Author: yoann besnard

GM buys Detroit headquarters for £313 million
GM has announced it has bought the headquarters it currently rents in Detroit for an amount of £313 million.
Despite a £1.6 billion loss for the first quarter of this year, GM has given the green light to buy its headquarters, known as Renaissance Center, for £313 million and two other properties located in Pontiac, Michigan for £100 million.
Built by Ford during the 70’s, the Renaissance Center was leased by GM in 1996 which spent around £250 million to renovate and improve it. The lease was ending on the 1st May which decided the carmaker to buy the building.
May 13, 2008
Renault-Nissan annouces their £1,250 car
Renault-Nissan has given the green light to the future Nano competitor due to be launched by 2011.
The news doesn’t come as a surprise as Petrol-Head regularly covered the future Nano competitors the last months. Until now, the carmaker which teams up with Bajaj Auto, was studying the feasibility to build a Nano competitor. As predicted, the future model will be sold for £1,250.
Renault-Nissan and the Indian motorcycle manufacturer will set up a new joint venture which will be 50% owned by Bajaj Auto, 25% by Renault and 25% by Nissan.
Targeting the growing Indian new vehicle market, the ultra low cost model will be made at an all-new plant to be constructed in Chakan in India with a an initial planned capacity of 400,000 units per year.
May 13, 2008
VW to choose its US factory in July
Volkswagen’s CEO has finally announced that the company will choose its US factory in July before the company’s mid-July meeting.
In an interview with the German newspaper Handlesblatt, VW Group’s CEO, Martin Winterkorn, has revealed that a decision will be made before the company’s mid-July meeting. VW Group wants a American factory to offset the impact of weak dollar as part of an ambitious plan to increase its sales on the American market and catch up with Toyota. The factory is planned to build Volkswagen and Audi models, but also Porsche.
Winterkorn also revealed that the company had selected three states for the new plant: Alabama, Michigan and Tenesse.
May 13, 2008
Daimler to increase component sharing
Mercedes-Benz wants to increase the component sharing between its models.
In an interview with Automotive News, Thomas Weber, board member of R&D for Mercedes’ parent company, Daimler, said that the carmaker wants share as many components as possible between models in an attempt to reduce costs. Current new models already shares components such as powertrains and electronic devices.
Sharing components enables the carmaker to cut cost, but also to increase reliability. However, it also put constraints on designers and designers which can’t create unique designs any more.
The E-Class and C-Class already shares 50% of components, while the GLK and the C-Class are built on the same assembly lines despite featuring radically different designs. The future SLC will share its electric components with the next-generation E-Class. Thomas Weber even revealed that the S-Class flagship and the Smart ForTwo share 5% of their components.
May 13, 2008
Alfa Romeo Mi.To: more images of the interior
Here are new pictures of the Alfa Romeo Mi.To revealing the interior.
Yesterday, we published a picture of the dashboard of the Mi.To. This time, the interior is shown with a black leather upholstery. The front seats look spoerty featuring proper side support. The interior might be a bit too dark with the blakc treatment.
At 4.06 metres long, 1.44 metres high and 1.72 metres wide, the Mi.To should be roomy enough like the Mini. The baby Alfa shares its engine range with the Fiat Grande Punto, turbocharged petrol and diesel engines spanning 90-155bhp. Higher powered versions will be launched later.
With this new model, Alfa Romeo wants to increase its global sales by adding around more than 100,000 Mi.To per year to the current production. If the Mi.To doesn’t meet success, the company’s future might be shadowed as Sergio Marchionne wants the brand to come back to profit by 2010.
May 13, 2008
Peugeot introduces sport pack for the 4007 SE
A new Sport Pack option is being introduced on the 4007 SUV to spice it up.
French carmaker Peugeot and German tuner Irmscher teamed up to create a range of tuning kit for Peugeot models. After the 407 SW, the 4007 SUV is the second model to be tuned by Irmscher. The Sport Pack includes 19in wheels, a front lip spoiler and twin tailpipe finishers. The 407 SE sits on Pirelli 235/45 x R19 tires. it is availabel with four metallic paints: Pearl Black, Arctic Silver, Pilbara Grey and Istria Blue.
The Sport Pack cost £600. Purchased individually all the parts would total £2,950.
May 13, 2008
Kia Soul in the US and China next year
Kia has announced that the future Soul model will be launched in the US and in China next year. Europe wasn’t mentioned.
Kia had previewed the Soul at the Geneva Motor Show. Unfortunately, the carmaker seems to have no plan to bring the car to Europe soon as American and Chinese markets will be a priority for the carmaker. A front-wheel drive, the Kia Soul is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine hooked up to a five-speed automatic gearbox with manual shift mode.
The Soul is part of a plan to revamp the carmaker’s brand image on the American market. The Korean brand wants to appeal to trendy American buyers. In addition to the Soul, Kia will launch the Borrego SUV which will be powred by the first carmaker’s V8 engine. In Europe, the carmaker will launch a coupé at the last year Frankfurt Motor Show based on the Cee’d model that takes its styling cues from the Kee concept car.
May 13, 2008
Spyshot: future Suzuki Kizashi
The car you see on the spyshot is the future Suzuki’s model called Kizashi under one of the three planned bodystyles, the saloon.
The Kizashi represents Suzuki’s future attempt to move upmarket by unveiling a larger car than usual. Set to compete with the successful Toyota Camy and Chevrolet Malibu, the Kizashi will be a smaller model, while providing an interior as roomy as the two other cars according to the carmaker. The Kizashi will be available with three bodystyles, all previewed over the last 12 months: The Kizashi concept car previewed the future wagon, the Kizashi 2 previewed athe crossover and the Kizashi 3 previewwd the saloon.
Technical details remain secret although some observers believe that the Kizashi will be powered by two petrol engines, a 150bhp 2.3-litre 4 cylinder unit and a 280-300bhp 3.6-litre V6 unit hooked up to a six speed automatic gearbox.
Built in the Sagara, Japan, the Kizashi will hit the showrooms in 2010.
Click here to see the pictures
May 13, 2008
Spyshot: Fisker Karma
The first Fisker Karma prototype has been spotted during testing. Unfortunately for the young carmaker, the spyshots generated a controversy.
According to some reports, the camouflaged Karma hasn’t been caught by surprise as Fisker would have made two cars intended to be spotted by spy photographers. Some journalists seem to be goody-goody about it. We prefer laughing at it. The Karma is rumoured to be powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine generating energy for the lithium-ion batteries which drive the rear wheels. Fisker announces a 300-mile range. The Karma will also be able to use only electricity and offer a lower 50-mile range, enough for daily commuting.
The Karma is expected to cost around £63,000 and will be built at 15,000 units. Half of the production will be sold overseas. Europe will be a major outlet for the young carmaker which has just appointed its first European importer in Italy. 99% of the cars have already been sold according to Fisker.
Click here to see the pictures
May 13, 2008
Chevrolet unveils a ‘sporty’ Lacetti
Chevrolet has unveiled a new range-topping Lacetti dubbed Sport powered by a small 119bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine.
The Lacetti Sport comes with the traditional body styling kit, 15in alloy wheels, lowered suspension and integrated front fog lamps. On the inside, there is a full charcoal grey leather upholstery, a leather-covered steering wheel and gear knob, and metallic-effect inserts on the doors and central console.
Power comes from a 119bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine, which gives the Sport the ability to run the 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds, with a top speed of 121mph.
The Lacetti Sport costs £12,495.
May 13, 2008