European Car Industry

Breckland Beira: Another European Carmakers Pride

2008-06-06T01:57:00.000-07:00

Europeans really deserves appreciation, especially the Brits. Once again they have created a great car model that set car aficionados in big surprise. This is the new Breckland Beira – a new soft-top 2-seater sportscar that unexpectedly existed.

It uses the General Motors Kappa platform as the foundation for its design. This said platform is also currently used by the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Opel Gt. While the engine performance exhibits identically with the Chevrolet Corvettes. Corvette uses its old LS2, 6-litre V8 engine that produces just less than 400 bhp. The 0-60mph time is said to be sub 5-seconds and the top speed lies at 155mph.

Mark Easten, Engineering Director for Breckland Beira says that “The Kappa platform offers a highly competent chassis, which has been subject to intensive crash and safety tests, and is readily available.

Breckland’s overall director Mike Rawlings states that the cars purpose was to showcase great design and engine potential as well as to construct a thrilling driver’s car with brilliant handling dynamics and marvelous performance.

The top attribute for this new model was the engine that can either use a Liquefied Petroleum Gas as well as petrol. With this feature it can definitely reduce the toxic emissions brought by pure petroleum fueled engines.

The unique and sporty exterior styling displays classic design familiarized on British exhibition areas. Although, older components such as heavy steel panels have been replaced with lightweight components to increase aerodynamics. On its cabin it doesn’t have much sophistication but it has all the standard features that a sportscar must have.

The Breckland Beira will go on sale this November with an expected retail price of £55,000 and it will make its debut at the London Motorexpo.

Solstice: A Coupe that Beats them All

2008-05-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

A coupe version of the Solstice was unveiled at the 2008 New York Auto Show. The 2008 Solstice is a 2-door, 2-passenger convertible sports car, available in 4 trims, ranging from the Convertible to the T2 Convertible. It is a pure roadster with a compelling and unique exterior design.

“It is equipped with a standard 2.4 liter, I4, 173-horsepower engine that achieves 19 mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. The T2 Convertible is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 260-horsepower, turbo engine that achieves 19 mpg in the city and 28-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission”. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual or an optional five-speed automatic transmission.

Auto critics say that this is an eye-pleasing, well proportioned, and a sensuous package. Both trim levels of the Pontiac Solstice come with a manual folding convertible top. Engineers made only minor changes and facelifts to create the new Solstice. It has its sleek lines in its roof that give the car a fresh appearance. Edmunds.com says that the Solstice is "downright sexy".

It features; steering-wheel mounted cruise control, enhanced DIC controls and fog lamps, power locks, mirrors and windows, along with remote keyless entry, and leather seating surfaces. It has bolstered bucket seats that most passengers will find comfortable. Most reviews say that the overall finish of this new Pontiac is very good.

BMW 5-Series

2008-05-16T01:58:00.000-07:00

The 2008 5 Series is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sedan, luxury sports sedan, or luxury wagon, available in 6 trims, ranging from the 528i Sedan to the 550i Sedan. The BMW 5 series has been one of BMW's "experimental" cars, in which they can explore newer ideas. They have inserted new technologies and new ideas into this model. The 2008 BMW 5-Series ranks 2 out of 11 Luxury Large Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 52 published reviews and test drives of the BMW 5-Series.

“This models is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, I6, 230-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 28-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The 550i Sedan is equipped with a standard 4.8-liter, V8, 360-horsepower engine that achieves 15-mpg in the city and 22-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional.”

The BMW 5-Series ranks highly due to its offering of a number of strong powertrain options. According to New Car Test Drive, "Most of the styling touch-up lies in subtle details, but in our view they add character to this luxury sedan." In safety matters, the 2008 BMW 5-Series does well in federal government crash tests, although it earns low marks in side crash tests conducted by the insurance industry.

Introducing Audi R8

2008-05-14T20:05:00.000-07:00

The Audi R8 is a mid-engine sports car introduced by the German automaker Audi in 2007. Its sales began in the first half of 2007 for the United States and Europe. Audi announced in 2005 that the name of the successful Audi R8 race car would be used for a new road car in 2007. Audi R8 is based from the Le Mans Quattro concept car which is seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003.

“This car generates a huge 500 hp and 1,000 Newton-meters (737.56 lb-ft) of torque. It sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.2 seconds and its top speed is well over 300 km/h (186.41 mph). The peak torque, reached at only 1,750 rpm, paves the way for effortless acceleration that is unrivaled even at this level. The V12 TDI crankcase is made from gray cast iron with vermicular graphite”.

It measures 174.4 inches long, 74.8 inches wide and 49.2 inches tall. The wheelbase is 104.3 inches so it offers more passenger space. It also has its polarizing side blades. The instrument panel for the driver is angled slightly towards him and the flat-bottomed steering wheel is a typical feature that enables comfortable entry and exit for the drivers.

Well I think it is simply one of the most interesting and unique super cars ever produced. And the most awesome Audi design to date. I like the V8 gas engine, but this V12 is probably quite a very good piece of engineering.

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept

2008-05-08T01:28:00.000-07:00

Lexus forges into exotic sports car territory with the LF-A concept vehicle. Integrating the simple elegance of the new Lexus design initiative with racing–inspired style, sculpted curves and fluid lines make a dynamic statement. The clean lines of the two-seat cockpit are minimalist and futuristic, so there's no distraction from the impressive ride.

In the press released about Lexus LF-A dated January 13, 2008 it said that the engineers and designers at Lexus continue to use their groundbreaking LF-A premium sports car concept as a medium for expressing their ideas about what a high-performance sporting vehicle not only can be, but should be. In this latest expression of the LF-A, they have removed the car's top to create a high-performance roadster.

The LF-A Roadster is based on the sturdy yet lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum body used for the LF-A coupe, which helps maintain the structure's strength and rigidity even without a top.

Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster is powered by a high-revving V10 engine that approaches 5.0 liters in displacement. The V10, capable of more than 500 horsepower and test-track speeds greater than 200 mph, is mounted in front of the passenger compartment but behind the front-axle centerline in what the LF-A's engineers refer to as a "front-mid" configuration.

The engine is connected via a torque tube and propeller shaft to a transaxle that is controlled by paddle shifters. The torque tube is a structural member that adds rigidity to the drivetrain and chassis while also reducing vibration.

Land Rover LRX Concept To Debut In Europe

2008-02-18T17:09:00.000-08:00

The upcoming Geneva Auto Show is making big news these days. From the debut of the Ford Fiesta to Rinspeed’s sQuba, the much-anticipated auto show in Switzerland will also mark the European debut of the Land Rover LRX concept.

After the warm response it got from the North American auto market at the Detroit Auto Show, the Land Rover is set to test Europeans’ demand for this new car concept before it goes to production in 2009. According to topspeed.com, the Land Rover LRX concept is a highly-fuel efficient cross-coupe that claims to reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 percent. The LRX concept includes a 2.0-litre turbodiesel hybrid that features an Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) that allows the car to utilize electric drive alone at minimum speed while maintaining a full and even improved 4X4 capacity.

Meanwhile, worldcarfans.com reported that this new three-door Land Rover LRX concept was primarily designed to suit the demands of the luxury and executive sector in the auto industry while maintaining Land Rover’s trademark quality of breadth of capability. The LRX, with its compact size, boasts of its lighter weight and, as mentioned earlier, fuel economy. It has the potential to enhance fuel economy by up to 60 mpg with its 120 g/km CO2 emissions.

At topspeed.com, Land Rover’s Managing Director Phil Popham said that the LRX is a concept that proves the possibility of putting Land Rover’s qualities into a package that is more compact yet fuel-efficient. Meanwhile, it remains a concept until it has gauged the public reaction not only in North America but also in Europe which is considered as one of the toughest markets for luxury vehicles. Adding a repair manual in the entire package could be a better idea, isn’t it?

The Land Rover LRX concept will have its European premiere together with the Defender SVX on March 6 to 16 at the Geneva International Auto Show.

BMW To Cut Down Workforce

2008-02-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

We are very much aware that American automakers are reeling as if they have just been hit by a right cross by Kimbo Slice. General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have been reducing their workforce for months now and have shut down plants and reduced shifts on some of their assembly facilities.

On the other hand, we are under the impression that European automakers are sailing smoothly with a few setbacks here and there. But recently, Edmunds reported that BMW, yup, the same German automaker which manufactures vehicles with auto parts as reliable as Acura alternators, has announced that they are looking to cut about $8.7 billion in cost by 2012.

That announcement is really similar to when the Big Three announced that they are cutting down costs. The German automaker will also take steps similar to what the Big Three has done. BMW will be trimming their workforce and will reduce their spending on materials and research and development.

Now, this is really bad. Bad in the sense that there will be a lot of people forced out of their jobs and that has never been good. Another thing I am worried about is that the quality of vehicles that the German automaker manufactures may decline. Sure, the automaker has been creating wonderful machines for as long as we can remember, but they were able to do that because of their prowess in R&D.

Any company which focuses on R&D can easily develop products which will attract consumers. So, if BMW starts slashing down budget, there is a chance, albeit a small one, that the quality of their future vehicles may suffer. But then again, BMW surely knows what its doing.

The Simpsons Ride The Kangoo

2008-02-08T17:02:00.000-08:00

Advertising is the most powerful tool in the world of business and marketing. Television, radio and print - these are the most applied mediums of advertising that is proficient in catching consumer’s significant awareness.

To catch the customer’s attention, advertisers and their exclusive advertising affiliates must pull out something captivating and unique - a head turner concept that is! And today, I’m a hundred percent sure that Renault made a smart and comic move that can definitely tickle the minds of every consumer. The Auto Spectator reported that last September 19, 2007, Renault signed an agreement with 20th Century Fox L&M and Publicis. The three well-known groups have come up with an extraordinary advertisement that will feature “The Simpsons” for the promotion of the all-new Renault Kangoo!

Here are the cool highlights, check it out:

An original partnership imagined by Publicis Conseil: 20th Century Fox L&M and Renault
An original ad campaign: the Simpsons leave the world of the series to explore the real world
New 2008 Renault Kangoo, the ultimate family car, can take anything - even the ultimate family - the Simpsons!

The ad campaign’s nature is systematically hilarious. Of course, it’s “The Simpsons” that we’re talking about. The ad guarantees 101 percent fun and laughter all the way through the Kangoo’s nerf bars. The ultimate yellow family will put the all-new Renault Kangoo to an actual severe test to highlight the vehicle’s exceptional features. The Simpsons, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and grandfather Abraham Simpson disappear from the cartoon world and entered a portal to the real world.

And for everyone’s info, the worldwide Simpsons/New Renault Kangoo advertising campaign will be aired in 29 countries starting in France on February 9.

Audi Posts January Sales

2008-02-01T17:52:00.000-08:00

German automaker Audi is not as popular as BMW or Mercedes-Benz. This is very apparent in the number of vehicles sold by these German automakers. But that does not mean that Audi is not making an attempt to get closer to BMW and Mercedes-Benz in terms of sales.

Recently, The Auto Channel reported that Audi published its sales report for January. Wow! January's over already. Anyway, the automaker reported its sale for the United States auto market which is considered to be the most important market in the world even with the economic downturn.

So, Audi reported that they have sold 6,418 units of high quality vehicles (I am quite sure that they are) for the month of January. That is 0.3 percent better than their sales in the United States last year for the same month. Although the increase is not as huge as I would have wanted it to be (I like Audi), it still shows that the automaker is making headway in its goal to challenge both BMW and Mercedes-Benz as the best German luxury automaker.

Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president of Audi America said: "We look forward to the continued momentum with the Audi brand in the United States in 2008."

Last month, the best selling Audis are the A4/S4/RS4. These are actually the same but the A, the S, and the RS stands for cool, cooler, and coolest in my books. The much awaited R8, the road car, not the race car of the past is now available to car enthusiasts. For the month of January, there were 61 units of the R8 sold. I wish though that it would have been 62; if only I had the money, I'd buy the 62^nd R8 instead of just buying a cargo liner.

Daimler's European Plant Plans

2008-01-30T23:01:00.000-08:00

Based in Germany, car maker Daimler has recently disclosed in a report that they are in the process of deciding whether they would start up a plant in Europe's eastern part. The facility is said to be an assembly plant which would be completing the car-making process. Like with the Jeep, they have manufacturing plants for Jeep wheels and a different facility for building the complete unit. Daimler has also disclosed that if they do decide to build this new facility, they would be using that to make Mercedes Benz vehicles.

The completion of the said plant would then lead to having more citizens of the area getting employed. The move would also help strengthen the European Union's move to have a motor industry that has a wider range.

At present, Daimler is looking at two sites where they could construct their plant. One of the sites is in the city of Wroclaw in Poland and the second would be near the north western portion of Romania. There have been no confirmations from Daimler yet and the company had only shared, "If there were to be a need for additional capacity, particularly for compact cars, then we would look in eastern Europe too. But no decision has been taken." That means that right now, we are all left with speculations.

Ford's Survival of the Fittest Scheme

2008-01-29T18:17:00.000-08:00

The law on survival of the fittest now applies with the Ford Motor Co. as India's Tata Motors is expected to take over Ford's Jaguar and Land Rover after a thorough bidding process.

Since last year, Ford has entertained the idea of selling the brands in order to overcome its financial crisis. With Tata Motors buying them for more than $2 billion, Ford finds a solution to counter its mounting debts.

Ford told Reuters that selling the Land Rover and Jaguar would greatly support its plan of multiyear restructuring in North America since those brands no longer obtain enough profit for the company. In 2006, Ford lost $12.6 billion. But with its cost-cutting measures, Ford recovered with $88 million gains through the first quarter of last year.

"There is still considerable work to do and while no final decision has been made, we will proceed with further substantive discussions with Tata Motors over the forthcoming weeks," Ford Executive Vice President Lewis Booth said.

Meanwhile, details about the negotiation are yet to be confirmed by both parties citing that it was a confidential process.

Tata Motors' acquisition of the Ford's high-profile brands is expected to promote subcontinent companies' expansion in the auto market. That means, Tata, India's top vehicle makers, would be dealing with more than just the ACC cabin filter this time.

"We hope both parties can reach an agreement in the forthcoming weeks, though these are complex discussions and there is still much work that needs to be done before that position is reached," Tata said.

Ford looks forward to having a final agreement of the sale early this year. Goldman Sachs Group Inc, HSBC Holdings Plc and Morgan Stanley stand as Ford's advisers while JP Morgan Chase and Co. take the same role for Tata.

In JD Power's latest sales satisfaction in US, Jaguar got the third rank while the Land Rover landed on the 11th spot. However, sales records showed that it's not making enough money for Ford these past few years that is why Ford had to find buyers for these luxury car brands.

In 2000, Ford acquired Jaguar for $10 billion while it spent about $2.5 billion for Land Rover in 1989.

Damaged Cars + eBay = Perfect Business

2008-01-25T00:21:00.000-08:00

There’s good money in that trash. Yes, they aren’t pure crap; they can be a perfect source for building wealth.

Damaged cars aren’t useless; little repairs can do big magic you know. And with the aid of eBay, the world's biggest online buying and selling community Web site, what you considered trash can transform into sparkly dime.

CNBC shares this story:

Dragging a couple of hundred potential buyers of damaged cars around in the snow or Southern humidity isn’t the best business model for an auctioneer. That’s why Copart embraced the eBay way and started selling online. Now, the company moves 6,000 vehicles a day over the Net.

And that’s just one of the ways founder, Chairman and CEO Willis Johnson has grown Copart, which makes its money “remarketing” totaled cars for insurance companies. He noticed that about 25% of his buyers are outside the U.S., so he bough the U.K.’s Universal Salvage to expand his footprint.

The overseas business is big because it’s only the cost of living that makes a car “totaled” in the U.S. Thanks to low labor costs in other countries, buyers can pick up a late-model luxury vehicle on the cheap and get it running again for much less than their American counterparts.

The stock’s about $4 off its 52-week high, but it’s “going right back up,” Cramer said.

You might not have the slightest idea of how big the venture could be, but a try won’t hurt. If a used master cylinder lures a number of car owners, how much more if you offer cars.

Build a good reputation and don’t put a dent on it. Then, watch how eBay and viral marketing drive sales.

Mercedes Benz At The 2008 NAIAS

2008-01-22T17:29:00.000-08:00

The hottest and talk of the town auto show generated a worldwide impact courtesy of the stunning concept cars and the newest production vehicles from various world-renowned automakers in Detroit. The 2008 North American International Auto Show featured a vast array of vehicle technologies, breakthroughs and most of all, awesome cars! The show is indeed exceptional, and there are no room for dirty mud flaps by the way.

Among the leading European carmakers that were present during the show is the world-famous Mercedes Benz brand. The company’s display room was highlighted by the world debut of the new generation SLK roadster that was presented by one of the four lead stars of the hit TV series and soon to be in theaters, Sex and the City lead star Kim Cattrall. Mercedes Benz also launched the BLUETEC offensive with SUVs in the R, M and GL Class.

"I love the GLK's powerful design, not to mention its incredibly spacious trunk, its exceptional comfort and the fact that it's a Mercedes," comments Kim Cattrall.

"After all, I am one of the few people who have already had the opportunity to gather a generous amount of hands-on experience with the future GLK," says Kim Cattrall as she chats with Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Management Board of Daimler Benz AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

"The forthcoming GLK is the right vehicle at the right time. Firstly, it possesses a highly individual design that is a clear departure from the segment norm. Secondly, it brings together the strengths of our full-size models within an entry-luxury format that also has benefits in terms of fuel consumption," says Dieter Zetsche.

Awesome Concept Cars At NAIAS

2008-01-16T00:58:00.000-08:00

Where do you find the hottest cars? – Where else but motor shows!

And with the opening of this year’s North American International Auto Show, lots of hot cars will be showcased to aficionados delight. And do you think something will be hotter than concept cars? I don’t think so.

At the NAIAS, a number of auto journalists were invited. There, they examined vehicles that won’t be available in the market for quite a time. They are called concept cars - those are the consequences of designers’ wildest imagination.

Beside the fact that concept cars are much-awaited, automakers see to it that they showcase cutting-edge products to lure more shoppers. The future is hard to predict so rich imagination and availability of good materials are necessary to create a compelling concept car.

"Here we can identify consumer interest, what they think, what we'll be doing in the future, what will work and what won't work," said Chrysler President Jim Press.

Chrysler's EcoVoyager, a hydrogen fuel-cell concept car, boasts a futuristic interior that may never hit the showroom floor. But while the vehicles themselves rarely go into production, some ideas in their designs will appear in cars you can buy, according to CTV.ca.

A good example would be "a lot of the crossover Sport Utility Vehicles, like our Chrysler 300," said Press. To note, the CUV is manufactured in Brampton, Ont. It also won the Car of the Year title at the auto show 3 years back.

A stunning concept was Mazda’s Taiki, which is inspired by the flow of the air design philosophy. The car boasts of dramatic lines and curves to emphasize the styling used. "It's one of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen," said a motor show attendee.

Less domineering than the Taiki in appearance was the A-Bat from Toyota. But under the hood, the the automaker’s pool of designers proved that a hybrid engine could run a rugged all-wheel drive pickup. Chevy, meanwhile, flaunted its controversial hybrid plug-in dubbed Volt. The Volt is an all-electric performance vehicle.

Nissan, on the other hand, has opted to up the ante of family minivan by wiping its boring stigma. "Minivans have been around a long time, but people don't want to drive them -- they have to drive them," said Nissan Designer Richard Pavatich. He tried to make the minivan more enjoyable by giving each seat its own individual entertainment system, and the centre seats even spin around. "We made a sport exterior for wherever you want to go," he noted.

Very true, the motor show releases steams. NAIAS might be in need of an AC condenser to make the ambiance colder by several degrees.

Peugeot Citroen to build its first factory in Russia

2007-12-28T18:15:00.000-08:00

PSA Peugeot Citroen, a French automobile and motorcycle manufacturer, is planning to build its first factory in Russia, one of the fastest expanding markets in Europe.

The new plant will be established in the town of Kaluga, southwest of Moscow. The company will start the production by assembling mid-sized vehicles in 2010.

The French auto maker is in goal to have 100,000 vehicles sold in 2010. It hopes to sell three times of that annually in the following years.

Same as other global firms, may it be the maker of Acura Integra cold air intake filter among others; Peugeot Citroen will build their cars in a Russian plant to avoid heavy import duties for the Russian market, a lucrative market as correspondents regard it.

This year, around 2 million new cars were sold in the country. However, analysts say that low levels of ownership mean that there is room for rapid growth in demand.

Separately, Hyundai Motor Co., the world’s 6th largest auto maker, also plans to build a car factory in the county. The Japanese car maker is willing to invest 400 million dollars to establish the plant in St. Petersburg within the first half of 2008. It is also in goal to manufacturer 100,000 vehicles a year.

Nissan Qashqai hits 100,000 Customer Sales in Europe

2007-12-27T21:47:00.000-08:00

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., a Japanese automobile manufacturer, began selling its Qashqai – the company’s very popular compact crossover - last March. During the last week of November, the vehicle reached the landmark of 100,000 customer sales in Europe.

By fact, the UK, Russia, and Italy are the Qashqai’s three largest markets. The demand for Qashqai in most countries, which includes Ireland, has dramatically surpassed expectations.

To tap the surging demand for the car in Europe, Nissan has increased production by 20 percent last June at its factory in Sunderland, to where the compact crossover is manufactured.

The Qashqai has strong distinctive design that sits between a traditional hatchback style and a more robust elevated SUV shape that is very appealing to the European market. European buyers were attracted to the premium quality interior and overall design of the Nissan Qashqai. Nissan says that buyers of Qashqai in Europe typically used to drive a compact hatchback (like a Megane or Astra), an entry-level family hatchback (like a Laguna or Avensis), or an economy SUV (like a Sportage or Hyundai Santa Fe).

The athloneadvertiser.ie says, “The Qashqai was designed and developed in Europe following extensive research of local market buying patterns and a deep consumer analysis of unmet needs among car-buyers. Nissan Europe’s product planners identified an opportunity in the market to design and develop a vehicle which provided more dynamic design, without the perceived aggression of a compact SUV. Yet it should maintain the elevated driving position which is popular, but not at the expense of driving enjoyment. The Qashqai is that model.”

The Qashqai was designed at Nissan Design Europe in London. The technical development was made at the company’s technical centres in England, Spain, and Germany.

So far, the Nissan Qashqai was awarded the maximum five-star rating for adult occupant protection from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). It has obtained the highest ever recorded score for any vehicle. In that case, Honda, the maker of Acura Integra antenna, among others, is likely facing another good opponent in the market.

The European Cars

2007-12-26T23:20:00.000-08:00

According to an international car-safety advocate, Australian motorists have been tricked into thinking European cars are the best when they are the most dangerous. Let us take a while of break from checking this Acura CL strut assembly to have a closer look at this issue …

Based from smh.com, New Zealander Clive Matthew-Wilson, author of The Dog & Lemon Guide 2008, said that Australians were risking their lives as they buy European models. He said, “In Australia and New Zealand, European cars have a certain exotic cachet. It’s so often that people have the impression that they’re getting something better than average when in fact it’s the opposite.”

