Author: yoann besnard

Chery, official providers of hybrid cars for the Olympic Games

The Chinese A5 hybrid saloon has been elected as the official car of the Olympic Games due to occur next summer.
The Chinese government wants to show it cares about the environment and put pressure on the domestic carmakers to develop hybrid cars. Unfortunately, the same carmakers are not really interested in hybrid technologies and have only expressed their good will in press statement. Choosing the A5 hybrid is a clear message that the authorities send them: build hybrid cars if you want to take part in the future of China.
The Chery A5 is powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine associated to a hybrid solution whose details remain unknown. 80 cars will be provided to the Olympic organization and the cars will be christened “Olympics Green Messengers”.
Last year the Chinese carmaker built 380,000 cars and has set the ambitious plan to build half of its production with a hybrid solution at a time when Toyota changed its strategy on hybrid models.
February 21, 2008
2007 Jaguar sales drop by 19%

Jaguar sales have dropped by 19% last year due to the end of life of the S-Type model as the company is expected to be sold by Tata in a few weeks.
The company sold 60,485 cars last year which is far from the target established by the company at the launch of the S-Type. The carmaker executive has announced the goal to boost the sales to 200,000 units per year. After mixed welcome given tot the S-Type and the X-Type failure, the company reached a new low last year.
Hopefully, 2008 promises to be a better year as the eagerly-awaited XF has already generated 10,000 orders, 3,000 from the US only, the largest market for Jaguar. With the introduction of rumoured models, the company might one day achieve the ambitious goal of 200,000 cars considered at the break-even by Ford a few years ago.
But, now the main question is: will Tata get rid of the British carmaker as soon as it buys it?
February 21, 2008
Top 10 European best sellers

After the global sales result for the European market, here are the top 10 European best sellers for the month of January of this year.
The percent figures between brackets represents the variation over the same period last year.
1. VW Golf : 39 887 (+31.4%).
2. Peugeot 207 : 37 506 (+9.2%).
3. Ford Focus : 33 884 (-4.5%).
4. Vauxhall/Opel Corsa : 32 668 (-17.7%).
5. Fiat Grande Punto/Punto : 30 293 (-17.6%).
6. Renault Clio : 29 859 (-17.5%).
7. Ford Fiesta : 28 673 (-11.2%).
8. Vauxhall/Opel Astra : 28 391 (-5.0%).
9. VW Polo : 22 498 (+2.2%).
10. Fiat Panda : 21 858 (-10.9%).
February 21, 2008
Cadillac to build the CTS coupé

Cadillac has announced it will build a production version of the CTS Coupe Concept unveiled at Detroit last month; however no launch date has been given.
The future coupé is the company serious attempt to increase the CTS sales globally and boost the brand image in the SU but also abroad as the American struggles to survive on worldwide markets because of an intense competition generated by the German clique.
Like Saab, Cadillac is struggling to increase its sales and the company has set an ambitious plan to sell 210,000 cars by the end of this year. By comparison, Audi, BMW or Mercedes will sell more than 200,000 cars each in the US only.
Launched at Detroit, the CTS Coupe Concept was acclaimed by the press for its stylish exterior design.
February 21, 2008
Alfa Romeo unveils the revamped 159

Along the 8C Spider, Alfa Romeo will unveil a slightly revamped 159 model whose main interest will be its weight loss.

The 159 is a moving sculpture to look at but due to its platform, the Italian diva was rather heavy on the scale and this was presented as one of the mina default of the model. Concerned about the problem, Alfa Romeo engineers focused on weight reduction. The facelifted 159 loses 100 lbs thanks to lighter alloy wheels and stabilizing bar, single-body aluminum front brake calipers on the 4 cylinder version and the front suspension brackets.

If the exterior remains hopefully unchanged, the interior styling features minor cosmetic changes such as new display graphics, updated trim and upolstery and new wraparound ergonomic seats. The display graphics changes concern the instrument display, the satellite navigator at the centre of the dashboard and the climate controls.

