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Lincoln will not move upmarket

With the expected sales (launch?) of Jaguar and Land Rover over the coming months, Ford will lose its tiny premium brand market share. Lincoln appears to be the only brand able to fight the German clique, but Ford has no plan to move the American icon upmarket.
Instead of losing money in the upper segments, Ford wants Lincoln to focus on the segments that are below the £30,000 tag. The brand will expand its line-up. This week, it will unveil its new MKS flagship at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Internally dubbed D385, the MKS is a saloon based on the Ford D3 platform, which in turn is based on the Volvo P2 platform used by the current S60 and XC90. The new saloon is expected to be powered by the Duratec 35 3.5 liter V6, but in bigger version up to 3.7 liter.
November 14, 2007
Peugeot and Citroen to build new budget and premium models

Until yesterday it was thought that Peugeot and Citroen’s priority was to conquer the German market. But in an interview with Automotive New Europe, vice president Frederic Saint-Geours said that PSA has “to develop specific offerings for each market”. The French group wants to cover up to 90% of the market by expanding its future range on both extremities. Peugeot and Citroen will offer a low cost model but also, in a very surprising move, some premium models.
No information has been given concerning either direction, but the recent C-Cactus concept car gives us a rough idea of what the French manufacturer is currently working on for the budget model. As I mentioned, the premium models are a surprise. The only current premium model, the Citroën C6, does not sell particularly well despite good reviews from the motoring press. Nobody thought that Peugeot or Citroën would plan to compete with the ubiquitous German cars on the upper segments. This is a good news and I am looking forward to seeing more premium models with a Gallic taste.
Competing on all segments will require considerable resources. In order to cut cost and decrease time development, Peugeot and Citroën product departments will be centralized.
November 14, 2007
Official picture of the Audi R8 Spider?

There is some doubt whether this picture is official or a simple photoshop job. If it is a retouched picture, the job is worth to be published and the car looks very pretty.
Due to be launched in autumn 2009 with a worldwide debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Spider will probably feature twin speedster humps, which incorporate vents to bring fresh air to the engine. The general design will be almost the same as the coupé, apart from Audi’s addition of an aluminium-look panel just behind the doors.
Like the coupé, the convertible version will use the V8 4.2 litre V8 which produces 414bhp/420hp. It will also probably feature the V10 engine, which produces more than 500bhp.
Source: TopSpeed
November 14, 2007
Toyota to unveil a small SUV at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show

Toyota created the compact SUV segment in Europe when it launched the RAV4 on the market in the nineties. Since then, various competitors have joined the battle and the segment is rather overcrowded. Even the French carmakers have recently joined in. It is time for Toyota to apply the same recipe to another segment, the sub-compact SUV market, which does not really exist. The Japanese carmaker will unveil a small SUV at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
The small SUV will be based on the recently launched Toyota Ist. The Ist’s design might not please European consumers so, aware of this, Toyota will shape the small SUV by taking inspiration from the 2006 Urban Cruiser concept car.
No information is available regarding the engines. In Japan, the Ist is available with 1.5 liter petrol engine that produces a power of 108bhp at 6000rpm and a torque of 101 lbs/ft at 4400rpm.
November 14, 2007
American BMW 1-Series to get special starter button

BMW wants its 1-Series model to succeed on the American market and seems to be determined to use all possible marketing tricks. Due to go on sale next year, the compact model will feature a unique starter button. This starter button will be engraved with the message “Year One of the 1”.
The purpose of this gimmick is to make the driver to feel special about the 1-Series despite the fact that he or she will have to insert a key before pushing the starter button.
The three door and five door hatchbacks will not be imported onto the American market. BMW will import the coupe and convertible variants in order to avoid direct competition with Audi on the same segment. However, Audi is already selling the Audi A3 Sportsback and plans to sell the eagerly awaited A3 convertible. We can count on an interesting battle between the two carmakers.
November 14, 2007
Mitsubishi delays twin-clutch gearbox