Matthew-Wilson claims that European cars have a “shocking shelf life”, are poorly built, unreliable, expensive to fix and consistently feature at the bottom of British and German customer satisfaction surveys. He said, “Mercedes Benz definitely hovers among the worst, so does Volkswagen … Yet if you asked 19 out of 20 people on the street they’d say they’d be well above average.” “The best of the Europeans equals the worst of the Japanese. Australian cars are somewhere in-between. Australian cars are really the best for the Australian environment, as obvious as that sounds,” he added.

Matthew-Wilson mentioned that the biggest “lemon” was the Land Rover Freelander 1997-2006 models. Based on the records from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ VFACTS, 7431 units of those models were sold in Australia up to the end of 2006. Matthew-Wilson said that the vehicle has been released to the public with 132 recognized faults, which includes engines that blew up after a few months, gearboxes that “disintegrated without warning and drive shafts that fell off while the car was being driven”. By fact, in the past year, Land Rover was the ninth most popular off-road passenger vehicle in NSW.

Contrary, European cars were featured on the list of the most popular vehicle makes. It has joined the Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Volvo and Audi.

Jack Haley, NRMA manager of motoring research, said that European cars performed well in the organization’s crash tests. He claims that there was no evidence that the vehicles had shorter shelf lives than other makes.

This is really confusing, don’t you think? Well, a big portion of the real answer to this issue is the experience held by the actual drivers and owners of the European cars. And, a study focusing on this matter would do great help.

Corvette ZR1 heading to US

2007-12-25T18:23:00.000-08:00

Chevrolet, the largest automobile brand owned by General Motors (GM), is about to bring its 2009 Corvette ZR1 to the US market in the third quarter of 2008. The company calls the car “an American supercar that not only establishes new benchmarks for production-based power and performance, but challenges global competitors.”

According to Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper, “The ZR1 redefines what an American supercar can deliver with performance that betters exotics costing two, three or four times as much – and can still be driven as a daily commuter.”

Peper said, “Preliminary testing shows the ZR1 beats the previous Corvette Z06 in every performance category … from acceleration and braking to cornering grip and top speed … It all boils down to the power-to-weight ratio and the ZR1’s is exceptional – better than the Porsche 911 GT2, the Ferrari 599 and even the Lamborghini LP640.” “In fact the ZR1 is expected to be the first production Corvette with a top speed of more than 200 mph,” he added.

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is powered with a 6.2 L, supercharged V8 engine that breathes through a positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger with a new, four-lobe rotor design developed by forced-induction specialist Eaton especially for the engine and a central, horizontal intercooler.

Due to the strengthened, lightweight valvegear, the new ZR1 revs to a dizzy 6600 rpm. The vehicle even kicks out an estimated 462 kW and 823 Nm.

The new Corvette ZR1 has the sporty looks inside and out. It has a raised, all-carbon-fibre bonnet with a clear, polycarbonate window showing the top of the intercooler with “LS9 SUPERCHARGED” embossed on either side and the Corvette crossed flags on the engine cover. The exposed carbon-fibre comes with a clear coat – to protect it from UV light.

Inside, there is a special instrument cluster with a boost gauge, a ZR1 logo on the rev-counter and a speedometer that reads to 220 mph.

Optional features are the chrome wheels and a “luxury trim” package that includes power-adjustable, leather-trimmed sport seats in a choice of four colours and embroidered with ZR1 logos, satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.

At present, the company has no plans to build a right-hand drive model for this new Corvette ZR1. That’s a pretty sad part; some wouldn’t be able to see such sporty Corvette from behind your cars through the Acura CL mirror, in some of the major countries around the world.

Europe to overthrow US as the world’s biggest car market?

2007-12-19T19:19:00.000-08:00

Looks like Europe is up to something … Would it be a massive rollout of premium Acura CL fan shroud? Or, a showcase of thousands of future cars? … Sadly, it’s not. Rather, it is about the growing sales of new cars within Europe, which could possibly bring down U.S. in its thrown being the biggest car market in the world.

Based from a recent research, conducted by Automotive News Europe, the new car sales in US reached a total of 15.6 million units last year. That is equivalent to about 740,000 units more than the sales in Europe.

However, the gap narrowed down by 10,980 units in the first 10 months this year. And, that is close enough for Europe to overthrow the current title holder.

By fact, the recent credit crisis in the US and the surging fuel prices are mainly the hindrance at the midst of its growth.

The time seemed to go well for Europe, on the other hand. The growth in two major markets – Italy and the UK – brought Europe to boost its sales volume throughout this year. Another factor is the increasing demand in central and Eastern Europe.

By numbers, overall European sales surges 1.2 per cent at 13,572,669 units in the first ten months of 2007.

Targets to cut CO2 car emissions in Europe

2007-12-18T19:06:00.000-08:00

The European Commission recently held talks to tackle about EU (European Union) targets in reducing CO2 car emissions – amidst the fear that wrangling between car manufacturing countries might delay or hinder the entire process.

The Commission is looking forward to adopt a draft regulation soon, aimed to reduce carbon emissions to 120 grams per kilometer for passenger cars with five years. But, a tough consequence between European heavyweights has attempted to put the key negotiations on crisis. According to a member, the car manufacturers that have been traditionally producing heavy and energy-hungry cars are concerned that the emission targets will unfairly benefit those businesses that are making lighter and more efficient vehicles.

French manufacturers, such as Peugeot-Citroen, have already reduced the carbon emissions to 140g for their cars. On the other hand, German automakers, such as BMW, Mercedes and Daimler, are left behind because they produce heavier and higher performance models.

An insider close to the talks said, “It’s a typically European fight where the national business interests of individual countries is stopping the sort of concrete agreements that could benefit everybody.”

Presumably, failure to reach an agreement soon enough will lead the Commission causing embarrassment to the environmental policy of the European Union, which claims to be taking the most initiative in the campaign against global warming.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, the EU is in goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8 per cent within 2008 to 2012. Its commitment brought up EU leaders to sign up to the idea of a further 20 to 30 per cent reduction until by 2020.

However, environmental campaigners predict that track record on transport emissions in Europe will likely undermine those commitments. Between 1990 and 2005, carbon emissions from transport in the EU surged by 32 per cent. In the same period, other industrial sectors reduced their emissions by 9.5 per cent.

The Commission is planning to require all new passenger cars to emit an average of no more than 130 grams per kilometer. It is part of cutting down the current levels by around 25 per cent. But, it could further be reduced by 10 grams by innovating air-conditioning systems, tyre pressure monitoring and gear shift indicators.

Manufacturers will be subject to heavy fines in case of failure to meet those targets. That would mean… automakers should now be more focused in achieving it, but may not be more than producing quality Acura CL car bra or new technologies.

Mitsubishi attributes success to Outlander and Lancer

2007-12-17T17:38:00.000-08:00

Last year, Mitsubishi Motor Corp., the sixth largest automaker in Japan and the seventeenth largest in the world by global unit sales, had its global retail sales surging by 15 percent. A big factor contributing to this success is the launch of the company’s two new C-segment models, namely the Outlander SUV and Lancer sedan, more than having premium Mitsubishi Pickup radiator hose on the vehicles the company produces.

Mitsubishi provided both the models a torquey new 2.4 L engine. The engine adds a lower entry point to what was a V-6-only lineup for the Outlander. It also provides a “big block” in the topstep GTS trim for the Lancer, on the other hand.

Since the launch, the Lancer had the all-aluminum 2.0 L engine. Now, the new 4B12 engine comes as a bored and stroked variant of the old. The new has a displacement of 362 cc, boosted up through an 11 mm increase in piston stroke (to 91) and a 2 mm increase in cylinder bore diameter (88). Like the old, the new features 16 valves and Mitsubishi’s MIVEC variable valve timing system on both intake and exhaust camshafts. But, the new is provided with balance shafts to optimize smoothness.

For the Lander GTS, the new engine generates 16 added horsepower and 21 additional lb-ft of torque, compared with last year’s 45-state version). Now, it produces 168 horsepower and 167 lb-ft. This power is even greater compare with the PZEV-rated 2.0 L models, which have been rated at 143 for both horsepower and torque.

Despite the larger engine, there is no much difference with regards to the pump. The city/highway fuel economy remains at 21/28 for the five-speed manual and 21/22 for the CVT.

Other than the new engine, the 2009 Lancer GTS comes with standard high contrast meters and options. It includes traction control, Xenon headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and the FAST Key (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) entry system that allows the driver to unlock and open the door with the key in pocket or purse.

Sounds wonderful for the Lancer, right? Probably, most of you are excited to get a test drive. Then, get one to be your own, but not until early 2008, to when it goes on sale. Just make sure you have about $18,000 on your hand for a purchase.

Maruti Suzuki re-focusing on European Market

2007-12-14T17:15:00.001-08:00

Maruti Suzuki, the largest passenger carmaker in India, is likely to re-focus in the European market and compete against other auto leaders, including Fiat, Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota in the small car category.

Small cars are surging in popularity in Europe after the significant rising of fuel prices, congestion and new laws that penalize high emissions were observed. This fact boosted Maruti Suzuki to produce tiny cars in the “A segment” to be exported by the end of next year.

According to Michael Tyndall, European auto and component analyst for Nomura in London, “There is a trend towards downsizing in the market… There’s almost a divergence. The premium segment is growing strongly. At the same time the small car segment is growing. Everything else in the middle is suffering.”

Suzuki created A-Star, a new five-door hatchback, which will comply with strict Euro 5 emission standards. It will have a one-liter aluminum engine. The vehicle will be sold in Europe under the Suzuki brand through the company’s network of dealers. About 150,000 A-Star units will be rolled out within a few years from a plant near Delhi. Around 100,000 of which will be export, with the rest distributed in the Indian market.

The involvement of India will not be limited to the A-Star production. A-Star will be the first Suzuki car designed with consideration to Indians based on Maruti Suzuki’s research and development unit.

However, the sales in India will still be the main focus of Maruti Suzuki, according to automotive research group CSM Worldwide. India is the world’s fastest growing automotive market for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

In 2006, Maruti Suzuki was able to have almost 675,000 cars sold, of which 39,200 units were exported. The company is planning to produce over a million cars in India by 2010. But, the plans will need the Indian government to improve its ailing infrastructure, said Osamu Suzuki, chairman of Suzuki. He said that India’s outdated and crowded ports cramp plans for exports; subsequently, the railways, roads and highways must be improved as well.

Last year, Maruti Suzuki has cut back on exports to Europe, considering that it already has a factory in Hungary. It just then focused on the Middle East, south Asia and Africa.

The re-focus requires Maruti Suzuki to give extra effort in maximizing the production at its new factory in India. That may include greater manpower to produce quality parts, as good as Acura Legend alternator, compatible for the car they intend to build.

The Success of Dacia Logan in Western Europe

2007-12-13T17:53:00.000-08:00

Looks like the Western Europe got a successful newcomer – the Dacia Logan. Let’s take a closer look before searching for quality Acura Integra performance pulleys online…

Dacia, a Romanian car manufacturer, is a subsidiary of French manufacturer Renault, which purchased it in 1998. Since then, Renault assigned Dacia to be responsible in building a easy-to-fix car for Eastern Europe, as well as for Asia and South Africa. Surprisingly, Logan made it up to achieve huge sales success in Western Europe. By fact, nearly 15 percent of the Logan’s 159,173 mid-2007 sales total was accounted to France and Germany alone. Want to know the secret? The Logan is being sold as little as 7,600 euros, making it the cheapest car in Europe.

Like many European cars, the Logan is provided with small and efficient engine options. The Logan MCV, the seven-seat station wagon version, was powered with a 1.5 L turbodiesel. The engine generates 85 hp (might not be fast enough for most, but frugal) to run zero to 60 mph in 13 seconds. The wagon consumes around 40 mpg.

The Dacia Logan has been equipped with air-conditioning, power windows, side air bags, and a CD player.

Dacia Logan is being manufactured at Dacia’s automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania. The vehicle also comes in van form and is likely to have pickup for 2008.

European Automakers to further expand in United States

2007-12-11T17:02:00.000-08:00

European automakers are considering further expansion in United States through building plants, which will eventually allow them to create more vehicles for the giant market. The interest is being boosted by the dollar’s falling value, despite the fact that American car companies are shifting production to other lower-cost countries.

Fiat, an Italian automobile manufacturer, is the most recent company that is reportedly planning to build a plant in the United States. According to Fiat’s Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne, Alfa Romeo, Fiat’s sports car brand, needs a North American plant to be profitable. After 13 years of absence, Alfa Romeo is expected to return to United States by next year.

Volkswagen, a German-based automobile manufacturer, on the other hand, is currently searching for a location for a plant in the eastern United States. It was the first foreign automaker that opened an American factory – in New Stanton Pa., - but had closed the facility in 1988. Last month, Volkswagen’s Chief Executive Stefan Jacoby said that the company is looking forward to build the factory by mid 2008.

Unlike BMW and Mercedes Benz, which operate luxury car factories in South America, Fiat and Volkswagen are considered mass-market European brands. According to analysts, the arrival of Volkswagen and Fiat could lead others, such as the French companies Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroen, to expand production to the country as well. But, that is if the euro remains strong.

John Hoffecher, managing director of AlisPartners (a consulting and reorganization firm based in Southfield, Michigan), said, “Currency becomes a critical profitability lever when you’re a globalized business … The way that you keep currency out of it is by having manufacturing facilities around the world. With the U.S. being such a good market to play in, I think you’ll see more and more companies put facilities here.”

BMW and Mercedes both started building vehicles in the United States in the 1990s. Now, they are expanding American production due to the falling value of dollar against the euro. BMW has also been predicted to build engines and transmissions someday in the United States.

The strength of euro makes the Europe-produced vehicles more expensive in the United States. In that case, automakers are triggered to either cope with smaller profit margins or perhaps raise prices. Hoffecker said, however, slowing American auto sales make it difficult for the companies to charge more. He said, “In the scope of the auto industry. $100 makes a difference … The change in currency has has thousands – ten of thousands in some vehicles – of dollars of difference (for European companies).”

Before the dollar’s latest period of decline, the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan, conducted a study that revealed autoworkers in Western Europe earning about $10 an hour more than their American counterparts.

Marchionne said that the weak dollar as well as the competitive pressure in the American car market would make Alfa Romeo a money-loser for the first three or four years after its reintroduction in the United States. He said, “It was already expensive when the dollar was $1.10 to the euro. Now it is more expensive … Mid to long term, I have no doubt” that Fiat will have the need to build vehicles in North America to sell at a profit in the United States.

Volkswagen is hoping to double its North American sales to at least 800,000 vehicles annually. Since it has been building small cars in Puebla, Mexico, a better option for the automaker would be to expand in Mexico rather than putting up a plant in the United States.

Since 2002, Volkswagen was not able to earn a profit in North America. In fact, it lost $800 million dollars last year.

The automakers should first account those facts before getting into a risky decision, just as how we should carefully pick the right Acura Integra mirror online.

Saturn to launch the 2008 Astra

2007-12-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

This month, Saturn Corp., a division of General Motors, will be launching the 2008 Astra, its new compact model to further leverage the connection of its parent company with its European sister division, Opel.

Saturn will be adopting the existing Opel Astra hatchback to apply new and rear fascias, execute engine calibration and safety related engineering changes. It will create a US version of the mid-sized Aura sedan, a derivative of the Open Vectra.

Saturn’s general manager Jill Lajdziak believes that such strategy will work even though the hatchback (as a design format) traditionally has a lukewarm reception among U.S. buyers.

Considering that Ford’s Mazda brand was able to successfully capture the interest of younger American aficionados through its Mazda3 compact, Lajdziak foresees that Saturn will also be able to do the same in a similar population.

According to designer Uwe Muller, the distinctive styling will separate the Astra from the crowd. Compared with its main rival, the Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, the roofline of Astra is approximately one inch lower and the arching side window line “pulls the car down to make it look more sporty while keeping good interior space”. “The car looks like a designer sketch,” he added.

The even practical and spacious five-door Astra is expected to be the best selling version in the U.S. The three-door XR version, on the other hand, will be street credible with its sporty looks and standard 18-inch wheels. Unfortunately, there will be an absence of more powerful engines in US-bound Astra models, making it less attractive for US enthusiasts.

At present, U.S. buyers are only provided with the standard 1.8 L four-cylinder engine that comes with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, generating 138 hp. It is decent enough, but short when compared with the Rabit’s 2.5 L, 175 hp powertrain. It is also less thrilling to offer a four-speed automatic at this point where five and six-speed self shifters are the trend. There are just too many criticisms… accounting the interior and exterior angles.

The good thing about the Saturn Astra is that it could be driven on winding backroads, with excellent handling and roadholding.

Provided with impressive standard equipment, the pricing of the Saturn Astra is competitive at a starting of $15,995 (includes destination charge) for the five-door XE model and $18,495 for the three-door XR.

Pointing out the revitalization of Saturn, Lajdziak said, “finally the promise of brand is being delivered. We were wildly successful in early ‘90s, then we hit some bumps.”

Since March, Saturn has rolled out a succession of new models beginning with the Sky roadster, to respond to the need for broadening the brand portfolio. Lajdziak mentioned that the Sky has been significantly successful at conquest sales, with a 54 percent rate. “It has led the revitalization from utilitarian and boring design… There is no better way than with a beautiful roadster,” he said.

After the Sky and before the Astro, Saturn rolled out the Aura and Aura hybrid, followed by the redesigned Vue and Vue hybrid, and the Outlook crossover. Lajdziak said, “We have design consistency that we didn’t have before … and we are competing in three new segments and new price categories. We are pointing in the right direction.”

Lajdziak’s observation is supported by the year-to-date sales that surged by 7.9 percent – the best performance of any GM division in North America. The company is looking forward on keeping up the momentum. Well let's just hope things go as planned for Saturn.

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Top 10 Cars that all have been waiting for

2007-12-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

Leave your online search for Acura fuel injectors for the meantime and check out the following top 10 concept cars from invetorspot.com that you would surely love to own:

Daihatsu OCF-1 – a little 2-seater that is presumed to compete against the MG. It settles over 17 inches wheels and comes powered with a 660 cc 3-cylinder engine. A turbo is sustained to help enhance the vehicle’s stopping power. A CVT Transmission aids in helping out the 0-60 time. And, a power-retractable top with glass inserts has been used to provide a roomy feel, even when the top is up. One more thing - the opacity can be adjusted through a switch that controls the integrated LCD sunshade technology.
Honda DN-01 – originally seen 2 years ago. The new version was almost kept unchanged, with only minor adjustments on the seat and exhaust system. It is powered with a 680 cc V-Twin provided by Deauville. A hydraulically driven transmission offers better performance more than the standard. A push-button gear-change system has been equipped to allow the drive to swap the gear ratios.
Subaru Exiga – a 7-seater Subaru car. It comes with AWD and 2.0 L turbo boxer motor. The “open” interior is described with 360 degree view due to the mostly glass roof and windows in every direction. An 8-view monitor system has been tucked into the dash to complete the view. There are also highly aerodynamic mirrors mid way up the front door pillars.
Audi Metroproject Quattro – comes with a TSI (Turbo + Supercharger engine) the provide power to front wheels. There are also electric motors that are responsible for driving the rear wheels, making the vehicle an AWD. Audi’s Mobile Electronic Device has been housed in the dash. The device is basically a PDA that allows owners to access some the car’s systems.
VW Space Up – a larger version of the “Up” originally showcased at Frankfurt. It offers more room and an extra set of doors. It is the 2nd design in VW’s new lineup of “Small Family Cars”. Currently, the vehicle is under production engineering, with the purchasing availability expected at the end of the decade.
Volvo ReCharge – makes use of a standard outlet to recharge onboard batteries that offers a 100 Km range. A 1.6 L flexfuel engine could be used for longer trips to run a generator that recharges the batteries. Volvo claims a 66% decrease of CO2 emissions.
Lexus LF-A – a 2-seater concept car powered with a V-10 that provides more than 500 horsepower to the rear-wheels. It has been originally seen back in 2005 at the Detroit Auto Show. The front-engine rear-wheel drive setup along with the increased aerodynamics brings the car into the 200 mph plus category.
Suzuki Kizashi-2 – the first version got some restyling on the front end. It also comes with bigger tires and wheel flares. It is powered with a 3.6 L V-6 engine.
Honda CR-Z – “Compact Renaissance Zero” – presumed as a huge step in the right direction. It offers the performance associated with Honda.
Mitsubishi Concept ZT – has been powered with a 2.2 L “clean diesel” engine that offers the same performance of a 4.0 L gasoline engine. The vehicle can shed some weight through the use of a lower compression ratio. The power will be delivered to the ground through a dual-clutch “SST” gearbox linked to a computer controlled all-wheel drive system.

So… which would be your pick?

Peugeot’s Bipper Going “Beep Beep”

2007-12-06T21:31:00.000-08:00

Peugeot will launch its Bipper “Beep Beep” Concept Van at the Bologna Motor Show. This concept van shares much of its character with Peugeot’s LMS Championship winning Peugeot 908 HDi FAP race car.

And just like the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, which debuted in Italy, the Bipper “Beep Beep” will also stage its world’s debut in Italy. The Peugeot Sport team for its first year in the Le Mans Series was able to win all six races with the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of the 2007 programme and obtain second place in legendary Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Peugeot Sport team winning qualities include precision, efficiency, endurance, competence, and speed. These same qualities are present in the new Bipper van is guaranteed to meet the expectations of many customers who prefer vehicle as a day-to-day buddy.

Aside from prize-winning qualities, the 908 and the Bipper van are both versatile and well capable of weaving in and out of traffic. Their diesel engines integrated to HDi diesel particle filter system (DPFS) technology delivers power of an entirely different level—plus or minus a nought in the middle more than 700 bhp for one and 70 bhp for the other.

The other styling cues that strengthen the links between Peugeot Sport and the “Beep Beep” include the unique amalgam of colors of matt black sides, red bonnet, and roof and a white stripe running lengthways along the vehicle. Its sides display the stylized lion’s head of Peugeot Sport with the numbers 7 and 8 that are adjacent to the side windows in reference to each of the competition 908 HDi FAP race cars. The vehicle’s special gold tinted windows are designed to imitate the visors of the 908 driver’s helmets.

The wheels and suspension of the “Beep Beep” Concept Van is improved while brakes are now in the form of 313mm diameter discs at the front while the black 18” alloy wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 225/45 R18 tires.

The “Beep Beep” features a 5-speed electronically controlled manual gearbox and a 1.4 liter HDi diesel that revs up 55kW and a torque of 160 Nm at 1750 rpm. It is equipped with a DPFS short for Diesel Particle Filter System---it is known also as FAP.

The efficient powertrain coupled with “Beep Beep’s” optimized aerodynamics produces a combined cycle of fuel consumption of 62.7 mpg with CO2 emissions of 119g/kmsimilar to the production HDi model.

The Bipper van is expected to roam the streets of UK in May 2008 and will be taking a closer look at the progress of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in the 2008 LMS Championship.

