A look at the Toyota iQ City Car and why it is an ideal motor to drive when navigating around an urban environment.

It may be the smallest four seater car available on UK roads but the Toyota iQ actually offers plenty of space for the driver and passengers due to the the internal design of the vehicle.

Built as an alternative to the Ford Ka and the Fiat 500, the iQ is suited for couples or parents who have young children in the back of their vehicles.

The focus is very much on the front of the car in terms of elbow and leg room, whilst even taller drivers will not struggle with the headroom afforded in the car. One of the problems with the lack of space at the back of the car is that even when folding the back seats over to increase the boot size, the 242 litres of space is still a similar size to the Smart Fortwo.

However, in terms of zooming around the city, the iQ offers everything which could be needed for drivers of all ages. The iQ is powered by a 1.3 litre engine and comes with air conditioning fitted as standard, as well as alloy wheels, power steering and key-less entry.

One of the advantages of the iQ’s small size is that it has exquisite handling, allowing the car to master even the most trickiest of situations. Backed by a five speed manual gearbox, the car can race from 0-62 miles per hour in 11.8 seconds, although there should not be much need for this when in the city.

Toyota have engineered the iQ to be as cheap and as eco-friendly as possible. As the car contributes less than 100g/km it does not require road tax to be paid on it. As well as being affordable and environmentally conscious, the Toyota iQ is one of the safest cars around, scoring five stars on the new Euro NCAP safety test which was launched in 2009. Nine airbags, including the first back window airbag, brake assist and traction control are all fitted as part of the safety features.

Here is a guide to what airbags are for and when they inflate.

We all know that the inclusion of airbags is an important safety feature of any car but many people don’t actually know what the function of the airbag is.

The airbag is basically a soft landing pillow for a person in the event of a car accident and are said to reduce the risk of death in a frontal crash by around 30% so their importance is evident.

An airbag is made from a thin nylon fabric and contains a sensor which tells it when to inflate. The bag is then inflated with hot blasts of nitrogen gas to protect passengers head’s from hitting the dashboard or steering wheel and causing further injury.

Nowadays cars tend to have front and side airbags, both have the function of protecting the head and torso of the front passengers. The driver airbag is usually stored in the steering wheel so it is ready to inflate upon impact whereas the passenger airbag is located in the dashboard.

Side airbags tend to be smaller in size than front bags and they usually protect either the head or torso of the front passengers but can sometimes be in place to protect rear passengers.

In the past, the airbag has caused some controversy in the sense that they can occasionally cause injury but this is a less frequent occurrence nowadays.

It is also important that a child seat is not placed in line with a frontal or side airbag for safety reasons as they can cause injury or death in more serious cases.

Despite the controversy surrounding them, airbags are a key safety aspect that people look for when buying or leasing a car and it goes without saying that they have been a key player in saving many people’s lives.

Celebrities are well-known for making an impression with the car that they drive, here are a look at some of the most impressive celeb whips.

With their social status and wealth, it isn’t surprising that celebrities are the owners of some of the most impressive vehicles to ever be manufactured.

Whether it is the design of the car or the unique personalisation it is safe to say that celebs drive some of the best cars on the road, but there are always some that are a little more memorable that others.

When thinking of a celebrity car the first thing that springs to mind is a supercar. It is true to say that celebrities love to flash their supercars, which was the case in 2010 when rapper Jay-Z turned 41 and wife Beyonce splashed out on what was the most expensive car in the world at the time, the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport. The car has one of the quirkiest designs of the other cars in the same category and can reach 0-62 in an astonishing 2.7 seconds or 0-124 in 7.3 seconds with a top speed in excess of 250mph.

Of course it’s not just rappers that have flashy cars, footballers are also known for having a powerful and gleaming vehicle. The Range Rover Sport is a car that has been favoured by many football stars including Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher and Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin. The Sport is a flamboyant and more athletic version of the Range Rover so it is unsurprising that it is driven by some of the best sports stars.

It’s not always the biggest or fastest cars that get the most recognition when driven by a celebrity, sometimes it is the customisation of the car that makes it more interesting. This was definitely the case for rapper Nicki Minaj and socialite Paris Hilton who both gave their classy Bentley Continental GT the Barbie treatment with a pink paint job and customised alloy wheels and interior.

