Author: yoann besnard

More details on the baby-R8

In a previous post, it was reported that the mysterious R4 model was confirmed in a leaked Audi’s future models plan. More details are emerging on the future baby-R8.
The future R4 will be launched in June 2011 and will take on the Porsche Cayman. The smaller R8 will be available with a large choice of petrol engines whose topping unit will have an output of around 300bhp. Along the petrol engines, Audi is seriously considering adding a diesel units.
Engineers will focus on weight reduction in order to ensure that the R4 will offer a sporty handling able to compete with Porsche’s standards.
February 10, 2008
Maruti 800 slashed by the Nano effect

The Tata Nano won’t go on sale until October but the Maruti 800 already suffers from the cheapest car in the world.
In January the 800 sales dropped by 20 percent and prices for a secondhand model dropped by 30% in just two months.
The Nano’s website recorded more than 10 million visitors since its launch.
Despite denying the will to develop a cheaper model than the 800, Maruti executives might rethink about it next year after the sales results of the Nano. Other carmakers don’t hesitate and Hyundai plans to launch a Nano’s competitor by 2011. Renault-Nissan has similar plans.
Source: Autocar
February 10, 2008
Hyundai Sonata unveiled in the US

Hyundai has unveiled the facelifted Sonata outside South Korea for the first time at the Chicago Motor Show. The revamped Sonata features a bolder front fascia and an all-new interior. Under the hood, the company’s best-seller comes with revised powertrains.

The exterior styling of the current Sonata looks a bit tame so Hyundai decided to slightly spice it up by featuring new bumpers, headlights and an enlarged grille whose new frame takes inspiration from the Azera model. But the main changes are in the interior which gets an all-new dashboard. Forget the current cheap dash. Hyundai wants the Sonata to move upmarket and this time Hyundai has put all its expertise into the best dashboard it has ever designed. Gossip mongers won’t hesitate to notice the different styling cues, but the result is rather appealing.

The revamped Sonata will be available with a choice of two petrol engines, a 2.4-litre four cylinder unit and a 3.3-litre V6 engine. The 2.4-litre engine is the Hyundai’s second-generation Theta and has an output of 175bhp and a torque of 168 lb ft. The V6 engine gains 15bhp to 249bhp and has a torque of 229 lb ft. The V6 is hooked up to a five-speed automatic gearbox while the four cylinder unit can be associated with either a five speed manual gearbox or a five speed automatic gearbox. Exact spec for Europe remains unknown but the V6 engine won’t likely come to Europe while there will be a diesel engine.
February 10, 2008
BMW details cost cuts

BMW has unveiled the plan to cut costs by €6 billion by 2012. Two-thirds of the amount will achieved by slashing material costs.
Chief Executive Nobert Reithofer gave concrete details about the new strategy adopted by the car maker in last September. He announced that BMW will cut costs by slashing material costs. He also revealed that the personnel costs will drop by up to €500 million a year from next year. The company signed agreement with the union leaders which favors temporary staff and promote early retirement or buyout offers with filling the left vacancies.
The car maker confirmed that it plans to increase its profit margin from a current 6 percent to 8-10 percent by 2012. However the company also added that a weak dollar would make the goal harder to achieve.
BMW also expects to increase the part of shared components for its future models. Chief Financial Officer Michael Ganal said BMW was making “good headway” in talks with other carmakers.
February 10, 2008
Stephane Schwartz left Nissan to set up his own studio

You probably remember Stephane Schwartz as he appeared in Nissan commercials to promote the company’s design. He stepped down and setp up his own design studio.
As Design Director of Nissan Design UK he lead the Nissan European studio located in London Paddington and supervised the design of the successful Qashqai model.
He started at Pininfarina where he designed the Ethos concept car. He left the coachbuilder to join the European studio of Nissan then located in Munich. There he was I charge of the Primera concept car and then moved to Tokyo.
February 10, 2008
Ferrari to launch a £100,000 car

The car you see here is the future Ferrari which will be unveiled at the next Paris Motor Show. On the menu: 2+2 architecture, front engine and £100,000.
This is the company serious attempt to take on Aston Martin in the hundred grand segment. Like Aston Martin models, the Ferrari will feature a front engine with a 2+2 interior architecture. Details remain scarce but Ferrari engineers might use the V8 engine seen in the F430; however the engine might feature a direct-injection system and be detuned to 450bhp.
The biggest visual design element will be without a doubt the hatchback in order to boot roominess and practicality. The car is expected to be 20in shorter that the 612 Scaglietti.
Source: Quattroruote
February 9, 2008
Tata to pay £1.25bn for Jaguar and Land Rover