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Kia cee’d awarded “2008 Car of the Year”

2007-12-06T18:32:00.000-08:00

Kia Motors, a subsidiary of Hyundai Kia Automotive Group and the second largest automobile manufacturer in South Korea, has been doing very well in the European market. It's giving the makers of Acura CSX fuel tank and other top automakers a fair competition.

In December 2006, the company started releasing the Kia cee’d, a small family car, in the European market. Recently, the cee’d has been awarded with its most prestigious trophy – “2008 Car of the Year” – by the Romanian Union of Auto Journalists and Publishers. The title has been granted to the vehicle in the UZEAR – Romanian’s eighth award ceremony since 1999.

It seems like the cee’d has been achieving wonderful awards lately. In fact, it has received the recent “Family Car of the Year” award from Sweden’s Motoröraren Magazine. It also won the “2007 Compact-Class Fleet Car of the Year” by Fleet Awards Polska organized by The Fleet Magazine, as well as Playboy’s “Car of the Year” award - both in Poland. It also received the “2007 Innovation Award” during the Autoweek competition in the Netherlands. And, it was even short-listed for the “2008 European Car of the Year” (COTY) award – taking the fourth place and outwitting several European favorites in the final vote.

Anyways… For this recent award, the jury - made up of 18 Romanian auto journalist members – allotted points to 31 contending cars. They based the points on the design, comfort, safety, cost of buying and driving, joy of riding, environmental friendliness and overall value. For the final phase of the contest, only eight models were nominated, including the Fiat Bravo, Fiat 500, Ford Mondeo, Hyundai i30, Mazda 2, Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 308 along with the cee’d. The Kia cee’d ranked the highest, followed by the Ford Mondeo, then the Mazda 2.

According to George Damian, Sales and Marketing Director for Kia Motors Romania, “This collective recognition from Romanian top auto journalists and editors makes us determined in giving more than our best in the future. More than simply fulfilling the jury’s criteria, we feel the amazing 7-year warranty and 5-star EuroNCAP rating played a major role in the jury’s decision.”

Currently, Kia Motors holds over 3% of the C1-segment in Romania. So far, the cee’d family is selling 1,682 units this year. And, the company is expecting that the Romanian new passenger car market will be reaching 335,115 units throughout 2007, with the C1-segment having an estimated 52,777 units.

Audi A3 to be Produced at the Group’s Hungary Plant

2007-12-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

Production is already on the way for the new Audi A3 Cabriolet in Hungary. This momentous event was led by the Hungarian Prime Minister and Audi’s Chairman of the Board of Management. The launching of the production at the Hungarian plant is under Audi Hungaria Motor Kft which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Audi AG and host to the debut of the new model.

Audi Hungaria is currently the country’s highest revenue and greatest exporting companies. Its production facilities at Gyor amount to more than five million euros. The said production facilities are located 130 km west of Budapest and have produced more than 300,000 vehicles since its start in 1998. Some of the models currently produced at Audi’s Hungarian plant includes the TT Coupe and the Roadster and will be soon joined by the A3. The plant has a capacity of producing 300 vehicles per day.

Rupert Stadler Audi’s Chairman of the Board of Management said "Car manufacturing in Hungary at Audi Hungaria has proved an outstanding success over the past years with production of the Audi TT Coupé and TT Roadster. We are convinced that the Hungarian factory, with production of the Audi A3 Cabriolet, will make a major contribution to our strategic objective to build 1.5 million vehicles in 2015." He further added that Audi Hungaria is a vital part of the Group’s engine manufacturing operations.

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Brabus SLR McLaren Roadster

2007-12-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

If you love the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster just as it is, wait till you see what Brabus has done with it---a topless Mercedes supercar made sportier and more exciting.

Aside from stunning looks the Brabus designers has given the topless Mercedes a front spoiler that is attached to the production bumper to minimize lift on the front axle. The spoiler is made from exposed carbon fiber and was given a shape that is fine-tuned in the wind tunnel. It is light and tough. The Brabus designers have also developed a rear diffuser made from carbon fiber to replace the production counterpart.

Here are the other improvements made by Brabus on the SLR Roadster:

• The addition of Brabus Monoblock VI 20-inch wheels feature six double spokes and mounted on the sports car size 9.5Jx20 in front and size 11.5Jx20 on the rear axle.
• High performance tires in sizes 255/30 ZR 20 and 305/25 ZR 20 are supplied by Brabus technology in partnership with Pirelli and YOKOHAMA.
• The power tuning for the supercharged 5.5 liter engine include special camshafts, a fuel cooling system, and a high performance exhaust.
• The V8 compressor engine’s power output is increase by 24hp/18kW to 650hp/478kW at 6,500 rpm.
• A special clutch-type limited slip differential with a locking rate of 40 percent.

The new Mercedes super Roadster can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 337 km/h.

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Maruti Suzuki to bring A-Star to Europe

2007-12-05T17:09:00.000-08:00

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, a publicly listed automaker in India and a leading four-wheeler automobile manufacturer in South Asia, is planning to bring a new car to Europe to cash in on the surging fuel prices and carry out concerns on carbon dioxide emissions in the market.

The company is considering an ambitious first-year export target of 1 lakh units of A-Star. According to company officials, it is in addition to the 50,000 units that were initially planned to be sold under the Nissan brand in Europe.

The A-Star is currently under development at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant. It will be considered the first indigenously designed, styled and produced Indian car with Europe as the primary market. Ten engineers worked as a team to develop the design.

The new car will be showcased at the next Auto Expo 2008 in New Delhi and is set to be launched in 2009. Maruti officials said, however, the production car that will be delivered to Europe will likely be different from the unit to be displayed in the event.

The A-Star will be the first of the rollouts from Maruti in the compact car segment. It is part of the company’s plan to establish India as a global hub after parent Suzuki Motor Corp. – a Japanese multinational corporation competing with other top Japanese automakers such as Honda, creator of Acura CSX A/C condenser – decided to source them from Maruti for export to other growing countries.

Other than Japan and Brazil, India is one of the largest manufacturers of compact cars that are competing against seven other European manufacturers who are into the segment. Maruti plants to take a shot at the volume market, bringing A-Star at the entry-level market across Europe.

In 2006-07, Maruti was able to establish new markets across Asia, Middle East & Africa, with Sri Lanka, Algeria, Chile, Egypt and Saudi Arabia being the biggest markets. At the same time, it had 39,295 units exported to more than 45 countries. At present year (2007-08), the company expects the export to reach 50,000 units.

Aston Martin to hold Aston Martin Asia Cup

2007-12-03T21:51:00.000-08:00

Aston Martin has recently announced its venture with GruppeM to open two new dealerships in China. The automaker would like to take advantage of the buzz created by the movie Casino Royale for the brand in China. The famous James Bond car brand thinks it’s the perfect time to finally venture into the USD 6 billion luxury car market.

And to further increase awareness for the brand Aston Martin will also be launching a one-make race series for Asia called the Aston Martin Asia Cup or AMAC for short. The series will be composed of 12 races held throughout the Asia Pacific Region including China, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. For each of the race 18 superbly hot Aston Martin N24 race cars powered by a 4.3 liter engine that was first introduced in the V8 Vantage are to be featured.

The AMAC will also include a variety of 30 minute sprint races plus endurance races that even support F1 events which gives the implication that Aston Martin might try its luck on Formula 1. The presence of Robin Brundle as managing Director for Aston Martin Racing also hints a future F1 involvement on the part of Aston Martin.

Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer, Aston Martin said: “When we announced plans to build the Vantage N24 for customers in 2006 we were very confident it would make a great choice for a one-make series. I am delighted that we are able to announce the Aston Martin Asia Cup for 2008, it will help greatly in communicating our brand values, performance, and product durability in this exciting new market.”

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BMW Vehicles Target of Thefts

2007-11-28T21:59:00.000-08:00

BMW owners residing in Watford and Rickmansworth were recently warned by police to be extra cautious after a series of cars particularly BMW models were targeted by thieves.

Just between Monday and Wednesday, there were three sets of BMW wheels stolen at separate locations in Watford and Rickmansworth following a similar series of BMW wheels theft that happened last July.

According to Three Rivers Crime Prevention Officer, Gary Sibson: "The average cost of replacing four wheels is up to £3,000, not to mention an increased insurance premium and loss of the car while it is being repaired. The cost of extra security is considerably less. Don't become a victim of vehicle crime."

Try parking your car in well lit area or better yet why not park your car inside your garage to make it really safe. The police also encourage everybody to cooperate and report those who are offering cheap BMW wheels as well as to call them if you are aware of any information about the thefts. You may contact the police on 0845 33 00 222 or dial Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

At present there are no other reports of BMW parts stolen like for instance BMW muffler assembly but of course we should not wait for thieves to consider stealing other auto components before we start doing steps to stop them.

Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Heading Mainland Europe

2007-11-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

The Lotus Cars which is renowned for its stunning design has released another to drool over model--- the Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition. This new limited edition offering from Lotus Cars is designed for mainland Europe. It is the entry-level model of the Elise Range and offered to commemorate the 40th anniversary of production at the Lotus factory in Hethel in 2007. The specifications of the Limited Edition Elise S are as follows:

• Elise S – Model Year 2008, featuring twin airbags
• Burnt Orange Premium Paint
• Hardtop
• Painted rear diffuser and wheels
• Leather trim in orange stitching
• Painted centre consol & exterior panels in body colour
• Coloured brake calipers
• Build plate
• Country specific unique Decals
• 40th commemorative letter signed by Mike Kimberley, CEO of Lotus Cars Ltd.

This new offering from Lotus Cars is available at official Lotus dealers in mainland Europe and of course since it’s a limited edition expects for its production number to be strictly limited. For Germany only 15 Elise S are to produced while France and Belgium will have 5 each, Italy with 6, Switzerland with 10 while the rest of mainland Europe will be given 9.

The retail prices for each country are the following:

• Germany: 39,995 EUR
• Switzerland:CHF 58,600
• France: 40,200 EUR
• Italy: 40,800 EUR
• Belgium: 40,600 EUR
• Holland: 53,600 EUR

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Volvo Introduce New Portable Satellite Navigation System

2007-11-26T18:45:00.000-08:00

Volvo as part of its effort to provide consumers with better driving and riding experience has recently introduce a portable satellite navigation less the messy wires and unsightly suction cups. The Swedish-based subsidiary of Ford has developed a new mounting bracket for Garmin’s satellite navigation unit that can be fitted to all new Volvo cars.

This new bracket has an integrated power connection for 178-gram Garmin nüvi 760 and is attached on top of the dashboard for a plug-and-play solution which can also be folded away when the unit is removed from the vehicle. The Volvo has passed all of Volvo’s ergonomic, EMC, sight, and crash tests.

The Garmin nüvi 760 features a 4.3” bright color, touch screen, and can search via full 7-digit post code use voice prompts and speak street names. There is also an in-built FM transmitter enables voice commands that is transmitted via a spare FM channel on the radio head unit so the voice prompts can be heard through the vehicle’s speakers. It is also loaded with detailed two and three dimensional maps that covers UK, Ireland, and EU. Its integrated database contains comprehensive information on Volvo such as displaying the fastest route to get to a Volvo workshop. The unit is also made compatible with a number of Bluetooth phones and even function as an MP3 player.

The new mounting bracket will be offered starting December 3, 2007 and may be retrofitted to earlier models including the S80 from model year 1999, the S60 and V70 from 2000, the XC70 from 2001 and recent model years of the Volvo S40, V50, C70 and XC90.

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Volvo XC70 a Treasure Trove of Fun Childhood Memories

2007-11-23T22:13:00.000-08:00

The Volvo XC70 wagon with its high quality Volvo turn signal light is a stunning vehicle that evokes fun childhood memories. It takes you back to your parents’ elegant wagon’s interior with its plush leather, modern, logical instruments and switchgear and an unusual postmodern grain to the leatherette dashboard cover. It makes you recall the Swedish-modern furniture from your old living room and makes you to forget of its being a mode of transport.

One of the notable features of the XC70 is its built-in child safety seat which cost around $495 and offered as option to the outboard rear seats. The built-in child safety seat is firm once folded and negates the heated rear seats that are included with the $875 climate package.

The XC70’s five-cylinder engine is replaced by a 3.2 liter inline six which is just suited for this type of vehicle. In terms of exterior styling the XC70 has displaced Volvo’s traditional minimalism design.

Volvo’s all-new XC70 is an improvement over its predecessor however styling has taken a retrograde step from the previous-generation models. But the most important question now is: will the XC70 be able to help Ford to gain back its lost market share in the US.

Green Spec Tiguan Debuts at the 2007 Bibendum Challenge

2007-11-21T17:44:00.000-08:00

Volkswagen’s Tiguan was originally scheduled to have its world debut at the Frankfurt but it looks like Europe’s largest automaker just can’t wait to see the reactions of consumers on its new model and decided to present a green spec version at the 2007 Bibendum Challenge, held in Shanghai, China PR. Aside from the Tiguan HyMotion, Volkswagen will also be introducing a zero-emissions Chinese Passat Lingyu and a small legion of diesel powered cars.

The Tiguan HyMotion is operated by an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. This special type of battery can last up to 6 ampere-hours and can be recharged by storing braking energy or by means of the hydrogen fuel cell. It has a top speed of 150km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 14 seconds.

The Volkswagen Passat Lingyu is developed by Volkswagen and Tongji University in China. The Lingyu is powered by an electric engine that produces 88 kW and just like the Tiguan HyMotion utilizes a lithium-ion battery. The battery may be recharged in the same manner as that of the HyMotion which involves preserving the braking energy and by the use of the university’s fourth-generation low-temperature fuel cell.

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AC Schnitzer’s GP3.10 GAS Powered Concept

2007-11-20T00:36:00.000-08:00

The common notion that people has when it comes to eco-friendly vehicles, is that they lack in performance. AC Schnitzer version of the new BMW 3-Series Coupe will help proved that green cars can be powerful too.

The AC Schnitzer BMW 3 Series Coupe is LPG-powered has set a new world seed record for liquid gas fuel cars. Dubbed as the GP3.10 GAS Powered, it has recorded a speed measuring 318.1 km/h or 197mph on a run on Southern Italy’s 13 km long high speed Nardo track.

The record-breaking concept is equipped with a modified M5 engine turning the BMW M5’s 552 hp or 406 kW ten-cylinder unit into the most potent LPG-powered engine. The AC Schnitzer BMW 3 Series Coupe joins the earlier recor breaker, the M6-based TENSION which has claimed the title of the fastest road going BMW in the world. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is achieved at 4.6 seconds while tops speed of 200 km/h is reached at 13.9 seconds.

And since it’s an eco-friendly car, there is a 15 percent reduction in emissions. LPG Liquid fuel is also not a problem since there are around 2700 re-fuelling stations that sell liquid gas in Germany and the best thing about LPG is that it is more affordable than the standard gasoline.

LPG-powered AC BMW 3 Series Coupe will remain as an exclusive part of the AC Schnitzer’s portfolio of concept vehicles. The GP3.10 GAS Powered is priced at 198,000 Euros. The tuner also said that the auto components may also be equipped on future models.

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Kelly Blue Book’s 2008 Residual Value Analysis

2007-11-16T17:46:00.000-08:00

The leading provider of new and used vehicle information, Kelly Blue Book has recently announced the 2008 model-year vehicles that are expected to have high residual values and these are as follows:

2008 BEST RESALE VALUE: BRAND
Volkswagen

2008 BEST RESALE VALUE: BY VEHICLE CATEGORY
SEDAN: Honda Civic
LUXURY: BMW 6 Series (with high quality BMW fan shroud)
COUPE: Infiniti G37
PICKUP: Toyota Tundra
CONVERTIBLE: MINI Cooper
SPORT UTILITY: Acura MDX
WAGON: Scion xB
VAN / MINIVAN: Honda Odyssey
HATCHBACK: Scion tC
HYBRID: Honda Civic Hybrid
HIGH PERFORMANCE: Chevrolet Corvette Z06

2008 BEST RESALE VALUE: TOP 10 MODELS
Chevrolet Corvette
Scion xB
Honda Civic
Toyota Corolla
Infiniti G37
Volkswagen Eos
MINI Cooper
Volkswagen Jetta
Scion tC
Volkswagen Rabbit

(All values based on the November/December 2007 Kelley Blue Book Official Residual Value Guide. Top 10 models appear in alphabetical order).

To determine the brand with the best resale value Kelley Blue Book’s team of market and pricing analysts relies on current vehicle data, market conditions for each vehicle, competition in each segment, expectation of the future economy and of course from their long-years of experience.

Aside from listing the vehicles with the best resale values, Kelley Blue Book has also revealed the Top Ten Brands with the Worst Resale Value for 2008 and these include:

1. Suzuki 27.6
2. Kia 30.4
3. GMC 32.5
4. Mercury 32.5
5. Dodge 32.5
6. Chrysler 32.5
7. Lincoln 33.3
8. Jeep 33.3
9. Ford 33.8
10. Jaguar 34.1

For details and info on Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards kindly visit www.kbb.com/BRVA.

IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals of the Month” for November

2007-11-15T18:16:00.000-08:00

IntelliChoice.com has recently released it “Best Deals of the Month” for cars, trucks, and SUVs for November 2007. This new list was the result of the never-ending changing market conditions, the increasing fuel costs and rebates.

According to James Bell, Publisher and Editor of IntelliChoice.com: "What consumers need to know is that the best deals can change quickly from month to month. There are seven changes on our list of winners from October to November, which is a big number. Gas is a big factor. Rising fuel costs favor fuel efficient vehicles, including hybrids, and there are six on the November list. Among non-hybrid vehicles, the Yukon knocked out the Sequoia. The Yukon beats the Sequoia on the MPG front, so as fuel costs rise, the opportunity arises to overcome the Sequoia’s strong retained value advantage."

He also added, "Another big factor consumers need to pay attention to are ever-changing car rebates. Changing rebates is what bumped October’s winners out of holding on to their titles for November. In the Full-Size Van category, the Ford E150 beat out the Chevy Express because the E150 offered a $2,500 rebate."

The Best Deals of the Month provided by IntelliChoice.com include cars, trucks, and SUVs that possess the best ownership cost value in 33 respective classes. For the selection, IntelliChoice has make use of the latest information gathered from various automotive resources to evaluate what it costs to buy, operate and own each new model-year trim line over a five-year basis.

The following "Best Car Deals" for November 2007 are ranked by vehicle type and size:

Class
Subcompact Car: (MINI) Cooper Hatchback
Compact Car over $16,000: (Honda) Civic Hybrid
Compact Car under $16,000: (Honda) Civic Sedan
Midsize Car over $21,000: (Toyota) Prius
Midsize Car under $21,000: (Toyota) Prius
Convertible: (MINI) Cooper Convertible
Luxury Convertible: (Audi) A4 Convertible
Near Luxury Car: (BMW) 3 Series Sedan
Luxury Car: Lexus ES
Large Car: Toyota Avalon
Base Sport Car: Volkswagen GTI 2-door with high quality VW oxygen sensor
Sport Car: Chevrolet Corvette
Sport Sedan/Wagon over $38,000: Lexus GS Hybrid
Sport Sedan Wagon under $38,000: Infiniti G35 Sport Sedan
Compact Utility/Crossover: Ford Escape Hybrid
Midsize Crossover: Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Luxury Crossover: Lexus RX 400h
Small Wagon: Toyota Matrix
Midsize/Large Wagon: Subaru Outback Wagon
Intermediate Utility: Hummer H3
Full-Size Utility: GMC Yukon
Luxury Utility: Lexus GX
Compact Pickup Truck 2WD: Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD
Compact Pickup 4WD: Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 1/2 Ton: Toyota Tundra Regular Cab 2WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 3/4 Ton: Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 2WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD One Ton: Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 2WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 1/2 Ton: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Extended Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 3/4 Ton: Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD One Ton: Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 4WD
Minivan: Honda Odyssey Passenger Van
Full-Size Van: Ford E150 Passenger Van
Cargo Van: Chevrolet Uplander Cargo Van

Ford to be Rid of Jaguar and Land Rover by Early 2008

2007-11-14T00:13:00.000-08:00

Ford has recently posted a surprisingly lower than expected quarterly loss. It also announced that it’s close to making deal for the final selling of its British luxury brands Jaguar the producer of Jaguar car cover and Land Rover.

The shares of Ford have also increase by 5 percent in pre-market trading. It also plans to focus in improving results at its Swedish Volvo unit and to finally start detailing the brand’s financial performance next year.

Ford further projects a substantial year-over-year growth for its fourth quarter results as compared to last year’s pre-tax loss that reach $3.15 billion. Likewise, it has posted a third-quarter net loss of $380 million or 19 cents per share which is lesser as compared to what the automaker has obtained last year with a loss totaling to $5.2 billion or $2.79 a share.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker is continuously losing 1 cent per share from its operations. Wall Street has forecasted that Ford will obtain a loss of 48 cents per share if things will not improve with the automaker.

Ford has cut around 6,800 jobs in North America during the quarter. For third quarter the automaker has obtained a total of $41.1 billion up from $37.1 billion as compared to the same period a year earlier. Its global auto revenue also increases to $36.6 billion from $32.5 billion.

Last 2006, Ford has posted a record loss of $12.6 billion and was further worsen by intense competition and the increasing petrol prices. Moreover the slow US housing market has also aggravated the situation for Ford especially since its main client for its pickup trucks comprising of contractors and construction crews were affected.

Ford US sales dropped by 18 percent during the third quarter as it tries to won a cost-saving labor deal with the United Auto Workers union. For the third quarter, Ford has posted a loss of $362 million before taxes and special charges. Meanwhile its financial services arm has posted a pre-tax profit of $556 million.

Last week Ford has agreed to a tentative four-year labor contract with the UAW which aims to help the automaker lower down its labor costs by allowing it to hire new workers at lower rates and transferring retiree health-care liabilities to a trust fund.

Fiat gives the Nuova Croma Fresh New Styling

2007-11-13T00:41:00.000-08:00

The Italian automaker Fiat has given its Croma station wagon a fresh new styling which is expected to become a segment benchmark. The Nuova Croma has the roomiest interior in its class, a flagship-worthy specification, and a range of powerful second-generation Multijet engines.

The Nuova Croma is the product of Fiat’s recent design language which is already featured on the new Punto and Brava hatchbacks. The new styling cues are showcased in the poised front end which used to be a more pronounced bonnet, elongated new front lamps were also added together with a new chrome grille and redesigned bumpers. The rear was also given a new treatment, darkened lights and a new bumper design incorporating new skirts provides the Croma that sporty and fresh feel.

The changes extended up to the cabin where a minor nip-truck with typically Italian refinement in the form of new cloth or leather sat upholstery were added. The instrument panel and steering wheel was given a more classy design. There were also a couple of options that were added on the new model including the all-new DVD player, Blue&Me navigation & Infotainment system, and ‘Interscope’ hi-fi speaker setup among boxes.

The Croma is loaded with an arsenal of sensory systems including rain, parking and tire pressure monitors, as well as cruise control—equipped to provide better driving experience. In terms of safety features, the Croma is given anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and electronic stability program systems are standard on the whole range.

Practicality is also a feature of the Croma. Its modular interior set up enables for easy conversion from a cargo space of 500 liters to 1,610 liters.

