Author: yoann besnard

New logo for Geely

On Tuesday, the Chinese carmaker Geely unveiled its new logo. Say goodbye to the mountain and welcome the new swirling shape that symbolizes the “corporate concept and spirit” of Geely. While the carmakers spend a lot of money to create a new logo, Geely chose a cheaper and original way to create a new one. In last January, it had launched a contest for designers all over the world to design a new logo. Two months later, two logo had been elected. The first one was a patriotic logo while the second one was more symbolic. The latter one won and the lucky winner is Yue Xian De. He will receive a £23,000 cash prize.
Despite being set up less than ten years ago, this is the third time Geely is changing its logo. The first one generated a complaint from Toyota and three years laters, Geely adopted a new logo that took inspiration from BMW.
November 8, 2007
Audi wants to sell the Audi A1 in the US

According to Autoweek, Audi is considering to sell the future Audi A1 on the American market in order to compete with the successful BMW Mini. Audi does not want to leave BMW alone on the lucrative £12,000 segment in the US and thinks it has the chance to meet a big success by offering a real modern alternative to the retro-Mini.
The Audi A1 has been unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show under the Metroproject Quattro concept. Like the Mini, the A1 will be a three-door vehicle with a very aggressive design. While designed for four people in mind, it will be roomy enough for only two adults. On the concept car, Audi trimmed the interior with aluminum panels and red topstitching on the seats to give a sporty touch.
As usual at Audi, the A1 will offer several variants: expect to see a five-door model, a convertible and, of course, a S1 set to compete with the Mini Cooper S.
November 8, 2007
Nissan Forum Concept

No sooner has the Tokyo Motor Show ended than Nissan has unveiled the first teaser for the next Detroit Motor Show. Penned at Nissan Design America, the concept car explores “the next generation of family transportation”.
The concept car appears to be a MPV larger than a Nissan Cube but smaller than an El Grand. It will feature trackless sliding doors and no B-pillars.
November 8, 2007
Japanese market grows for the first time in 28 months

The Japanese market has recorded its first growth for the first time in 28 months. Do not expect this to be a new trend, however. As the Jada director Takeshi Fushimi explained, the good figures are due to the recent launch of new models and to more open days. A total of 269,221 vehicles were sold, representing a 2% increase over the same period last year.
Among the Japanese carmakers, Mitsubishi is the winner. Thanks to the new Lancer and new Galant Fortis, it recorded a strong 17.9% growth with 6,195 vehicles sold. Toyota ranks second with a 7.9% increase. The new Corolla Rumion may have helped to sell 136,135 vehicles. Mazda records an encouraging growth of 4.9% with 14,397 cars. The successful Demio might also help to explain the positive sales figure and the expected Mazda 6 is set to confirm the trend. Subaru also saw its sales increasing by 4.9% with 4,515 vehicles.
The biggest slump is for Daihatsu which recorded an impressive -43.6% with only 748 cars. Lexus also saw its sales decrease by 33.3% to 2,781 vehicles. The new Samurai sales approach does not seem to be improving sales. Despite the newly launched Fit, Honda has recorded a 6.3% drop with 30,346 vehicles. Nissan recorded an unfortunate 0.1% drop in sales.
November 8, 2007
Mk3 Megane flying on the Nürburgring

Here are the pictures of a flying Megane. Do not expect a new sporty version. This is the future Mk3 Megane being tested on the Nürburgring. Why on the Nürburgring? What a better way to compete with German competitors than using the same testing references? Like the Renault 19 twenty years ago, the Mk3 Megane will try to match the German leitmotiv: sportiness and quality.
The future Megane will feature a bold design but the unique shapely rear will not make it through. Despite good sales in France and on the British market, the car did not sell well on the rest of the continent. However, the future Megane will not be as conservative as the Mk3 Laguna. According to insiders, a prototype showed to a sample group of potential customers generated an encouraging buzz. Most of them found the car appealing, modern and sporty. The Mk3 Megane will be based on the C platform currently used by the Nissan Qashqai. Expect a good ride and, of course, a comfortable car.
Among his goals, the ubiquitous Carlos Ghosn wants Renault to be in the top three for product and service quality in every class it competes in. The new Laguna led the way with a very good build quality. The Mk3 Megane will probably offer a high quality interior, enough to compete with the new Peugeot 398 and the future Mk6 Golf.
The Mk3 Megane will be available with a large choice of models: three door and five door hatchbacks, Scenic and lengthened Scenic, folding metal roof CC, estate and for the first time a SUV based on the Koleos concept car unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.
Source: Carscoop
November 8, 2007
Noble M15 to get Volvo’s V8

