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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
Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition

Lotus has unveiled a limited edition of the Elise S to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Elise model. The car is bases on the entry-level Elise S on which Lotus added some unique trimmings. it comes with a Burnt Orange paint, and matching hardtop, rear diffuser, center console, air intakes and brake callipers. The Elise S 40th Anniversary also come with black wheels. On the inside, the seats upholstery receives orange contrasting stitching while the dashboard gets some orange-coloured trimmings.

Only available in Europe, this commemorative Elise will be built at 50 units. 15 of them will go to Germany, 10 to Switzerland, 6 to Italy, 5 to France and Belgium, and the remaining 9 units elsewhere in Europe. Each country will get its flag stuck on the front fenders, but oddly the UK won’t get the Elise S 40th Anniversary model.
November 27, 2007
New Subaru Justy unveiled

In this post, I reported that Subaru planned to sell non-all-wheel drive and non-boxered engine models in the future. Actually, Subaru has a long tradition of selling front-wheel drive cars in Europe. Remember the Justy, which a re-badged Suzuki Swift. This time, Subaru is re-badging the Daihatsu Sirion as a Justy model to reinforce the European line-up.
The car will be available with a choice of two versions: the city-driving 1.0E and the sporty 1.0S. The two versions are powered by the same engine, a 1.0 litre 3 cylinder petrol engine, which has power output of 68bhp qt 6,000 rpm and a torque of 63 lb ft at 3,600 rpm. It runs the 0-60mph in 13.5 seconds and the top speed reaches 100mph. With its 118g/km CO2 emissions, the new Justy won’t be excited to drive but will allow Subaru to improve its position regarding the European regulations.
No words on pricing yet from Subaru, but with the Daihatsu Sirion basic model costing £7,460, expect the new Justy to weigh in about £7,500-8,000. The entry-level model includes ABS with EBD, driver, passenger, side and front and rear curtain airbags, alloy wheels, air-conditioning, electric mirrors and reverse sensors.
November 27, 2007
Rolls Royce Phantom Tungsten

Rolls Royce has launched a limited edition of Phantom model dubbed the ‘Tungsten’, which includes styling features form the 101 EX concept car. On the outside the car differs from the normal version by adopting the ‘Xirallic’ Darkest Tungsten paint finish, the brushed aluminium bonnet and a new seven-spoke 21”, forged aluminium wheels. Also at the rear end, the Tungsten edition features a pair of chrome-plated exhaust pipes.

Inside, the top of the dashboard and the wheel receive micro-engraved metal trimmings while the rest has been trimmed with East Indian Rosewood veneers panels. The interior upholstery mixes Smoke Grey leather for the seats contrasting with the Navy Blue on the armrests and the dashboard. More spectacular is the rear ceiling which tries to recreate a star-filled night sky thanks to 800 fibre-optic lights. Finally, the ultimate in luxury is reached with a solid silver key and a Conway Stewart fountain pen arranged in a Rosewood-veneered presentation box

The exact number of units to be produced is unknown, but six of them are heading to the Middle East.
Source: Rolls-Royce and AME Info
November 26, 2007
Spyshot: Ford Kuga

The picture you see here is the undisguised future Ford Kuga, which will be on sale next spring. The production model will not strongly differ from the concept car , Iosis X, already unveiled at the last Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
The European Ford’s first crossover will feature the ‘kinetic design’ look and feel. It will be powered only with a 134bhp 2.0 -litre oil burner for launch. Associated with a six-speed manual gearbox, Ford expect the diesel unit to be the biggest seller. Nevetherless, the carmaker might add a petrol engine if there is a demand for petrol powered crossover.
Like the S-Max, the Kuga will offer the Ford Individual programme, which enables customers to personalise the interior and exterior of the small SUV and will surely adds millions to Ford’s bottom line.
The Kuga will be based on the C1 platform, which is also used by the Land Rover Freelander. While the Freelander features an all-wheel drive system, the Kuga will be more road-biased. It will offer front-wheel drive as standard and a four-wheel drive system will be available as an option.
The Kuga will be built at Ford’s Saarlouis in Germany, which makes the Focus. Ford plans to build 65,000 cars here every year.
Source: Autoblog
November 26, 2007
Aston Martin considers producing the Rapide outside of the UK

Would Aston Martin become a luxury commodity such as Prada or D&G, which can be produced anywhere in the world and scorn its heritage? The British car maker would like to think so. The Financial Times reveals that management is investigating the feasibility of manufacturing outside of the UK in the future.
The first model to be concerned by such a surprising move would be the future Rapide, a four-door Aston Martin due to be on sale in 2009. It is said that the car maker contacted a few European coachbuilders. Pinifarina, Magan and Valmet are among them.
This might be a clever move for the British car maker as Gaydon factory is already nearing capacity due to a strong demand for the V8 Vantage. The Rapide is a risk for the Aston Martin, which has not sold a single saloon for the last twenty years. Using a coachbuilder would allow Aston Martin to be flexible enough regarding the future demand for the Rapide.
November 23, 2007