Author: yoann besnard

Renault has recorded a 15.5% increase in November

French car maker’s global sales have recorded a 15.5% increase in November over the same period last year thanks to the new models and the Logan. Since the beginning of this year, Renault recorded a 1.3% increase.
Once again, Dacia recorded the strongest growth with a 42% increase, followed by Renault with 14.3%. On the other hand, Samsung recorded a 10,1% increase. The new QM5 model will likely boost sale in the next months.
The healthiest markets are the Netherlands with +30.3%, Italy with +23.8% and France with +21.6%.
Renault expect strong results for the first 2008 trimester as the Laguna Estate, Clio Estate, the Modus and the new Kangoo will hit the showrooms.
December 18, 2007
Hyundai Genesis coupé to feature a turbocharged engine

It was rumoured and Hyundai’s U.S. product development chief, John Krafcik, confirmed it an interview with Automotive News. The future Genesis coupé will feature a turbocharged engine.
Contrary to popular belief, the engine will not be a V6 petrol unit but a smaller 4 cylinder unit that will also feature direct-injection technology. A smaller engine has been preferred in order to meet the emission regulation and reduce the consumption, essential selling factor at a time when petrol prices are sky-rocketing. He also ruled out the rumoured V8 engine by the same token.
He also revealed that Hyundai doesn’t consider the Genesis coupé as a replacement for the current Coupé SIII model. Indeed, the Korean carmaker expects to launch a new FWD Coupé in the future, but Krafcik didn’t give any timeline. He also said that Hyundai has no plan to release hybrid models due to high costs.
December 18, 2007
Pininfarina to unveil the Sintesi concept car at the Geneva Motor Show

The troubled Pininfarina has announced it will release a concept car named Sintesi at the next Geneva Motor Show.
The Sintesi will be concept car sporting the coachbuilder’s values, sportiness and elegance first, innovation and craftsmanship. It will explore new typologies of mobility, active safety and packaging solutions.
One does hope it will also bring new contracts for the Italian icon.
December 18, 2007
More pictures of the Subaru Forester

Here are more pictures of the Subaru Forester which will be unveiled on Christmas day likely to be taken in a dealership.
December 18, 2007
Renderings: Citroen C3

The next-generation Citroen C3 will go on sale from the end of next year and here is one of the first rendering of the small French car. According to company sources, this rendering is very close to the production model except for the alloy wheels.

On sale since 2002, the current C3 marked the company’s spearhead in reviving the French brand thanks to a design that took inspiration from the populous 2CV. The next-generation will have to do its best to match the latest models’ design which were well acclaimed by the press.

The next C3 will share its underpinning with the 207 and will grow , of course, in size in all dimensions. Like the 207 it will be available in various variants but they won’t compete directly with the 207 versions. Peugeot focus on estates while Citroen favours MPV. The C3 will offer a small MPV which might become one of the hottest vehicles in 2009 thanks to an appealing design. It will the first variant to be launched on the market at the end of 2008 while the three and five-door models will be launched at the beginning of 2009.
Secrecy surrounds the exact spec of the small car but it is rumoured that it will feature a large panoramic windscreen while the three door version will be coupé-biased and will be available with a two-tone paint scheme. Like the Fiat 500, the C3 coupé will allow customers to personalise the interior with gloss paint panels.
Source: Worldscoop
December 18, 2007
Tata to become Jaguar and Land Rover new owner

According to the Sunday Times, Ford will announce in a few days that Tata won the Jaguar and Land Rover bid. This wouldn’t come as a surprise. Indeed, Tata was the favourite amongst unions and the company will likely be advised by Fiat on how to manage its new European brands. Tata also said it will keep the three factories.
So, everything appears to be fine for Tata, but some Jaguar executive are concerned by the consequences over the brand image of an Indian cheap car maker buying a prestigious brand. In an interview, Ken Gorin, chairman of the Jaguar Business Operations Council, which represents Jaguar car dealers in the U.S., has said that Ford should sell the two brands to another bidder, One Equity Partners, a private equity arm of J.P.Morgan Chase (JPM). He’s reportedly concerned that the American public won’t accept a luxury-car brand such as Jaguar “out of India.”
While the US are the largest markets for both brand, it might become a problem, but after all Ford is used to building crap cars there for years, so how would it be worse with Tata as owner?
December 18, 2007
A new Chinese car maker has revealed the Proton Gen-2 in China

A new Chinese car maker has appeared at the Changsha Motor Show located in the Hunan province. Used to build coaches, Jinhua had launched the Youngman Europestar Lotus RCR model which is a re-badged Proton Gen-2.