The Nuova Croma is offered in five drivetrains: two petrol and three Multijet turbodiesels ranging from 140 hp 1.8 liter petrol model to a 200 hp 2.4 liter turbodiesel that are mated to gearboxes suitable for each engine. All of the diesel models have six-speed gearboxes with sequential gearshift and offered as standard on the 2.4 Multijet and part of the option on the 1.9 liter diesel. The two petrol models come with five-speed transmission while the 2.2 liter petrol is offered with the sequential automatic unit.

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Annual Unit Sales of BMW’s 1-Series Coupe Reaching 20,000

2007-11-07T23:13:00.000-08:00

Handelsblatt has recently reported citing company sources as saying that BMW is seeing the annual unit sales of its 1-Series coupe reaching 20,000.

The German luxury automaker will start selling the coupe which is the third version of the 1-Series at the end of the month. There were also reports stating the BMW is hoping for its 135i coupe to sell well in the US market where it will be introduced as the first 1-Series car to go on sale.

For the month of October, BMW the producer of quality BMW caliper was reported to have sold around 470,000 units of its 1-Series. Due to the positive response of buyers to the 1-Series, BMW is planning to launch the fourth 1-Series model which is a convertible in spring of 2008.

Details and Specifications of BMW 135i Coupe:

Engine
Type: Twin-Turbo Inline-6
Displacement cu in (cc): 182 (2979)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 300(224) / 5800
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 300(407) / 1400-5000
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Brakes & Tires
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: 215/40 R18 - 245/35 R18

Driveline: Rear Wheel Drive
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length × Width × Height in: 171.7 × 68.8 × 55.4
Weight lb (kg): 3438 (1560)
Performance
Acceleration 0-62 mph s: 5.3
Top Speed mph (km/h): 155 (250) - electronically limited
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): n.a. (9.2)

Volvo Canada Offers New Incentive Program

2007-11-06T21:59:00.000-08:00

News from Auto 123 states that Volvo, the Swedish carmaker and producer of high quality Volvo fuel door hinge has recently announced their latest incentive program that will provide buyers of S40, S60, S80, XC90, C30, V50, and C70 models with rebates of up to $5,000. The said program is focused on 2008 models but will also include some of the remaining 2007 models.

Steve Blyth, President and CEO of Volvo Canada would like to stress that the company and its retailers are treating its customers equally and therefore will not discriminate between leasing, financing, or cash buyers. The company will offer similar incentive scheme to both cash buyers and finance or lease customers. The rebate program is to be offered to a majority of Volvo vehicles to all customers irrespective of their chosen way of conducting the transaction.

Mr. Blyth said that this is all part of attracting customers into dealerships. Volvo’s cash rebate program combines a great lease and finance rates that give shoppers a reason to visit their local dealerships.

He also added, "We realize Canadians are looking to the US market and comparing prices of vehicles with the same nameplate. We hope they also notice that Canadian Volvo vehicles have a longer list of standard equipment, a more comprehensive warranty offer and a retailer network equipped with parts to service built-for-Canada vehicles. That said, we recognize that the price is perhaps the most important factor in a purchase decision. Our plan is that this new rebate program will help customers avoid considering the added cost, hassle, time and intricacies of importing a vehicle from south of the border."

Heico-Modified S80 T6 HPC

2007-11-04T22:26:00.000-08:00

The Heico Sportiv’s transformation of the range-topping S80 T6 HPC with high quality Volvo radiator fan can be considered a stunning 2007 SEMA Show’s work of art. Starting from its arresting seven-layer aluminum paint scheme down to its powerful 350-horsepower engine, the Heico-modified S80 T6 HPC is one classy piece of contraption.

Heico is a German tuner specializing in Volvo products and for the S80 it has started with the 281-hp turbocharged 3.2 liter inline six-cylinder engine, fitted with a new intercooler, reprogrammed the ECU and installed a high-performance stainless-steel racing exhaust system. The S80 is also modified to run on E85 bioethanol and its T6 engine now produces 350 hp and 401 pound-feet of torque. The Heico-modified S80 T6 HPC can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 5.8 seconds.

The sport-tuned suspension was also made firmer with springs and struts while the ride height is lowered by 1.5 inches. Upgrades were also made on the brakes along with the 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Continental 255/30R20 performance rubber.

Inside the cabin are four bucket seats trimmed in Mystic Blue leather which also swaddles the instrument panel, door panels and headliner. The rest of the cockpit is highlighted in aluminum carbon fiber including the floating center console. The pedals, door pins, and footrest are formed from billet aluminum.

Heico has also transformed most of the exterior body panels before applying the unique aluminum paint. The new nose incorporates a deeper front airdam, wide intake tunnels, and ultra-slim LED turn signals while the new rear bumper cap contains the slender rectangular exhaust ports with carbon-fiber inserts.

Audi’s Latest Offerings: Audi R8 and the New Audi TTS

2007-11-04T20:40:00.000-08:00

Audi UK has recently announced that it will invest more than £6 million in promoting its R8 high performance sports car. The TV campaign was launched in conjunction with the screening of the England football team’s defeat to Russia. The campaign bears a strapline that states: The slowest car we’ve ever built showcasing the painstaking process that goes with the building of the R8.

The prices for the R8 start at £77,000 with only 450 to be delivered this year while and additional 750 units for 2008.

In addition to the R8, work is also underway to develop a more powerful version of the TT range which is to be badge as the TTS. It will be made to rival the Porsche Cayman once it goes on sale in 2008.

The TTS will be equipped with the same 2.0 liter TFSI engine from the Audi S3 but power up to about 206 kW. This power will be channeled through Audi’s permanent 4WD Quattro system and a six-speed manual box via the DSG dual-clutch system that will also be offered as an option.

In terms of exterior features the new TTS with quality Audi oxygen sensor is made sporty with bespoke wheels, alloy-effect door mirrors, aggressive bumpers, S-batches on the brakes and sill extensions. It is expected that Audi will introduce the new TTS at the Geneva Motor Show.

BMW Released Pricing of the 1-Series Coupe Lineup

2007-10-30T01:20:00.000-07:00

BMW the producer of high quality BMW bulb has finally released the specs and prices of its 1-Series Coupe line-up. The two-door models will hit showrooms next month and customers can take home an entry-level 120d for £21,585 whilst the top of the range 135i M Sport is priced at £29,745.

These new offerings from BMW are powered by two of the company’s most advanced new engines. Buyers who may want the mid-ranged 123d will get the 2.0 liter unit which revs up 201bhp and is the first all-aluminum diesel in the world to produce more than 100bhp per liter. Its price starts at £24,855 for the SE model.

Here are the specifications of the 135i M Sport:

Standard equipment

Engine
BMW EfficientDynamics Intelligent Energy Management system comprising: Auto Start-Stop (MSA*), Brake Energy Regeneration (iGR), Intelligent Alternator Control (IAC), Optimum gear shift indicator (SPA)* - *Excluding models with Automatic transmission
Common-rail injection system
Oil level sensor with dipstick
Six-cylinder in-line engine with high-precision direct injection with four-valve technology
Twin Variable Turbochargers

Transmission
Gear lever, short shift
Six-speed manual transmission

Wheels and chassis
18" light alloy M Double-spoke style 261M
Aluminium double-joint spring-strut front axel with aluminium strut brace
Electric Power Steering (EPS) with Servotronic
Hydraulic power-assisted steering
Lightweight five-link rear axle
M Sports suspension with 135i specific calibration
Optimised ASC/DSC parameters for specific suspension

Safety and technology
Alarm system (Thatcham 1) with remote control and engine immobiliser
Brake Force Display
Crash sensor activating central locking release, hazard warning lights, fuel cut-off and interior lighting
Deformation zones front and rear, door reinforcements and bumpers that regenerate to their original shape in impacts of up to 2.5 mph
Disc brakes - front and rear with brake pad sensors
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) comprising: Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Automatic Stability Control (ASC + T), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
First Aid kit and warning triangle
Foglights, front
Halogen headlights
Head restraints, rear, adjustable and removable
High level third brake light
Impact-Depending Airbag System (ID Airbags), driver and front passenger
ITS head airbags - driver, front passenger and rear
Lights-on warning
Mechanical lock-out for prevention of petrol refuelling in diesel cars
On-Board Diagnosis (OBD)
Park Distance Control (PDC), rear
Passenger seat occupancy sensor, front
Rain sensor with automatic headlight activation
Run-flat tyres with Tyre Puncture Warning System (TPWS)
Seat belts - inertia reel with Pyrotechnical belt latch tensioner, belt force limiter and belt retainer
Seat belts - two with inertia reel, rear
Side impact protection
Up-rated high perfromance braking system
Visible VIN
Windscreen wipers with adjustable intermittent intervals

Seats
60:40 split-folding rear seat
Child seat ISOFIX attachment, front and rear, with front airbag deactivation
Four seat configuration with storage tray between the rear seats
Rear seat easy access system
Seat adjustment - front, manual
Seat height adjustment, front, manual
Sports seats in Flashpoint cloth/Sensatec, front

Sport
Rear Spoiler

Exterior equipment
All round anti-corrosion system with partial hot galvanising, phosphate treatment and cathodic dip paintwork, preservation of hollow cavities, underfloor protection
Door sill finishers with M designation, chrome
Exhaust tailpipes - twin, round, black chrome
Exterior mirrors - aspheric, electric adjustment
Exterior mirrors, heated
Exterior parts in body colour: Bumper rubbing strips, Exterior mirrors, Door handles, Lower bumper valances, front and rear, Roof rail gutters
High-gloss Shadowline exterior trim
Indicator lenses, clear
Kidney grille with chrome vertical slats
Kidney grille, chrome with chrome vertical slats
M Aerodynamic package (unique to 135i - no fog lights)
Windscreen washer jets, heated

Interior equipment
Air conditioning, automatic
Air microfilter
Armrest - front, with storage compartment
Battery in luggage compartment with jump start facility in engine bay
Central-locking switch
Courtesy lights, front and rear with delay and interior night lighting
Electric windows - front and rear, with open/close fingertip contol, anti-trap facility and comfort closing function all round
Handbrake lever and gear lever knob in leather
Individual Anthracite headlining
Interior lights package
Luggage compartment strap for small items
Rear-view mirror automatically dimming
Smoker's package
Start/Stop button
Storage Package
Sun visors with vanity mirrors and ticket pocket
Toolkit located in luggage compartment
Two lashing eyes in luggage compartment

Steering wheels
Multi-function controls for steering wheel
Steering column with manual reach and rake adjustment
Three-spoke multi-function M leather steering wheel

Audio and communications
Auxiliary input point for auxiliary playing devices (e.g. MP3 player)
BMW Business radio with single CD player
On-Board Computer (OBC) comprising: Average speed, Fuel consumption (average and current) and range, Information display - analogue instruments combined with liquid crystal display, Outside temperature display, Personal Profile functions.

Paintwork, upholstery and trims
Aluminium Glacier Silver interior trim
Brushed Aluminium interior trim with accent line
Non-metallic paintwork

Technical specification

Transmission
Wheelbase: 2660mm
Vehicle length: 4360mm
Vehicle width: 1748mm
Vehicle height: 1408mm
Track, front: 1470mm
Track, rear: 1497mm

Performance
Drag (cD): 0.33
Top speed (mph): 155 (electronically limited)
Acceleration 0-62 mph (sec): 5.3
Acceleration 50-75 mph in 4th (sec): 5.0

Weight
Unladen (EU): 1560
Max permissible: 1925
Permitted load: 440
Permitted axle load, front/rear: 945/1030

Engine
Cylinders/valves: 6/4
Capacity (cc): 2979
Stroke/Bore (mm): 89.6/84
Max output (kW/hp/rpm): 255 (306)/5800
Max torque (Nm/rpm): 400/1300

Wheels
Tyre size front: 215/40 R18
Tyre size rear: 245/35 R18
Wheel size front: 7.5J x 18 Alloy
Wheel size rear: 8.5J x 18
Alloy

Fuel consumption (Imperial)
Urban (mpg): 21.7
Extra-urban (mpg): 40.4
Combined (mpg): 30.7

Fuel consumption (Metric)
Urban (ltr/100km): 13.0
Extra-urban (ltr/100km): 7.0
Combined (ltr/100km): 9.2
CO2 emissions (g/km): 220
Tank capacity (ltr): 53

Ferrari FXX with Evolution Package

2007-10-30T00:55:00.000-07:00

Ferrari has started the FXX program way back in 2005. And so far it is the most advanced GT ever created at Maranello. And now with the new Evolution package enhancing its handling performance, we may actually be looking forward for more evolutions as the project has been extended by up two years specifically until 2008 or 2009.

The FXX’s 6262cc V12 engine offers so much power, imagine 860hp at 9500rpm. As compared to the previous version the present model is 70hp/1000 rpm more powerful attributed to the gear ratio modifications made on the new model. The time for gear shifting was also lowered to 20ms from the previous 60ms.

The Evolution Package for the FXX include a new traction control system with nine different settings that provide the drivers with more options to influence the car’s behavior on the track similar to what F1 drivers do to optimize the performance of their race cars.

The FXX is given special 19’ Bridgestone tires which are highly durable reinforced further the car’s new setup and front suspension geometry. And of course such power calls for equally efficient brake pads which last twice as long.

There is an increase of 25 percent on the aerodynamic efficiency of the new FXX attributed to the new rear diffuser, nolder, and rear flaps complemented by a modified active front spoiler.

The new Ferrari FXX is developed solely for the track use and R&D purposes. If you want to see the FXX in action you will have to wait for the six planned events next year where it will participate at the end-of-season Ferrari World finals.

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Restructuring Inside Volkswagen of America Inc.

2007-10-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

Volkswagen of America, Inc. will have new executive appointments and realignment of the Volkswagen brand executive management team that is according to its CEO Stefan Jacoby. The said changes will take effect on January 1, 2008.

Jacoby aside from being the CEO of Volkswagen of America, Inc. will also bear the title Executive Vice President which is a position held by Adrian Hallmark starting November of 2005. Hallmark will be transferred to corporate parent Volkswagen AG the producer of quality VW Bug parts in Wolfsburg, Germany where he will take on new responsibilities of which include handling sales and marketing initiatives for the Asia/Pacific region.

Michael Lohscheller will also be appointed as Executive Vice President, Chief Finacial Officer for Volkswagen of America, Inc. and will be reporting directly to Jacoby. Lohscheller was the recent Director, Group Marketing and Sales Planning of Volkswagen AG. He has been a part of Volkswagen since 2004, after being part of Daimler and Mitsubishi Motors where he held various senior finance positions.

The other appointments include that of Falk Biel who is named Executive Vice President, Service & Quality, Volkswagen of America, Inc. He will be directly reporting to Jacoby. Biel since joining Volkswagen AG in 1988 and has held multiple inter-disciplinary posts.

Jacoby has also appointed two Vice Presidents that would directly report to him and will take effect immediately:

Mark Barnes promoted to Vice President, Customer Service. He was previously part of Chrysler, Hyundai, and Nissan where he held various management positions giving him 25 years of parts and Service experience in both national and regional operations.

M. Toscan Bennett is named Vice President, Product Marketing & Strategy replacing David Goggins, previously Director, Product and Marketing Strategy. Bennett has also 20 years of automotive management experience under his sleeve which include years of staying with Ferrari, Chrysler, and Mitsubishi. Goggins for his part will be retuning to Bentley Motors headquarters in Crewe, United Kingdom where he will lead Bentlye global communications.

Volvo’s Child Safety Manual Won the Swedish Publishing Award 2007

2007-10-25T00:33:00.000-07:00

Volvo’s Children and Cars Manual which talks about child safety obviously has been awarded as “The Best Information Manual in Sweden” for this year. The awarding ceremony was held last Thursday night at Stockholm. Volvo’s Child Safety manual with crash test dummies won the Swedish Publishing Award 2007.

According to the jury, Volvo’s Children and Cars manual provides information that conveys a vital message with an ingenious metaphor.

Malin Persson, Safety Communicator at Volvo Cars and editor of the book was quoted by Auto Spectator as saying: "Brilliant news! And it is especially nice that the important message of the manual - how children may travel safer in cars - is being highlighted."

Volvo Cars’ Children and Cars Manual was designed by the agency Studio Desktop while the photographs of the crash test dummies were provided by Lars Ardarve.

The Child Safety Manual was launched by the Swedish automaker and producer of quality Volvo spoilers earlier this year. The manual has also been translated into ten different languages and distributed all dealers around the world. The main objective of the manual is to share to the world what Volvo Cars sees are the best ways to protect children in cars. Take for instance the Swedish-based subsidiary of Ford highly recommends for all children to make use of the rear-facing child seats even up to the age of 3 top 4 years old.

The Popular Kommunikation founded the Swedish Publishing Award and now running for 15 years. The awards are given in 21 different categories. The Volvo Life, which is the magazine for Swedish Volvo customers, was nominated in the Customer Magazine Category while the Agenda Magazine was nominated in the In-House Magazine Category.

BMW Group DesignworksUSA a Leader in Aircraft Design

2007-10-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

BMW Group DesignworksUSA after having created two award-winning design solutions for business jets is now preparing to develop a trendsetting design for Embraer which is a Brazilian manufacturer and one of the world’s largest aircraft companies.

Last September 25 to 27 International Aircraft show held in Atlanta by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), BMW Group DesignworksUSA has caused such a buzz with its innovative design of a medium-range aircraft that was built by the Brazilian aircraft company Embraer.

The innovative design created by BMW Group Desgnworks USA is like a follow-up to its two outstanding and successful design solutions previously created for the business jets Phenom 100 and 300 produced by the Embraer. These designs have garnered awards including the renowned iF Product Design Award 2007.

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Renault's New Kangoo Express

2007-10-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

After the success of the Kangoo that has sold over 1.3 million units since it’s launched in 1997, Renault will once again launched its New Kangoo Express.

Fiat and PSA Peugeot Citroen has recently announced a new jointly developed van concept that is seen to create a new market for light vans that are half the size of the traditional compact vans. But sadly for them it looks like Renault has the edge over them with the introduction of the new Kangoo Express.

The New Kangoo Express was made even bigger than its predecessor particularly with the addition of 4.21 m in length (of the +17 cm, 10 cm was used to lengthen the wheelbase) and the 1.83 m addition in width (+16cm). Compared to the Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen light van models, the New Kangoo is much bigger and this is exactly its advantage.

The New Kangoo will be fitted with a Euro Pallet which is a standard 120x80x12 cm pallet used in Europe. Again this is another advantage over the light vans introduced by Fiat and Citroen. Renault has also given its New Kangoo with very useful stowing solutions particularly with a 15-liter lidded glowbox, an overhead parcel shelf and A4-sized dashboard stowage.

In terms of engine three diesel powerplants were offered the 70 hp, 85 hp, and the 105 hp variants of the 1.5 dCi engine. The New Kangoo is also given two petrol variants, the 90 hp 1.6 8V and the 105 hp 1.6 16V. Fuel consumption for the 85 bhp diesel is 5.2 liters per 100km while carbon emission is at 137g of carbon dioxide per kilometer.

The new Kangoo is not the only new vehicle to hit Europe, Toyota will also be offering a redesigned of its third generation Lexus GS with quality Lexus shocks which was first introduced in 2005. The new Lexus GS will feature facelifts consisting of small exterior and interior adjustments such as restyled grille and headlamps, new indicator lights in the door mirrors, lowered rear bumper, range of new colors, redesigned gearlever gate, switch gear, and instrumentation.

BMW Welt will Open very Soon

2007-10-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

World Car Fans has recently reported that BMW the archrival of Acura the producer of Acura CL parts in UK’s luxury segment has finally finished the construction of its Welt and will be open to the public in just a few days specifically on October 20-21 however the official start of operations is on October 23. The Welt will serve as the center of activities for BMW. The unique and unusual design of the building is a clear indication of the progressive architecture that the German automaker is developing.

Aside from the multi-media displays, exhibits, and various presentations about BMW cars and motorcycles the main purpose of the BMW Welt is to function as a personalized delivery point for new BMW cars to its new owners. To further heighten to experience, customers who are to pick up their new BMW cars will also be given access to the Car Delivery Center.

According to the press release at World Car Fans, customer cars are showcased on no less than 20 turntables and ten panorama pedestals. And from here the visitors are given the opportunity to view the displays of the BMW Museum, the BMW plant, the BMW building and the Double Cone. By providing a unique delivery experience to its customers it was able to hand over 45,000 vehicles that is aside from the 850,000 visitors.

The other sections of the Welt will showcase the Events Forum for concerts, exhibitions, conferences, and live transmissions as well as receptions and seminars, BMW Individual Exclusive Area which presents the color ranges and material options, The Bistro, Junior Campus for ages 7-13, Technology and Design Studios and Lifestyle & Original Accessory Shop to name a few.

Around 120 architects and engineers have collaborated to complete the Welt. The Munich Olympic Car Park was demolished to make way for the construction. It was last July 16, 2004 when the first stone was set while the final interior touches ended last June 2007.

Volvo C30 E85 FIA Super 2000: The Swedish Green Racing Car

2007-10-18T01:50:00.000-07:00

Volvo Car Corporation the producer of Volvo fan clutch has announced recently that it will develop an all-new racing car that is based on the compact C30. But it will still continue with its work on the bioethanol as well as the Green Racing in the Swedish Touring Car Championship. Volvo Cars will also spent three years on the development program for the C30.

According to Derek Crabb, Head of Powertrain and Engine at Volvo Cars and the man recently given the responsibility to lead Volvo’s Racing Department, "The decision to leave this year's racing car, a Volvo S60, was fairly simple. The Volvo C30 is a somewhat smaller and more agile car with excellent driving characteristics, even in the standard version. Our decision to continue racing is based on the positive attention and the good results that the recently concluded STCC season has meant for Volvo's brand."

He also added, "Development of the new racing car will be done jointly by Volvo Cars and Polestar Racing, which has successfully handled our participation in STCC for several years. However, it is currently too soon to provide any detailed information about the construction of the new car. The objective, on the other hand, is clear - Volvo will develop a winning car."

The C30 is a more logical base for a racing car as compared to the S60. It also demonstrates the Swedish automaker’s environmental technology that is currently offered in the market such as the Flexifuel and the soon to be launched 1.6D Efficiency. The new 1.6D Efficiency has an average fuel consumption of 4.5L/100km or 62 mpg-imperial. Its CO2 emission is under 120grams per kilometer.

Here are the technical specifications of the all-new Volvo C30 E85 FIA Super 2000:

Body:
A standard C30 body reinforced by a safety cage and side impact protection on the driver's side, developed in collaboration with Caran

Aerodynamics:
Front splitter (the lower section of the bumper) and a rear spoiler wing developed by Polestar in Volvo's wind tunnel.

Engine:
An aluminium, transversely mounted, 5-cylinder, inline, four-valve, 1999cc engine.
Only minor modifications are permitted on the cylinder block and cylinder heads, while valves, cam shafts, pistons, connecting rods, and the crankshaft have been replaced by racing-specific components.
Oil: Castrol 5W-30

Power/torque: 215kW+ at 8750 rpm - approx 230Nm at 7300rpm.

