p>
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<div align="justify">This documentary by  Richard D’ Argues discovers the tensions between delivering both aesthetics and  technical ability in British gymnast Louis Smith’s preparation performance as  he aims for gold. And it learns of the equivalents with the development of the  new BMW i8. Just check it out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFAzS8A8BOc&amp;feature=plcp&amp;context=C469a47aVDvjVQa1PpcFPKPFPHLyJK72TW7BnNNgk8yv7gMO9-S74%3D">here</a>.</div>
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<p align="left"><strong><em><u>Beneath the  Surface</u></em></strong></p>
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<p align="justify">This film takes a look under the water to see how  Rebecca Adlington delivers her ultimate performance ahead of London 2012. Made  by Steven Riley, the director of Fire in Babylon, it examines the mental and  physical challenges that face the swimming champion. </p>
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<p align="justify">What are the resemblances to BMW? It explores the  surface of the new BMW 3 Series and how its shape, like a swimmer, is important  to boost an efficient and dynamic performance. </p>
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		<title>Vauxhall Astra VXR</title>
		<link>http://carbloggin.com/hatchbacks/vauxhall-astra-vxr/</link>
		<comments>http://carbloggin.com/hatchbacks/vauxhall-astra-vxr/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:38:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carblogger</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hatchbacks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vauxhall]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://carbloggin.com/?p=167</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Vauxhall Astra GTC VXR All of a sudden Vauxhall in the UK have got serious about the performance hatchback market with the release of what will be the most powerful front wheel drive hot hatch available, so don&#8217;t put your deposit down on the new Ford Focus ST just yet. &#160; The Vauxhall Astra VXR is based on the GTC version of the latest Vauxhall Astra, and to be honest its a wonder that Vauxhall have taken the plunge at all with this car, due to stricter and stricter emissions regulations in Europe and the fact that the Astra VXR will have a relatively low price point. Another reason for applauding Vauxhall for making this car is that they are predicting sales of less than half that of it&#8217;s predecessor, at around 1500 units per year, over the 3200 per &#8230; <a href="http://carbloggin.com/hatchbacks/vauxhall-astra-vxr/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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<td height="20"><a href="http://www.carbloggin.com/images/wallpaper-1600x1200-vauxhall-astra-gtc-vxr.jpg"><img src="http://www.carbloggin.com/images/post-image-600-vauxhall-astra-gtc-vxr.jpg" alt="Vauxhall / Opel Astra GTC VXR" border="0"></a></td>
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<td height="20" align="justify"><b>Vauxhall  Astra GTC VXR</b><BR><br />
All of a sudden Vauxhall in the UK have got serious about the performance hatchback market with the release of what will be the most powerful front wheel drive hot hatch available, so don&#8217;t put your deposit down on the new Ford Focus ST just yet.</td>
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<td height="20" align="justify">The Vauxhall Astra VXR is based on the GTC version of the latest Vauxhall Astra, and to be honest its a wonder that Vauxhall have taken the plunge at all with this car, due to stricter and stricter emissions regulations in Europe and the fact that the Astra VXR will have a relatively low price point. Another reason for applauding Vauxhall for making this car is that they are  predicting sales of less than half that of it&#8217;s predecessor, at around 1500 units per year, over the 3200 per year of the last car. </td>
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<td height="20" align="justify">When the Astra enters the market, it will do so slightly ahead of its rival from Ford. It will also immediately take the lead in the power game with 30bhp more than the Focus ST. </td>
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<td height="20" align="justify">One of the problems though with having lots of power being delivered to the front wheels can be massive amounts of wheelspin, even when your&#8217;re not trying. However, Vauxhall reckon they have really improved the chassis in the new car and this coupled with a new limited slip differential will go some way to resolving the problem.</td>
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<td height="20" align="justify">Powering the car is a turbocharged, 2 litre, 4 cylinder engine which produces 276bhp. Vauxhall are also confident that they may also have the answer the storming new Ford Focus RS when it arrives as they think that the new engine setup is solid enough to throw out over 300bhp if needed. </td>