A celebrity who is known for his love of cars is singer Jamiroquai. Jay Kay doesn’t appear to have a particular type when it comes to choosing his car, he has over 30 different types, but the most impressive has to be the classy Aston Martin DB5 as seen in many of the James Bond films. The car has more of a classical appearance as opposed to many of the more futuristic-looking cars driven by celebs and it’s easy to see why Jay Kay would opt for a car with such grandeur.

Another car that is favoured by many celebs is the Audi R8 as driven by the likes of Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell, Lauren Conrad and David Hasselhoff. It is easy to see why the car is so popular; the 4.2 litre engine can go from 0-62 in 4.6 seconds so it is definitely rapid and is as sleek in appearance as some of the most well-known supercars from Lamborghini and Ferrari. When Cheryl had her R8 she customised it with a Bang and Olufsen sound system and slick leather interior before selling it on Autotrader in 2009.

A review concerning the functions and features of the Kia Optima.

The Kia Optima is a car in a market where there is a lot of competition and there is undoubtedly an influx of family saloon cars available in the current climate.

However, the Optima is practical and does have features that make it the perfect choice for transporting your family from A to B with the addition of safety functions and an extensive warranty.

There is ample boot space of 505 litres in the Optima, perfect for a young family taking a trip. Alternatively you can transport larger items by folding down the rear seats to create more room so the car can prove to be a practical purchase.

The interior of the car has added touches that make it more practical than some of its opposition with additions such as cup holders for rear passengers, which are ideal for children’s drinks, and a central fold-down armrest. There is also plenty of legroom for adult passengers in the rear of the car so you won’t have to worry about them being cramped and uncomfortable.

With any family car, safety is always desired so the Optima features twin front and side airbags and curtain airbags, emergency stop signalling, ABS with brake assist, hill-start assist and stability control. The car also has a 100,000-mile/seven-year warranty so you can be sure that you are getting a vehicle that is built to last.

Under the bonnet the Kia Optima has a 1.7 litre diesel engine with 134bhp and can reach from 0-60 mph in 10.2 seconds with a top speed of 125mph, whilst the automatic version can do the same in 11.5 seconds and has a top speed of 122mph.

In terms of handling the car responds very well and is nice and light and easily on a par with or better than some of its rivals such as the Vauxhall Insignia or Mazda 6. Although the suspension of the car is a little stiff, it is still nice to drive and the cabin is somewhat comfortable and is great at cutting out some of the wind and road noise.

Overall the car is just an average family saloon and the category means that there are many standard features that you should expect; the Optima delivers these with ease and would make an ideal family or company car.

The arrival of a storm means that you will have to contend with rain, wind and lightening whilst driving but there are some things that you can do to make the experience easier.

Thunderstorms can be scary when driving, especially when you’re also trying to combat the wind and heavy rain.

Although you may start to panic if you are faced with the task of driving in a storm there is no need to be distressed, remaining calm is crucial and there are certain things that you can do to aid yourself when driving in such conditions.

Because of the heavy rain that generally comes with a thunderstorm, it is vital that you keep your distance from the car in front of you as your braking distance will be increased on the wet roads.

If visibility is poor it might be better for you to pull over to the side of the road with your hazard lights on to wait for the rain to subside, especially if you are not confident in driving in such adverse conditions. If you decide to do this make sure that you are away from trees and posts that could be affected by wind and lightening.

A positive thing about being in your car when a thunderstorm strikes is the fact that it is one of the safest places to be as your car is made from metal. This means that if lightning was to strike your car the electricity would be absorbed by the metal exterior body of the car keeping you safe inside it.

If you do decide to pull over for the duration of the storm, ensure that you stay inside the car as you may get struck by lightening if you are out in the open, especially if there are trees nearby.

As soon as the storm hits make sure you turn on your lights as visibility is always poorer and you need to make sure that you can see what’s ahead and so that other cars can see you, this will help in avoiding any accidents. If visibility is good enough to drive in, make sure that you keep your speed low and pay extra attention to the road ahead and cars around you.

Aquaplaning can occur when driving in a storm. This is when water builds up in front of your tyres faster than the weight of your car can move it out of the way, essentially you are driving on top of the water not the road so if you brake suddenly your car will skid. You need to reduce your speed until you can feel the road again, this will help you to avoid accidents during the storm.

