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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
Nissan has released an interior sketch of the Forum concept car

After the exterior sketch, Nissan kindly released a sketch of the interior of the Forum concept car due to be unveiled at the next Detroit Motor Show.
Larger than the Cube model but smaller than the El Grand minivan, the Forum will be roomy enough to offer three rows. It will offer an interior which will feature innovative equipments such as a one-button audio muting system! It will also include a Bose media system with individual seat-mounted speakers for every row. The 2nd and the 3rd will offer monitoring cameras.
According to the sketch, the dashboard structure seems to be close enough to reality to be fitted soon in a production car. The Forum may not move to production but its interior is a preview of what Nissan models might offer in the future.
December 4, 2007
Video: Toyota driving simulator

Toyota has unveiled a size driving simulator for analysing the driving characteristics of average drivers. It will be used to test the new safety technologies. Located at the Toyota’s Higashifuji Technical Center in Susono City, the simulator uses video and acceleration technologies to provide an experience as close as real driving.
December 4, 2007
Teaser: VW Passat coupé

The picture you see here is from the teaser of the future Passat Coupé which will be unveiled either at the Detroit Motor Show in January or at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Like the Mercedes CLS, it will be a four-door coupé derived from the Passat saloon. Secrecy surrounds the exact spec of the car, although it is said that the engine range will include a new 2.0-litre TFSi petrol engine which produces 230bhp and a 204bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine. There wil be the range-topping 300bhp 3.6-litre V6 unit seen in the Passat R36.

Positioned as a more upmarket model than the current Passat, the four-door coupé will provide seating for four people. The interior styling will feature luxury extras such as generous armrests, air conditioning front and back and a panoramic sunroof.
December 4, 2007
Next Mitsubishi Eclipse to be on sale in Europe

Company sources revealed that the Mitsubishi Concept-RA previews the next-generation Eclipse which might be sold in Europe for the first time.
At this stage, this is pure speculation as the information has not been confirmed, but selling the Eclipse on the European market would help Mitsubishi to revamp its brand image here. Of course, the Eclipse will have to be close to the concept car styling if the Japanese car maker wants the Eclipse model to succeed on the competitive small coupé market. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi’s long history proves that its models look always too conventional compared to its concept cars.
This is not the first time, Mitsubishi would sell a coupé in Europe as it imported the Mitsubishi 3000 GT in the ’90s. Unveiled in 1990, the car was derived from the HSX concept car seen at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show. It featured a 3.0-litre V6 engine which had an output of 276bhp.
December 4, 2007
Byd has unveiled the final F8

The convertible is still in its embryonic stages, but soon the MG TF won’t be alone. Indeed, Byd has finally unveiled the production version of the F8 model, which is mash-up between the Mercedes-Benz CLK and the Renault Megane CC.

Unlike its muses, the F8 sits high in order to be able to run on the Chinese roads. on the inside, the quality appears poor, but Byd’s engineers have worked hard to feature the car with a keyless entry system and electric metal folding roof. The engine is unknown, but according to the manufacturer, the F8 can reach 112mph and run the 0-60mph in less than 14 seconds.

The Byd F8 will compete with the MG TF and the future Chery M14 due to be on sale in 2009, which takes its styling cues form the Peugeot 307 CC.
November 30, 2007