Author: yoann besnard

Unverified sketch of the future Subaru Forester

A sketch of the next Subaru Forester has appeared on Internet. There is some doubt about whether this sketch is official or not. However, the drawing is quite realistic. It features the new Subaru’s design DNA with the new nose shape. But, I am not sure about the D pillar. Indeed, Subaru unveiled the Exiga concept car at the last Tokyo Motor Show. The concept car appeared to be realistic enough to prefigure the next Forester.
The future crossover will be based on the recently launched Subaru Impreza as the current model uses the former Impreza platform. Thanks to the larger platform, the new Forester might finally offer decent rear legroom. Power will come from 2 liter and 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engines. On the European market, we might get a diesel version with the eagerly awaited new Subaru diesel unit. We also hope that this time, Subaru will export the STi version currently only sold in Japan. We might also see a WRX version with 300 bhp.
More information will be available in the coming weeks as Subaru plans to unveil the new model at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show.
Source: Autoblog
November 14, 2007
Classic cars of the future

If you have been toying with the idea of writing off your old car, maybe it is time to reconsider. Keeping it for the next 10-15 years might bring you a future profit if the car is among the list established by the auction specialist British Car Auctions.
According to its spokesman Tim Naylor, Jaguar and MG will still be icons in the coming years despite troubled times for the former and the collapse of the latter. The XJS coupe and XJ6 could prove to be real winners so, if yours is starting to rust, perhaps it is time to look after it. Like the E Type nowadays, the recent XK8 and XKR will probably be highly valued in twenty years.
If you cannot afford a Jaguar, a coupe or a convertible will bring you the best return on investment. The MX5 looks set to be the future MG B. Like the British convertible, its volume is impressive and it re-introduced the traditional roadster into modern life. In the same trend, the fashion victim Audi TT will also be a big hit, especially the first generation. Its design, which takes its inspiration from Bauhaus, will be a designer’s classic. Surprisingly, the Peugeot 206 CC is included in the list. Many people may find this laughable, but this small convertible brought the folding metal roof concept to the masses.
Once again, Mazda shines with the RX-8. With its rotary engine and its rear doors, it will become a cult. Let’s hope petrol will still be available to fuel the voracious engine. Among Japanese cars, the S2000 will also become a collector’s item. Its high rev engine will be more than enough to encourage people to buy it.
November 14, 2007
New Hyundai factory to roll out i30 in early 2009

Hyundai has supplied more details about the upcoming new European factory based in the Czech Republic. The new plant will start to roll out the i30 hatchbacks in early 2009. At the same time a second model will join the i30. Both models will be built at 200,000 units per year. In 2011, Hyundai plans to add a third model to the production line. Capacity will be raised to 300,000 vehicles.
Hyundai inaugurated the factory construction site a few months ago on the 25th of April. It invested £777 million in the new plant and will directly employ around 7,000 people, with 2,845 employed indirectly.
Oddly, the i30’s sister, the Kia Cee’d will not be built in the same factory, but in the Kia’s Eastern European facility based in Slovakia. Nevertheless, the two cars will share components and suppliers.
November 14, 2007
Honda plans a hybrid car

The success of the Toyota Prius has the ability to provoke strong reactions among the competition and the arrogance of the brand annoys other carmakers. Honda thinks it is time to fight back with its own hybrid car. After all, it was the first car manufacturer to sell a hybrid vehicle, the forgotten Insight.
In an interview given to Automotive News, the Honda USA CEO Takanobu Ito revealed that the car will go on sale in 2009. With its overall shape inspired from the FCX concept car, it will be roomy enough for five people and will be less expensive than the current Civic Hybrid. Aware of the excess weight generated by the batteries, Honda engineers are focusing on weight reduction.
Honda has big hopes for this totally new car. The Japanese car manufacturer plans to sell 200,000 vehicles every year. Half of this production total is destined to be sold on the American market.
November 14, 2007
Nissan GT-R to get high performance mechanics