The 159 gets a new trim level called Sport which comes with exclusive 17” alloy wheels, with a specific 5-spoke design combined to 225/50 tyres, sporting wheels with radio mounted controls and gear stick lined in leather with black stitching. The revamped 159 introduces three new paints, Ice White, Crystal Blue and Grey Indigo, and three new alloys.
The range evolves as the 3.2 V6 260 CV engine is from now on available as front-wheel drive model enabled to reach a top speed of 155mph.
February 21, 2008
Toyota to feature hybrid solution on topping models

Toyota has launched the new Crown model in Japan this week and as predicted features a hybrid solution on the topping version.
By featuring the hybrid solution on the topping version Japanese carmaker makes a sales move to establish the hybrid powertrain as a premium model in order to cover the cost generated by hybrid solution. However the price differentiation might be a stumbling block for potential green buyers. Indeed, the most expensive version with a traditional engine costs ¥4,870,000/£23,000 while the hybrid model costs ¥6,190,000/£29,500. In order to motivate potential buyers to add the required £6,500, Toyota plans to add exclusive gadgets. For example, the Crown Hybrid comes with an exclusive instrument panel and a might-vision pedestrian detector.
In an interview with Automotive News, Shigeki Terashi, executive chief engineer at Toyota’s product development group, told the newspaper: “Right now, that’s how the strategy is looking. We’ll add some extra features onto the hybrid to establish it as the superior grade.”
This strategic move is surprising as Toyota is being famous for the hybrid Prius and Honda approach to launch an affordable hybrid model might push Toyota to change its mind.
February 21, 2008
Porsche challenges Congestion Charge

Porsche has announced its intention to make an application for judicial review of the proposed extension in the London congestion charge.
The German carmaker says that the new increase due to start on October 27 is unfair. It argues that the 3025% increase from 80p to £25 is ‘disproportionate’ and that it will do nothing to achieve the stated aim of decreasing emissions in central London.
Andy Goss, Managing Director of Porsche Cars GB, said, “A massive congestion charge increase is quite simply unjust. Thousands of car owners driving a huge range of cars will be hit by a disproportionate tax which is clear will have a very limited effect on CO2 emissions.”
Porsche will be writing to the Mayor, Ken Livingstone this week. The Mayor will then have 14 days to respond to the carmaker. If the Mayor fails to respond to Porsche’s letter or refuses to reconsider his plans, Porsche intends formally to submit its application for judicial review at the Royal Courts of Justice.
February 20, 2008
Fiat opens new Abarth design center in Turin

While revealing the 500 Abarth, Fit opened a new design studio and workshop dedicated to the sporty label.
In an attempt to confirm that Abarth is really revived, the Italian group has opened a 23,000 square meter building where 100 will soon work on future models and competition. Inside, the new building has been divided into several different areas: competition cars, prototype development, cars derived from standard production, and the Racing Department.

The workshop is equipped with eight vehicle lifts and will feature in the future an assembly line for specialist cars in small production runs.
February 20, 2008
Volvo built 15 million cars

Nearly 81 years after its first car, the OV4, rolled off the production line, the Swedish carmaker built today its 15 millionth vehicle, a Volvo C70.
In the first year, production proceeded at a modest pace, with 297 cars being sold in 1927. It took Volvo 23 years to build its first 100,000 cars which corresponds today to about three months of production for the brand or less than four days of production for Toyota. Volvo is certainly not a high-volume manufacturer.
The best selling Volvo model ever is the 200 Series that goes forever. Between 1974 and 1993, no less than 2,862,573 were built. The P1800 coupé is probably the best-known of all Volvo models. Personally, my favourite Volvo is the 850 with a R badge but I also have a crunch for the iconic 240 estate.
February 20, 2008
Saab to unveil the next 9-5 this year

2008 might be the best year ever for the Swedish carmaker. After the 9-4X and the new 9-1X, the company has announced to its dealer network it will unveil the next-generation 9-5 this year.
The news comes as a surprise as nobody expected the next-generation 9-5 to appear at least before 2009, but it won’t be too soon enough to replace the old current 9-5. Launched in June 1997 to celebrate the fifty years of the brand, the flagship suffers as a result of an intense competition from the German clique, of course, but also from Asian competitors.
In the lifecycle of the current 9-5, Mercedes will have almost reveal two generation of the E-Class model. BMW will follow the same path. Information regarding the future saloon remains scace. A sketch (pictured) has emerged but there is some doubt whether this sketch is official or not. It is acknowledged that the company will go into the wild with the next 9-5 and will take its styling cues from the Aero-X concept car. Will it be enough to increase its sales?
February 20, 2008