Author: yoann besnard

Honda Fit/Jazz takes tops the sales chart in Japan

After a successful launch, the new Honda Fit/Jazz shakes up the November sales chart in Japan by taking the first rank in front of the ubiquitous Toyota Corolla.
In November, Honda Fit/Jazz’s sales have more than doubled over the same period last year while the Corolla’s sales slowed down by 10% last month. Some people might think it would worry Toyota, but the giant carmaker has 8 cars cracking the top ten. The other car maker to be in the top ten is Nissan.
Is it a real good news for Honda? Yes, it is a good news as the Honda Fit is not especially a revolution compared to the previous model. It is also a sign that Japanese consumers favour cars with clever interior. But, it is also the Fit/Jazz’s good sales results are also worrying for the Japanese car makers. The Corolla is a compact model while the Fit/Jazz is a small car. In other words, Japanese consumers have less money and prefers to buy smaller and smarter cars than the larger classic sedans. It means thinner profit margins for Japanese car makers.
December 10, 2007
American car makers to stop building large pick-up models

Due to a big sales slump in November, Chrysler, Ford and GM have announced they will stop producing temporarily the large pick-ups in order to avoid having a whole stock of them.
Indeed, in November, large pick-up sales have decreased by 8.3% while the overall market has slowed down by 3%. GM has 5 months stock of the Silverado model while Dodge has 4 months stock of the Ram model.
GM will stop production in the three factories where the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are being built in next January. Chrysler will stop the Warren and Fenton factories from just before Christmas to end of January and in its Mexican plant during the first two weeks of January.
Ford hasn’t announced yet when it will stop the production lines. Perhaps the American car maker is still thinking about as the news might threat the launch of the new F150 model at the next Detroit Motor Show.
December 10, 2007
Audi R8 named sports car of the year by Autoblid

Autobild’s journalists voted the Audi R8 sports car of the year. The Audi R8 won over the Porsche 911 GT3 and the BMW M3. The trophy was given to Werner Frowein, Managing Director of quattro GmbH.
The journalists chose the Audi R8 because “t is currently the most complete vehicle with the hottest body in the sports segment and, despite being a newcomer, displays no serious weaknesses.” For a first sports car, it is quite an achievement for Audi.
One does expect a lot of debates over this trophy fans and detractors of the Audi R8.
December 5, 2007
Rumours on the next-generation Cayenne

It is rumoured that the next-generation Cayenne might be the symbol of a strategic move for the German car maker. Indeed, the SUV would be smaller in every dimension than the current model and would be engineered for on-road manners rather than off-road abilities.
Likely to be unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the future Cayenne would be based on the Audi Q5 platform in order to cut cost and share components with the Volkswagen Group. Secrecy surrounds the engine range but it is said that the Cayenne will still feature V8 engines either naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Along the big block, the next-generation Cayenne would also receive smaller V6 units. It is also said that it will feature a hybrid engine which can reach an impressive 32 mpg.
Despite being an achiever on the road, the current Cayenne is an impressive off-roader, but it might change in the future. The next Cayenne would be road-biased and would likely be considered as a crossover. How would Porsche market it is an interesting question.
A smaller Cayenne would probably help Porsche meet the CO2 emissions limits of 120g/km due to come into force in Europe in 2012. But, it might also be a dangerous move as the Cayenne appears to be a symbol of opulence in the streets nowadays. A smaller Cayenne might cause the SUV to lose the interest of current customers unless other competitors follow Porsche and release smaller SUVs in the future.
Source: Motor Authority
December 5, 2007
6 millionth car for Seat Martorell

Open in 1993, the Martorell Seat factory, located in Spain, produced 6 million vehicles. The car is an Ibiza Ecomotive which features the 79bhp 1.4-litre TDI engine.
Martorell factory started to produce cars in 1993. If the production lines rolled off two cars, the Ibiza and the Córdoba at the beginning, today it produces all Seat models, except the Alhambra built in the Palmela factory in Portugal. Initially designed for production of 1,500 units per day, it currently puts out 2,000 cars daily. The Martorell plant is considered as the most advanced factory in Spain and regularly tops the productivity charts in Europe.
December 5, 2007
More pictures for the next-generation Forester

After the tiny pictures from the Japanese car magazine Best Car, there a new photos of the next-generation Subaru Forester that Subaru will officially unveil on the 27th of December.

Based on the same platform as the Impreza, the Forester will be available with a choice of two engines at launch. There will be the 148bhp 2.0-litre unit and a 230bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. One does expect to see the Forester featuring the Subaru diesel unit in Europe. Its 160bhp will likely help Subaru to increase its sales in our countries.

Bigger in dimension, the Forester will be roomier than the outgoing model and will finally offer decent legroom for the rear passengers.
Source: Autoblog
December 4, 2007
Volvo C30 five-door confirmed

If the five-door C30 was rumoured several times, it has never been confirmed by Volvo until World Car Fans editor harassed a PR person from the Swedish carmaker.
Like the C30, the five-door variant will be based on the same platform shared by the Ford Focus and the Mazda 3. The car will offer an exterior styling similar to the three-door model and will compete with the Audi A3 Sportback.
The car will be roomy enough for four people and will offer a similar interior to the current C30. Secrecy surrounds the future model and Volvo PR person did not give any sales date.
December 4, 2007
Mercedes C-Class estate by Carlsson

The German specialist has unveiled its tuning program for the new C-Class estate. Carlsson engineers focused on the diesel engines. The engine range is available with a choice of two oil burners, the 220CDI and the 320CDI. The C220 CDI unit has its power raised by 33bhp from 168bhp to 201bhp and the torque raised by 58 lb ft from 295 ft lb to 453 lb ft. The C320 CDi power jumps from 221bhp to 262bhp and the torque from 376 lb ft to 451 lb ft. There is also a petrol engine with the C350 which gets an extra 23 bhp to 291bhp and an extra torque of 25 lb ft to 284 lb ft. The C350, dubbed CK35, runs the 0-60mph in less than 6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 168mph.

While some tuners focus on designing a flashy exterior kit, Carlsson shows discretion. The kit consists of a front apron, a diffuser-look apron at the rear, side mouldings and a rear spoiler. It also includes an electro-polished grille insert and double-headlight units with fog and driving lights. The car can sit on 11-spoke 19” wheels.
December 4, 2007
Mercedes-Benz to produce its own turbochargers

With 600,000 turbocharged engines to be built this year, an increase by 20% over the same period last year, Mercedes-Benz dependency on turbocharger becomes a strategic problem, especially when 50% of them are provided by one company, IHI. The German car maker has decided to stop outsourcing the turbocharger production in order to save cost but also control the manufacturing process.
In a interview with Automotive News Europe, Mercedes’ passenger-car engines and powertrains Chief Leopold Mikulic said Mercedes would soon become the third largest turbocharger producer in Europe. It is not said where the turbochargers will be built but Mercedes will collaborate with an Italian company for the production.
December 4, 2007
Cadillac set out to conquer Australia

Holden chairman and managing director Chris Gubbey revealed during a media event that Cadillac will sell its new CTS in Australia at the end of 2008. The saloon will be the first Cadillac to be on sale there since the company left the country nearly forty years ago.
The range will be limited to the CTS saloon. One does not expect to see the estate variant to be sold also in Australia. The car will be available with the 300bhp 3.6-litre V6 engine at launch. Later the CTS will be offered with a 2.9-litre turbodiesel engine whose spec remains unknown. The two engines will associated with a six speed automatic gearbox.
December 4, 2007