Author: yoann besnard

Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder

Porsche will unveil the Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy next week. This limited edition takes its inspiration from the classic Porsche racing cars of the ’60s, especially the Type 718 RS 60 Spyder.

Based on the Boxster S, the RS 60 Spyder comes with a unique front spoiler and a new exhaust with unique dual tailpipes. The modified Boxster sits on 19in alloy wheels and features the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) stability control. The engine gets a power boost raising its power from 276bhp to 299bhp.

On the outside, the car is available with a choice of two paint schemes. The first one combines a GT Silver metallic paint with a red interior in natural leather, dubbed Carrera Red and red roof top. The second paint scheme replaces the Carrera Red interior by a dark grey interior and the roof becomes black. The interior gets a visual revamp with the GT Silver paint featured on the instrument cluster, the seat backrests, the central console and the roll hoops. There is also a bespoke gear lever.

The car goes on sale in next spring with a price tag without VAT of €53,500/£38,400 and will be built at only 1,960 units.
November 28, 2007
VW Group to develop four new platforms

In an interview given to Automotive News Europe, VW brand board member for development, Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg revealed that Volkswagen group will release four new platforms in the coming years in order to achieve the 2018 target. With those new platforms, the German carmaker expects to reduce its cost by 40% thanks to components shared between the platforms and development times by one year.
The most important platform will be the MQB which will underpin up to 6 million vehicles every year. The platform will be flexible enough to equip a large range of vehicles from small cars to upper-premium models. According to some insiders, the MQB platform will be used as in many as 20 different models.
The second platform, dubbed MHB, will be featured by the new VW’s rear-engine models, which will be sold over the world as a low cost model. Once again, one does expect to see the platform underpinning a few million vehicles. At the opposite of the range, the luxury models will have their own platform already used by the Audi A4 and A5. Dubbed MLB, it features a longitudinally mounted engine for front-drive and all-wheel-drive transmissions. The next A6 and A8 models will use the MLB platform. The future Phaeton and Bentley models will likely use the same underpinnings.
Finally, a fourth platform will be devoted to sports cars and will be used by the future Lamborghini models and the Audi R8.
With this new platform range, Volkswagen plans to increase sales from 5.7 million vehicles in 2006 to 10 million cars in 2018.
November 27, 2007
First XF rolls off production line

The picture you see here might become the symbol of a new era for Jaguar. By rolling off the first XF model yesterday at the Castle Bromwich factory, Jaguar is sending its heritage to the history books and is moving forward a troubled future. The XF is a 4.2 litre V8 SV8 model in a Vapour Grey paint. It will be given to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust collection.
The XF will be on sale in next March and first models will be delivered on the 65 markets on which the car will be exported. Thanks to a new labour agreement, Jaguar might use the Land Rover workforce to face a possible production increase due to high sales.
November 27, 2007
Hyundai vehicles might get the Haldex AWD system

The Swedish company Haldex has announced it had received an order from Hyundai to build a prototype equipped with the latest company’s technology known as XWD. Already offered by Saab on the re-designed 9-3, Hyundai might become the second carmaker to adopt the new system and the first Asian carmaker to get a Haldex system.
Originally, the Haldex system is an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch. It is not a permanent solution but a fully automated system that directs torque to the rear axle when slip occurs. The latest generation, dubbed XWD, includes an electronic limited slip differential and a pre-emptive engagement of rear wheels under hard acceleration. Up to 85% of torque can be sent to an individual wheel and during low load conditions, 96% of drive will go through the front wheels to improve fuel economy.
Haldex already supplies the Volkswagen group and Ford’s Land Rover and Volvo brands with its all-wheel drive systems.
Source: automotiveworld
November 27, 2007
Subaru Forrester leaked brochure and teaser

Subaru finally released a teaser on its Japanese website about the next Subaru Forester. Do not expect to see the overall shape as the website previews the rear end. In the meantime a leaked brochure emerged on some forums.

Despite the small pictures, we can see that altough being based on the new Impreza, the next generation Forester’s exterior styling will be closer to the Tribeca’s. Subaru will unveil the new Forester in 27 days.
Related Post: Unverified sketch of the future Subaru Forester
November 27, 2007
Audi A3 convertible unveiled this week

According to an insider, Audi will reveal the Audi A3 Cabriolet this week. The eagerly awaited convertible variant will enable Audi to be ahead of BMW which will probably unveil the 1-Series convertible at the next Detroit Motor Show.
While in this segment, carmakers opted for a collapsible roof such as the Vauxhall Astra, the Ford Focus or the Volvo C70, the Audi A3 convertible will feature an electric folding cloth roof. It will be available with a choice of three petrol engines, the 123bhp 1.4 litre TSi engine, the 158bhp 1.8 TSi unit and the 197bhp 2 litre TSi engine. There might also be the 168bhp 2 litre TDi diesel unit. The topping version will get the 261bhp 2.0 litre TFSi unit already found in the S3 version.
Source: Carscoop
November 27, 2007
Citroen to unveil the new C5 at Brussels Motor Show

