Author: yoann besnard

2007, best year ever for Audi
Audi has announced record 2007 results Tuesday and said it aimed to sell more than one million vehicles this year.
The German carmaker sold 964,151 in 2007 compare to 905,188 in the prior year. Audi sold 254,014 cars in Germany . With a record market share of 7.9 percent, the company achieved its best level in the German competitive market in its history.
The company sold a record number of cars in Western Europe, at 650,407, a 3 per cent increase over 2006. The United Kingdom achieved the highest growth, with 100,712 cars sold, up by 17.1 percent. In Eastern Europe, vehicle sales increased by one-third to 36,073 units.
The biggest single foreign market in 2007 was China, including Hong Kong, with 101,996 cars sold, up by 24.8 percent. In China, Audi remains the market leader by some distance in the premium segment. The carmaker sold 93,506 cars in the USA (90,116, up 3.8 percent).
The subsidiary Lamborghini recorded 15 percent growth, selling 2,406 supercars during 2007.
"We are on the path this year to surpassing the level of one million deliveries," Audi chairman Rupert Stadler said.
March 13, 2008
Chevrolet to delay the Camaro
Chevrolet has announced it will delay the launch by a few months. When it debuts, the eagerly-awaited Camaro will be a 2010 model.
The carmaker hasn’t given any formal reasons for the delay. The car will be officially unveiled at Detroit next year but won’t hit showrooms before spring and will be sold as 2010 model. Later a convertible will be launched also as a 2010 model.
With the ubiquitous Mustang and the expected Challenger, GM might miss an opportunity to sell its pony-car. Indeed, Ford is expected to launch the next-generation Mustang in 2010.
The Camaro will be be powered by V6 and V8 petrol engines.
March 13, 2008
Audi to launch an A5 convertible in 2009
Audi plans to launch a convertible variant of the A5 coupé at the next Detroit Motor Show in January 2009
This doesn’t come as a surprise. Audi has set an ambitious plan to boost its sales top 1.5 million vehicles by 2018. Expanding its lineup its the main path chosen by the carmaker and the A5 naturally deserved a convertible variant.
Unlike the BMW 3-series, the Audi A5 will go traditional and will feature a fabric roof which will be, of course, electrically operated and will offer a good comfort with the help of a multi-layered construction.
The Audi A5 convertible will likely feature the same engine range as the coupé, a 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine and two diesel engines, a 2.7-litre unit and 3.0-litre unit, both TDI. The range will be topped by the 4.2-litre V8 engine seen on the S5
March 13, 2008
Opel releases a new teaser of the future Insignia
Opel has released a new teaser under the form of the front fascia. Indeed, the Insignia will feature an all-new intelligent lighting system.
Developed in partnership with Hella, the new Adaptive Forward Lighting, AFL in short, automatically adjusts headlamp beam distribution to the prevailing road profile and visibility conditions. The system features nine lighting functions:
– A Town Light mode that provides, at speeds under 30mph, a wider, beam with reduced range. This helps the driver see pedestrians at the edge of the road better.
– A Pedestrian Area Light mode that is for zones where the driver must exercise extreme caution. It is activated at speeds between 2 and 20mph, and adjusts the cone of light for both headlamps by eight degrees toward each roadside. This function helps the driver see children playing next to the road earlier.
– A Country Road Light mode that provides a brighter and more wide-ranging beam to the sides of the road than a conventional low beam. It is activated between 30 and 62mph.
– A Highway Light that creates a cone of light that illuminates the road ahead and the left-hand roadside better. The Highway Light activates automatically above62mph, but only when the steering angle sensor indicates that the road’s curve radii do not match that of a country road.
– An Adverse Weather Light mode that is activated during rain or snow when the rain sensor recognizes rain or the windshield wipers are switched on. This light function varies both the headlamp beams’ distribution pattern and its various outputs. The headlamp beam distribution is directed more toward the roadsides (slightly less to the left) to make the guiding lines easier to see. As the left headlamp beam output is reduced from 35 to 32 watts, the risk of blinding oncoming traffic is also minimized. Conventional headlamp beams are often irritating to oncoming traffic in such weather conditions, as the beams reflect off the wet road surface. The right headlamp beam output is increased from 35 to 38 watts to further improve the driver’s visibility.