Fuel: E85

Exhaust system:
Stainless steel with catalytic emission controls, specially manufactured by Ferrita

Driveline:
6-speed sequential gearbox with straight-cut gears, manufactured by Hewland. Front-wheel drive
Mechanical differential with a torque-controlled ramper and friction discs.
SACHS 184mm two-disc carbon fibre clutch
Oil: Castrol TWS 10W-60.

Weight: Minimum weight 1134kg including driver (58-60 kg)

Front wheel suspension:
Öhlin's struts developed with Polestar. Racing-specific support arms and adjustable anti-sway bar

Rear wheel suspension:
Multilink with coil springs and Öhlin's dampers. Racing-specific support arms and adjustable anti-sway bar

Front brakes:
Performance Friction
Four-piston callipers with radial and axial ventilated discs 332x32mm

Rear brakes:
Alcon two-piston callipers with axial ventilated discs 290x10mm.

Steering:
Servo-assisted rack and pinion

Wheels:
17x10-inch BBS wheels

Tyres:
Michelin 17-inch slicks (no tread) or grooved rain tyres

BMW’s Success Secret: Revealed

2007-10-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what BMW’s success secret is? What keeps it from making profits for 45 consecutive without throwing a single strike for 20 years? Actually the no striking part was due to the no-strike management policy which dates back to 1986 and slightly similar to Korea’s Hyundai Motor which has made strike as an annual event after its has established its first labor union in the year 1987.

The average age of workers in BMW’s Leipzig plant is 36 and much younger as compared to any other BMW plants. And that’s not all, these young workers have also very positive attitude towards work which is shown on the product they are producing.

The BMW Group the producer of high quality BMW oxygen sensor has first thought of building a new plant in early part of 2000. There were at least five location chosen for the production plant, three in Germany including Leipzig, another in France and then another one in Czech.

The Czech’s Kolin had been the most probable site at the end but then the unified spirit of the Work Council which acts like a labor union has the final say in choosing the plant site which ended in Leipzig.

The Head of Press Service and Public Relations at the BMW Leipzig plant, Michael Janssen said "The vital reason for choosing Leipzig was because the laborers volunteered to receive 25 percent lower pays than the Munich plant and accept flexible working hours." The flexible working hours referred to here means adjusting labor hours in correspondence with the demand and supply curve by computing the working hours by yearly units.

The best thing about BMW is that its Work Council has agreed to such elastic adjustments of weekly production hours from 60 to 140 hours. There are also request to lower unemployment in the East German area by means of investment. In addition the government of Sachen where Leipzig is situated was very cooperative and supportive as a matter of fact it has relaxed regulations and unfolds customized administrative service in favor of the new BMW plant.

BMW X5 Most Fun to Drive in its Segment

2007-10-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

The X5 has been very famous due to its unique driving characteristics, plush amenities, and exceptional off-road capabilities.

BMW’s X5 is also the most fun to drive in its segment. It has been seven years since the German automaker has first introduced the X5 and since then it has been able to strengthen its place in this sector of the market by providing the X5 with a higher level of refinement, practicality, versatility, and an off-road ability.

The improvements done on the all-new 2007 BMW X5 starts with a stronger and larger body structure. The second-generation X5 was still based on the popular and dynamic BMW 5-series but was made 7.4 inches longer than its predecessor providing the BMW with an interior room that can accommodate an optional third-row seat. But despite the larger interior of the new X5 it still resides in the midsize segment.

Improvements were also made on the X5’s front suspension system which breaks away from the 45-year-old tradition of BMW. The new X5 features a double-wishbone multi-link design which is a far cry from the traditional dual-pivot strut front suspension.

The new suspension has made on-road ride and handling of the X5 much better and at the same time improved its all-road ability. And still in lieu with its original mission, BMW’s X5 will still focus on pavement performance keeping it updated with the competition.

The previous X5 is offered in a choice of 6-cylinder (X5 3.0si) or V8 (X5 4.8i) performance engine. The X5 3.0si features a highly sophisticated 260-horsepower aluminum/magnesium inline-6. Meanwhile, the flagship X5 4.8i is equipped with the 350-horsepower all-aluminum V8. Standard equipment on both models is the new 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. In case you are looking for the manual transmission it is no longer offered.

The new transmission also features an entirely new electronic shifter and provides three modes of operation namely: Drive, Sport, and Manual.

It really doesn’t matter which X5 you choose since all of them are equipped with the standard xDrive all-wheel-drive system that enhances traction and corrects excessive over or under steer.

The enhancements done on the xDrive allows it to work in parallel with the standard Dynamic Stability Control or DSC and Chassis Management system to deliver even better handling dynamics.

The new DSC system includes Dynamic Traction Control, Brake Fade Compensation, Brake Standby, Brake Drying, and Start-off Assistant.

• Brake Fade Compensation- detects high brake temperatures and automatically increases pressure whenever brakes are applied.
• Brake Standby- helps to minimize brake response time when the driver lifts its foot off the accelerator pedal.
• Brake Drying- acts depending on the input gathered from the rain sensing wipers and sometimes brings the brake pads against the brake rotors to remove any water film.
• Start-Off Assistant- prevents the vehicle from rolling backward for approximately 1.5 seconds after the driver releases the brakes when stopped on an uphill incline.

The X5 also becomes the very first vehicle in its class to offer the Active Steering as an option. With the Active Steering the driver benefits from the improved feel regardless of speed and has only to turn the steering wheel twice from lock to lock.

The new X5 is a technologically-advanced vehicle that offers fantastic driving characteristics. Its cabin is very luxurious and comfortable with an optional third-row seat that can accommodate two more seats for kids and friends. The price for the 2007 BMW X5 starts at $45,900 for the 3.0si while the 4.8i is priced at $54,500.

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Volvo’s Interactive Gaming on Big Screen

2007-10-11T22:18:00.000-07:00

Volvo the Swedish subsidiary of Ford and producer of Volvo AC condensers is launching an in-cinema campaign that will surely be enjoyed by film-goers across the country since it involves an interactive gaming experience on the big screen.

This interactive aging experience on the big screen is the first in Europe wherein cinema audiences will be turned into human joysticks. They will simply have to wave their arms in the air to guide the new Volvo XC70 all-wheel-drive estate car around the large-scale driving terrain collecting various items and passengers along the way.

Volvo has introduced this unique social gaming technology in the UK to support the launching of its all new estate cars 1 and at the same time spread Volvo’s “Life is Better Lived Together” brand message.

On Saturday Oct. 13, 2007 at 8:30 pm in conjunction with the showing of the Ratatouille, visitors of the 12 Cinemaworld2 cinemas will become a part of the UK cinema history and compete in Volvo’s exciting nationwide competition. Each of the regional audiences will attempt to use their combined effort to score the most points on the virtual course while monitoring their performance on a live scoreboard on the side of the screen. The winning audience will be rewarded with free cinema tickets.

Anita Fox the Head of Marketing Communications, Volvo Car UK said that she is delighted that Volvo is able to bring this exciting new experience to UK cinema-goers. The concept of the interactive gaming was developed in order to let a group of people enjoy video gaming which is traditionally an individual past time---at the same time in a truly sociable environment. The game will also encourage people to work together as a team, to have fun, and to share experience which is very much applicable to Volvo’s “Life is Better Lived Together” brand message.

BMW’s 7-Series Remains the Class Benchmark for 2008

2007-10-10T23:57:00.000-07:00

BMW’s performance-luxury 7 Series sedan remains to be the class benchmark for 2008 and with the 750i, 750Li and 760Li models benefiting from BMW’s innovative performance and safety technologies its no wonder that they remain to be the leader of the pack.

The BMW 7 series is the perfect solution for those customers who are looking for a luxurious car that is distinct from the rest out there. For the 7 series, BMW the producer of quality BMW 325es parts has utilized only the finest quality materials and workmanship that makes the 7 Series a class of its own.

Get to know the individual 7-Series and find out what set them apart from the rest:

750i – the most accessible 7 Series model has key distinguishing features and attributes including –
• 4.8-liter V-8 engine, 360 hp/360 lb-ft. torque
• “Regular” wheelbase (117.7 in.)
• Standard 18-in. wheels and all-season tires
• Standard 20-way Comfort seats
• Standard 3-stage heated front seats
• 4-year Membership to BMW Assist
• Available option Packages: BMW Individual, Sport, Adaptive Ride, Convenience, Cold Weather, Luxury Seating, Premium Sound, Rear Entertainment

750Li – powered and equipped similarly to the 750i, but adds-
• Longer wheelbase (123.2 in.) with greater overall vehicle length and rear leg room
• Chrome roof moldings
• Standard 20-way Comfort front seats
• Standard 3-stage heated front seats
• Same option Packages as 750i

760Li – the Series’ luxury flagship, with –
• The long wheelbase (123.2 in.)
• 6.0-liter V-12 engine with 438 hp/444 lb-ft. torque
• Standard Electronic Damping Control and self-leveling rear suspension
• Standard 19-in. wheels and performance tires
• Unique Burl Walnut wood interior trim, in two tones with inlays
• More extensive leather trim
• Standard equipment includes contents of virtually all 750 option Packages
• BMW Individual Composition and Individual exterior colors
• Available rear climate control and coolbox

Audi A7 to Compete with Mercedes’ CLS Four-Door Coupe

2007-10-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

Audi’s response to the Mercedes’ CLS four-door coupe has finally hit the road only in mule form. At a glance the Audi A7 sports a slightly modified front end of an A6 combined with an A8 body and at a closer inspection it is easy to see that the new Audi mule possess a shortened trunk and a rear bumper with a new exhaust system that is distinct from other exhaust used by other automakers such as the Dodge exhaust.

During the Geneva Motor Show last March, Audi officials have announced their plan of doubling the model lineup by 2015 and then go as far as revealing models such as the Q5 and A7 and an unnamed small SUV.

Audi is hoping to attract customers who are looking for a vehicle with sleek coupe appearance but with the four-door function and this type of vehicle will be positioned between the A6 and the A8 which makes use of Audi’s “one size fits all” MLP or Modular Long Platform which has first debuted on the Audi A5 and very recently on the A4.

The A7 version of the MLP will likewise sets the platform for the next generation A6. Both A6 and A7 will also receive a new steering rack, multi-link suspension, and rear-biased Quattro all-wheel-drive that will solution the understeer characteristics of the previous generations. Audi is also aware that it needs to perform better dynamically in order to level off with that of BMW and Mercedes.

Audi will present the A7 as a design concept in early of 2008 while its market debut is scheduled at the 2009 Frankfurt. And just like its sibling A8, the A7 will also get the entry level V6 and V8 petrol and diesel engines plus the non-aspirated 309 kW Lambo V10 in the S7 and the 426 kW bi-turbo V10 from the RS6 in the RS7.

BMW’s 4-Door E90 M3 Sedan Sighted

2007-10-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

Worlcarfans.com has recently showed a few images of BMW’s upcoming four-door E90 M3 sedan. The good people at World Car Fans have taken the images from the German Auto-Treff.com that has claimed that those are official brochure pictures of the E90 M3 sedan.

The photos show a side-by-side comparison of the E92 M3 Coupe and the E90 M3 sedan from the rear side. Moreover, the E90 M3 Sedan will sport the Coupe front bumper and lights while the four-door version appears to be rolling on a different set of 19 inch alloy wheels. There are also reports stating that the standard E90 M3 series will also be redesigned in preparation for the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008. and there are also speculations that the debut of the E90 M3 could be paired with the launching of a revamped 3 series for the 2009 model year. Unfortunately these are closest thing to info that can be gathered since the German automaker has not released any details on the said new vehicle.

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Volkswagen to Invest Thailand…and Alabama?

2007-10-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

Europe’s largest automaker and producer of Volkswagen Beetle parts, Volkswagen AG was reported considering investing in Thailand its automotive parts production hub that would supply parts to its plants worldwide that is according to a spokesman of Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce.

The officials of Volkswagen have recently visited Thailand to discuss with manufacturers and suppliers of auto spare parts. Next to visit the Kingdom are Volkswagen corporate experts but will not be engaging in talks rather will be placing purchase orders for the company.

Volkswagen spokesman said that the company also wants to invest with local investors in setting up a plant in Thailand. The Wolfsburg-based automaker has gained confidence in investing in Thailand after its officials have visited thirteen manufacturing plants and after the talks held last May in Bangkok this year.

In other Volkswagen news, this time in Alabama, its chief industrial recruiter said that the state is ready to pursue another automaker if ever Volkswagen decides to build an assembly plant in United States.

And just recently Volkswagen Chief Executive Stefan Jacoby unveiled the new strategy of the German automaker of which include increasing the sales in North America and also the possibility of local production to reduce exposure to exchange rates.

Neal Wade, the Director of the Alabama Development Office also stated that they are aware of reports that indicate the possibility of Volkswagen plant in the US. And he further said that if the reports are true then they will do everything that they can to fight for that project.

Arden XKR AJ20: The Fastest Cat on the Road

2007-10-05T00:22:00.000-07:00

A really fast Jaguar is said to be currently in production and it’s called the Arden XKR AJ20 which was tested on a high speed course and amazingly was able to reach a top speed of 305 km/h or 189 mp/h that is according to its creator, Arden.

The eight-cylinder engine Jaguar was build from scratch and sharpened by increasing its displacement to 4.5 liters. This was achieved by fitting a crankshaft that was exclusively produced for the Arden along with new con rods and pistons that produces 480 bhp and 460 ft-lb of torque at 3850 rpm.

The body modifications provided by Arden to the XKR highlights not only its powerful character but also increase its aerodynamic efficiency. And to make sure that this big cat runs really fast, the aerodynamic was intensively tested and optimized in the wind tunnel with the effect of a better air drag coefficient combined with higher down force for that super handling ability.

To see test just how fast the new XKR XJ20, Arden took the sportscar to the high speed course at ATP Papenburg where the big cat was able to record 305 km/h which makes it the fastest Jaguar on the road.

Arden has been fine tuning British cars for thirty years now of which twenty years were spent in overhauling the Jaguar engines.

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Volvo Delivers First EPA2010 Field Trucks

2007-10-03T23:57:00.000-07:00

Volvo Trucks North America has recently obtain another achievement when it delivered its first EPA 2010 field test trucks which is rather too early for the next round of emissions standards.

There were a total of five trucks equipped with high quality Volvo parts and Selective Catalytic Reduction or SCR that were delivered to the Talon Logistics last September 13. The company operates as a distribution company for Giant Eagle a Pittsburgh, Pa-based food retailer. The test trucks that were delivered are Volvo VN day cabs.

Peter Karlsten, President and CEO of Volvo Trucks North America was quoted by Truck News as saying: "This is a milestone in achieving cleaner air, while delivering the fuel economy, reliability and performance our customers demand. We know from Volvo’s experience in other markets that SCR is the best technology for producing very low NOx emissions, plus excellent fuel economy."

The Volvo’s EPA2010 test trucks are equipped with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) combined with a diesel particulate filter and of course SCR which is currently implemented in Europe. There are already more than 100,000 Volvo trucks with SCR that are currently in operation.

Speaking of SCR, it requires for some extra components such as urea tank and injector. A small amount of urea is mixed into the exhaust system to reduce the NOx emissions. The by-product of such process is water and nitrogen.

For this year, Volvo Trucks North America also plans of increasing its field test fleet to 100 trucks with the additional trucks entering service in 2008.

Six New Models that will Make Waves this 2007

2007-10-03T19:17:00.000-07:00

2007 was made even more exciting with the introduction of new models like the Cadillac CTS, Honda Accord, Chrysler minivans, and Toyota Highlander. And that’s not even complete yet since there are still exciting new vehicles that are not released yet.

And just to give you an idea on what to expect here are some of the new models that will soon hit dealerships:

BMW 135ci – has about the same size and weight of a Honda Civic but with a powerful 306-horsepower twin-turbo straight-six engine that enables this vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. It has also obtained 25 mpg in European fuel-economy tests. There would also be diesel models that obtain 48 mpg in European tests that are to be sold in Europe and hopefully will reach the US market.

Chevrolet Malibu – General Motors has so much trust on the Malibu that it is considering a second plant specifically the Orion Assembly in Oakland County as preparation for the influx of demands for the model. The 2008 Malibu will also be made to compete with the Camry and the Accord. The Malibu will go on sale in November and will have a price of $19,345.

Ford Flex – is a stylish family carrier and will go on sale as a 2009 model next summer. The distinctly styled Flex offers plenty of passenger space with three rows of seats with the second row that fold into the floor for added cargo room. The Flex offer unique features such as Ford’s entry keypad, a compressor-driven refrigerator, an exceptionally large sunroof and Sync which is a system the Ford developed with Microsoft that would connect devices ranging from mobile phones to iPods into the car’s systems.

Dodge Ram – this is Chrysler’s best-selling truck but last year took the blows from the new Chevrolet Silverado. The high gasoline prices and the arrival of the much-improved Toyota Tundra this year has further left Dodge turning it into the oldest full-size pickup on the market. But that doesn’t mean that the Ram will go extinct, a 2009 model will go on sale early next year but in order to become competitive it must improve fuel economy as well as add up a couple of innovative features.

Honda Pilot – the Pilot is a big SUV that has become customers’ favorite and one of Honda’s core vehicles. There are still no details released for the 2009 Honda Pilot but everyone is excited of it since Honda is renowned for its commitment in offering the most fuel-efficient line of cars and trucks. Moreover the Japanese automaker is also used to making each new model bigger than their predecessors which mean that the 2009 Pilot will have more spacious interior room. The 2009 Pilot is expected to go on sale in mid-2008.

Nissan GT-R – is considered a legend, the GT-R super coupe has followers in the United States despite the fact that it was never offered here. The first GT-R was introduced in Japan in 1969. There are still no details released for the new GT-R but there are reports that say it will have an all-wheel drive twin turbo V6 which is claimed to be as fast as the Porsche 911 turbo. The debut of the GT-R is on Oct. 24 and will be held at the Tokyo Auto Show. The GT-R will be priced at $68,000 when it goes on sale in Japan this fall.

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Volvo’s New Technology for Distracted and Tired Drivers

2007-10-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

At last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Volvo has presented a world-first technology in the form of the Driver Alert Control (DAC) and a Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system. This is the Swedish-based automaker’s solution to the growing number of traffic accidents caused by various types of driver’s distractions.

The two new safety systems will be offered as an option priced at £500 on the all-new Volvo V70, XC70 including the Volvo S80 at the end of 2007. According to a spokesperson at the Volvo Cars Safety Center as quoted by Kilkenny Ad: "Real life safety is the key to our safety philosophy. When it comes to preventative safety, we have the same approach as when we develop protective systems. In other words our research and technical developments focus on areas where new technology can create significant results in real-life-traffic."
By studying extensively how drivers operate behind the wheel, Volvo was able to come up with the Driver Alert Control (DAC) which is a world first innovation. The DAC as compared to other device that monitors human behavior, more of examine the performance of the car on the road to know whether it is still in control or not and whether the driver is distracted or focused in driving.

DAC system makes use of camera located between the windscreen and the interior rear view mirror plus a number of sensors, and a control unit. The camera measures the distance between the car and the road lane markings while the sensors record the car’s movements. All the information gathered are sent to the control unit which calculates and determines whether the driver is at risk of losing control of the car.

If the calculated risk is high, the driver is given a warning via an audible signal while a text message and coffee cup symbol are displayed on the car’s information display to inform the driver that he or she needs to take a break.

Aside from DAC there is the LDW system or the Lane Departure Warning which was said to help prevent 30 to 40 percent of accidents due to single car road departures and head-on collisions. Juts like the DAC the LDW also makes use of camera located between the windscreen and the rear view mirror that assess the car’s position between the road markings. The system is activated via a button on the center console and gives a subtle warning sound if ever the car crosses one of the road markings without any reason.

The DAC and the LDW are both activated once the car start traveling at 40 mph and stay active above the speed of 37 mph. The availability of these systems depends on the number and quality of road markings which means that fog, snow, and extreme weather condition even poor lighting can render the system unavailable. ---I think Volvo the producer of high quality Volvo radiator hoseshas to find solution for this too.

Porsche New Offering: Black Edition 1 Cayman S

2007-10-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

Porsche the producer of Porsche 944 parts is introducing a totally black edition 1 Cayman S with a set of triple stripes that could denote the Adidas sponsorship. But of course it has nothing to do with the Rugby World Cup although according to the description the car is likely the very vehicle that a Lotto winner and an all-Black fan would choose if it will to celebrate Rugby.

The black edition 1 Cayman S will hit dealerships around the world in November however for New Zealand the schedule is early next year. And since it’s a special edition, only a limited number of the black Cayman S is going to be available. Only 777 are to be built with designs that highlight the purist nature of 220kW mid-engined coupe which was awarded last January as New Zealand Car of the Year.

The black edition 1 Cayman S was created by Porsche Design and engineered to provide additional luxury and sophistication to the Cayman S. Its black leather and Alcantara upholstery harmonizes with sophisticated details such as the instrument dials while the layout reflects the Porsche Design timepieces.

The centre console, fascia, and door trims are all in color black while the gear lever, the three-spoke sports steering wheel, the handbrake grip, and the roof lining are all covered in non-slip black alcantara. The Porsche logo crest is embossed on the seat headrests.

Underneath the 10mm lowered body is the standard Porsche active suspension management that automatically controls the dampers and features a special Sport mode that can be activated at a simple touch of a button for an improved dynamic driving feel. It is also equipped with a five-millimeter wide axle spacers that combined 19-inch turbo wheels that gives the Cayman S Porsche design edition 1 with a dominating stance that is reinforced further by 235/35 ZR 19 tires on the front axle and 265/35 ZR 19 tires at the rear.

The Porsche Design Studio was founded by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche and has been operating for 35 years now. It has grown to become an international organization that is famous for industrial design, luxury items, and consumer goods.

Each of the Cayman S Porsche design edition 1 model will have a briefcase containing a “flat six” chronograph timepiece, a pocket knife, a pair of sunglasses, a pen and a key ring all in black, even the knife blade is in black to keep with the vehicle’s black theme. The 777 units of Cayman S Porsche design edition 1 to be built are distinct due to the badge on the lid of the glove box.

Limited Edition Lotus Exige S Club Racer For Release At The UK

2007-09-26T01:53:00.000-07:00

For this month the Lotus Cars has released its latest limited edition, the exciting Club Racer which is a distinctive version of the Exige S. The Club Racer represents real value benefiting from all the standard upgrades that feature a number of unique additions. The track logo on the Club Racer is a tribute to the racing heritage and passion, which is basic to the Lotus brand. The Club Racer features a sky-blue and black paint scheme, which represent the racing era of the 1960s in which the Lotus name is associated with. The retail price of the Club Racer is 39,950 pounds.

There would be 25 limited edition Club Racers offered to Lotus dealers nationwide with the following vehicle specification namely Exige S, Sport Pack, Touring Pack, Super Touring Pack, Sports Exhaust, and Airconditioning. There are also additional components offered such as Hethel track decals, special edition paint Sky-blue (non-metallic) with Phantom Black Tri-Stripe Design, and some unique interior trim such as the black leather and carbon fiber effect leather with color coded stitching.