Citroen will officially unveil the next generation C5 at the Brussels Motor Show which open sits doors on the 15th of January. Choosing the Belgian motor show might be a smart move for the French carmaker. Indeed, Opel/Vauxhall unveiled the Corsa model at the new London Motor Show eighteen months ago, and it proved to be a smart choice. Citroen will likely get more press coverage at the Brussels Motor Show than the Geneva Motor Show.
With the new saloon, Citroen hopes to make a major coup and hopes the current model to become a forgotten page in the automotive history books. The new car will go upmarket thanks to a new appealing design that will try to combine the company’s new design form language with the quality of German cars. Unfortunately, the latest Picasso showed that Citroen failed due to weak engines. At this stage the engine range is still unknown, but one does not expect big V6 engines under the bonnet.
For the first time, the entry-level versions will not be featured with the traditional hydro-pneumatic suspension. They will be equipped with a conventional suspension in order to keep the price down.
The future C5 will be available with a choice a two bodies for launch: a saloon and an estate. Later, Citroen will launch a convertible version derived from the C5 Airscape concept car unveiled at the last Frankfurt Motor Show.
November 27, 2007
Next Vauxhall Vectra VXR will be AWD

Opel/Vauxhall has decided to go upmarket with the next generation Vectra and will feature an all-wheel drive system on the topping version, the VXR version according to Auto Express and will get two powerful V6 engines.
Based on the GM’s new Epsilon 2 platform, the car will not feature the system that appeared on the recently face-lifted Saab 9-3 model. Indeed, it will be equipped with the electronically controlled transmission, which made its debut on the GTC concept car. The four-wheel drive system distributes the power between the front and rear wheels and allows more power to be sent to the rear if any traction loss occurs, especially during acceleration. Associated with a revised active suspension taken from the current model, Vauxhall hopes the car will match the premium brand models such as the Audi S4 or BMW 335i.
The VXR will be available with a choice of two engines. There will be a 2.8 litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine which will likely produces more than 300bhp. It will enable the future VXR to have a top speed of 165mph. Like Renault and its future Laguna Coupe, the next Vectra will be also available with a powerful 2.9 litre V6 diesel unit which will have an output of 247bhp.
In order to break the dull brand image associated with the current Vectra, Opel/Vauxhall will give a new name to the future saloon, Insignia. The car will likely be unveiled at the next London Motor Show in July 2008.
November 27, 2007
Hyundai i30 named car of the year in Australia

Hyundai won two major awards in Australia for its latest hatchback, the new i30 model. Indeed, it won the 2007 CARSguide Car of the Year title and also the CARSguide Green Car of the Year trophy. The is the first time a Korean carmaker got a national award in this country.
Behind the i30, the VW Golf GT TSi took the second place while the new Mazda 2 arrived at the third rank. The Australian Car of the Year title differs slightly from the European Car of the Year trophy. While in Europe, cars are driven by several journalists from different magazines and countries, in Australia, the cars are being tested by the CARSGuide magazine, which compares the selected cars against 10 criteria. The criteria include styling, safety, innovation, value, functionality, build quality and performance. The maximum score is 99 points.
The Hyundai i30 got 94 pints, the Golf GT TSi got 86 points and the Mazda 2 got 75 points. You will find below the final rankings:
• Hyundai i30 CRDi (94pts)
• VW Golf GT TSi (86pts)
• Mazda2 Maxx (75pts)
• Mitsubishi Lancer VR (71pts)
• Mercedes-Benz C280 (66pts)
• Holden Ute SV6 (56pts)
• Ford Mondeo Zetec (37pts)
• Subaru Impreza RS (32pts)
• BMW X5 3.0d (31pts)
• BMW 335i sedan (25pts)
• Volvo C30 T5 (21pts).
November 27, 2007
Roewe will unveil two new models next year

Roewe, former MG Rover has announced it will launch two new models next year: the long-awaited 550 model and an expected SUV.
Secrecy continues to surround the final spec of the 550 model, although it is understood that the car will be powered by a turbocharged 1.8 litre engine taken from the future Roewe 750D, which will be also launched next year. At 4624 mm long, 1827 mm wide and 1480 mm high, the 550 is slightly shorter than the Roewe 750. It is rumoured that the saloon is based on a brand new platform. In the past, Chinese press reported it to be based either on a shortened platform of the 750 model or on the old Rover 45 platform. The car looks promising with its appealing design and for the first time, a Chinese carmaker might have a real contender for the Western markets.
The new SUV might be a surprise, but actually, this s natural move for the carmaker which also owns SsangYong. In order to reinforce the current line-up, Roewe won’t likely develop a new SUV fro scratch but will re-badge an existing model such as the Rexton or the Kyron.
November 27, 2007