– A Static Cornering Lightmode that illuminates an area to the right or left of the vehicle up to an angle of 90 degrees, making maneuvering easier in poorly illuminated areas, such as on dark access roads. It is activated at speeds below 25mph either by a large steering angle or by the turn indicators.
– A Dynamic Curve Light that ensures improved illumination in curves. Curve Light’s bi-xenon headlamps shine at up to 15° right and left of the vehicle into the oncoming curve. The Curve Light angle is determined by the car’s speed and steering angle.
– A High Beam Light that provides maximum headlamp beam output and range. Rather than beam asymmetrically, the High Beam Light optimally illuminates the full width of the road. The headlamps’ output also increases from 35 to 38 watts.
– A High Beam Light Assistant mode, which is both an innovation in this segment and offers a considerable safety advantage when driving in darkness. The Assistant automatically activates the High Beam Light for better road illumination and therefore improved visibility. The system’s camera recognizes the headlamps or tail lights of other vehicles and automatically switches the headlamps to low beam when required to prevent blinding other road users.
The Insignia will be officially unveiled at the British Motor Show this summer.
March 13, 2008
A new British supercar on St George’s Day
A new Bristish supercar will be launched on 23rd April after eight years of development.
The manufacturer, Keating, claims the car broke the world speed record held at the time by Bugatti during private testing.
The supercar will be available in two versions, the TKR and the SKR. The latter will be the entry-level want will have 400bhp under the bonnet. The TKR is said to come with more power than an F1.
Details remain scarce and no engine has been mentioned at this stage. Will the TKR and SKR use their own engine or a production-derived engine like small manufacturers generally do.
March 13, 2008
BMW to consider building an electric car for the US
BMW is seriously considering building an electric intended to go on sale on the American market by 2012.
No green light has been given yet and the carmaker is still thinking at the opportunity to build an electric car. The potential electric car might be outsourced as BMW might not have the production capacity in the US to build it. Building the electric car in Germany is a path the carmaker won’t likely take as the Euro goes stronger.
BMW has also not decided yet whether to go on its own or to partner with another carmaker. Another stumbling block might also be the integration of such a peculiar model in the carmaker’s lineup.
It would be nice to see a reinterpretation of the Z13 concept car unveiled in the ’90s.
March 13, 2008
Audi announces the prices for the A3 Cabriolet
The German carmaker has announced the prices for the A3 Cabriolet which will go on sale this summer. The entry-level starts at £20,750 for the 1.9TDI version.
Basic versions, called Standard, comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, powered windows and mirrors, and a radio with single CD drive.
Costing an additional £1,850, the Sport level adds 17-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension and sports seats. For a £1,550 extra, the S Line features 18-inch 7 twin-spoke alloy wheels and S line body styling including exclusive front and rear bumper design. On the inside, it adds extras such as leather and Sprint cloth combination upholstery embossed with the S line insignia, an S line multifunction sports steering wheel with paddle shift controls when equipped with an automatic transmission, a perforated leather gear knob and matt brushed aluminium panels.
On the Standard level, the hood is semi-automatically operated, the hood is attached to and released from the windscreen rail manually but retracts and raises at the touch of a button, while upper versions get a fully automatic roof.
The Audi A3 Cabriolet is available with two petrol engines, a 158bhp 1.8-litre TFSI unit and a 197bhp 2.0-litre TFSI engine. Along with the petrol engines, there are two diesel units, a 103bhp 1.9-litre TDI and a 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI.
Audi A3 Cabriolet pricing:
Model Standard Sport S line
1.8 TFSI £22,300 £24,150 £25,700
2.0 TFSI £23,660 £25,510 £27,060
1.9 TDI £20,750 £22,600 £24,150
2.0 TDI £22,760 £24,610 £26,160
March 13, 2008
Honda annouces pricing for the new Accord
Honda has announced the pricing for the new Accord saloon that will try to take on established rivals such as the Audi A4 or BMW 3-serie.
The new Accord will be available with three trim levels: ES, ES GT and EX. The entry-level ES starts at £19,250 and features 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, front and rear electric windows, and electric / heated folding mirrors.
