Author: yoann besnard

Saab expects stagnation in 2008

The Swedish car maker Saab doesn’t expect any sales growth for this year according to an interview given by its CEO to Auto,Motor und Sport.
Last year the car maker sold 125,000 cars compared to 133,000 over the same period in 2006. “We expect roughly the same scale for 2008,” Jan-Ake Jonsson told the German magazine. “It is our target to sell 150,000 to 200,000 units per year. But in order to reach such annual sales we need the new models,” he said.
Saab had said earlier it could reach break-even with annual sales of 180,000 units. Unfortunately the milestone won’t be reached until 2010.
February 11, 2008
Next-generation Beetle confirmed

In an interview with Automotive News, Martin Winterkorn has confirmed that the German car maker is currently working on the next-generation Beetle which will go on sale from 2010.
The next Beetle will share its inner structure with the future Golf VI and will be slightly longer and wider than the current model. The technical side will be performed in Germany while design will be realized in California in order to catch the latest trends.
The three door and the convertible variants will be re-conducted. It is also rumoured that the next -generation Beetle will be available as SUV model. Will it be the return of the Kübelwagen?
February 11, 2008
GM to build a Nano competitor

GM will enter the cheapest car competition by launching a Tata Nano’s competitor which will be built in China by Wuling.
Bob Lutz has given its formula to build the Nano’s competitor: “We move a legacy architecture and parts that have been around for a long time,”. “Then we create a vehicle that’s very inexpensive, and it could not be sold in the developed world because it wouldn’t meet regulations.”
The car would be built by the Chinese car maker Wuling which is partly-owned by GM. However no launch date has been given so far.
February 11, 2008
Chrysler to outsource its seats to India
An Indian newspaper reported that the American car maker has signed a £52 million/$101 million contract with an Indian seat maker to build seats for the Jeep Wrangler model.
This move is the beginning of the new strategy initiated by Chrysler in order to cut costs. The car maker plans to increase the volume of parts being built in Southeast Asia.
We buy $40 billion worth of supplies each year. We would like to procure as much as possible from South-East Asia,” the official said in the report.
Chrysler hasn’t said if it plans to extend the experience to other models in the future
Source: Reuters
February 11, 2008
Fisker to build a Karma convertible

At a J.D. Power event, Fisker founder Henrik Fisker has revealed the photo of a Karma convertible. The photo was marked with the label “top secret”.
Henry Fisker has set the ambitious plan to develop a full line-up to become a small car maker still able to compete with the German clique on the plug-in hybrid segment. After the saloon unveiled at Detroit, Fisker will likely unveil the secret convertible. The company will go abroad next year by opening showrooms in Europe.
Fisker outsource the technology side to a another company, Quantum Technologies which will build the powertrain. The engine is a small petrol engine turning a generator to top up the car’s lithium-ion battery pack, which in turn power an electric motor driving the wheel.
The Fisker Karma can run the 0-60mph in just 6 seconds and can reach a top speed of 125mph. The saloon will offer a 50 miles range.
Will Fisker succeed where GM and Tesla struggle?
February 11, 2008
Spyshots: Infiniti FX55

Nissan will launch its luxury brand, Infiniti, on the European market at the Geneva Motor Show and will likely unveil a world premiere. This might be the new FX55 SUV.
The FX model is a peculiar SUV which features a unique exterior and interior styling. The replacement model will keep the current overall shape while modernizing it. The FX model will be available with two V6 petrol engines, a 3.5-litre unit and the 3.7-litre engine. The range will be topped by a 5.5-litre V8 engine. Details remain scarce and it is unknown if the car maker plans to offer the FX with a diesel engine at least in Europe.
February 11, 2008
Land Rover to unveil a new V8

Land Rover will unveil a new more powerful V8 petrol engine in the next months. Both normally-aspirated and turbocharged engines will be available.
With this new V8 , engineers focused on efficiency: more power but also less polluting and less gas guzzler. The engine will have a displacement of 5.0-litre and will be available in two versions. The entry level will be a normally aspirated unit with an output of 350bhp. The turbocharged engine will have an output of 460bhp.
The new engine will feature a direct-injection system and will also be offered on Jaguar models.
Source: Car Magazine
February 11, 2008
Lexus Pebble Beach limited edition

Every year since 2003, Lexus and Pebble Beach Company put on sale a limited edition of the SC430 convertible. This year, Lexus has launched is launching three models for the first time. Along the SC430, Lexus will offer the RX350 and the ES350.
Pebble Beach Company is famous among car maniacs for its concours d’elegance but fewer people know that the company is mainly a hotel chain. The three models intend to evoke the feeling of exclusivity that comes with an excursion to the Pebble Beach Resorts.

On the menu, the RX350 will be available in three colors: Classic Silver Metallic, Obsidian Black and Truffle Mica. Truffle Mica is available on the RX only with this special edition package. The RX will feature new and unique design 18-inch wheels and chrome grille, a color-keyed rear spoiler and a special interior trim combination. Customized floormats, featuring Pebble Beach Company’s signature The Lone Cypress™ logo, are included. On the exterior of the RX, Pebble Beach Edition badging will be on the front fenders.

The ES 350 Pebble Beach Edition is available in the exclusive Truffle Mica color, as well as Tungsten Pearl Silver and Obsidian Black. The 7-spoke 17-inch wheels come with an exclusive liquid graphite finish while the interior of the ES features semi-aniline leather and a wood and leather steering wheel. The ES Pebble Beach Edition also features The Lone Cypress™ logoed floormats and special Pebble Beach Edition badging on the front fenders.
The exclusivity comes from the ability to customize their “experience” by choosing three equipment packs: the Callaway Golf Experience, Travel Sets, and Epicurean Encounter. Production of the Pebble Beach Collection RX and ES is limited to 6,000 vehicles each.
February 11, 2008
Chrysler to axe its lineup by half

Chrysler plans to axe half its lineup in order to consolidate brands. The company has launched the “Project Genesis” which is expected to drop duplicate models that share common underpinnings while competing on the same markets.
In an interview with Automotive News, Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press also revealed that the other part of the plan was to release new models on new markets where Chrysler has never been before; however he didn’t give more details about the future models. Jim Press’s will is to solve one of the biggest problem of the car maker: similarity between brands. At a time when customers want to promote a clear image of themselves, American car maker’s brand management goes against the market trend.
Among the models being dropped, there will be the PT Cruiser Convertible, the Chrysler Crossfire and Pacifica and the Dodge Magnum. The company also wants to reduce its number of SUV. It offers 11 different SUV models.
February 11, 2008
West European market down by 0.9% in January

The West European car market dropped by 0.9% over the same period last year. France, Italy and Spain recorded the strongest fall.
The Spanish market suffered from the new tax scheme and premium segment collapsed in January as customers bought luxury cars in December before the new car tax applies.
The French market also followed a similar path. The new car tax penalized premium models, especially SUV models. Despite a weak January, experts expect the French market to grow by 1-2 percent this year.
The Italian market also recorded a sales drop as economy is slowing. With the recent political events the market will likely go down the next months.
The British market also fell by 2.1% and the ongoing effects of the credit crunch, a housing market slowdown and a general faltering of consumer confidence will likely weaken the 2008 sales.
Among all those gloomy markets, Germany recorded a strong 10.6% over the same period last year; however, this good news can be explained by the expected new annual circulation tax that the german government will unveil in the middle of this year.
February 10, 2008