Author: yoann besnard

More information on the Sintesi Concept by Pininfarina

As reported in a previous post, Pininfarina will unveil a concept car called Sintesi Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Until now, details remained scarce but information is emerging as we’re getting closer to the show.
The Sintesi Concept will take its inspiration from the Birdcage 75th and the Nido as Pininfarina wants the concept to be a perfect combination of sportiness and functionality. The Nido was a city car while the Birdcage remains one of the greatest Pininfarina ever.
“Three years ago we unveiled Birdcage 75th, our last prototype. Together with our new concept Sintesi we would like to anticipate new car design trends” says Andrea Pininfarina, Chairman and CEO Pininfarina S.p.A.
“This concept car is the synthesis of our values, of the love for our work and our passion for innovation, of beauty driven by functionality, of sportiness and elegance. However, Sintesi isn’t only the expression of Pininfarina design; it also embraces innovative technologies that allow us to explore new typologies of mobility, active safety and packaging solutions” states Lowie Vermeersch.
The concept car will feature fuel cell and batteries which will be placed in an innovative way, around the vehicle instead of being grouped under the boot
February 6, 2008
Renault to build a DSG transmission

Renault product planning Chief Patrick Pelata has confirmed that the company’s engineers were working on a dual clutch gearbox.
In an interview with Automotive News, Patrick Pelata said “They are on their way and we will not come too late,” but didn’t give any launch date. Secrecy, of course, surrounds the spec of the future gearbox. Will Renault engineers take inspiration from the Japanese colleagues who developed the dual clutch gearbox of the GT-R. A dual clutch gearbox would be an appealing technology for the future Laguna coupé which will be launched this year. The V6 petrol and diesel engines would be an ideal partner.
The dual clutch gearbox would also benefit the other smaller models in order to decrease the company’s fleet average CO2 emissions. It would allow the carmaker to move upmarket in term of engines without compromising one of the lowest score on the European market.
February 6, 2008
Toyota might build an eigth factory in China

Toyota is considering building a new factory in China located in Changchun to build more Corollas.
Toyota has already a plant in the city which produces in a small quantity the Prius model. The new factory which would be the eighth for the Japanese car maker in China will build the Corolla model. After meeting a big success all around the world, the compact car generates a strong demand there.
This year, Toyota will launch a smaller model similar to the Yaris in order to appeal to customers on a market boxed in by increasing petrol prices. It expects to raise its sales by 46% to 700,000 vehicles. One can be sure that some car makers must have nightmares.
Source photo: Viewimages
February 6, 2008
AvoVaz might cancel its contarct with Magna

AvtoVAZ might cancel its agreement with the Canadian Magna as Renault bought a 25% stake in the Russian car maker.
The Russian newspaper Vedemosti has suggested that AvtoVaz might cancel its contract signed before the Renault agreement. The contract aimed at modernizing the company’s facilities. Accoridn to insiders, the French car maker has proposed alternative plans.
With AvtoVaz, Magna had a foot in Russia which might soon become the first European market. If Magna loses the AvtoVaz contract, it will still own a large part of the holding which controls GAZ and the van maker LDV.
February 6, 2008
Noble M12 takes its roof off

Noble ceased to build the M12 supercar but thanks to a Bristol-based company, current owners can give a second life to their cherished car. Salica Cars sells a kit that includes a removable roof, a full redesign of the body plus an engine upgrade.
Salica Cars replace the original body panels and the roof is being replaced by a lightweight removable part that can be put aside when driving. The engine is being upgraded with a new intercooler and radiator.
Salica has also a more ambitious plan. the company wants to build new cars derived from the M12. The future car would be powered by an in-house upgraded twin-turbocharged V6 petrol unit which would devleop roughly 460bhp.
February 6, 2008
BMW sales drop in January in the US

BMW Group sales dropped by 22% in January with 16,935 delivered vehicles.
The BMW brand recorded a 26.7% decrease with 14,475 units while Mini scored a 20% increase to 2,460 units.
BMW expects its 2008 year sales to increase despite the fear of a recession in the US. The German car maker expects the 1-Series model to meet a big success thanks to the coupé version and the eagerly-awated 1-series convertible.
February 6, 2008
Cadillac to build a compact in 2011

Like the German clique, Cadillac knows that its future lies in smaller cars, especially with the plan to expand its sales abroad. Cadillac is planning to build a compact set to compete with the Audi A3 and the BMW 10-Series.
In an interview with GoAuto, Bob Lutz revealed a few details about the future baby Cad’ which would be christened ATS. Like the BMW, it will be a rear wheel drive compact car and will offer similar dimensions. Due to be launched in 2011, the car is being developed in Australia by Holden.
Above the ATS, Cadillac is currently working on the next-generation BLS which doesn’t meet its sales expectation. This time, the car will go global and will be built in the US or in Mexico. Due to be launched in 2010, the future BLS will be based on the Epsilon II platform, but in a detuned version in order to reduce costs.
February 6, 2008
Will Lexus build a compact SUV?

Lexus is seriously considering launching a compact SUV set to compete with the BMW X3, Infiniti EX35 and the announced Mercedes GLK.
Despite being the first car maker to build a luxury SUV with the Lexus RX 300, the Japanese car maker never really believed there was a strong demand for compact luxury SUV. However the success encountered by the BMW X3 model on the American market obliged Lexus to reconsider its position.
In an interview with Automotive News, Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. president, said that a compact SUV could appeal to customers “sick of the suburbs, but who don’t want to give up the utility of their SUV. A small luxury SUV might be the right product for that environment.”
In Japan, Toyota is selling an upmarket RAV4, called Vanguard, under the Toyota label. Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, the Vanguard is longer and wider than the RAV4 despite sharing its underpinnings.
February 6, 2008
100,000th Eos rooled off the production line

Day after day, car makers always seem to be announcing new production milestones. This time, Volkswagen has announced that the 100,000th Eos model had rolled off the production line.
The 100,000th unit is a silver painted Eos powered by a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine hooked up to a five speed manual gear box. The car will be delivered in the UK, which the model’s largest market.
The Eos convertible is being built in Portugal in the same plant as the Seat Alhambra and Volkswagen Sharan.
February 6, 2008
Toyota to bring its future sports car to the US

The Japanese Car Magazine Best Car has revealed more information about the new sports car being developed in collaboration with Subaru. Toyota plans to bring the future coupé on the American market.
This news comes at a surprise as it was originally thought that the coupé would be only sold on the domestic market, in Japan.
Developed with the help of Subaru, the future sports car will be based on the Subaru Impreza and will come with a rear wheel drive for the entry level and an all-wheel drive transmission for the most powerful version. he car will be available with two levels: GT and GT Four, which reminds us of the Celica versions sold on our shores.
The GT level will be powered by a 200bhp 2.0-litre engine designed and built by Subaru. The price is rumoured to be less that £10,000. The GT Four wil be powered by the same engine which equips the Subaru Impreza STI. The boxer engine has an output of 300bhp.
Unsurprisingly, the future Toyota might also be available with a hybrid powertrain.
February 6, 2008