The ES GT adds 17-inch alloy wheels, half-leather seats, aero kit and sports suspension for £20,010. The EX grades start from £22,250 and come as standard with DVD sat nav, Bluetooth hands free telephone, full leather seats, electric/heated front seats, rear parking camera and a premium 6CD stereo.
Due to go on sale on 1 June, the new Accord will off three engines, a 156hp 2.0-litre petrol engine, a 201hp 2.4-litre engine and the 150hp 2.2-litre i-DTEC.
The Tourer version of Accord will go on sale in the UK on 1 September.
Accord saloon pricing:
2.0 i-VTEC ES Manual: 19,250
2.0 i-VTEC ES Automatic: £20,550
2.0 i-VTEC ES GT Manual: £20,100
2.0 i-VTEC ES GT Automatic: £21,400
2.0 i-VTEC ES GT NAVI Manual: £21,200
2.0 i-VTEC ES GT NAVI Automatic: £22,500
2.0 i-VTEC EX Manual: £22,250
2.0 i-VTEC EX Automatic: £23,550
2.4 i-VTEC EX Manual: £23,250
2.4 i-VTEC EX Automatic: £24,550
2.4 i-VTEC EX Manual TECH PACK: £25,250
2.4 i-VTEC EX Automatic TECH PACK: £26,550
2.2 i-DTEC ES Manual: £21,050
2.2 i-DTEC ES GT Manual: £21,900
2.2 i-DTEC ES GT Manual NAVI: £23,000
2.2 i-DTEC EX Manual: £24,050
2.2 i-DTEC EX Manual TECH PACK: £26,050
2.2 i-DTEC EX GT Manual: £24,900
2.2 i-DTEC EX GT Manual: TECH PACK: £26,650
March 13, 2008
Women leave £2 billion worth of personal belongings in their cars
The insurance company Sheilas’ Wheels has conducted a research showing that 38 per cent of women leave at least four personal items in their car on a regular basis, with a further 18% admitting to leaving seven or more! On average, £129 worth of personal items are being left in the cars of female motorists on a daily basis!
The top five personal items most likely to be left in a car by a female motorist are: books (39 per cent), shoes (35 per cent), clothes (27 per cent), children’s toys (25 per cent) and toiletries (22 per cent). More than a quarter (27 per cent) of women regularly keep a change of clothes in their car and one fifth hoard make up in their vehicle.
Shoes may come second on the list, but it’s not just one pair of shoes as over two thirds (67 per cent) of UK female motorists have up to four pairs of shoes in their car at any one time.
More worrying is the ten per cent of female motorists who have had an accident or experienced a ‘near miss’ as a result of stray personal items rolling beneath their pedals. The top five items that slip under car pedals while driving are: empty drink cans / water bottles, food packaging, lipstick, deodorant and hairbrush.
Mothers are most at risk – with 11 per cent of parents stockpiling more than 10 personal items in the car, many to provide children with in-car entertainment. According to the survey, almost half (48 per cent) of mums regularly keep children’s toys in their car.
March 12, 2008
Proton unveils the GEN-2 Persona in the UK
The malaysian carmaker has unveiled a new model, the GEN-2 Persona which is the four-door version of the company’s five door hatchback.
Like all company’s models, the new saloon fights on a competitive equipment-to-price ratio. Starting at £10,795, the GEN-2 Persona features climate control with pollen filter, front and rear electric windows, flat-folding 60:40 rear seats, and an integrated Blaupunkt radio/CD player, with an MP3-capable CD player and four way speaker system. On the safety side, the new model comes with and ABS, an EBD, driver and passenger airbags, side impact protection bars, power assisted steering and reverse distance sensors.
The GEN-2 Persona is powered by a 1.6 litre Lotus engineered Campro engine which delivers a maximum output of 110bhp and a torque output of 109lb ft. The engine can be hooked up to a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic gearbox (£1,000 more expensive). The GEN-2 Persona can reach a top speed of 118mph.
March 12, 2008

Model	Standard	Sport	S line
1.8 TFSI	£22,300	£24,150	£25,700
2.0 TFSI	£23,660	£25,510	£27,060
1.9 TDI	£20,750	£22,600	£24,150
2.0 TDI	£22,760	£24,610	£26,160