And going back to the Lotus Exige S, this vehicle is said to be based on purely phenomenal performance and handling attributed to development of the supercharger and intercooler package that was first built for the first time for the legendary Lotus Sport Exige 240R.

The Exige S has a peak power of 162.5 kW at 7800 rpm, 215 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm. Its maximum engine speed is 8,000 rpm. The Lotus engineers has made sure that despite such power the Exige S will still retain that vehicle body type approved for all the markets in which it is distributed.

The Lotus Exige S is one of the fastest cars both on normal roads and around a circuit. This incredible performance is attributed to the aerodynamic package equipped on the Exige S which produces 41.2 kg of downforce – 19.3 kg at the front and 21.9 kg at the rear at 160 km/h. The downforce ratio between front at 47 percent and rear at 53 percent is balanced and remains stable at the various speeds in which the Exige S is capable of performing.

By the way just in case you are looking for a GMC catalytic converter just kindly click on the link.

AskMen.com’s Top Ten Chick Cars

2007-09-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

AskMen.com has released its “Top Ten list of Chick Cars” and it’s based on what they claim as their real-world observations and vibes generated from current and recent models. But they also said that only one model per automaker was considered but this doesn’t mean that other models from the same automaker were not considered. They were but unfortunately were not included in the Top Ten list.

Top Ten List Chick Cars:

1. Dodge Neon – introduced I the US in 1994 with an annoying ad campaign that encourage everybody to say hi to it. The car’s only highlight is its rearview mirror that could withstand weights of 70 pounds or greater.
2. Toyota RAV4 – appeals to those women who grew up on Cabbage Patch Dolls and loved reading fairly tales as a kid.
3. VW Eos – a successor to the Cabriolet and Rabbit Convertible. Its interesting features include the folding power hardtop with built in sunroof.
4. Acura RSX – supposedly built as a macho car but sadly never really appealed to most men since most don’t consider it really a man’s car however it appeals to women turning it into a chick car. Its change of name to RSX further makes it more feminine.
5. BMW X3 – it’s a small SUV and more attuned to women drivers than for male drivers. It is also classified as an SAV or Sport Activity Vehicle which maximizes its usefulness ten times. Its little sister BMW X5 with quality BMW X5 parts is equally fun and capable and also considered a chick car.
6. Chevrolet Suburban – this is ideal for those who love having kids. It’s big and is equipped with an optional rearview camera that really helps especially when parking since the Suburban is a twenty foot long, seven-foot wide hunk of iron.
7. Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible- this is no doubt a chick car its exterior is too feminine to ever consider a man’s car.
8. Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor – according to AskMen.com there is no way that Mercedes-Benz and hatchbacks could work and the C230 Kompressor is a clear example of it. Aside from that all C-class according to them just project a message that the driver just couldn’t afford the E-Class that’s why it has no other choice but to go for the C-Class and since its not consider a man’s car it was placed under chick car which is rather unfair if your ask me but then again this is their top ten list.
9. Pontiac G6 – aside from the fact that the iconic Oprah have one of this baby it’s the successor to the what AskMen considers as god-awful Grand Am which according to them is favored by most women especially those with reputation of having different babies from different daddies. Anyway, with Oprah cleansing the whole Pontiac image the G6 now exudes a better character.
10. Mini Cooper Cabriolet – undeniably a chick car either with roof up or roof down.

New Rockford Ordinance

2007-09-21T01:39:00.000-07:00

Pimped out ride should better be careful when driving in the city of Rockford, Illinois. People here don’t appreciate loud music. This month the city of Rockford, Illinois has released Ordinance 2007-158-0 which was adopted as early as August 20, 2007 that states: "No person shall operate... any device used to... reproduce any recorded sound if the device is located... in any motor vehicle on the public way and the sound can be heard from 75 feet or more from the device."

Obviously since ordinary car stereos are not that loud then the ordinance would basically affect those pimped out ride with subwoofers, amplifiers, and loud speakers… the works!

Under this ordinance, vehicles’ may be seized on mere accusation in short hearsay which is really prone to abuse. Let’s us present a hypothetical scenario say your neighbor is jealous of your Corvette and it also happen that you had your baby pimped with a much powerful sound system plus other Corvette performance parts but being aware of the ordinance your refrain from playing loud music but your neighbor reported you to the police claiming to have heard you blasting tunes. Since the ordinance allows vehicle confiscation based on accusation then your car may be seize---- which is wrong.

Confiscated cars will be held under fines of $150 to $750 and take note there are also other fees to be paid like towing fee of $75, additional $15 to $20 per day storage fee and a $60 per hour charge if the police has to wait for more than an hour for the tow truck. Wow, hearsay could really cost you a lot.

And here’s more…
According to The Newspaper, police officers responding to a complaint are not required to bring with them or use electronic equipment to measure sound levels. And there is also no need for witnesses since the ordinance states that “hearsay evidence shall be admissible” and the property are to be seized upon the assertion of probable cause. In short, guys this time around you have to be twice nicer to your neighbors, LOL.

By the way it is also stated in the ordinance that in case a motorist believes that his car has been towed unlawfully he may challenge the taking by “depositing a written request for hearing in the silver drop box located behind the city hall”. The city should also respond and if ever it was found out that the owner was not driving at that time the car was taken he will be mailed a letter within ten days which gives the owner with less than fifteen days to request for a hearing. And that’s not all, another 45 days will be wasted for the scheduling of the hearing and by this time your car has accumulated $1100 storage fees.

The hearing will be officiated by a hearing officer designated by Rockford to make sure that you don’t get back your car. LOL. Just kidding but it could happen---during the hearing, evidences will be presented but expect for it to be all hearsay and pray that you are more convincing than your complainant if you want to get your car back. However, if the result is guilty then better say goodbye to your car.

Anyway, I hope that the city of Rockford will reconsider this ordinance since it’s full of flaws and above all it’s prone to abuse.

Saab 9-5 Sedan is back with some Little Surprises

2007-09-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

The Saab 9-5 sedan with quality Saab fuel injectors is coming back for the 2008 model year bearing minor changes as it awaits for a full model renewal.

The 9-5 is offered in standard or Aero trim and powered with a 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.3 liter four cylinder. A five-speed manual gearbox is offered as standard while the five-speed automatic gearbox is available as an option.

The Aero package makes use of the same powertrain but was given a retuned suspension with tighter springs and higher damping rates, and a larger anti-roll bar.

The available features on the Saab 9-5 include: sunroof, leather seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, a six-CD, in-dash changer, XM Satellite radio and an input jack for MP3 players. All of the models feature a cooled glovebox that keeps drinks chilled and leather-trimmed interiors with dual-zone climate control.

The new features for the 2008 Saab 9-5 include OnStar hardware, tire pressure monitors, rain sensing windshield wipers, leather sport seats, and new five-spoke wheels for Aero models.

Specifications of the 2008 Saab 9-5

4-Door Sedan
Vehicle Dimensions
Wheelbase, in.: 106.4
Overall Length, in.: 190.4
Overall Width, in.: 70.5
Overall Height, in.: 57.2
Curb Weight, lbs.: 3470
Cargo Volume, cu. ft.: 15.9
Standard Payload, lbs.: --
Fuel Capacity, gals.: 18.5
Seating Capacity: 5
Front Head Room, in.: 37.1
Max. Front Leg Room, in.: 42.4
Rear Head Room, in.: 37.0
Max. Rear Leg Room, in.: 36.6

Engines
Turbocharged dohc I4
Size, liters/cu. in.: 2.3 /140
Horsepower @ rpm.: 260 @ 5300
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.: 258 @ 1900
Availability: Standard

EPA City / highway mpg
5-speed manual: NA/NA
5-speed automatic: NA/NA

NHTSA Crash-Test Results
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

4-Door Wagon
Vehicle Dimensions
Wheelbase, in.: 106.4
Overall Length, in.: 190.6
Overall Width, in.: 70.5
Overall Height, in.: 57.7
Curb Weight, lbs.: 3620
Cargo Volume, cu. ft.: 73.0
Standard Payload, lbs.: --
Fuel Capacity, gals.: 18.5
Seating Capacity: 5
Front Head Room, in.: 38.7
Max. Front Leg Room, in.: 42.4
Rear Head Room, in.: 38.2
Max. Rear Leg Room, in.: 36.6

BMW Sue China Automobile Deutschland for Distributing the Clone of the X5

2007-09-18T00:39:00.000-07:00

Looks like the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show will not end without stirring up controversies. Motor Torque has reported that western carmakers have resented the presence of a Chinese manufacturer which was previously accused of copying vehicle designs particularly those of BMW and DaimlerChrysler.

It can be remembered that BMW together with DaimlerChrysler has tried talking with the Shuanghuan company expressing their concern about some models of the Chinese automaker that appears like clones of existing models of the two complaining German automakers.

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, China Automobile Deutschland the German-based importer has fearlessly included in its display the controversial CEO which bears resemblance to that of Toyota’s RAV4 and BMW’s X3. But according to Karl Schloessl, Chairman of China Automobile Deutschland, "The CEO has been produced for more than three years now and is on sale in many world markets. It is not a copy. You can find inspiration from other cars – the last inspiration is the tires – they’re always black!"

He also added, "We’re looking for an importer in England, and can deliver RHD in 60 days. We hope to find the right person and start to sell our SUVs in all European markets. We’re cheap and nice. Many people in Germany know Aldi ands Lidl – people want good quality at a cheap price – it’s the same with cars. We’re the Aldi and Lidl for the car market."

BMW didn’t seem quite amuse by the statements made by the Chairman of China Automobile Deutschland since according to the news from gasgoo.com, the German automaker has filed last week a law suit against the Shuanghuan’s importer in Munich to stop the importer from selling the SUV model in question. BMW AG’s spokesperson has told reporters last week that they will not allow the CEO which is copy of its X5 to be distributed.

Ma Qingsheng, BMW AG's spokesperson in Beijing has also stressed that the lawsuit only targets Shuanghuan's importer and not the Chinese automaker itself. BMW does not have any plan as of the moment of suing Shuanghuan.

On the part of Shuanghuan, it has not released any official statement in connection with the issue. And with regards to its German-based importer China Automobile Deutschland, its Chairman Schloessl has told Associated Press that he is not at all worried by BMW’s legal threat. As a matter of fact, his company is planning to import more of the said controversial Shuanghua-made SUV model. This is a pure example of turning bad publicity into profitable venture. LOL

Anyway, for now let’s just wait and see for more developments on this issue. If you are looking for quality Honda Accord parts just checkout the link.

No Weismann at the Frankfurt

2007-09-17T00:56:00.000-07:00

The new Wiesmann GT MF5 although has made it in time for the Frankfurt Motor Show but sadly will not be appearing there. The reason? Well, Wiesman didn’t find the space allocated for it at the show to its liking and so instead of the original plan of a high-profile debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Weismann has decided to launch its new GT in its very own dealership at the Frankfurt on its opening night.

The new Weismann GT MF5 will have the powerful BMW’s V10 under its hood that is despite the fact that it is a front mounted mid-engine vehicle. The MF5 will rev to tune of 507hp with 520Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a sequential seven-speed transmission system with variable differential lock.

The engineers of Weismann have spent a great time in developing the MF5’s high performance chassis that would ensure a comfortable ride and above all safety at all times. The GT MF5’s rear wing and diffuser has given the back-end enough downforce at higher speeds since it’s for this very reason that the MF5 was built.

Dipl.-Kfm. Friedhelm Wiesmann spokesman of the board as quoted at the press release found at worldcarfans.com as saying: "Our intention is to meet these demands with the GT MF 5. This new sports car tops off our portfolio of models, setting the new benchmark when it comes to the Wiesmann sports cars’ driving performance – which is rather impressive anyhow."

Dipl.-Ing. Martin Weismann, Managing Director in Charge of Development and Production also said: "Compared to the normal GT, it is already the outer appearance of the MF 5 that would be outstanding: both a wing as well as a diffuser generate the necessary rear-suspension drive line, thus ensuring an excellent stability especially for those high-speed moments. A lot of effort went into the development of a high-performance chassis to make sure the MF 5 driver will enjoy the ride and yet will at all times be safe no matter what."

Here are the preliminary technical data of the Wiesmann GT MF5 (source: worldcarfans.com)

ENGINE:
V10 Front-mounted mid-engine with three-way catalytic converter, petrol injection, stainless-steel double-pipe exhaust

cylinder/valves (pcs): 10 / 4
cubic capacity(cm3): 4,999
bore/stroke(mm): 92.0 / 75.2
capacity rating / speed rating(KW / HP / min-1): 373 / 507 / 7,750
max. torque / number of revolutions(Nm / min-1): 520 / 6,100
max. number of revolutions(min-1): 8,250
compaction(1): 12
fuel type / octane number(ROZ): 95-98
fuel consumption: 14.8 l/100km
CO2 emission: 357 g/km

MOTOR CONTROL:

digital motor electronics (DME), double VANOS (variable camshaft control), fully electronically controlled single throttle valve, shear force oil supply, ion-current knock control system, three-way catalytic converter, heated lambda probe, activated carbon filter, controlled fuel tank venting, light-alloy engine block, light-alloy cylinder head, on-board diagnostics, double-flow exhaust system

WEIGHT/DIMENSIONS:
curb weight(kg): 1,380
permitted weight in total(kg): 1,650
axle load distribution front / rear(%): 50 / 50
length/width/height(mm): 4,300 / 1,956 / 1,170
wheelbase(mm): 2,507
front track gauge(mm): 1,560
rear track gauge(mm): 1,636

CONSTRUCTION:

aluminium monocoque, bonded and riveted

BODY:

high-quality, fibre-glass reinforced composite material, diffusor, rear wing, enlarged air inlets, green-toned color glazing, laminated-glass windscreen, safety glass side window and rear screen, free choice of paint

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM:
sequential 7-gear SMG automatic transmission

gear ratio: 3.99/2.65/1.81/1.39/1.16/1/0.83 R 3.99
rear axle ratio: 3.62
differential: variable differential lock

DRIVING PERFORMANCE:
top speed(km/h): 310
acceleration 0-100 km/h(s): 3.9

TANK CAPACITY:
70 liters

CHASSIS / WHEELS:

front suspension: double wishbone axle, stabilisator
rear suspension: double wishbone axle and trailing link, stabilisator
front rims: 8,5J x 19, light-alloy RS-GT
rear rims: 10,0J x 19, light-alloy RS-GT
tyre dimensions: VA 245/40 ZR 19 / HA 275/30 ZR 19
front brakes: compound brake ventilated discs
rear brakes: compound brake ventilated discs

SAFETY:

air bags for driver and fellow passenger, integrated side-collision protection, ABS (antilock braking system), DSC (dynamic stability control), safety steering column adjustable in height and length, BMW safety system incl. approved electronic immobiliser system (Elektronische Wegfahrsperre EWS lll), 3-point seat belts, hydraulic power-assisted steering

EQUIPMENT:

refrigerator, bucket seats, leather interior, Xenon headlamps and additional headlamps, central locking system, electric window lift, electric wing mirror adjustment, electronic revolution counter, electronic tachometer, fuel gauge, water temperatur gauge, oil temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, analog watch, aluminium gear lever knob, velour carpet in passenger compartment and boot, glove box with lighting, passenger compartment lighting

There you go guys. I will be leaving you for now have to check out some Mazda auto parts. If you are interested just click on the link.

BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Concept at the Frankfurt

2007-09-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

The ongoing 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show has unveiled some of the most awaited vehicles in the auto industry such as the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Concept which employs the hybrid system developed by BMW Group, GM and the DaimlerChrysler Group. It will probably hit dealerships few months after the introduction of the X6 in mid-2008.The BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Concept may be driven in three ways:

• Through electric power only
• Combustion engine alone
• A combination of both electric power and combustion engine

The X6 ActiveHybrid Concept combines two compact, high-performance electric motors with ECVT or Electrical Continuously Variable Transmission. It also features two operating modes, one optimized for low while the other for high speeds.

The electric motors of the X6 ActiveHybrid Concept may also be employed for accelerating and regenerative braking applications. And according to the German automaker and producer of quality BMW headlight, the X6 ActiveHybrid’s system helps to lower down fuel consumption by up to 20 percent as compared to when running solely on a combustion engine.

BMW has started the development of its hybrid ride years ago before the foundation of the Global Hybrid Cooperation formed by BMW, GM, and DaimlerChrysler. The German automaker has first tested the electric drivetrain as early as the late 1980s in the BMW E1 and ever since the automaker has been conducting research on hybrid technology and its various options for more than 15 years and as matter of fact it has already made such technology a part of the BMW X5 EfficientDynamics unveiled in 2003 and also on the BMW Concept X3 EfficientDynamics introduced in the year 2005.

With the introduction of the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid, the German automaker is showing the world the level of maturity its hybrid technology has achieved. And of course since its BMW we can expect for it to combine performance with a high-level of sophistication that is typical to this brand.

Iconic Jeep® Brand Keeps Chrysler LLC Afloat

2007-09-13T19:57:00.001-07:00

Chrysler LLC has been able to keep itself afloat despite the fact that its vehicles are considered “not the need of the times” but anyway thanks to its iconic Jeep® brand the automaker has kept itself part of the mainstream.

Just like any of the struggling automakers in the US, Chrysler the producer of Dodge brake disc has tried employing various sales tactics and for the most part has been offering mix incentives for its Chrysler and Dodge vehicles. Fortunately the introduction of new Jeep products such the Compass, Patriot, and the four-door Wrangler has helped the Auburn Hills based automaker to survive in a year when two of its Detroit automakers comrades are having significant sales dropped.

Tom Libby Senior Director of Industry Analysis with J.D. Power and Associates’ Power Information Network said, "Those products, particularly the Compass and the Patriot, play right into where the market is going in terms of smaller vehicles and in terms of crossovers. The timing of those two products is pretty good. If they didn't have these three incremental models in Jeep, Jeep would not have shown the increases it was showing, and so they wouldn't be able to offset the declines at the other brands."

Autodata Corp. also explained that while the US auto sales were down by 2.8 percent Chrysler LLC was able to obtain a drop in sales by 2.7 percent. Chrysler LLC is trying to defend its share in North America to get a marginal growth.

Steve Landry, Chrysler Executive Vice President of North American sales said, "We battle it out segment by segment. Our new products, such as the Wrangler two-door and four-door, are really helping. The four-door has really created a halo effect for the Jeep brand, bringing people into the Jeep showrooms and it has improved our two-door sales."

So far for this year sales of Jeep Wranglers are up by around 71 percent as compared to the same period last year that is according to Autodata. Chrysler officials also noted that the Jeep Compass which was introduced last August 2006 together with the Jeep Patriot in December of 2006 are still bringing in sales for the company.

And hopefully with former top Toyota executive Jim Press now joining Chrysler things will finally turnaround for the automaker.

Volvo ReCharge Concept at the Frankfurt

2007-09-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

Volvo, the Swedish-based subsidiary of Ford and maker of quality Volvo body kit will be presenting its Volvo ReCharge Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show which has already started by the way. The Swedish automaker will also introduce a number of solutions that would help improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

The plug-in ReCharge Concept is equipped with electric motors positioned on the four wheels of the vehicles plus an under floor battery pack. Volvo said that the ReCharge can travel 62 miles before it would require recharging.

The charging hours for the ReCharge Concept is three hours however its batteries may also be recharged through the Flexifuel engine just like a normal hybrid.

Volvo Cars President and CEO Freidrik Arp also points out the need to assess a vehicle’s ‘dust-to-dust” environmental impact or the polluting impact of a car from its production to scrapping. He said as quoted by motortorque.com: "For instance, if a lot of electricity produced by fossil fuels is needed to create a renewable fuel, this will not be CO2-efficient from a holistic perspective even if the emissions from the car’s tailpipe are minimal. At present, bioethanol is the most attractive alternative when you consider availability, environmental effectiveness and cost-efficiency. However, what is regarded as most favorable today may be refined or converted to an even more sustainable solution tomorrow. It is our responsibility to deliver the car technology that makes transitions possible."

He further added: "Few experts today question the significance of the CO2 issue. On the other hand, there are several views and methods for solving the problem in the short and long terms. Volvo Cars is ready to take the step into the multi-energy society that is being created. We understand the difficulties and we have the expertise and the innovative approach it takes to tackle both today’s and tomorrow’s environmental challenges."

Horsepower War Wage On

2007-09-12T01:11:00.000-07:00

The competition that wage on among vehicles such as BMW is always a matter of horsepower. And BMW’s M5 has remained as the leader with its high performance 507hp V10 until Mercedes released its E63 AMG with 511hp. Although ahead with only a few extra horsepower but such small difference counts a lot in the fight for supremacy among the German premium marques.

Of course Europe’s largest automaker will not just sit around while its rivals just grab all the glory and its entry is the new twin-turbo V10 Audi RS 6 which has a massive 580 horsepower throbbing under its hood. It is also speculated that Audi has somewhat understated what supposedly should be 600hp. At present it is Audi that is leading on the horsepower contest but of course that would only remain until Mercedes or BMW come up with something more powerful.

There are however reports stating that the producer of high quality BMW 540i parts, BMW is already creating a more menacing version of the M5 and reports say that it’s going to be equipped with twin-turbos. Worldcarfans.com has already shown some snap shots of the claimed M5 prototype. And according to the photographers who have taken the photos the sound of the prototype is very much different from that of the usual M5.

Highly visible features were also noticed such as the extra air intakes cut in the front bumper not to mention the lower air duct openings seen at the sides of the front bumper. A vertical flap was also observed redirecting the air flow into what appears to be sitting behind an intercooler for a turbo.

And that’s not all there is also the highly speculated 7 Series based on the M7. The spotted 7-Series prototype shows a few clues of what looks to be beyond the normal 7-series prototypes that are spreading on the net lately. The big air scoop in the hood with the two smaller air outlets at the back edge of the hood shows an extremely different 7-Series which hopefully is sportier and made more fun to drive.

The coming of these new high-revving vehicles will create a new meaning to the word horsepower. The only question is: How much power can you control? And will they be made available in the US? Now that is the biggest question of all. LOL

Dacia Logan Pickup and Renault Sandero at the Frankfurt

2007-09-10T21:44:00.000-07:00

At the Frankfurt, Dacia of Romania an affiliate of the French manufacturer Renault has presented the Dacia Logan Pickup which is the latest addition to the Logan family. The Logan range is comprised of a saloon, an estate, and a light commercial van.

The Dacia Logan Pickup is manufactured at the Piteshi plant in Romania. It is designed as a working vehicle for craftsmen and tradespeople and at the same time is a perfect mode for everyday transportation. The Logan Pickup possesses all the characteristics of a genuine Logan.

The Logan Pickup exudes a contemporary and dynamic appeal that is made possible through its Renault-originated petrol and diesel powertrain packages plus the chassis that it shared with the Logan MCV.

In terms of practicality the Logan pickup has a lot to boasts about. It has a load bed with a capacity of 800kg, a load length of 1.80m, and 300 liters of cabin stowage space behind the seats. The Logan pickup will be offered in Romania starting 2008.

And speaking of Renault, still at the Frankfurt the French automaker has presented its Sandero Renault for the first time.

The Sandero was developed basing on the same B0 platform as the Logan and was built in the Curitiba plant in Brazil. It will be offered in Brazil by December of this year and then later on will be offered in Argentina.