According to Economic Times of India, a deal will be concluded within two weeks and Tata Motors may pay £1.25 billion for the two British brands.
The final price will depend on agreements on engine supply, component sourcing, financing and other support services for which Jaguar and Land Rover would have to continue depending on Ford.
“The Tatas are in talks with Ford on other factors like the total pension liability. In case the company is able to strike a long term deal for engine supply, the pricing could go up,” said a senior consultant source.
Ford is getting upset by Fiat keen interest in sharing technology between Jaguar and Alfa Romeo and an insider said Ford is “unlikely to conclude any agreement not in its interest and that would not necessarily include a third party”.
Fiat then said it has “not had discussions … with Tata regarding this potential transaction or its participation in it.” On Monday, Tata Motors issued a statement clarifying that it “has had no discussions with Fiat on deployment of technologies developed by Jaguar and Land Rover”, the Economic Times said.
February 9, 2008
Hyundai Genesis won’t sport the company’s logo

Hyundai has finally made the decision not to feature the company’s logo on the Genesis set to compete on the premium segment.
At the Detroit Motor Show, Hyundai displayed two Genesis whose only difference was the grille. One was sporting the company’s logo while the other one was featuring four horizontal bars and a divider in the middle. After gauging the reaction to both grilles, Hyundai decided to drop the company’s logo, often synonym with cheap cars.
Also in an interview with Automotive News, Hyundai’s vice president of product development, John Krafic, said that the company expects a fifth of buyers will choose the V8 engine. He also said that cylinder deactivation and direct injection might be developped. He even mentioned a possible supercharger if there is a demand for it.
The Genesis will go on sale from next summer and will be available with a choice of V6 and V8 engines.
February 9, 2008
Opel to show the Meriva Concept at Geneva

Opel has announced it will unveil the Meriva Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in early March and released a sketch that previews the next-generation Meriva.
Due to go on sale from next year, the next-gen Meriva will take its inspiration from the Flextreme concept car displayed at the last Frankfurt Motor Show. Like the concept car, it will feature faired-in headlights and raised bonnet edges and will be more stylish than the current model as recent car maker’s models proved it.
technically, the Meriva will share its engines with the Corsa and will be powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre unit and two diesel units, a 1.3-litre and a 1.7-litre CDTI. All models will feature the stop-strat technology to improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions.
February 8, 2008
Diesel registrations jumped a further 10 per cent in the UK

If January sales for the British market fell by 2.1%, diesel registration increased by 10% over the same period last year, bringing the oil burner market share to 44.9%. This is the second highest-ever share.
One can explain such a result by the economic turnaround which changes consumer behaviour. Instead of looking for power, “Fuel efficiency is a high priority for customers” said Paul Everitt, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive.
New car registrations got off to a slow start in 2008, falling by 2.1 per cent or 3,506 units. Dual purpose (4×4), executive, mini and MPV segments all posted growth in January, up 7.6, 14.3, 16.4, and 20.8 per cent respectively. Alternatively fuelled vehicles registrations were up 14.4 per cent to 1,280 units for the month. Lower medium vehicles saw the largest volume increase of 1,860 units or 3.7 per cent.
Total registrations are expected to soften in 2008, but high fuel costs will see fuel efficiency a key consideration for new car buyers. This, and action on CO2 emissions, should mean that diesels’ market share will grow further.
January is traditionally a good month for fleet sales, and the segment was up 0.2 per cent compared to January 2007, and took the largest share of the market at 56.1 per cent. Private and business registrations start 2008 on a slightly weaker note, down 5.3 and 3.1 per cent respectively. The fall in private sales is one of the main contributors to the dip in January’s total.
The top 10 accounts for a third of January’s sales with the Ford Focus setting a firm hold on the top slot and confirming its nine year run at the top. Ford and Vauxhall remain the UK’s top selling marques, while Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Nissan all recorded significant growth. VW’s Golf was the best selling diesel, just ahead the Ford Focus
February 8, 2008