Author: yoann besnard

Spyshot: Chery A3 hatchback
The Chinese carmakers are getting serious about design. The future Chery A3 is one of the latest example.
Due to go on sale soon, the latest Chery, a compact model, features a design that has nothing to envy to established rivals at least at first glance. The design is modern and lines are sleek. Instead of launching a revamped ZX, Citroen should think at launching a real car on the Chinese market. However, Chery has a long path to follow before being able to offer an attractive package with a strong character like European carmakers do. Along with the hatchback, the carmaker will also launch the A3 saloon.
Under the bonnet, the A3 five-door will be available with a choice of 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines. The future car is expected to cost around £8,700 for the entry-level.
Source: Chinacartimes
March 19, 2008
Next Acura RL might feature a V8
The next-generation Acura RL might feature a V8 petrol engine according to company sources. This confirms the V8 engine announced by a car magazine for the next Legend.
Last month, Petrol-Head reported the rumour spread by Best Car about a V8-powered Honda Legend. Some company sources in the US are confirming the carmaker is currently working on a 420bhp 4.8-litre V8 engine. The Japanese car magazine expected the V8 to a displacement of 4.5-litre that delivers about 400bhp. Such an engine would be welcome by showrooms as the Acura RL suffers from poor sales in the US due to the lack of V8 engines. However in Europe, The Legend would need a diesel engine to compete with the German clique.
The future engine would embed the same cylinder deactivation technology seen on recently launched Japanese V6-powered Inspire model. The next Acura RL will be launched in 2010 at the same time as the Honda Legend.
March 19, 2008
Chevrolet Camaro without camo
The Chevrolet Camaro has been caught on video without camouflage.
GM has recently announced that the Camaro will be delayed by several months. The muscle car will be powered by V6 and V8 petrol engines.
March 19, 2008
Spyshot: Dodge Breeze
Here are the first spyshots of the new Dodge Breeze expected to go on sale in Mexico next year.
The Dodge Breeze will spearhead the arrival of Chinese on the American continent as Chrysler plans to sell Chery models under the Dodge label in South America as a part of a deal due to be signed with the Chinese carmaker Chery. In order to bring the car on the market as soon as possible, Chrysler seems not to have bothered giving the car a unique exterior styling. The Breeze will be a re-badged Chery A1 as American are used to doing it.
The Breeze was previously used for the Chrysler Stratus saloon sold under the badge Plymouth.
March 19, 2008
Buick to unveil the Invicta at the Beijing Motor Show
Buick has announced it will unveil a concept car called Invicta at the Beijing Motor Show in April.
Buick is the spearhead of GM on the Chinese market. If the carmaker sales suffer from a poor brand image in the US, the situation is different in China where the Excelle and Park models are bought for their luxurious image.
Like the Riviera seen at Shanghai last year, the Invicta moniker has been used on a previous model forty-five years ago. At that time, it was the most powerful Buick. The concept car will pay homage to Buicks of the 1940s through the 1970s thanks to a collaboration between various GM Design Studios around the world. The Invicta will feature a nostalgic sweepspear design cue and a curved line running the length of the car. The exterior will also feature Buick’s signature vertical chrome waterfall grille and a new look to its portholes.
March 19, 2008
BMW considers launching a fourth brand
BMW is considering a fourth brand intended to sell environmental-friendly models.
Last week, Petrol-Head reported that BMW was considering launching an electric vehicle expected to go on sale in the US. However, the integration of such an innovative car in the current range was also questioned. BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer has confirmed the project. Called ‘Project i’, its purpose is to evaluate all possible options to sell the new car. BMW Chairman said that the project has a great deal of latitude, even creating a new brand.
Still at an early stage, Reithofer didn’t confirm any technical options. ‘An electric motor is an option we are looking into. It does not only work at zero-emission level. The technology is now sophisticated enough to offer driving pleasure. This is one of the reasons why we are evaluating the option of launching a battery-powered car.’
The German group already has three brands, BMW, of course, Rolls Royce and Mini.
March 19, 2008
Livingstone tells Porsche to drop CC challenge
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has told Porsche to stop challenging the new Congestion Charge scheme.
Last week, the German carmaker announced it would make formal application for judicial review to challenge the new congestion charge scheme which unpleased the London mayor. Porsche had conducted a survey in last February showing that 74% of Londoners believed the congestion charge was unfair.
This week Livingstone unveiled a new survey that unsurprisingly showed that almost two-thirds of Londoners backed the scheme. "Luxury car manufacturers such as Porsche should take the hint and put their energy into reducing the carbon emissions of their cars instead of pursuing pointless legal action against this ground-breaking policy," he said.
Porsche confirmed it will press ahead with its legal challenge.
March 19, 2008
British drivers ignore green pressures
The car hypermarket chain Carcraft reveals that we appear to be ignoring attempts to force us into smaller and greener cars.
Figures released by used car hypermarket chain Carcraft, show that sales of cars with engines of 2000cc and above increased last year despite the introduction of higher vehicle duty and the increasing cost of petrol.
Car buyers opting for larger vehicles made up 11.5% of all sales in the first ten months of 2007, compared to 9.5% in 2006. This is the first time that larger cars have represented more than one in ten used cars sold in the UK. Older, male drivers are leading this trend. Over three-quarters (79%) of drivers buying cars over 3000cc were male and a quarter (26%) were men aged between 51 and 65 years old.
The research from Carcraft looked at a representative sample of 50,000 sales out of its total car sales nationwide, from the first ten months of 2006 and 2007.
March 19, 2008
Seat fits the 1.4 TSI engine on the Leon
Seat is adding a new engine to the Leon lineup, a 1.4-litre TSI petrol unit that delivers 123bhp.
The current Leon’s lineup suffers from an engine gap as the entry-level engine is a 101bhp 1.6-litre unit that is followed by the 197bhp 2.0-litre. In other words, Seat needed to fill the gap. Despite featuring a smaller displacement than the 1.6-litre, the new TSI unit delivers more power, 101bhp at 5,600rpm and more torque, 148lb ft at 1,750rpm thanks to the turbocharger.
Compared to the 1.6-litre figures, 0-62mph drops from 11.7 seconds to 9.8 seconds and top speed jumps from 114mph to 122mph. The carmaker claims the new Leon 1.4-litre TSI achieves a combined cycle figure of 44.1 mpg compared to 37.2 mpg to the 1.6’s.
Starting at £13,755 for the Reference Sport trim, the new engine offer is £1125 more expensive than the equivalent 1.-6 litre. The new engine is also available with the Stylance trim for £14,750.
March 19, 2008
Honda to invest £250 miilion in Kei cars production
Honda has announced it will invest £250 million into its subsidiary Yachiyo Industry to reorganize its production output of Kei car models.
The investment will help to modernize the current Yokkaichi plant and build a new facility. The combined annual production capacity of the two plants will be approximately 240,000 units, which is almost the same as the current capacity.
The two factories will separate the production based on product characteristics. The new plant will produce the front-engined models, Life and Zest, while the existing plant will focus on the midship-engined models, Acty and Vamos. The new facility will start building engines in the first half of 2009 and will switch to car production by 2010.
Honda wants to reorganize its Kei cars production system in order to reduce cost and offer competitively priced models on the Japanese car market which has been in recession for the last fifteen years.
March 18, 2008