The only noticeable mention of Nissan on the GT-R is on the deck lid. The front displays the GT-R badge. The same goes for the steering wheel. More than a Nissan, the GT-R is first and foremost a GT-R. Thus, it deserves a special maintenance service to satisfy the high expectations of new customers who used to upper market brands service. Aware of this situation, Nissan is currently training its staff around the world to meet the future demand.
To aspire to the title of supercar, the GT-R gets one of the most advanced AWD system in the world, the Nissan-first dual clutch gearbox and the twin-turbocharged engine that has an output of 473 bhp. Despite its competitive price, the car will require the same maintenance as a performance car. Instead of requiring a service every ten thousand miles, the car will require a service every couple of thousand miles.
The customer will also be able to have his or her GT-R tuned to factory specifications once a year for free for three years. The certified personnel will align wheels and adjust transmissions.
November 14, 2007
Lincoln will not move upmarket

With the expected sales (launch?) of Jaguar and Land Rover over the coming months, Ford will lose its tiny premium brand market share. Lincoln appears to be the only brand able to fight the German clique, but Ford has no plan to move the American icon upmarket.
Instead of losing money in the upper segments, Ford wants Lincoln to focus on the segments that are below the £30,000 tag. The brand will expand its line-up. This week, it will unveil its new MKS flagship at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Internally dubbed D385, the MKS is a saloon based on the Ford D3 platform, which in turn is based on the Volvo P2 platform used by the current S60 and XC90. The new saloon is expected to be powered by the Duratec 35 3.5 liter V6, but in bigger version up to 3.7 liter.
November 14, 2007
Peugeot and Citroen to build new budget and premium models

Until yesterday it was thought that Peugeot and Citroen’s priority was to conquer the German market. But in an interview with Automotive New Europe, vice president Frederic Saint-Geours said that PSA has “to develop specific offerings for each market”. The French group wants to cover up to 90% of the market by expanding its future range on both extremities. Peugeot and Citroen will offer a low cost model but also, in a very surprising move, some premium models.
No information has been given concerning either direction, but the recent C-Cactus concept car gives us a rough idea of what the French manufacturer is currently working on for the budget model. As I mentioned, the premium models are a surprise. The only current premium model, the Citroën C6, does not sell particularly well despite good reviews from the motoring press. Nobody thought that Peugeot or Citroën would plan to compete with the ubiquitous German cars on the upper segments. This is a good news and I am looking forward to seeing more premium models with a Gallic taste.
Competing on all segments will require considerable resources. In order to cut cost and decrease time development, Peugeot and Citroën product departments will be centralized.
November 14, 2007
Official picture of the Audi R8 Spider?

There is some doubt whether this picture is official or a simple photoshop job. If it is a retouched picture, the job is worth to be published and the car looks very pretty.
Due to be launched in autumn 2009 with a worldwide debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Spider will probably feature twin speedster humps, which incorporate vents to bring fresh air to the engine. The general design will be almost the same as the coupé, apart from Audi’s addition of an aluminium-look panel just behind the doors.
Like the coupé, the convertible version will use the V8 4.2 litre V8 which produces 414bhp/420hp. It will also probably feature the V10 engine, which produces more than 500bhp.
Source: TopSpeed
November 14, 2007
Toyota to unveil a small SUV at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show

Toyota created the compact SUV segment in Europe when it launched the RAV4 on the market in the nineties. Since then, various competitors have joined the battle and the segment is rather overcrowded. Even the French carmakers have recently joined in. It is time for Toyota to apply the same recipe to another segment, the sub-compact SUV market, which does not really exist. The Japanese carmaker will unveil a small SUV at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
The small SUV will be based on the recently launched Toyota Ist. The Ist’s design might not please European consumers so, aware of this, Toyota will shape the small SUV by taking inspiration from the 2006 Urban Cruiser concept car.
No information is available regarding the engines. In Japan, the Ist is available with 1.5 liter petrol engine that produces a power of 108bhp at 6000rpm and a torque of 101 lbs/ft at 4400rpm.
November 14, 2007
American BMW 1-Series to get special starter button

BMW wants its 1-Series model to succeed on the American market and seems to be determined to use all possible marketing tricks. Due to go on sale next year, the compact model will feature a unique starter button. This starter button will be engraved with the message “Year One of the 1”.
The purpose of this gimmick is to make the driver to feel special about the 1-Series despite the fact that he or she will have to insert a key before pushing the starter button.
The three door and five door hatchbacks will not be imported onto the American market. BMW will import the coupe and convertible variants in order to avoid direct competition with Audi on the same segment. However, Audi is already selling the Audi A3 Sportsback and plans to sell the eagerly awaited A3 convertible. We can count on an interesting battle between the two carmakers.
November 14, 2007