Showing off the best cars from the North American Motor Show which was held earlier this month in the former motor capital of the World, Detroit.

A new year heralds a new beginning and that can only equal one thing: the return of the motor show, with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit being the first major motor show of the year.

Here then is a look at the cars which will be talked about for the next 12 months as the rest of the world is offered a sneak preview about what is expected to roll off the production lines.

There’s no better place to start than with the car which claimed the prestigious 2012 North American Car of the Year award. The Hyundai Elantra scooped the title and it’s not difficult to see why judges were so impressed with the South Korean vehicle. The car comes with six speed automatic transmission which is supported by a 1.8 litre four cylinder engine.

Hyundai have developed the Elantra so that it starts via the use of a proximity key, which recognises the owner’s key fob and allows entry and ignition of the car. Coming with plenty of interior room for drivers and passengers in the car, the Elantra also boasts integrated Bluetooth, a navigation system and a rear view camera.

Winner of the North American Truck of the Year, the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque was able to hold off the competition from the BMW X3 amongst other vehicles, leaving the Jaguar North America Land Rover president delighted. Andy Goss said: “It’s a tremendous honour and humbling for the company. We’re going to market the hell out of this.”

With the US being home to the largest Range Rover market, Goss’ admission is hardly surprising. His company’s vehicle comes with a variety of interior styling options and offers stainless steel protection tubes along its sides. Further internal and external accessories are available for the model as Jaguar look to capitalise on their success at the North American International Auto Show.

Porsche have shown off their 911 Carrera Cabriolet for the North American International Auto Show, a car which is powered by the 3.4 litre engine and protected by a body constructed of aluminium and steel. The 911 Carrera Cabriolet comes with either a metallic silver finish or landmark red finish and has a low body in order to gain maximum purchase and grip from the road surface.

The interior design of the Porsche model is based upon flexibility, functionality and leather seating in beige or silver. Porsche have also fitted an automatic climate control which comes with zonal temperature gauges which ensures that the 911 Carrera Cabriolet remains at the best temperature for you and your passenger.

Mercedes used the North American International Auto Show to launch the 2013 model of the Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster which offers 435 brake horse power from a V8 engine and can race from 0-60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds. Previous editions of the SL have been the choice of famous stars such as Grace Kelly and Elvis Presley, whilst Andy Warhol also made boldly coloured prints of the car as part of his art work.

The SL comes with a ‘magic sky control’, otherwise known as a panoramic sunroof which is retractable and altering the appearance from a roadster into a coupe in a matter of seconds. This version of the SL is also notable for being the first Mercedes-Benz SL to be made in aluminium.

When North American ruggedness meets European finesse, the result is the Chrysler Dodge Dart which was on display during the January jamboree in Detroit. The Chrysler is based on the Alfa Romeo suspension and frame, which has been authorised by the Chrysler’s Italian owners Fiat SpA.

The four door sedan comes with either six speed transmission or nine speed ZF automatic transmission, which directs one of three engines, the 1.4 litre, 2.0 litre or 2.4 litre. As well as offering power, the new Dodge Dart offers several safety features including brake support, electronic stability control and has ten airbags fitted as standard.

A North American Auto Show in Motor City would not be complete without an appearance from Ford, who used the occasion to unveil their new Fusion. The car will be known by its more familiar name of the Mondeo in the UK when it is released in the country this spring.

Built as a mid-size four door sedan, the car offers the customer more choice than ever before. Two hybrid models are available so the customer can decide on the amount of output the car can generate. Various trim levels are available for the Fusion, which also comes with 17 inch steel wheels or 16 inch alloy wheels.

The Cadillac ATS sedan model has been built to offer competition in the compact saloon field, with BMW’s 3 Series, the Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A4 all in the car’s range. The vehicle can be used as either a rear or whole wheeled drive and is available with an Ecoteric or V6 LFX engine depending on the model of the car.

Manufactured down the road from Detroit in Lansing, the Cadillac ATS has been launched as a four door sedan but will eventually be complemented with coupés, wagons and a V-series range. Powered by a six speed manual or Hydra-matic transmission, the car will replace the Saab BLS which is being phased out of production.