Indeed, Proton has signed an agreement with Jinhua to provide Gen-2 model’s parts which will be assembled in Jinhua’s factories with the help of Lotus engineers. Unfortunately, events postponed the process and the first models will be directly imported from Malaysia which will likely compromise the sales as all imported cars are over-taxed at a 25%. At CNY100,000 RMB/£6,700 the car is far from being cheap on the Chinese market. Like the Proton model, it is powered by a 112bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine.
Source: Autohome
December 18, 2007
Rinspeed has revealed the diving car

Nobody has forgotten the diving Lotus Esprit driven by James Bond in the movie The Spy Who Loved Me but truth is that only gadgets inventor Q was crazy enough to invent such a car until Rinspeed has announced the sQuba model, the submersible car, due to be unveiled at the next Geneva Motor Show.
At the push of a button, the car becomes a small submarine able to dive up to 33ft under water. The car is powered by an electric engine on the road and propelled by two small electric units under water. Secrecy surrounds the exact spec of the unique car but let’s thank the company’s CEO Frank N.Rinderknecht to make us to dream again.
December 18, 2007
Undisguised GLK caught on the Sex and the City set

Here is the first undisguised picture of the Mercedes GLK spotted during on the filming of the next “Sex and the City” movie. Its official launch date remains unsure as Mercedes might unveil it at Detroit or a the next Geneva Motor Show.

Based on the recently launched C-Class model, the GLK will feature sharp lines. Some observers will say that the overall shape took inspiration from Jeep models, but truth is that the new squared design will also be featured on the next E-Class model which will debut next year.
The small SUV will be available with a choice of 2.1-litre diesel, 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel, 3.5 litre V6 petrol and the 6.2-litre AMG V8. Unfortunately, it will never reach our shores as Mercedes doesn’t plan to develop a right-hand drive version due to high conversion costs.
Source: Leftlane News
December 18, 2007
BMW X6 revealed

BMW has officially revealed its latest model, the X6 model, which will make its debut at Detroit in a few weeks. The car doesn’t differ from the concept shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in last September and inaugurates the crossover coupé segment. It comes with a new twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine which has an output of 407bhp.

With the X6, BMW has gone wild and the coupé crossover will surprise company’s aficionados by its roofline similar to the Ssangyong’s Actyon’s. From the B-pillar, the roofline plunges to the rear edn and despite a higher waistline, rear passenger’s headroom might be limited. Longer but lower by 3.3 inches than the X5 model, the X6 will be roomy enough just for 4 people. The interior will feature a sporty feeling with a three spoke steering wheel and gearshift paddles as standard. The exterior paintwork comes with a choice of ten exterior colors, while eleven leather options and three trim options are available inside.

Oddly, BMW has decided to christen the range in a convoluted way. Forget the traditional scheme, the model name and the engine’s displacement, as BMW has thaken keywords from its whole line up. The ranage will start with the X6 Xdrive35i for the petrol engine and the X6 Xdrive30d for the diesel unit, followed by the X6 Xdrive35d and topped by the X6 Xdrive50i which features a all-new twin-turbo V8 petrol engine. This is the second company’s engine to come with twin-turbocharger architecture and is intended to replace the current 4.8-litre V8 petrol unit. A 4.4-litre unit, it pumps out a power of 407bhp and a torque of 443lb ft between 1750rpm and 4500rpm. It enables the heavy X6, 2190 kg to run the 0-62mph in 5.4s! Other engines are already known and featured on current models.

Future will say whether BMW was right or not by launching the first coupé crossover in an attempt to increase its sales. Land Rover will likely join the German car maker with the baby Land and other car makers will follow, but scepticism remains strong.
December 18, 2007