Author: yoann besnard

Volt mules are meeting EV-only target range
The Volt has achieved its all-electric target and will go on sale from November 2010 has revealed Bob Lutz.
In an interview with AutoObserver, Bob Lutz has revelaed that the Volt had finally achieved its all-electric target of 40mph during road-testing. By comparison, the current Prius reaches 8mph.
However, the car czar didn’t give further information on the technical side. If he’s happy to say that the target was achieved with "Even with a rough calibration, even with the wrong drive unit, the wrong body, etc. etc.”, he doesn’t what type of batteries was installed.
GM Vice President has also revealed that the Volt will hit the showrooms in November 2010.
May 17, 2008
China first quarter saloon sales figures
Here are the results of saloon sales for the first quarter of 2008 in China.
As usual the Shanghai VW Santana(pictured) takes the first rank followed by the Buick Excelle. Another VW, the Jetta, ranks third. The first Chinese car ranks fifth with the Tianjin FAW Xiali whiel the small Chery QQ gets the sixth place thanks. Volkswagen also records a tenteh rank for the Passat GP. In total, Volkswagen holds three of the top ten sales. Japanese carmakers have two models, while the American carmakers have only one model.
1. Shanghai VW – Santana – 69,214
2. Shanghai GM – Excelle – 62,750
3. FAW VW – Jetta – 61,202
4. Guangzhou Toyota – Camry – 54,123
5. Tianjin FAW Xiali – Xiali – 48,421
6. Chery – QQ – 46,251
7. FAW-Haima – Family – 45,352
8. Guangzhou Honda – Accord – 42,160
9. Beijing Hyundai – 41,556
10. Shanghai VW – Passat GP – 36, 865
May 17, 2008
Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Special Edition
The Italian carmaker has released another special edition of its Spider model.
Limited to just 11 units to celebrate the 11 victories the carmaker took in the Mille Miglia race between 1928 and 1947, the Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Special Edition comes with a unique, plate between the two seats each containing the name of one of the vehicles which won the well-known endurance race.
Distinguished by the exclusive body colour ‘Rosso 8C’ and a ‘Quadrifoglio’ logo on the wing, the Alfa Spider Mille Miglia cars boast special interiors trimmed with black leather with red top-stitching and are equipped with the mighty 260 bhp3.2 V6 units and the Electronic Q2 system.
May 17, 2008
Infiniti Europe launches internet based “Reservation List”
Infiniti has launched an internet based reservation list to enable customers to pre-order their future cars and be among the first owners in their countries.
With this website, the luxury marque hopes to generate sales as soon as possible and Europe’s Marketing Director, Bastien Schupp, is more than pleased with the first results as 10,000 have already signed up. Once the interested buyer has signed up, his or her details are passed to the nearest Infiniti Centre which contacts the customer before pre-ordering begins. The prospective customer’s order will then be given priority. The website will be closed on 30 September of this year.
If you want to sign up, go to http://www.infiniti.eu
May 17, 2008
Video: Seat Ibiza
Here is a video of the new Ibiza driven by Autopista testers. The video is in Spanish, but forget the speech whose information was previously reported on Petrol-Head. What’s interesting about this video is the possibility to see the new Ibiza in movement.
May 17, 2008
Saab unveils 9-5 Turbo Special Edition
Saab has launched a limited edition of the ageing 9-5 in a last attempt to increase its sales, while the company waits for the next-generation model.
Called “9-5 Turbo Edition”, this special 9-5 is offered with two specifications and a choice of three trim levels. The Turbo Edition adds 17in five spoke alloy wheels, leather sports seats heated front and rear, electric driver’s seat and headlight washers. The Aero Turbo Edition includes DVD satellite navigation and electric seats.
The Turbo Edition is available with two petrol engines, the 148bhp 2.0-litre unit and the 182bhp 2.3-litre engine and one diesel engine, the 1.9 TiD unit. The Aero version is powered Bentley
the 256bhp 2.3-litre engine
All the versions are available in both saloon and estate bodystyles. The entry-level starts at £19,995, while the Aero version costs £24,995.
May 17, 2008
Nissan forecasts 30% profit slump
Nissan has announced that its profit for this fiscal year will decrease by 30.5% due to a worsen global economy.
After announcing a £3.9 billion profit for the 2007 fiscal year, the Japanese carmaker has announced its profit would slump 30.5% to £2.4 billion. The company executives blame the weak dollar damaging the US profit, the rising material costs and rising gas prices.
Nissan will release new models this year in an attempt to maintain global sales despite gloomy markets. The carmaker has recently unveiled the new Teana destined for Asian market, the Maxima for the American market. Later this year, the eagerly-awaited 370Z, the infiniti G37 convertible will be also launched. In Japan, the carmaker will renew the top-selling Cube model.
May 17, 2008
Audi wins European Inventor of the Year 2008
The European Patent Office has named the German carmaker European Inventor of the Year.
The honor is bestowed on companies whose ideas have made significant contributions to Europe’s economic growth and competitiveness. Audi was recognized for the invention of Audi Space Frame technology (ASF).
The ASF is for Audi what was aluminum for the disappeared French carmaker Panhard. It is a high-strength aluminum frame structure into which the panels are integrated so that they also perform a load-bearing function. The Audi Space Frame comprises a complex structure of extruded profiles and cast nodes. The Audi Space Frame was first presented to the world public at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in 1993 as the body of an Audi A8.
“The award is a testament to our lead in lightweight aluminum design technology, an area that is so important for the automobile industry,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi.
The Audi A8, the Audi TT Coupé, the TT Roadster, the Audi R8 and the Lamborghini Gallardo are all equipped with Audi Space Frame technology.
May 17, 2008
Cadillac CTS-V on the ‘Ring
The 7:59.32 lap is really impressive for a saloon and GM has released a video footage of the lap.
The car used for the lap is 100% identical to the production version claims Cadillac, but you will need to be as expert as the driver John Heinricy to play with the gearbox as he does.

May 16, 2008
GM adopts downsizing
GM has unveiled two new petrol engines destined for Europe and other regions, a 1.4-litre unit and a 1.6-litre engine.
With the two new engines, GM finally yields to downsizing by launching two new engines which will both featured on the Zafira MPV.
The first engine is a 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder which will be available from 2010. The engine will produce an estimated output ranging from 120bhp to 140bhp and torque values of 129 to 148 lb ft. It will deliver an approximate 8 percent improvement in fuel consumption compared to a higher displacement naturally aspirated engine with similar output claims the carmaker and will be EURO 5 compliant. The new engine includes include a turbocharger integrated into the exhaust manifold, full variable valve timing, thermal management, flow-controlled oil pump, and a reinforced crankshaft and connecting rod.
The second engine is based on the 1.6-litre engine. With the turbocharger the power output jumps to 150bhp, while the torque output is boosted to 155 lb ft. This new engine will be launched next year.
May 16, 2008