Here is an unexpected video from Subaru intended to spice up the new Forester on the American market which reinterprets the car wash phantasm.
Author: yoann besnard
Forester gets unexpected sensual wash
Skoda to double lineup by 2011
Like the other brands of VW Group, Skoda plans to double lineup by 2011.In an attempt to increase its global sales, Skoda will double its lineup in the coming years with four new models: the Yeti SUV, a small saloon, a Sharan-like MPV and the eagerly-awaited Up! production version.
The Yeti SUV is expected to be unveiled at the next London Motor Show in July. According to company sources, the Yeti SUV will be similar to the eponymous concept car and will share its underpinnings, transmission and powertrains, with the Volkswagen Tiguan.
Skoda also plans to sell new small saloon, smaller than the Skoda Octavia. The future saloon was designed for emerging markets only , but Skoda changed its mind and decided to bring it to Europe. How will the Czech carmaker integrate the new car in its lineup remains a mystery.
Along with the Superb saloon and estate models, Skoda will launch a MPV based on the next-generation VW Sharan. This will be the the first time that Skoda offers a MPV. The future model is expected to hit the showrooms by 2010.
Finally, Skoda will sell the long-awaited and exciting Up! low cost car in 2011. For the first time, the city car won’t be built in its homeland but in India to reduce costs.
Source: Autocar
Renault comes back to China by the back door
Despite showing its commitment to India, the French carmaker wants to have a factory in China, but failed to find a valuable partner until now.Renault has announced it will invest £63 million in an old joint venture in China to build a new generation of minivans destined for the Chinese market. The news isn’t what we expected from the French carmaker, but if Renault has shown good progress in India, Chinese market is another matter. After looking for relaible partners, the company has decided to bring back from death a joint venture made with the Sanjiang Space Industry Group.
Signed in 1994, the joint venture produced the Traffic model for the local market until 2002 when Renault decided to cease the production as a result of poor sales and poor components quality. The new generation of minivans is codenamed W72.
Source: Chinacartimes
Three door Mazda 2 hits the showrooms
Mazda has announced pricing for the three door Mazda 2.The three door Mazda 2 is hitting the showrooms this month and the entry-level starts at £7,999 for the 74bhp 1.3-litre petrol engine version with the TS trim level. Two trim levels are available: TS and TS2. Standard equipment on the TS includes: driver and passenger front airbags, remote central locking with deadlocks, electric front windows, driver seat height adjust, CD radio with auxiliary jack and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser. The TS2 adds 12 unspecified equipments according to the carmaker.
With the three door and five door combined, Mazda plans to sell 15,000 units on the British market this year.
Three door Mazda 2 price list
1.3 TS: £7,999
1.3 TS2: £9,509
1.5 Sport: £11,399
1.4D TS: £8,999
1.4D TS2: £10,504
Volvo announces the Powershift gearbox for the C30, S40 & V50
The in-house dual clutch gearbox will be available on the smaller Volvo models form now on.The Swedish carmaker has announced that the dual clutch gearbox called Powershift will be available with the 134bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine. The Powershift transmission has been developed by Volvo in cooperation with Getrag. According to the carmaker, the Powershift gearbox cuts fuel consumption by 8 percent in the Volvo C30, S40 and V50.
The Powershift is built in Koping, Sweden at Volvo’s transmission plant. The Powershift gearbox will be introduced on the second generation Volvo S60.
Lexus unveils a sport pack for the IS 250
Lexus tries to spice up the IS saloon and unveils a new sport pack called SR for the IS 250 model that takes inspiration from the IS F.The IS 250 SR is designed to deliver some of the sporting allure of the IS F and offers combined customer value of more than £3,500 for less than £1,000. This sporty addition to the IS range comes with a full body kit and 17in 10-spoke alloy wheels on the outside. Aluminium scuff plates and pedals add subtle visual enhancements on the inside. Heated front seats are also fitted as standard.
Standard equipment includes 10 airbags, climate control, cruise control, smart keyless entry and engine start and sequenced LED interior lighting. Owners can specify five-spoke 18-inch Tsuki rims.Powered by a 204bhp 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine, the IS 250 SR will accelerate from rest to 62mph in 8.1 seconds and reach a top speed in excess of 140mph.
Three exterior colours are available: Velvet Black and Cadoxton Slate and Argento Ice metallic finishes. All are available with the same interior treatment, a Worcester Black interior fabric trim. The IS 250 SR costs £24,990 with the manual gearbox and £25,800 for the automatic version.
First picture of the Nissan Cube
Here is the first clear picture of the Nissan Cube dues to launched in October of this year.The next-generation Nissan Cube deserves our attention as the Japanese carmaker will export in the US and in Europe. It will be 3,750 mm long, 1,695 mm wide, 1,650 mm high and will feature 2,430 mm wheelbase. The exterior styling takes its inspiration from the Pivo 2 concept car seen last year at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The third-generation Cube will be powered by the topping-engine of the current model, a 1.5-litre petrol unit delivering 108bhp.
Ferrari unveils an all-new model, the California
The Italian marque took the wraps off an all new model called California which is powered by a V8 engine.The new California is Ferrari’s serious attempt to compete with Aston Martin and Bentley on the growing GT market segment. Instead of two bodystyles, coupé and convertible, for the British models, the California will be a tow-in-one featuring a metallic folding roof.
The California is powered by a 4.3-litre V8 engine features direct fuel injection and a "flat" crankshaft. Normally aspirated, it delivers 453bhp at 7500rpm. The V8 unit is hooked up to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Ferrari claims the California runs the 0-62mph in less than 4.0 seconds.
The Ferrari California is also equipped with the exclusive F1-Trac traction control system which made its debut on the 599 GTB Fiorano and has been further honed to suit the typical driving conditions expected for this new GT according to the carmaker. Brembo brakes features carbon-ceramic material disks as standard.The new model will be unveiled at the next Paris Motor Show.
spyshots: facelifted Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Here are some spyshots of the facelifted S-Class due to be launched next year.With the forthcoming E-Class and SLC supercar, one does forget that the S-Class will be four years old next year, a good age to be facelifted in a car lifecycle. The revamped flagship will likely be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The facelifted S-Class will feature a modified fascia with a more sculpted front bumper and new fog lamps which features LED lights. The spyshots reveal that the mirrors will also be redesigned, while the rear end will feature minor changes, mainly a revised bumper.
Secrecy surrounds the technical changes at this early stage.
Chrysler kills rebadge of Dodge Journey to work on small car
As Petrol-Head reported in a previous post, Chryler is reshuffling its portfolio in an attempt to distinguish its brand from each other. The Dodge Journey won’t sport the Chrysler label.After stopping the production of four models, the troubled Chrysler continues on modifying its plans in an attempt to cut cost. The Chrysler-branded Dodge Journey has been cancelled to free resources. The American group wants its engineers to focus on the future compact model developed in collaboration with Nissan and expected to be launched in 2010.
The forthcoming lineup looks rather empty in terms of new models and dealers will have to be patient until 2010 when the company unveils the redesigned 300 saloon, the Jeep Grand Cherokee in addition to the compact models. Future will tell if Chrysler took the right decisions.