The involvement of Renault’s Brazil-based Regional Engineering Center, the Sandero was designed in such a way that it will appeal to the South American customers. This five-door hatchback possesses all the qualities of the vehicles in the B0 platform including spaciousness, robustness, and of course has plenty of luggage space to offer.

The Sandero will be available in Brazil with a three-year warranty that is unmatched in its class.

The Sandero is expected to further strengthen Renault’s product range in South America. For its development, the French automaker has partnered with the Regional Engineering Center and Renault Technologies Americas (RTA) to make sure that the Sandero would match up to the expectations as well as the driving habits of its South American customers. With the Sandero, Renault would like to show its seriousness in developing and producing models that meet the needs of its target markets worldwide.

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Volvo to present a Plug-In Hybrid C30 at the Frankfurt

2007-09-09T22:43:00.000-07:00

The 62nd Frankfurt Motor Show is the most exciting event this September. The show promises to present lots of world debuts and concept cars. Ford’s Swedish-based subsidiary Volvo will be presenting another C30 concept and this time it’s going to be a plug-in hybrid with electric wheel motors powered by batteries which are rechargeable through regular power outlets. The batteries take around 3 hours to recharge and last for 100km before the FlexFuel engine takes over.

According to Magnus Jonsson, Senior VP Research and Development at Volvo Cars as quoted by the worldcarfans.com, "This is a ground-breaking innovation for sustainable transportation. A person driving less than 100 kilometres a day will rarely need to visit a filling station. In the USA, this may apply to almost 80 percent of drivers."

The great thing about the Volvo ReCharge Concept is the fact that it makes use of a new technology called the “series hybrid” where there is no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels. However, there is an electric engine placed in each wheel and powered by the lithium-ion batteries located in the trunk while the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) will kick take over once the batteries are depleted.

The APU is so powerful that it can produce enough electricity for the 4 electric motors and can even generate enough power to supply a large house with electricity. The use of the APU helps to maximize power usage and lower down emissions.

The in-wheel electric motors which were already in its development stage on the 640hp MINI are also employed for the plug-in C30 and were developed by the PML Flightlink.

The C30 hybrid plug-in is an all-wheel-drive vehicle with each wheel being powered by and controlled individually resulting to a sporty driving performance allowing the acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in a matter of 8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 160 km/h.

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The C-Cactus Concept to Debut at the 62nd IAA in Frankfurt

2007-09-06T17:56:00.000-07:00

The C-Cactus concept is an attractive and cheerful vehicle that will make its world debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. This new concept car from Citroen is what its designers call the ecological hatchback. It is named such because it consume low amount of fuel just like the cactus plant.

The C-Cactus is an ecological car that features a Hybrid HDi drivetrain capable of 69 mpg or 3.41/100km with a combined cycle and emissions of 78g/km of CO2. It is also important to note that the C-Cactus lack some of the firm’s family trademarks and instead focuses on the essentials meaning those that are positive, ecological and deemed important by buyers.

The new concept Cactus car from Citroen embodies simplicity and yet appealing, modern and upbeat. The blend of rounded and slight angular forms provides the C-Cactus Concept with a muscular and dynamic touch.

Citroen the producer of Peugeot catalytic converter has also aspired for ergonomic perfection with the C-Cactus by introducing a number of fresh designs such as removing the dashboard and in place put a grouping key control on the central console and a steering wheel hub. A modular stowage system with sliding rear bench to reveal under-floor stowage provides a bootspace of 500 to 1100 liters.

Still in line with its simplicity theme, the C-Cactus Concept’s front panel housing front headlamps and the chevron make use of the same panel that was used on the rear lower tailgate. Citroen also claim that the C-Cactus’ air conditioning has made electric-opening windows redundant giving way for the removal of the electronic mechanism and in place was installed a simple sliding system.

The French automaker has described the car as a vehicle with new objectives that explores new forms of expression and technical solutions. And by combining functions and simplifying the number of parts and mechanism production cost was reduced. Likewise the removal of all unnecessary components further increases the vehicle’s efficiencies. The C-Cactus Concept is Citroen’s attempt to recreate the original Mini of the future.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Dimensions
Length: 4,200 mm
Width: 1,800 mm
Height: 1,490 mm
Wheelbase: 2,800 mm
Gross vehicle weight (GVW): 1,306 kg (batteries included)

Performance and fuel consumption
Top speed: 150 kph
Combined consumption: 3.4 l/100 km
CO2 emissions: 78 g/km

Diesel hybrid drivetrain
70 bhp HDi diesel engine with a DPFS and 5-speed automatic transmission
30 bhp electric motor installed in the clutch housing
ZEV mode

Aerodynamics
Cd: 0,35
CdA: 0.8 m²

Running gear
C4 platform

Main equipment
Touch screen navigation system
Portable MP3 player with a touch screen playing the role of ignition key
Air conditioning with automatic temperature control
High-quality audio system
Speed limiter and cruise control
Electric handbrake

GM at the 62nd IAA in Frankfurt

2007-09-06T00:22:00.000-07:00

General Motors will present a total of eleven world and European debuts at the upcoming 62nd IAA in Frankfurt. Chevrolet, Opel, Saab, Cadillac, Corvette. And Hummer will also display their own model portfolios at their stands.

Around 8,000 square meters of display area was allotted to GM in hall 8. Also included on GM’s displays is the new E-Flex architecture as well as the latest fuel cell vehicle called the HydroGen4. These are the vehicles that showcase the automaker’s environmental strategy which is focused on reducing CO2 emissions and introducing new propulsion technologies in the long term. And in a way this is sort of GM’s way of planning ahead to provide customers with a choice of vehicles with various energy sources thus giving them options on which propulsion system would best suit their needs.

And speaking of propulsions, General Motors the producer of Saab wiper blade will present at the 62nd IAA in Frankfurt its alternative propulsion concepts. Visitors will see four humongous windswept trees abstracted by metal plates, which represents GM’s approach in protection of the environment.

General Motors will present four new vehicles and models that would come equipped with alternative propulsion systems including the electric car Volt and HydroGen4 fuel cell vehicle plus two chassis variants of the E-Flex electric vehicle architecture. To explain everything are specially trained experts which are available at the GM stand.

There are also four touch screen monitors that are accessible to IAA visitors that contain information on the process of fuel production from raw materials up to its actual use in cars. GM’s computer workstations will not only provide various information on the use of alternative energies but are also functioning proofs since they are powered by fuel cells installed directly at the stand.

Still part of GM’s display is the more than 4200 square meters showcasing the Opela Agila and ecoFLEX environmental strategy which are situated opposite each other. At the center of the stand is the concept vehicle with the new E-Flex architecture that represents the brand’s environmental strategy.

There is also a Media Mesh wall consists of several LED displays in a stainless steel web that shows a one-of-a-kind raw resolution image. Live shows that are both entertaining and informative will highlight the multi-functionality of the Agila and the ecoFLEX.

And of course with beautiful cars comes equally glamorous ladies. The Chevrolet’s stand is the place to be when you want to see gorgeous women wearing exclusive uniforms that are designed and produce by students from the “Private Modeschule” fashion school in Düsseldorf, Germany. However let us be reminded that these ladies are not the highlight of the Chevrolet stand but the new Aveo or the Camaro Convertible.

The new Saab 9-3 range of course will not be left out and will be displayed with a new face. It will display a look inspired by the highly renowned Aero X Concept car. Technical highlights o fthe new Saab 9-3 range will include four-wheel drive system Cross Wheel Drive (XWD), one 1.9 liter, 132kW/180hp turbo-diesel engine with two-stage turbocharger and two powerful BioPower engines (E85) with 129kW/175hp or 147kW/200hp.

For the Cadillac stand the main star is the BLS Wagon which is joined by the 2008 STS luxury sedan, SRX crossover, full-size Escalade SUV and high performance XLR-V roadster. Included on the display is the super fast automatic Corvette LS3 presented in the form of a Coupe or Cabriolet with optional six-speed automatic transmission. The Hummer H2 which is a character from Transformers is also included.

The Sporty Peugeot 207 SW RC to be Unveiled at 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show

2007-09-04T00:37:00.000-07:00

The sporty Peugeot 207 SW RC that will make its debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show combines high quality equipment with performance contained in a stylish design that reflects a strong character even with its five full-size seats. The 207 SW RC is the latest and the third member of the 207 SW family.

The 207 SW RC has lots to offer in terms of exterior styling such as:

• “Sport”front design with an aluminium painted air intake grille
• Dark tinted rear side windows, rear quarter windows and rear tailgate glass
• Large aerodynamic rear spoiler mounted on the rear tailgate
• Double chrome-plated rear exhaust pipes
• «Pitlane» diamond cut alloy wheels fitted with Bridgestone Potenza 205/45.17 tyres
• Satin chrome exterior mirror covers
• Panoramic glass roof with electric sun blind
• Rear tailgate glass which opens separately from the tailgate by means of the remote control

In terms of performance, the 207 SW RC offers:

Maximum speed: 135 mph (220 km/h)
1,000 m standing start: 28.6 s
0 to 60 mph (0 to 100 km/h): 7.6 s
In gear acceleration 50-75 mph
(80-120 km/h): 7.9 s(in top gear)
The combined consumption is 38.2 mpg (7.4 l /100 km) (that is 175 g of CO2/km).

The 207 also possess several technical innovations:

• The direct injection of petrol at high pressure. This allows a high specific power output to be achieved with low fuel consumption and low emissions.
• The “overboost” system. This permits a temporary increasing of the torque value of 240 Nm to 260 Nm, in the top three gears.
• The Twin-Scroll turbocharger, fitted for the first time on the THP 150 bhp engine. This pairs («twin») the exhaust gases of two cylinders in the exhaust manifold and the turbocharger. The two gas flows are then directed through «scrolls» in the turbocharger body.
• The Variable Valve Timing for the inlet camshaft and the roller cam followers, reducing friction. This helps to achieve the high power and torque output while assisting in reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
• The flow controlled oil pump. This provides the exact volume of oil necessary and therefore does not absorb unnecessary power from the engine reducing fuel consumption.

The sporty features of the 207 SW RC were borrowed from the 207 RC and these are as follows:

• the dials in the instrument panel have chrome surrounds, black “chequered” background and red indicator needles.
• “Indy” fascia panel decorative trim
• the smooth/perforated dual-leather steering wheel with thumb rest and Indy decorative trim
• drilled aluminium pedals
• metal sport gear level knob
• black mats trimmed with black leather and a contrasting light grey overstitching

Body colors available for the 207 SW RC:

Metallic/pearlescent colours
• Obsidian Black
• Aluminum
• Shark Grey
• Neysha Blue

Solid colours
• Bianca White
• Flamenco Red

All information is courtesy of worldcarfans.com for more info on the new 207 SW RC kindly visit World Car Fans but if you are looking for high quality Honda prelude parts.

Volvo’s Alcoguard for Release Starting 2008

2007-09-03T17:30:00.001-07:00

Nissan is not the only one with the new breathalyzer technology even Volvo Cars is introducing its own version and it’s called the Alcoguard. With this new technology, Volvo is hoping to reduce accidents that are caused by drink-driving.

The Alcoguard is fully integrated in-car alcolock that utilizes advanced fuel cell technology that is both user-friendly and reliable. Ingrid Skogsmo, Director of the Volvo Cars Safety Center was quoted by duemotori.com as saying, "Alcoguard is a tool whose purpose is to help the driver make sober decisions. At present, one in every three traffic fatalities in Europe is alcohol-related. Our three biggest challenges for creating a safer traffic environment are speeding, insufficient safety belt use and drink-driving. The aim of our product is to help reduce the number of accidents caused by vehicles with a drunk driver at the wheel."

The Volvo S80, V70, and XC70 will be the first to test the Alcoguard and are scheduled for release starting 2008. The company’s small car models will also be equipped with the Alcoguard and will be released by next summer.

Volvo the producer of high quality Volvo engine is hoping to sell around two thousand units per year and expected to grow as customers began to realize the importance of the Alcoguard in vehicle safety. At present Sweden is the biggest market for alcolocks but Volvo will also offer this technology to the rest of Europe and USA. The primary market expected for the Alcoguard will consist of the company car sector, taxi operators, state authorities and municipalities but still the Swedish-based automaker is considering private car owners as their potential customers for the said technology.

How does the Alcoguard works? There is a hand-held unit which is used to analyze the driver’s breath. The results are then transmitted via a radio signal to the car’s electronic control system. If the alcohol content in the blood exceeds 0.2g/1 the engine will not start. And due to advanced sensors, makes it impossible for external air sources such as pump to cheat the system.

David Nilsson, Technical Project Manager for Alcoguard at Volvo Cars said, "Fuel-cell technology is more expensive but it also produces far better results. Unlike semi-conductors, for instance, fuel-cells only react to ethanol and nothing else. In the fuel-cell, the ethanol molecules pass through a sensitive membrane and an electrical current is generated. This current is then measured. Higher current means more alcohol in the driver's breath."

The results of the breathalyzer test are shown via three LEDs displayed on the hand-held unit such as:

Green: 0.0-0.1g/1 alcohol, the car’s engine will start
Yellow: 0.1-0.2g/1 alcohol, the car will start but the driver should not drive
Red: more than 0.2g/1 alcohol, the car’s engine will not start

I don’t know about you guys but I like the anti-driving technology of Nissan since it covers a lot more aspect of a drunken individual not just in terms of breath but overall analyze the driver’s behavior.

Fiat 500 One of the Safest Vehicle on the Road

2007-09-03T01:36:00.000-07:00

The prestigious Euro NCAP five-star crash safety rating was topped recently by the Fiat 500 obtaining a total of 35 points.

The said award is just an addition to the recently obtained honors of the Fiat Bravo and Grande Punto. All these awards simply show the special attention that Fiat Automobiles SpA is giving its vehicles.

This is also the every first time that a car as the size of the Fiat 500 was given a five-star crash safety rating making it as one of the safest vehicles on the road. The Fiat 500 was able to obtain such rating through the efforts of Fiat designers who makes sure that every possible type of accident including front and side impacts, rollovers and rear-end collisions. Similarly, the different speeds at which accident occurs are also taken into consideration together with the various types of obstacles on the road and the protection of occupants with distinct physical characteristics were included.

The Fiat 500 is available with standard two dual stage front airbags, two front side airbags for chest/pelvis protection, two window-bags and a driver’s knee airbag. The front seat belts with a double pretensioner and load limiter are also included as part of the standard equipment.

The Fiat 500 also features a high performance braking system with the ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program). This highly sophisticated technology is offered as standard feature on the 1.4 16v version and an option for the 1.2 and 1.3 MultiJet.

Fiat Automobiles SpA has created the 500 endowed with the highest levels of quality which is confirmed by the five-star Euro NACP crash rating. The 500 has been a success in both Italy and France with over 70,000 units ordered starting from its release last summer to date.

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Alfa to Release Limited Special Edition 147 Sport and Sport Q2 in the UK

2007-09-01T01:38:00.000-07:00

Alfa Romeo the producer of quality of Alfa Romeo catalytic converter has recently announced that they will be releasing their special edition Alfa 147 Sport and Sport Q2 models in the UK but in a limited number only.

These new special editions Alfa Romeo models will feature sporty exterior styling such as the 17-inch five-spoke wheels plus satin effect wing mirrors, roof spoiler and chrome exhaust. For the interior there are cloth-covered Q2-type seats, aluminum pedals, sports dials, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and darkened roof lining.

The special edition Sport Q2 version features 150bhp turbodiesel with torque-splitting Limited Slip Differential that provides the Q2 with better traction and sharper cornering. It also has lowered sports suspension and unique Q2 17-inch alloy wheels. For the interior the Sport Q2 is equipped with black leather sports seats, dual zone climate control and stainless steel kick plates over the Sport specification.

The addition of the Q2 system with its Torsen Limited Slip Differential that divides torque between the front wheels robustly and constantly based on the driving conditions and the type of road has provided the Alfa 147 with a better cornering performance. Moreover, the Q2 system also improved traction enabling the driver to obtain from the JTDM 16v engine an impressive 225 lb-ft of torque.

There engine options for the Alfa 147 Sport are the 1.6 TS petrol engine and the 1.9 JTDM diesel unit while the Sport Q2 will come equipped with a 1.9 JTDM 16v unit giving it 150 bhp.

In terms of colors, all of the 147 Sport models are available in Alfa Red, Stromboli Grey or Carbonio Black. These are the colors that highlight the car’s unique styling.

The pricing for the Alfa 147 Sport Q2 range from £16,950 for the three door hatch while the five door version is priced at £17,450; the Alfa 147 Sport has a tag price of £13,450 with either 1.6 TS petrol engine or the 1.9 JTDM diesel unit.

Alfa 147 Sport Limited Edition Range
(Pricing)

3-door
1.6 TS Sport: £13,450
1.9 JTDM Sport: £14,450
1.9 JTDM16v Sport Q2: £16,950

5-door
1.6 TS Sport: £13,950
1.9 JTDM Sport: £14,950
1.9 JTDM16v Sport Q2: £17,450

Ford’s Verve Concept

2007-08-30T01:53:00.000-07:00

Ford will be revealing a bold and colorful concept car at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show called the Verve Concept. This new offering from Ford will mark the automaker’s future small-car design vision.

It can be remembered that the Product Development Group of Ford’s European arm has announced earlier this year that they would be creating a new small-car portfolio for major world markets. The Verve Concept is now the physical evidence of the earlier announced design direction for an all-new small Ford.

The Ford Verve Concept is just one of the three concept vehicles that will be introduced in various key regions such as Europe, Asia, and North America.

John Fleming, President and CEO of Ford of Europe was quoted by worldcarfans.com as saying: "Ford Verve Concept is presented here in Frankfurt as a bespoke concept car to generate reactions while our production plans are taking shape. Our Design team took an unrestrained approach to how our future small cars could look, and this eye-catching concept was one of the results. If we get the reaction we expect, I'm certain that the team will incorporate elements of this advanced design vision into our final production design. This will make the next generation of small cars from Ford very compelling indeed."

The Verve is finished in rich colors and unique materials inspired by the world of fashion and cosmetics. It was created by a team of designers from Ford’s studios in Dunton, England and Cologne, Germany.

The Verve Concept is a strong expression of a small car vision that was based on the kinetic design momentum of Ford’s recent Iosis and Iosis X Concept cars together with the more premium feel of Ford’s new models like the Ford Mondeo.

Ford of Europe will make use of the Ford Verve Concept to gauge the reaction of the public towards this new generation of small cars. And by the way in case you are in need of Acura performance parts kindly click on the link. Thanks.

Volvo to expand engine range of V70 and S80

2007-08-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

Volvo the Swedish-based subsidiary of Ford and producer of quality Volvo S80 parts has announced recently that it will be expanding the engine range of its V70 and S80. Both models will be offered with four-cylinder engines that would be in the form of either a 2 liter naturally aspirated petrol engine with 145 hp or a 2 liter turbodiesel with 136 hp later this year.

According to Lex Kerseemakers, Senior Vice President Brand, Business and Product Strategy at Volvo Cars, "More and more buyers focus on fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. It is highly important for us to give them more choices by making our competitive four-cylinder engines available in the new V70 and S80 models too. The 2-litre alternatives offer a very attractive combination of fuel economy and driving pleasure."

He also explained that the 2.0 liter engine would produce 145 hp and 185 Nm of torque. It is a four-cylinder usually aspirated unit which is the latest in engine technology—lightweight aluminum engine that feature the four valve technology and a modern fuel injection system. The engine also offers the same highly efficient combustion technology and exhaust gas treatment just like the other Volvo engines. It also provides good fuel economy and at the same time reduces exhaust emissions. The fuel consumption for the V70 is 8.3 L/100km while 8.1 L/100km is for the S80.

The other considered engine is the 2.0D which is a four-cylinder turbodiesel that produces 136 hp and 320NM of torque. It gives off rapid throttle response and is quite sensitive to the accelerator providing drivers with good control and a much pleasurable driving experience.

The unique part of this engine is its second-generation common rail technology which is also found in larger diesel models of Volvo. Its cylinder heads is made of aluminum. With this type of engine the fuel consumption for the V70 is at 6.0 L/100 km while for the S80 its 5.9 L/100 km.

A diesel particulate filter was also fitted and offered as part of the standard package. The filter is very important since it reduces that unburned soot particles in the emissions that has affects the environment. In addition, the system is also cleaned automatically as the contents of the filter are burned at regular intervals.

Reliving the Glory of Saab's "Black Turbos"

2007-08-24T22:07:00.000-07:00

It was almost thirty years since Saab last chosen the Frankfurt Auto Show to unveil its Saab 99 Turbo. It was Saab’s initial attempt in using turbocharging to rev up the engine of the little hatchback to give it more than 140 horsepower. The 99 Turbo together with its successor the 900 Turbo became known as the “Black Turbos”.

Ever since Saab has learned to use turbocharging to boost the performance of its model range it has become GM’s center of expertise for boost which makes it quite appropriate to honor Saab this year at the Frankfurt Show.

The Turbo X and the new 9-3 on which it is based were responsible for introducing the all-wheel drive to the 9-3 lineup. The Frankfurt Auto Show will again become the venue for the debut of the 2008 9-3 with an AWD system that has the ability not only to transfer 100 percent of available torque to the rear wheels but also to split torque between the rear wheels.

Saab the producer of high quality Saab oil filter is also planning to launch the 2008 Saab Turbo X AWD with a more powerful, 280-hp version of the turbocharged 2.8 liter V6 which is already offered in the front wheel drive versions of the 9-3 Aero XWD.

The limited edition Turbo X cars will be styled resembling the original Black Turbos.

2008 Saab 9-3 Specifications (source: http://autos.aol.com/)

2.0T 4dr Sport Sedan
Length: 182.5”
Body width: 69.0”
Height: 56.8”
Wheelbase: 105.3”
Curb: 3,230 lbs.
Gross weight: 4,170 lbs.

Interior
Front head room: 39”
Rear head room: 37”
Front shoulder room: 56”
Rear shoulder room: 55”
Front leg room: 42.3”
Rear leg room: 35.1”
Luggage capacity: 15.0 cu. ft.
Maximum cargo capacity: 15.0 cu.ft.
Maximum seating: 5

Performance
Base engine size: 2.0 liters
Base engine type: 1-4
Horsepower: 210hp
Horsepower rpm: 5,500
Torque: 221 lb-ft
Torque rpm: 2,500
Maximum towing capacity: 2,000 lbs.
Drive type: front-wheel
Turning radius: 19.5”

Aero 4dr Sport Sedan
Length: 182.5”
Body width: 69.0”
Height: 56.8”
Wheelbase: 105.3”
Curb: 3,440 lbs
Gross weight: 4,450 lbs

Interior
Front head room: 39”
Rear head room: 37”
Front shoulder room: 56”
Rear shoulder room: 55”
Front leg room: 42.3”
Rear leg room: 35.1”
Luggage capacity: 15.0 cu. ft.
Maximum cargo capacity: 15.0 cu. ft.
Maximum seating: 5

Performance
Base engine size: 2.8 liters
Base engine type: V6
Horsepower: 255 hp
Horsepower rpm: 5,000
Torque: 258 lb-ft
Torque rpm: 1,900
Maximum towing capacity: 2,000 lbs
Drive type: front-wheel
Turning radius: 19.5”

The edo MC12 Corsa

2007-08-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

At last year’s FIA GT Championship Maserati has driven its competitors into the ground with its MC12 GT1. In conjunction with the celebration for its overall victory, Maserati introduced the limited edition MC12 Corsa.

