Author: yoann besnard

New pictures of the new Ssangyong Chairman W

After the teaser, Ssangyong has released the first official pictures of the exterior and the interior of the new Chairman W.

With this new generation, Ssangyong wants the Chairman to move upmarket. The new executive saloon will feature a serious exterior styling although a little tame and will send the current to the forgotten pages in the automotive history books. On the inside, the Chairman seems to offer an excessive equipment with a riot of cheap-looking wood panels.

Ssangyong hopes to sell 20,000 new Chairman W vehicles on the Korean market and 10,000 vehicles overseas, including Chinese market. “We’re fully prepared to compete with world-class luxury models, such as Lexus LS430, Audi A8, BMW 750 worldwide,” said Choi Hyung Tak, Ssangyong’s CEO. “The model will be the most expensive car in Ssangyong’s lineup.” The car will go on sale from next month.
Surprisingly, Ssangyong has sold 100,000 Chairman since the model was launched in 1997.
February 13, 2008
New Cadillac XLR to appear in June

According to the Chicago Tribune, The GM luxury brand, Cadillac, will launch a new XLR next July. Unfortunately details remain scarce and it is not specified if this is a revamped XLR or an all-new model.
The XLR is the SL-Class for Cadillac. If it doesn’t meet the same success as the German model, it’s still an emblematic model for the car maker. If the new XLR gets a facelift, it will likely hit the showrooms in July. if it’s an all-new model, it will likely be unveiled in July but won’t hit the showrooms before 2009.
Secrecy surrounds the future XLR although some observers believe the XLR-V will replace its 4.4-litre V8 by the 550bhp LSA V8 seen in the new CTS-V model. Despite sharing its platform with the Corvette, the XLR won’t get any engine from the sports coupé.
February 13, 2008
GM has unveiled the three door Aveo

Chevrolet has unveiled the first pictures and details of the new three-door Aveo which will be displayed at the next Geneva Motor Show.

The new three-door version is based on the five-door Aveo revealed last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Aveo will be available with a choice of two petrol engines, gasoline engines: a 1.2-litre unit with an output of 83bp and a 1.4-litre unit with 100bp. The car will hit the showrooms in June.

With the five-door model due to go on sale next month, the three door Aveo is Chevrolet’s serious attempt to take on established rivals such as the Peugeot 207 and the Vauxhall Corsa. Chevrolet didn’t go wild with the design and the Aveo exterior styling is aggressive at the front and a little tame at the rear end. The interior styling looks a bit outdated. With a competitive price, Chevrolet will likely sell the Aveo quite well in aster Europe. On our shores, the challenge will be higher.
February 13, 2008
Saab on the rocks, please!

Saab has created a real-life sized replica of the Aero-X Coupe Concept made entirely from ice. The icy concept is housed within the famous ICEHOTEL in Sweden.
The ICEHOTEL is situated in the village Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden. The heart and backbone is the River Torne flowing freely through the unspoilt wilderness. Covered with a meter thick ice layer winter time the river is the source of all blocks used to build the unique hotel. The ICEHOTEL, which has more than 80 rooms and suites, only exists between December and April and it is rebuilt from scratch every year.

The Aero-X has been designed and created by Simon Padian, chief designer for Saab with the help of Tjåsa Gusfors – a leading designer specializing in ice and snow sculpture. The car is located in a special room dubbed “Move Your Mind”
Visitors will be encouraged to walk through an ice suite featuring key Saab brand messages and showcasing Saab’s design heritage. Highlights include an ice sculpted Saab Aero X and impressive light and sound sequences.
February 13, 2008
GM announced a £19.8 billion loss for 2007

GM has announced a $38.7/£19.8 billion loss for the 2007 fiscal year. Most of this huge loss is the result of a tax write down realized in the second half of the year.
Sales were up 3% last year and the company made $181/£90 billion in revenue compared to $206/£103 billion in 2006. GM lost $23 million in 2007, compared to a net income of $2.2 billion in 2006. The company blamed its financial subsidiary, GMAC, for the loss.
General Motors also announced another round of planned buyouts to all 74,000 U.S. hourly workers represented by the UAW. The new round of buyouts will offer incentives of $45,000 for production employees or $62,500 for skilled trades. Retirement plans will also be offered to employees 50 years or older with at least 10 years of service.
February 13, 2008
McLaren SLR Roadster reviewed by Fifth Gear

Here is a video of the review made by the Fifth Gear’s team of the Mercedes SLR roadster.
February 12, 2008
“Cars that can’t crash ” unveiled by Thatcham