According to the Italian importer, the Noble M15 will feature a Volvo V8 instead of the current Ford V6. The launch date remains unknown. Available on the Volvo S80 and XC90, the 4.4 litres V8 will gain a couple of turbochargers. The power will jump from 313 bhp to 650 bhp.
The current V6, which was available on the former Ford Mondeo ST220, allowed Lee Noble access to a reliable and competitive engine. Unfortunately, its replacement by the Ford Duratec 35 led Noble to revise his copy. Designed by Yamaha, the Volvo’s V8 has a unique 60 degree cylinder bank instead of the usual 90 degree cylinder bank.
The Noble M15 will also lose 100kg compared to the original prototype unveiled in early 2006. With only 1100kg and a new V8 engine, it will run the 0-60mph in around 3.0 seconds.
November 8, 2007
First picture of the Kia Borrego

Here is the first picture of the new Kia SUV, set to compete on the most competitive and declining segment in the US. Dubbed Borrego, the new SUV will be unveiled officially at the next 2008 Detroit Motor Show.
Manufactured in South Korea, the Borrego will be roomy enough for seven people. It will be available with either a V6 engine or an optional V8 engine. No information has been given regarding the latter but it might be the new Tau V8 engine which made its debut in the Hyundai Genesis concept car. The 4.6 litre engine is reported to deliver more than 300 bhp and will boost the Borrego’s towing capacity.
The Borrego will offer a unique warranty to customers: 10 years or 100,000 miles. In an overcrowded segment, it might convince customers to switch to an otherwise rather unappealing brand. Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Toyota 4Runner and Nissan Pathfinder might be about to face a new threat.
November 8, 2007
Toyota iQ will feature rear impact airbags

The iQ’s chief designer, Hiroki Nakajima, has revealed that the city car will feature a rear airbag for passengers sitting in the back in order to make it safer. The iQ pioneers a unique 3+1 seating layout. While the Smart can provide room for only two people, the iQ will be roomy enough for three adults and one child. Unfortunately, the rear seat passengers sit just 12 inches from the rear window because of the 117 inches length.
For Toyota, the challenge is to achieve a five-star NCAP safety rating and top the Smart ForTwo’s four stars. The rear airbags would help to win the fifth star.
Due to be sold in 2009, it is thought that the iQ could be powered either by the 1 litre petrol engine already used in the Aygo or by a 1.4 litre petrol engine which would return more than 50mpg. No diesel engine has been planned even though the Aygo is sold with a 1.4 litre engine.
Source: News.com.au
November 8, 2007
No GLK for right-hand drive countries

Due to go on sale in 2008, the next hottest SUV might not be available with a right-hand version because of high engineering costs generated by the conversion. The small Mercedes SUV is based on the current C-Class estate platform. While available in 2wd for the entry levels, the GLK will rely on the 4Matic architecture at the top of the range in order to provide 4wd. Unfortunately, the 4Matic system has not been designed for right-hand drive countries. For the management, the main stumbling block for the conversion is the cost but some voices argue that the investment is worthwhile on a long term.
With a length of around 177 inches, the GLK will provide enough room for five people and the boot will offer a low tailgate. Rather than a small ML, the GLK will look like the large GL. The hot SUV will be available with a choice of 2.1-litre diesel, 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel, 3.5 litre V6 petrol and the 6.2-litre AMG V8.
The GLK will compete with the future Audi Q5 and the BMW X3. If it is not available as a right-hand drive variant, Audi and BMA will have an easier time on those markets.
November 8, 2007
Fiat has unveiled the Panda Aria concept car

It was widely known that the Italian carmaker was actively working on a new downsized twin-cylinder engine. Fiat has unveiled the Panda Aria concept car, which is equipped with the new 0.9 litre petrol engine.
German carmakers already used the downsizing concept by replacing a 2 litres engine with a turbocharged 1.4 litres unit. But Fiat is the first carmaker to apply the concept to a small engine. The engineers transformed a conventional 4-cylinder engine into a 2-cylinder turbocharged engine, which has an output of 80 bhp. For the concept car, Fiat enabled the engine to operate with a mixture of methane (70%) and hydrogen (30%). In real life, the small engine will be available with a choice of 65 bhp aspirated and 105 bhp turbocharged. The new engine is smaller (20%) and lighter (25%) than a a 4 cylinder engine with the same power output. It is coupled with a Stop&Start device that turns the engine off temporarily and starts it again, when the engine is idling and the vehicle is stationary.

On the outside, the traditional panels are replaced by semi-transparent eco-resin panels on which Fiat applied a strange paint dubbed “totouch”. On the inside, Fiat upholstered the interior with a mix of natural fibres, cotton and linen, woven coconut and biodegradable elements.
September 6, 2007