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<td height="20" align="justify">The new Vauxhall Astra GTC VXR then will get to 60 in 5.9 seconds and is good for 155mph, adn will be £26,995, in the UK, which is a fairly hefty increase of £8k over its predecessor. However, the car is so much more than it used to be and it is now playing with the big boys so it&#8217;s probably worth it. </td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Manufacturer:</b> Vauxhall</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Body Style:</b> 3 door coupe hatch</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Layout:</b> Front engined, front wheel drive</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Engine:</b> 2.0 litre turbocharged 4 cylinder</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Transmission:</b> 6 Speed manual</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Power:</b> 276 bhp</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Torque:</b> 295 lb ft</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Economy:</b> TBC</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>0-62:</b> 5.9 seconds</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Top Speed:</b> 155 mph</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Price:</b> £26,995</td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Merchandise:</b> <a href="http://www.carbloggin.com/images/wallpaper-1600x1200-vauxhall-astra-gtc-vxr.jpg">Wallpaper</a> | <a href="http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?s=257175&#038;v=744&#038;q=122959&#038;r=6480">Win a Supercar</a></td>
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		<title>Ferrari 250 GTO Sells for £20.2 Million</title>
		<link>http://carbloggin.com/supercars/ferrari-250-gto-sells-for-20-2-million/</link>
		<comments>http://carbloggin.com/supercars/ferrari-250-gto-sells-for-20-2-million/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carblogger</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Classic Cars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coupes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supercars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ferrari]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://carbloggin.com/?p=165</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ferrari 250 GTO A car which is regarded by many as being the most beautiful Ferrari of all time, and even by some as the most beautiful car of all time has been sold at auction for the highest price ever paid for a car in Britain. The car in question was an ultra-rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, and the price paid was a staggering £20.2 million. The sale actually came close to breaking the World record for the price paid for a car which still belongs, just, to the 2010 sale of a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC. That car sold for between £20 and £26 million. &#160; The sale itself has a little mystery behind it, although not much, because the man who is the last known owner of Ferrari 250 GTO chassis number 5095, British businessman Jon Hunt &#8230; <a href="http://carbloggin.com/supercars/ferrari-250-gto-sells-for-20-2-million/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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<td height="20"><a href="http://www.carbloggin.com/images/wallpaper-1600x1200-ferrari-250-gto.jpg"><img src="http://www.carbloggin.com/images/post-image-600-ferrari-250-gto.jpg" alt="Ferrari 250 GTO" border="0"></a></td>
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<b>Ferrari 250 GTO</b><BR><br />
A car which is regarded by many as being the most beautiful Ferrari of all time, and even by some as the most beautiful car of all time has been sold at auction for the highest price ever paid for a car in Britain. The car in question was an ultra-rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, and the price paid was a staggering £20.2 million. The sale actually came close to breaking the World record for the price paid for a car which still belongs, just, to the 2010 sale of a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC. That car sold for between £20 and £26 million.
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<td height="20" align="justify">The sale itself has a little mystery behind it, although not much, because the man who is the last known owner of Ferrari 250 GTO chassis number 5095, British businessman Jon Hunt of Foxtons Estate Agents fame is saying nothing. Neither is nothing known at the moment about the new owner although the rumour is that the car is on its way to Spain.</td>
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<td height="20" align="justify">Mr. Hunt bought the car in 2008 in a transaction which actually claimed the World record at the time. He paid £15.7 million for it. The investment seems to have been a good one, as if it was he who sold the car, he has made a tidy £4.5 million pounds profit. Not bad for just over three years of no work!</td>
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<td height="20" align="justify">The actual sale of the car has been confirmed by the Chairman of Telacrest, the classic Ferrari specialist but we just don&#8217;t know who the vendor or the buyer were. </td>
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<td height="20" align="left">If you had owned the car from new you would be sitting on a near 100% profit with this transaction as the car would have cost only around £6000. </td>
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<td height="20" align="left"><b>Wallpaper: </b><a href="http://www.carbloggin.com/images/wallpaper-1600x1200-ferrari-250-gto.jpg">Ferrari 250 GTO wallpaper</a><b> | Competition:</b> <a href="http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?s=257175&#038;v=744&#038;q=122959&#038;r=6480">Win a Ferrari</a></td>
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