It sounds like a sci-fi fantasy – cars that can’t crash! But the fictional notion is about to become reality thanks to new technologies being fitted to vehicles driven in Britain – that in time could save more than 125,000 injuries each year.
Low speed shunts and collisions make up no less than 75 percent of all motor accidents. So, collision avoidance systems seem to represent the future of accident and injury reduction on UK roads and Thatcham has been evaluating three different systems:
The Volvo City Safety – which will be fitted as standard to their XC60 which will be on sale from November is the first system being tested. The system is active at up to 20 mph. It uses a form of laser radar (LIDAR) mounted in top of the windscreen. It is programmed to respond if the vehicle in front is either at a standstill or is moving in the same direction as the car itself. The brakes are pre-charged and should a collision be imminent it applies them and cuts the throttle. If the car is travelling below 10mph it should prevent the collision entirely and at a speed of up to 20 mph will reduce the impact by 50%.
The second tested system is the Mercedes Distronic Plus currently available on some S-class models. It uses two radar systems linked to the car’s cruise control system to maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front. It provides a continual calculation of the distance between the vehicle in front and the speed differential between them and will bring the car to a complete stop if necessary.
The third system is the Honda CMBS currently available on the CR-V. It is a radar system that again calculates the distance and the speed differential with the vehicle in front. Should this become out of kilter the driver receives visual and audible warnings before brakes are progressively activated. Seat belts are also tightened to alert the driver of an impending problem and lessen any resulting injuries.
Matthew Avery, Thatcham Research Manager said “All three systems offer enhanced protection – the Volvo in particular impressed because of its autonomous operation and the fact that it intervened at the last second and can completely avoid a crash.” However Avery reminds us the basics of driving: “It is imperative that driver vigilance is not lowered by the inclusion of such systems in their vehicles. These systems should not allow the driver to compensate – and take additional risks. The car is not the driver – the driver drives the car.”
February 12, 2008
Leaked brochure of the Delta gives details

An official brochure of the eagerly-awaited Delta has leaked on Internet giving details about the car’s specification and pricing.
The Delta will be available with a choice of three equipment levels: Argento, Oro and Platino. The entry level will feature 16” x 7” 14-spoke design, wearing 205/55 tire
The Delta will be able to combine all colours with a black roof or an optional “Avorio Micalizzato” colour; The standard colours will be similar to the colours featured by the Fiat Bravo and Croma. Three new colours will be available however: “Azzurro Fontanesi”, “Bordeaux Sansovino” and “Perla Sironi”.
Alcantara is expected to be made standard on the Oro and Platino trim levels, with optional leather available; this will also bring the option of a two-tone dashboard. To the Argento-level specification, Oro will add standard cruise control and automatic dual-zone climate control; Platino will also include the Skyview glass roof and standard bi-colore paint.
Technically, the Delat will be available with a choice of three petrol engines according to the brochure. The entry level will be powered by the 120bhp 1.4-litre unit and followed by the 150bhp 1.6 Multijet engine. Along the petrol units, there will be two diesel engines, a 120bhp 1.6-litre unit and a powerful 190bhp variant of the 1.9-litre twin-stage turbo Multijet diesel, developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies.
The leaked brochure also gave an insight about the pricing. The 1.4 T-Jet Argento will start at €22,100 on the Austrian market. The 1.6 Multijet variant opens at 24,340 euros with the Argento trim level. Oro trim level will cost €2,000 more. In Platino form, the Delta will cost €27,500 for the 150bhp T-Jet, and €28,740 for the 1.6 Multijet. There are no pricing information about the 190bhp diesel unit.
Source: Autoblog.it
February 12, 2008
London to vote on the £25 congestion charge this week

This week London will vote for the £25 congestion charge that will be applied to “gas-guzzling” cars. The purpose of the new tax is to help cutting the city’s carbon emissions by 60 percent by 2025.
Every owner of a vehicle emitting more than 225g CO2 per 100 km will have to pay the tax if he wants to drive in London. The original plan excluded London residents within the taxed zone, but the exemption has been removed for drivers of luxury and SUV cars.
If the is passed, London will become part of the city’s larger green initiative, which includes promoting the use of bicycles in the city, fitting new filters to city equipment and buildings and the low-emission zone targeting heavy trucks, which went into effect on Monday in the zone encircled by the M25.
February 12, 2008
“We’re ready”, say the Jaguar dealers in the US

Ken Gorin, chairman of the Jaguar Business Operations Council said in an interview with Automotive News that American Jaguar dealers were ready to sell the new XF which will go on sale there next March.
He also described 2007 as the worst year ever for Jaguar dealers. “When you’ve been through the worst, you’ve been through the worst,” he said. Last year company’s sales dropped 24.2% to 15,683 units on the American market. This is an average of less than 10 cars per month for each one of the 170 dealers.
Gorin also hopes the future new owner will give the brand the destiny it deserves. Last december he said he wasn’t very happy with the idea to sell Jaguar coming “out of India.” In the interview he said that his comment was misconstrued.
February 12, 2008