Author: yoann besnard

Spyshots: Hyundai Genesis

Unveiled at the last New York Auto Show, the Hyundai Genesis served as a message to Japanese and German carmakers: Hyundai wants to have its share of the luxury car segment. Since then, Hyundai engineers have been working on finishing the production car. These new spyshots reveal the latest changes.
On the outside, the front grille has lost its round corners in favour of Hyundai’s angular look. The three large stripes have been replaced by five thin stripes. The front headlights seem to have increased in size and the nice curves of the front bumper have been replaced with an unremarkable design. In a way, the front face has lost the concept car finesse and its style has weakened. This is a pity as the concept car design appeared to be close to production.
Hyundai never unveiled the interior of the concept car, but some spyshots were available on the internet in mid 2005. Hyundai has upgraded the interior with the latest technology. The navigation system has adopted a bigger screen while its controls have been replaced with a knob similar to the BMW’s iDrive. The wheel has lost its American influence to become more Japanese.
Even if the new exterior changes suggest a weaker design than the concapt car, the inside improvements are welcome. The Genesis will be sold with a choice of two engines, a V6 already available on the Azera/Grandeur and the new V8, which will produce more than 300 bhp. As for the price, it will be less than £14,800/€22,000/$30,000 for the entry-level. The last stumbling block might be the carmaker’s brand image. In order to improve its image, Hyundai hired Joel Ewanick in February. Ewanick has impressive credentials: in the past he has worked on improving the brand image of both Porsche and Lexus.
Source: KGP Photography
August 3, 2007
Configure your Gran Turismo

Car configurators are never very much fun. They are dedicated either to mainstream cars with dull packages or supercars with few options. At least, that was the case before the configurator for the new Gran Turismo went online. With the Maserati configurator you do not waste your time on the optional packages but on the colours for the paintwork and the brake callipers. On the inside, you can change every piece of leather and every trim. There is only one downside to this configurator: you have to register to use it. This involves filling in a long and complicated form. But do not let this put you off. The reward is worth it.

Click here to configurate your future Maserati Gran Turismo
July 30, 2007
Spyshots: Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 has been spotted in the Austrian Alps. This time, despite the covers, there is no doubt regarding the general design. As expected, the Q5 is close to the Shanghai Cross Coupe concept car. The hatchback will be different and the Q5 is higher than the concept car.
Based on the modular platform used by the A5, the Q5 is set to compete with the current BMW X3 and the future Mercedes GLK. It will feature a large engine range thanks to the Audi A4. Expect to see the 414bhp/420hp 4.2 litre V8 at the top of the range for the petrol versions and the V6 3.0 litre TDI for the diesel versions.
With the Audi A4 to be unveiled at the end of the year and sold in 2008, Audi will have a complete range to compete with BMW and Mercedes: the A4 sedan, the A4 estate dubbed Avant, the A4 convertible, the A5 coupé, the Q5 SUV. An A5 convertible and an A5 Sportback might join the team later.

Click here to see all the pictures
July 30, 2007
Lamborghini Gallardo V8 spotted at Sant’Agata headquarters

The website AutoGespot has released some pictures of the upcoming Gallardo V8, taken at Lamborghini’s headquarters in the Italian village of Sant’Agata.
Not officialy confirmed by the Italian carmaker, the V8 version will receive the V8 engine, which equips the Audi R8. In the Gallardo, it will be a bit more powerful with 430bhp.
As we already reported, the Gallardo V8 makes sense for Audi Group. Audi can’t build enough R8 to satisfy demand because of fibre panels that are difficult to make. It can only build 20 R8 a day.Selling a cheaper Gallardo with the same engine as the R8 would enable Audi to redirect the unsatisfied demand to the Italian carmaker.
Source: AutoGespot
July 28, 2007
Audi R8 Spider revealed

Yesterday we reported the A1 sketches scooped by the British magazine CAR. A day later the people at CAR have done it again. They have now released a sketch of the next R8 Spider. Its makes us wonder if they really did smuggle out the sketches as they claim.
Due to be launched in autumn 2009 with a worldwide debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Spider features twin speedster humps, which incorporate vents to bring fresh air to the engine. The general design is 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.
Considering that Audi wants to launch 18 new cars over the next few years, I can’t help but wonder if the supercar Audi A8 will be available one day in a Sportback version.
July 28, 2007
560 orders for Tesla