The Smart car, an offshoot of the Daimler Group, unveiled their ‘Smart for Us‘ concept vehicle which has been labelled as a miniature pick up truck vehicle. The vehicle is hoped to be the solution to the problems which have caused Daimler headaches in relation to their Smart division, which is hitting the company hard, especially in the USA.

If the Smart car is to succeed then it will help Daimler and its parent company Mercedes Benz to meet the CO² emissions targets which are being enforced in Europe. In order to achieve this and to try and recoup some of the costs, Daimler have formed an alliance with Renault in France and Nissan in Japan to share each others platform.

Following on from its German cousin is the BMW ActiveHybrid 3, which sees the Bavarian giants introducing a hybrid version into its successful Series 3 range. It will include a navigation system which can pinpoint the ideal times for the car’s battery to be recharged. However there are concerns about the issue of privacy if the cars were fitted with some form of black box which could track movements as well as recommending the best time to charge up the ActiveHybrid 3.

The car will not be officially launched until autumn of 2012 meaning that BMW can still work on the finer points of the ActiveHybrid 3. The main aspects of the car though should not drastically alter, meaning that the eight speed automatic transmission will be part of the set up, as will the 300 brake horse power fuelled and 55 horsepower electric engines.

Finally another German model on display at the North American International Auto Show is the Volkswagen E-Bugster, which despite its name and appearance is reputedly one of the better electric cars around. It takes 10.9 seconds for the electric car to reach 60 miles per hour from a standing start and also has LED lighting around the base of the car to make it more visible to other road users.

Offering a 114 horse power electric motor and a 695 pound lithium ion battery, the car is able to drive for 110 miles before the battery needs fully recharging, something which takes 35 minutes. The E-Bugster is still classed as a concept vehicle and may never make it to being driven on British roads, however it appears to be an impressive blueprint to draw upon for future generations of electric cars which Volkswagen may create.

Whilst the old paper licences lasted until you were 70, the current photocard licences need to be renewed every 10 years.

Many people believe that when they have passed their driving test and got their licence that everything is all done and dusted.

The thing that many people seem to forget is that their driving licence has to be renewed every ten years and failure to do so can result in a fine.

For over ten years only photocard licences have been distributed when people pass their driving test in the UK and they need to be updated so that they are representative of a person’s most recent appearance.

If you take a look at your photocard licence you will see that it has two dates on it, one (4a) states when the licence is valid from and another (4b) states the expiration date which is effectively when your licence will need to be renewed.

Of course the expiry date on your licence is not something that you may pay much attention to and it is written in small print. For that reason the DVLA will send you a reminder telling you that you will soon need to renew your licence.

There is a fee of £20 for renewing your driving licence which can be a bit of a setback when you’ve already paid for your original one but it is necessary in keeping your picture and details up-to-date.

You may also need to get a new licence if any of the other details on the front of it have changed, for example your name and address. In this case there is no fee for making these alterations and your image and renewal date will remain the same.

If you still have a paper licence it is a good idea to swap it for a photocard one as it is a valid form of identification and they are more commonly accepted abroad which is important if you are planning on hiring a car.

Although renewing your licence may seem like a hassle at first, it is something that everyone has to do so you’re not on your own. To ensure that everyone renews their licence when they are supposed to, the DVLA have issued a warning that failure to comply will lead to a £1000 fine.

A guide to the advantages that driving a Kia Soul brings to motorists when they are looking to lease a car.

If you’re looking for a spacious car which is small enough to drive around tight corners in the hustle and bustle of a big city, then the Kia Soul is the ideal model.

Superb as a family car due to the large boot space and room in the back of the car for the passengers, the Kia Soul is also available as a petrol or diesel vehicle depending on your preference.

For motorists the main positives to draw from the Kia Soul are that it is is easy to handle and drive, making even the most tricky of rides appear smooth and simplistic.

With a wide range of customisation options available as well when you drive off with the vehicle, it can be seen why the Soul is not just a driver’s dream but also a gadget-Mecca for customers.

The Soul is supported by a 1.6 litre engine which can offer 126 brake horse power and reaches 60 miles per hour in 11 seconds from a standing start. The CRDi engine offers a little extra for the driver but regardless of the engine size, all of the Kia Souls are available with five speed manual transmission or four speed automatic transmission.