The Über-Maserati weighs nearly 400 kg or 880 lbs less than the base MC12 and no, it does not have a Dodge catalytic converter. This results to a power-to-weight ratio of 1.5 kg/hp. The Corsa produces 755 hp and 740 Nm of torque and will take on a regular MC12 with 632 hp anytime on the track.

Edo competition is not intimated by extreme sports cars such as the Corsa and instead enhanced it further by giving it a special suspension system. The independently adjustable compression and rebound damping allows individual suspension setups. This unique system with its three different adjustments enables low-speed compression damping characteristics to be modified while the high-speed settings with its strong influence on ride quality remained constant. Likewise the nose lift function that is available on the regular MC12 was also employed to the Corsa prevent front and underbody damage.

In terms of the engine the edo competition did not touch the 755hp-strong engine of the MC12 Corsa. The 6.0 liter V12 Corsa announces its power through a newly developed edo competition high flow exhaust system that has a soundtrack guaranteed to give you goose bumps.

The sports exhaust system with its electronically controlled butterfly valves adds aesthetic qualities to the MC12 Corsa and that is courtesy of the dual exhaust tips with a diameter of 100 mm. the edo competition has put a strong emphasis on quality for the construction of the Corsa. The muffler and exhaust tips are made even more durable with the V2A stainless steel. There is also a remote control to adjust the sound intensity.

The Corsa was also given a ceramic composite high-performance brake system that make use of 396 rotors in the front and 360 mm rotors in the rear along with some special brake pads positioned at both ends. There were also newly developed custom made forged wheels for the Corsa. A 10Jx19 size front axle and 13Jx20 size rear axle were placed. The wheels employed by edo competition for the front was 265/35 ZR19 while 335/30 ZR20 was for the rear.

edo MC12 Corsa Specifications
Engine - 6.0-ltr. V12
Power - 755 hp (555 kW) at 8000 rpm
Torque - 740 Nm (546 ft-lb) at 5500 rpm
Top speed - 326 km/h (203 mph) (source: Maserati)
0 – 100 km/h (0 – 62 mph) - <> 1.200.000 Euro
Modifications edo competition - on request

Volvo is thinking Green

2007-08-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

The present trend in vehicle manufacturing is focus on biofuels and hybrid technology which makes is it not so surprising if Volvo would opt to do the same. The Swedish-based unit of Ford is working in improving the energy efficiency of its conventional drivetrains. And their efforts have paid off with the development of two new innovations which are scheduled for launching by 2008---the low CO2 emitting Volvo C30 and the new diesel Powershift transmission for the Volvo C30, S40, and V50.

The all new Volvo C30 Efficiency will make its world debut at the coming Frankfurt Motorshow scheduled on September 11, 2007. It will be powered by a 105PS 1.6 liter turbodiesel engine. The upgrades made on the aerodynamics and the rolling resistance as well as the introduction of higher gearing and an improved powertrain Efficiency 1 has improved the fuel consumption of Volvo to 62.8mpg and reduced CO2 emissions to below 120g/km2.

The Volvo C30 Efficiency becomes Volvo’s first model to obtain a B-band VED tax rating plus an exemption from the London Congestion Charge that is in case the proposed changes to the scheme would be implemented next year.

For the early part of 2008 Volvo will introduced the new 2-liter turbodiesel (2.0D) automatic transmission with Powershift technology designed for Volvo C30, S40, and V50 model ranges. The Powershift gearbox is composed of two clutches that operates in parallel and since nothing is blocking the delivery of torque during the gear changing process, gearshifts become instantaneous resulting to a higher fuel efficiency rating and at the same time delivers an improve fuel consumption that is much better than a standard automatic gearbox.

Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Cars said, "We are firmly committed to lowering the fuel consumption of our conventional petrol and diesel engines. By doing this we will continuously reduce the overall CO2 emission level for our whole model range."

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Citroen C-Airscape Concept Car to Debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show

2007-08-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

The covers have been lifted off the Citroen’s four-seater concept car, the C-Airscape concept before its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Supposedly official photos of the C-Airscape Concept have started leaking out throughout the net after automotive magazine AutoWeek.nl has started posting them on its website.

The photos of the C-Airscape Concept shows sleek lines and premium packaging of the soon to launch Citroen C5 with photos of it spreading throughout the net.

It seems like there is no way of keeping sneaky auto photographers off from taking photos and then leaking them out on the net. Earlier this year there were pictures of Citroen’s mid-range saloon spreading in the net showing the French automaker’s entry to match the likes of Ford’s new Mondeo as well as the forthcoming Vectra.

The C5’s debut is scheduled also to happen at the Frankfurt Motor Show but according to Autoweek.nl a Geneva Motor Show unveiling is more likely to happen.

Anyway going back to the C-Airscape Concept some say that it gives hints of a new convertible CS. Aside from that, the C5 is also seen to be trailing in the track prints of its sister manufacturer Peugeot and its 407 Coupe. It is also highly probable for the C5 to spawn a production version of the C-Airspace concept car which will become a new addition to the C5 range. The front styling of the C-Airspace Concept car suggest a Pininfarina's 406 Coupé while its Audi-like rear styling sends a message that the French automaker is getting ready to compete with the German brands.

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Hollywood-Actor Will Ferrell First American to Drive BMW’s Hydrogen 7

2007-08-17T01:45:00.000-07:00

BMW in connection with its Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program has handed over the keys of the world’s first ever hydrogen powered luxury sedan to Hollywood actor Will Ferrell. Aside from actor Ferrell, the German automaker also plans of providing industry leaders as well as other prominent figures in business, politics, entertainment, etc. a BMW as their daily means of transport.

Through the said program BMW stress the fact that its BMW Hydrogen 7 is in fact a production model vehicle and not just a mere concept car. The Hydrogen 7 has also been able to meet all the standards set by US. Aside from this, the Hydrogen 7 emits nothing but water vapor which significantly reduces the emission of harmful CO2.

For the duration of the program BMW will released 25 of the 100 Hydrogen 7 cars produced for used in the evaluation programs in the US. The Hydrogen 7 is not yet for sale but considered to be a breakthrough in bringing in the hydrogen technology and considering it as a sustainable source for individual transportation.
The German automaker also believes that hydrogen will replace petroleum as an alternative fuel source in the future which gives the Hydrogen 7 an even more important role to play.

BMW being the pioneers in the use of hydrogen technology would like to send the message that such technology exist and that the BMW Group has the know-how and the expertise on how to use such technology for future mobility. And by using the power and influence of individuals such as the likes of Hollywood-actor Will Ferrell, BMW hopes to generate support for the hydrogen vehicle and hopefully stimulate demand as well.

Ferrell is just one of the many influential Americans whom BMW will provide a Hydrogen 7 vehicle and at present there were other celebrities who have expressed their interest on the Hydrogen 7 and these include celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie; Fox Entertainment Peter Liguori at the Fox All-Star Party in Santa Monica; Richard Gere and Sharon Stone at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin; producer Davis Guggenheim who has won Oscar Awards for his movie “An Inconvenient Truth”; Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck at the 2007 Academy Awards and some others not mentioned.

BMW’s Hydrogen 7 has also captured the interest of international luminaries including Michael Glos German Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, and Gunter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission. Anna Netrebko a world renowned soprano has also expressed her interest on the hydrogen 7.

Since a lot of people have expressed their interest on the Hydrogen 7, I too would like to drive one please…as if the high and mighty BMW would grant my wish (heavy sigh). Who am I kidding? Anyway, I’ll just content myself fixing my GMC truck which desperately needs of new GMC window regulator.

Porsche Winter’s Black Dream Offering: The Cayman S “Porsche Design Edition 1”

2007-08-15T00:26:00.000-07:00

Christmas is still months away but upcoming offerings from Porsche just give a new meaning to early Christmas shopping.

Porsche Design renowned for its industrial design approach towards premium and luxury consumer goods worldwide has decided to apply its world-class creativity to a Porsche car. The winter black Cayman S dubbed as the “Porsche Design Edition 1” will go on sale in November.

The Porsche Design Edition 1 is a limited edition special series with only 777 to be produced worldwide. The winter black Porsche Design Edition 1 incorporates various design techniques and styling cues that accentuate the purist nature of the 295bhp mid-engined coupe.

And of course since it’s a Porsche it is expected for the Cayman S to exude luxury and sophistication only this time it’s enhanced further by the Porsche Design. The black Alcantara upholstery blends with the refined details such as the instrument dial which reflects all of Porsche Design chronograph timepieces.

The center console together with the fascia console and door trims are all cloaked in mysterious black while the three-spoke sports steering wheel, the handbrake grip, the gear lever, as well as the roof lining are all covered in non-slip black Alcantara. The Porsche logo crest is imprinted on the seat headrests.

In terms of technical features only the most highly sophisticated were employed for the Cayman S including:

the 10mm lowered body,

standard Porsche Active Suspension Management or PASM which automatically controls the firmness of the dampers with a special sport mode that enhanced the dynamic driving feel

Five millimeter wide axle spacers combined with 19-inch “Turbo” wheels give the Cayman S with a firm stance that is further strengthened by 235/35 ZR 19 tires on the front axle and 265/35ZR 19 tires at he rear.

The Porsche Design Studio was founded by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche 35 years ago and from then on has grown to become a top international organization that is known worldwide for industrial design, luxury items, as well as consumer goods.

The Cayman S also comes with an elegant briefcase that contains that Flat Six Chronograph timepiece, a pair of sunglasses, a pocket knife, a key ring, and a pen---in the same shade of black applied on the Cayman S “Porsche Design Edition1”.

The Cayman S will be made available in UK and Ireland starting from November of this year with price starting from £49,890 of which include a Porsche Driving Experience course just to make sure that buyers would not end-up scratching such immaculate car.

Anyway, it’s a luxury car which most of us will not be able to afford (sigh). Thanks for dropping by, Ill be back to bring you more news and updates after I bought a GMC tail light guard.

London Mayor Proposes Emission-Based Congestion Charge Fee

2007-08-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

The Mayor of London is planning to introduce an emission-based congestion charge fee to minimize pollution in the capital. If implemented, the said extra charge will definitely affect drivers with heavy-polluting vehicles.

Vehicles that are included in the excise duty B and G with carbon dioxide emission higher than 255g per km would be given the top charge while those with least polluting vehicles like those included in the G-Wiz would not be charged with any fee.

The proposal would not be implemented yet since it is still subject to consultation but hopefully by 2009 it can be executed already. However, Mayor Ken Livingstone, has instructed Transport for London to look into possibilities that will help in hastening the early implementation of the proposal.

Aside from the extra fee that have to be paid by vehicle owners included in the excise duty B and G they will also lose the 90 percent resident discount specifically if they are living within the congestion charging zone.

Also included in the proposal, vehicles that are included in the excise duty band charge A and B with CO2 emission of 120g per km would not be charged at all. The present charged amounting to £8 would be applied for cars included in bands C, D, E, and F emitting between 120g and 225g of CO2 per km. the drivers with vehicles included in the band G emitting 225g of CO2 per km would be charged with £25.

Mayor Livingstone has also discussed the said proposal with other world city mayors including the mayor of New York but there are no words yet whether other mayors will follow this same scheme.

In addition there would the introduction of new low-emission zones which are based on Euro compliancy standards for emissions in a number of major towns and cities in Germany. There are no daily charges introduced yet but €40 will be charged for drivers who are found driving in a zone where their vehicle rating does not allow them to enter.

Anyway it’s good that the local government of London is doing some measures in minimizing the pollution in their city. Although the proposal may be a burden to some especially those with heavy-polluting vehicles, but the benefits that it would bring to the whole of London is worth all the trouble. And that I think my friend is what matters most.

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Brabus’ “Wolf in Sheep Clothing” Surprise

2007-08-07T01:38:00.000-07:00

While searching for some affordable Toyota fuel savers online I decided to visit one of my fave auto blogsites, the worldcarfans.com just to see if there are new vehicles featured on the site. And as always there were new featured vehicles.

But what caught my attention was the 30th anniversary presentation of Brabus with the theme “wolf in sheep clothing” which will be presented at the Frankfurt International Auto Show IAA 2007. The presentation at the Frankfurt will also be accompanied by the launching of the newly designed BRABUS website.

Brabus is currently the world’s largest independent automobile tuner and considered to be a car manufacturer under the German Federal Motor Vehicle Registration Agency. It has always been the tradition of Brabus to build legendary models. The very first car that Brabus has tuned-up was the Mercedes 190 which was equipped with a V8 engine. This was followed in 1996 with the introduction of the BRABUS E V12 that has set a record for the fastest street-legal sedan in the Guinness Book of World Records posting a top speed of 330 km/h or 205mph. And until today BRABUS Rocket still upholds the world record by recording a speed of 365.7km/h or 227.2 mph.

The idea of equipping an extremely powerful engine into a sedan with very few exterior alterations has reached its present peak with the debut of a new “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. This BRABUS special model was based on a Mercedes-Benz vehicle that delivers performance that very few in the world’s super cars can match.

Starting back in the year 1997 the Brabus web site has been visited by around ten million auto enthusiasts and now a completely redesigned website goes online at www.brabus.com

There is lots of info on Brabus that are found on the web site including its extensive Brabus product lineup. There is also an interactive virtual tour that provides a glimpse behind the scenes of factory in Bottrop.

A new addition to the web site is the Brabus Art Club that will feature a photo editing contest which entails online visitors to choose the Brabus model that they like and then used this model in sceneries designed by them. The winner of this contest will be chosen by an international jury who will select the best art works that will be showcased on the new Brabus website. There are also a number of exciting prizes to be given away during the contest.

If you think that’s al to it then you are mistaken since there is a virtual pit stop that enables online visitors to mount any Brabus wheel on some of the latest Mercedes models. Online visitors may also download various Brabus sales literatures and selection of Brabus vehicles.

Attention Sean Connery Fans

2007-08-06T22:50:00.000-07:00

Are you a fan of Sean Connery? Then you’re in luck.

An originally owned alpine white BMW 635 CSI of Sean Connery is on sale at eBay in the UK and according to the description provided by the current owner--- the car was registered in Marbella in Spain from 1986 to 1997 and in it was auctioned in London in 1998 where the present owner has bought the car.

The owner also said that the car has a Spanish Registration Document authentifying that Sean Connery is in fact the original owner of the car. The car is said to be in immaculate condition which is good news for interested buyers.

Here are the details of the car:

Coupe
Manufacturer: BMW
Model: BMW 635 CSI Left Hand Drive Manual
Type: Coupe
Number of doors:
Mileage: 2700
Model year: 1986
Date of 1st Registration: November 30, 1998
Color: Blue
Metallic paint:
Transmission: Manual
Safety Features: Alarm, Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Fuel: Petrol

Condition:
Number of previous owners: 1
Number of seats: 4
Engine size: 3,430cc
Independent Vehicle Inspection:
MOT Expiry Date (MM/YYYY): May 2008
Right-hand drive/Left-hand drive: Left-hand drive
V5 Registration Document:
Previously Registered Overseas:
In-Car Entertainment Options: AM/FM Stereo, Cassette Player
Interior/Comfort Options: Climate control, Leather seats, Power-assisted Steering (PAS), Power Locks, Power Seats, Power Windows, Sunroof, Tilt Steering Wheel
Exterior: Options: Alloy wheels
Road Tax (MM/YYYY) November 2007

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Volkswagen to join the International Automotive Exhibition in Frankfurt

2007-08-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

Europe’s largest automaker, Volkswagen will present a wide range of products one of its widest ever at the upcoming International Automotive Exhibition in Frankfurt in September 13 to 23, 2007.

Volkswagen will be displaying over 50 models in the Hall 3.0 of which eight are to have their world debuts. The presentation of the Tiguan which is a completely new generation of SUV and created to complement the Touareg is one of the highlights of Volkswagen’s display.

Volkswagen will also present a prototype in response to the theme of this year’s IAA which is “see what’s driving tomorrow”. The Wolfsburg-based automaker will present six new BlueMotion models which are to debut also at the IAA. Starting 2008 Volkswagen will offer nine vehicles that will bear the BlueMotion label. The BlueMotion models that are already being offered by Volkswagen includes: the Polo BlueMotion with 3.8 liters of fuel consumption per 100km and 99 g/km CO2 and the Passat BlueMotion with 5.1 liters of fuel consumption per 100km and 99g/km CO2.

Volkswagen is to occupy the 9,000 meter square exposition area of the IAA with the main attraction, the Tiguan---the very first production model in the world to be given the supercharged engines. It also offers two benefits which is lower fuel consumption and high quality performance.

The Tiguan’s four-cylinder engine is relatively quiet with common rail injection. The two new TDI engines produce 103kW/140PS and 125kW/170PS respectively. Both of the engines conform to the Euro 5 exhaust standards that will be implemented in 2009.

Before the IAA, Volkswagen will hold a meeting on September 11, 2007 at 11 am in Hall 3.0. Dr Winterkorn will provide a preview of the Tiguan and the prototype of the future compact model.

That’s all for today and I’m off to purchasing Volvo distributor rotors. Thanks guys for dropping by.

First Five Phantom Drophead coupes leave Goodwood

2007-07-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

The first five Phantom Drophead Coupés have left the company’s head office and manufacturing plant at Goodwood in June 20 to be destined for customers around the world.

No, they definitely do not have Honda multi rib belt. But if you are one of the lucky 5 who would get the chance to buy one of those coupes, you may check the owner’s manual if customization will allow the use of such multi rib belt.

Each of the five cars is hand-built to specific requirements. Each of them features individual wood veneer, leather and paint finish choices. Moreover, the first five customers have also specified the optional steel bonnet and rear teak deck. To guarantee uniformity in grain throughout, the bonnet is machine brushed before being hand finished. The deck is made up of separate solid teak slats, hand sanded and waxed to give a just enough cut finish.

The two-door, four-seat convertible is a not so formal interpretation of classic Rolls-Royce design than its four-door stable mate - the Phantom. The convertible comes along with modern technology in its sleek, streamlined body. This is made possible though the use of the lightweight rigidity of an all-aluminum space frame. The new Phantom Drophead Coupé is attracting new and existing Rolls-Royce customers all over the world as it is hand-built using the finest quality materials to the accurate standards of Rolls-Royce.

Chairman and Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars by the name of Ian Robertson said that the reaction to the Phantom Drophead Coupé from customers, the media and enthusiasts around the world has been tremendously great. He added that they are glad that the first cars are being delivered to customers and that they are now in full production to meet the demand. He also commended the efforts, passion and dedication that their laborforce has shown in delivering this new mode.

Kia Will Pro_cee'd to Frankfurt

2007-07-25T21:58:00.000-07:00

Here is another new model preview for the upcoming IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show
this coming September 11th. The South Korea-based automaker has released the initial image of the Pro_cee'd, a new exciting 3-door hatch model that is based on the 'pro_cee'd' concept presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

Here is how Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President of Kia Motors Europe described the Kia Pro_cee'd:
"Longer, lower and lighter than its five-door sister car, the new Kia Pro-cee'd is going to be a great drive. Combining real style and genuine practicality, our new three-door cee'd is sure to delight existing Kia customers and attract a new group of European consumers who have not yet considered our brand."

The Kia Pro_cee'd will join other members of the Kia cee'd model lineup including the cee'd 5-door hatchback and the cee'd SW that will be released in the near future. Kia said in a recent press release that the Pro_cee'd will be manufactured at the company's plant in Slovakia starting this November.

Watch out for the Kia Pro_cee'd when it rolls out in dealerships early in 2008.

I wonder why Volvo has not yet announced what they got in store for the Frankfurt Motor Show. Anyway, for sure it will feature Volvo cornering light.

Porsche 911 GT2 Heading to Frankfurt!

2007-07-23T22:25:00.000-07:00

Porsche is poised to launch the "most powerful 911 so far homologated for road use", according to the Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker. The new Porsche 911 GT2 is scheduled to make its public debut at the upcoming 2007 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

Following the Frankfurt show, Porsche will roll out the 911 GT2 in dealerships all over Europe carrying a base manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of 159,100 Euros. For North American auto freaks, they would wait about a few months for the debut this street legal super car. The Porsche 911 GT2 is scheduled to roll out in North American dealerships early in 2008. And the base MSRP? Well, for a hefty $191,700 USD, you can bring this super car in your garage.

Check out what the Porsche 911 GT2 has in store for European and American peeps.

Well, as the fastest model in the Porsche 911 line up, the 911 GT2 offers the best power and performance expected for a Porsche super car model. With the 3.6-litre boxer engine that pumps out 530 hp (390 kW) at 6500 rpm and 680 Nm of torque between 2,200 and 4,500 rpm, the car can sprint out from a stand still up to 62 mph in a mere 3.7 seconds. The car can also reach an electronically limited top speed of 204 mph. Fuel consumption is at 12.5 litres / 100 km or about 22.6 mpg.

Other features include:

- Striking design with large air intakes
- Rear wing
- Two exhaust gas turbochargers with variable turbine geometry (VTG)
- Standard silencer and tailpipes made of titanium
- PCCB brakes featuring brake discs made of a composite carbon fibre/ceramic compound
- Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)
- 19-inch light-alloy wheels wrapped with 235/35 ZR 19 rear and 325/30 ZR 19 front sports tires

Porsche will release the full details and specs of the 911 GT2 during the 2007 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, so watch out for it.

New Ferrari 430 Scuderia to Debut in Frankfurt

2007-07-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

We all know that them Italians make the best beasts on the road. And pasta.

So now we have something to be excited about again, to get the adrenaline pumping through our veins. Though most of us will probably never get close to driving one – well we can go to the auto show and at least try to touch the hood with our finger, if we want to.

This coming September, at the Frankfurt auto show Ferrari will formally launch a third model in its V8-powered F430 family. No less than seven-time world champ Michael Schumacher will be present at official debut of the new 430 Scuderia, which will further glorify the prancing horse’s already racy line up of the 430 Coupe and Spider. All of them will be sharing the same 510-horsepower 4.3-liter V8 engine.

A truly high-performance 2-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia will show us once again how Ferrari's Formula 1 know-how is carried across to its production cars.

According to Ferrari, the 430 Scuderia is aimed at the company's "most passionate and sports-driving-oriented clients" and thus employs "light weight, minimum trimmings and innovative technology."

Of course as with all Ferrari vehicles, expect nothing but cutting-edge features on this car. Goodies include Ferrari's latest F1 software, called Superfast, which reduces gearshifts to a whopping 60 milliseconds, and a new system that combines F1-Trac traction and stability control and an E-Diff electronic differential in a single integrated system.

Weighing in at 220 pounds less than the standard F430, the 430 Scuderia says Ferrari, "represents the zenith" of Ferrari road cars.

We sure can see that from here.