Tesla Motors has received 560 orders since it went on sale. If we consider the £49,000/€73,000/$100,000 price tag, this is a very good news.
For anyone who has been living in a cave for the last few years, the Tesla car is the first full electric sports car. It runs the 0-60mph in 4 seconds like a real supercar and can reach 130mph.
Beyond the total number of orders, the interesting news is the trend. In June, the American start up had received 464 orders. In less than one month, the company sold 96 cars. If they keep up this pace the Lotus plant, based in Norfolk, will not be able to satisfy demand. It has the capacity to produce only 800 Tesla per year.
The first cars will be delivered in September. The first 100 units will become a special edition called Signature as a way to thank the very early customers.
July 28, 2007
Cerberus/Chrysler gives underperforming dealers six months to increase sales

Cerberus has decided to shake up Chrysler in an attempt to reduce the company’s losses. There is no time for discussion and Chrysler has announced that it will give underperforming dealers six months to increase sales or face pressure from Chrysler to shut down.
Technically, state laws afford franchises with a good deal of protection against manufacturers and such actions could potentially end up in court. However, the slightest pressure may be enough to get rid of some less successful dealers. After so may difficult years, some of them will probably give up. These closures will probably not be sufficient to allow Chrysler to compete effectively with Toyota’s highly efficient dealers, but it will still be one better than Ford or GM. For each percent of market share, GM has 300 dealers while Toyota has only 90. Chrysler has 270 dealers for each percentage point.
How can a manufacturer pressure a protected dealer? As American carmakers do not build on demand but in advance they can offer the least attractive models and colours to the underperforming dealers. They can also ban them from accessing special auctions. Two weeks ago this is exactly what Chrysler did. A total of 450 dealers were forbidden to buy used cars at its factory auctions.
July 28, 2007
Fiat will increase 500 production to meet demand

In April Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said the 500’s production had already been sold for the years 2007 and 2008. That amounts to more than 180,000 cars. With demand much higher than expected, Fiat has been forced to increase production for both years.
The situation is extremely urgent. In less than a month, Fiat sold the 2007 production in only two countries. Fiat received 51,000 orders from Italy and 6,000 from France. In France, the 6,000 cars were sold in less than one week. Fiat will increase the production from 58,000 to 65,000-67,000 units. The planned production figure for 2008 will jump from 120,000 to 140,000 vehicles.
Fiat plans to expand its Polish factory based in Tychy. The Italian carmaker has limited options. It already produces the Panda in Tychy and will start producing the next Ford Ka next autumn. A further complication is that this production increase may encourage Polish employees to go on strike to push for higher pay.
July 26, 2007
Official Audi A1 sketches

The British car website CAR has revealed three official design sketches of the future Audi A1 “stolen” from the Ingoldstadt’s design studio. If this is true, it is a disaster for Ingolstadt’s security system.
Due to be launched in 2009, the Audi A1 is Audi’s answer to the highly successful New Mini. Showed in its three door variant on the sketches, the Audi A1 will also offer a five-door hatchback, a coupé and a convertible. Like BMW, Audi plans to offer a large choice of engines. The petrol engines will go from 65 bhp to 170bhp. The diesel units will range from 75bhp to 130bhp. In contrast, the Mini only offers one diesel engine. CAR even talks about a potential S1 that will develop 200bhp.
Audi expects to build 100,000 A1 in VW’s Belgian factory based in Forest. Thanks to the new automaker’s Modular Tranverse Matrix (MQB) platform, the German carmaker expects the car to be cheap to produce and therefore less expensive than the New Mini. According to CAR, the entry-level will start at £10,000/€16,000/$22,000.

Click here to see all the sketches
Source: CAR
July 26, 2007
Mercedes will sell the B-Class in the U.S.

It is official. After much equivocation, Mercedes has decided to sell the B-Class on the American market. The car will go on sale in 2011 or 2012.
Four or five years appears to be a very long time when the B-Class has been sold in Canada for a some time already, but Mercedes wants to limit the risks. Instead of exporting the German model, it will design an American interpretation of the European B-Class. Like the latter, the American model will be based on the C-Class platform. It will enable Mercedes to offer a roomier and more powerful B-Class.
The B-Class will compete with the Audi A3 and new 1-Series set to be launched on the American market soon. Despite all its qualities, the B-Class may not be the best candidate to do battle with its German competitors. While both Audi and BMW models offer a hatchback body, the B-Class is a mini-MPV. Even with a powerful engine, its design may be less appealing than the competition. Is Mercedes hiding another new small model from us?
Source: Bloomberg
July 26, 2007