Lotus was actually commissioned to help Kia create the Soul’s chassis for UK cars, meaning that the Soul offers more agility for the driver than most small city cars. This combined with its comfortable handling allows for the car to easily navigate its way around chaotic roads as well as being relatively simple to park up.

As with the majority of city cars, the Kia Soul took the Euro NCAP safety test and scored the maximum amount stars available. As well as doing well in adult protection, child protection and passenger protection, the Kia Soul was also ranked highly with regards to safety assist. An electronic stability programme and six air bags fitted as standard all help to make the Kia Soul one of the safest vehicles to drive.

There are generally two types of Unleaded and Diesel fuels on the petrol forecourt, but what is so different about the super versions of these fuels?

We all know that the petrol station offers two types of fuel, but every time you pull on to the forecourt you’re faced with the decision of which one to choose.

One of the reasons why people don’t know which fuel to go for is because they don’t know the difference between the standard and super fuels.

The super fuels that you can find in many of the larger petrol stations contain a higher level of research octane which is said to increase the power of many vehicles. By using these fuels it is believed that your car will create less pollution and make for retaining a cleaner engine, creating an overall positive effect on your vehicle.

There are a number of features that are listed by fuel companies which they believe makes the super fuels better than the standard versions, such as the addition of cleaners to keep your engine cleaner and sharper. Some state that they can cut CO2 emissions along with Carbon Monoxide and black smoke pollutants aiming to make the cars more environmentally friendly.

It is also believed that the super fuels are denser than their standard counterparts enabling the car to have more power per litre. However, it is important to remember that not all cars will benefit from having more power so bear in mind the difference in cost; if you don’t think your car will gain anything from having a super fuel it might be better to stick to the regular type.

Of course some of the higher performance cars need the super fuel because of the higher octane level, for example race cars and turbocharged vehicles, as they are more likely to perform at a better rate.

There are some benefits of using super fuels for cars with certain specifications, but if you have a regular car it is best to weigh up the pros and cons before you hit the pump. Whilst injection engines can perform better with the fuel, if you have a regular engine it may be better for you to stick to what you know with a standard fuel.

Over the years there have been a number of impressive movie cars all with quirky characteristics, but some of the best have come from films from the last decade.

Over the years a vast amount of cars from movies have become just as much of a talking point as the film that they feature in.

Of course there are hundreds of these memorable vehicles, but there are some that are just more distinguishable than others for either their appearance or characteristics.

It is obvious that a movie that has a storyline based around cars is going to feature some pretty impressive vehicles so it comes as no surprise that one of the most impressive movie cars comes from the Fast and the Furious franchise. The Mazda RX-7 makes an appearance in three of the films and it’s clear to see why with its slick appearance and speedy rotary engine, ideal for a movie based around drag racing. The impressive paint job that the car has in each of the movies it is featured in also makes it even more visually pleasing.

It’s not always the appearance and speed of a  movie that makes it so memorable, sometimes it’s the characteristics of the car that make it so unique. The classic VW Bug from Herbie: Fully Loaded may seem like a strange addition to the list but just imagine having a car with a mind of its own that could earn you racing driver credibility. Plus it’s nice to see the contrast in the original Bug and the new Beetle, showing the futuristic edge of the 2012 edition.

Speaking of futurism Audi’s concept car, the RSQ, from I Robot was definitely a pleasure to look at. The car is a depiction of what a car would look like in the year 2035 when robots have a commonplace in society for the use of public services. The car is definitely impressive even upon first glances and the sphere wheels and butterfly doors only add to the appeal.

A car movie list wouldn’t be complete without the mention of a James Bond car, in this case his signature Aston Martin DB5. In Goldeneye the car came complete with gadgets such as a built-in dashboard fax machine and a drinks refrigerator containing a bottle of champagne, if only we could have this luxury in all of our cars.

To make it on to a car movie list the vehicle doesn’t always have to be a sports car loaded with gadgets. The Italian Job helped to make the Mini Cooper one of the most popular and iconic cars of the 21st century and it was reported that in the year that the film was released, sales of the new Mini experienced a 22% increase in the UK, highlighting the impact of movie cars on society.