It has been revealed that the twin-clutch gearbox will not be featured on the first Evo X. Indeed, the Japanese carmaker is encountering a few problems with building the gearboxes.
Dubbed the Twin Clutch SST (short for Sport Shift Transmission), the new gearbox offers the same characteristics as the VW’s gearbox. One clutch deals with the first, the third and the fifth gears while a second clutch deals with the second, fourth and sixth gears. The gearbox offers three modes: city, sport and super-sport.
For the time being, however, the Evo X will be equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox.
November 13, 2007
Future Hyundai coupe interior and engines revealed

This is the first picture of the interior for the next-generation Hyundai coupe. Like the facelifted Sonata that will be unveiled this week, Hyundai designers have put all their expertise into designing an upmarket interior.
Like the overall shape, the interior takes inspiration from Japanese trends, or rather Nissan trends, with a central console that looks like the Nissan Skyline Coupe’s console. The wheel is very similar to Honda design. We won’t complain about that, since both carmakers design ergonomic and stylish interiors.
Inside Line has also confirmed that the next Hyndai coupe will not feature the Tau V8 engine. The powerful V8 will be used only for the Genesis sedan. The future Hyundai coupe will feature two engines. The entry level will get a 2.0 litre turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that will have an output of 215bhp and a torque of 217ft/lbs. The other engine will be the 3.8 litre V6 engine issued from the Hyundai Grandeur/Azera but boosted at 300 bhp.
November 13, 2007
Touchscreens for all VW models next year

In an interview given to Automotive News Europe, Walter de’ Silva announced that all VW cars will feature a touchscreen next year, either as standard or as an option.
He explained that “Touchscreens are the most intuitive interface between humans and machine”. He also said: “We want to build naturalness, not only in the design, but also in functionality all future Volkswagen models.”
The German car manufacturer has unveiled a preview of the Touchscreen interface in two concept cars: the Up! concept car at the last Frankfurt Motor Show and the Up! Space concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show.
With more and more comfort features, the touch screen is a big benefit for customers. In 2001, BMW launched the iDrive to make drivers’ and passengers’ lives easier. Unfortunately, the initial good intention became a textbook case of bad interface design. Audi launched the MMI soon after. Despite significant progress, the MMI commands still present a steep learning curve. With the success of iPhone and iPod Touch, the public seems to be ready for a touchscreen experience. Volkswagen clearly makes a clever move.
Oddly, Audi will not adopt the new technology and will stick to its current MMI technology. Nevertheless, the A1 concept car unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show featured an updated screen interface with an Apple’s Cover Flow experience.
November 13, 2007
Jaguar C-XF: Concept Car of the Year

The Japanese car magazine Car Styling has named the Jaguar C-XF concept car of the year. Akira Fujimoto, editor-in-chief at Car Styling, commented: “The C-XF was chosen for this award as it tries to achieve a sense of high quality by using new materials and new sensibilities, not only on the exterior but also in the interior. At Car Styling we can foresee that this comprehensive, high level of styling will be fully reflected in the new generation of Jaguars.”
Unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January, the concept car announced the awaited new Jaguar saloon. More than a car, the C-XF was a revolution for the British carmaker, breaking years of tradition in design. With this car, Jaguar abandoned the unsuccessful current style to adopt a fresh new design language. The production car was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show and encountered mixed reactions among specialists. American consumers, the main target, seem to appreciate the new Jaguar design, with a two month waiting list for potential buyers.
For Jaguar’s Design Director, Ian Callum, it is a new prize to add to his collection. He declared: “It is a great honour for Jaguar to receive this award from such a reputable journal like Car Styling – a magazine that all designers have grown up with for the last 30 years. My colleague Julian Thomson and I both believe it has always demonstrated the very best in our profession, so it makes us particularly proud to receive this recognition for the C-XF.”
November 13, 2007
15 Million Passats in the world

Following the recently-delivered 25 millionth Golf, Volkswagen marks a new milestone with the 15 millionth car produced in the Emden factory. The car is a silver Passat Variant BlueMotion 1.9 TDI 105 bhp which was donated to the DKMS (German Bone Marrow Donor Center).
The Passat has been built in 13 factories worldwide but the milestone is also a special one for the Emden plant. Of the 15 million Passats, 5.9 million were made there. Inaugurated in 1964, the factory started to produce the Passat in 1977.
If we take into account the date when the 14 millionth Passat was delivered, October 2006, the 20 millionth mark will be passed in 5 years at the current pace.
November 13, 2007