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Expanded range for the next Polo

Remember the time when the Polo was the black sheep of the Volkswagen family? Well, those days is over. For the next Polo generation, Volkswagen harbours great ambition. It wants to cover as many segments as the leading Peugeot 207. To do this, it plans to expand the Polo range with a coupé, a convertible and a MPV variant.
While the coupé and the convertible will compete with the Peugeot 207 CC, the MPV will fight with the Lancia Musa and the Peugeot 207 SW. Volkwagen will feature unknown technology for the small car segment such as the DSG gearbox and a possible hybrid version. The former will be available with in a sporty version, dubbed GTI, and will be coupled with the 170hp petrol engine. The latter will not be a full hybrid system due to the high cost this would entail, but will make use of technology similar to that used in BMW’s EfficientDynamics.
Due to be launched in 2009, expect the car to move upmarket in order to make some room for the low cost car that Volkswagen will unveil at the next Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Source: Motor Authority
July 25, 2007
MTM Audi TT Bimoto in failed record attempt

On July 17 the German tuner MTM tried to achieve a new speed record with its famous Audi TT Bimoto. The target was to crack the Bugatti Veyron’s record but, despite all efforts, the Audi TT failed by a few miles. It reached 244.2mph/393km/h on the Papenburg test track in Germany.
As the name suggests, the MTM Audi TT distinguishes itself from the crowd by its two engines, one under the bonnet and one in the boot. Both are turbocharged 1.8 litre engines coupled with DSG gearboxes. Altogether, both engines produce more than 1000 bhp, transferred to the ground via a four wheel drive system. The car runs the 0-60ph in 3.5 seconds and reaches 120mph in less than 10 seconds.
For the record attempt, MTM engineers added a a new air intake on the rear window to cool the new intercooler. MTM will make another attempt in Nardo, Italy, in the autumn.
July 25, 2007
BMW wins ambiguous victory in court battle over the letter ‘M’

BMW and Nissan are at war over the use of the ‘M’ badge. The disagreement started in the nineties when Nissan decided to use the letter M for models sold on the American market under its luxury brand Infinity. BMW was extremely unimpressed by the idea. The German carmaker has been using the letter M to distinguish its high performance models from the standard models since 1979. Nissan people certainly have a lot of nerve. The carmaker even released a sport package called M6, which for BMW is a powerful sports coupé. This was too much for BMW, which decided to sue the Japanese carmaker.
After a ruling in Canada which obliges Nissan to stop using the offending letter and give compensation to BMW to cover damages, it was the British courts’ turn to pass judgement. As in all other previous rulings, the British court found Nissan guilty of creating confusion through their use of the letter M. This is one point for BMW. But the court also ruled that consumers were clever enough to tell the difference between a BMW M and an Infinity M. This is one point for Nissan. Nissan cannot use the M badge anymore but BMW can say farewell to any compensation.
Both carmakers intend to appeal.
July 25, 2007
Future Kia Mesa

Do you remember the Kia Mesa concept car, unveiled at the 2005 Detroit Motor Show? You should. It was one of the surprise hits of the auto show. A four-door SUV that offered room for six people, it was a sign of the new direction being taken by Korean carmakers regarding concept cars: a coherent design strategy and a viable blueprint for production. Two years later, the SUV has reached production stage, according to two pictures that have recently appeared on a forum for enthusiasts.
At first glance, the production Mesa is close to the concept car. The grille, alloy wheels and all bear close resemblance to the original show car.
At the Detroit Motor Show, the SUV concept car was powered by a six cylinder engine, but Kia executives have also revealed that the car’s engine compartment was roomy enough for a V8 engine. Watch out, Ford Explorer. After stiff competition from Japanese carmakers, Korean companies are now also set to give Ford a run for its money.

Click here to see all the pictures
July 25, 2007
Honda Civic MUGEN Si on sale this fall in the U.S.

Mugen is a magical names for car enthusiasts. Every Honda car that receives the Mugen badge has something special, so special that Honda kept has always them in Japan. However, Honda USA announced yesterday that it would sell a Honda Civic SI Mugen in the U.S. this fall.

Nevertheless, the Cvic Mugen Si is not the kind of car you might expect. In fact, it is all front. While the Japanese versions receive a boosted engine, the American model is powered by the same 197-horsepower four-cylinder unit found on the standard Si model sold there. The main changes are the new body kit, which includes an updated grille, new spoilers and lighter wheels. On the inside, the car receives a new gear knob and a plack. Although the motor remains unchanged, the suspension system is track-tuned and there is a new exhaust system.

Only available in Fiji Blue Pearl colour and under the saloon shape, Honda USA will sell the Civic Mugen Si at a volume of only 1,000 units.
July 25, 2007
First profit for Maserati in 17 years

For the first time in 17 years, Maserati will make a profit for the second quarter of 2007. The amount is small, at £670,000/€1,000,000/$1,383,000, but it is still far better than the £17,500,000/€26,000,000/$36,000,000 loss recorded last year.
The new changes made this year appear to please customers. Thanks to its new automatic gearbox, the sales of the Quattroporte jumped by 39.6% in Europe. The new Gran Turismo coupé has also been well-received by journalists and customers alike. Maserati expects to sell 7,600 this year compared to 5,600 last year.
Source: Automotive News
July 25, 2007
Ford will build the Focus in Australia in 2011

Last week I reported that Ford Australia will replace its inline-6 engine with the Ford Duratec V6 engine. Ford announced yesterday that its Australian division will produce the European Ford Focus in 2011. Production of the Focus will be entrusted to Ford’s Campbellfield plant, which already produces the current Falcon saloon and Territory SUV models.
The Ford Focus has been sold in Australia since 2002. The current second generation is built in South Africa and then exported to Australia and New Zealand. Its production on the Australian continent will probably decrease the effects of currency exchange rates. It is also the first step towards Ford’s commitment to offer job opportunities within the Ford Group to all employees of Geelong factory, which will close in 2010. The Ford Focus move will create 300 new jobs.
The Campbellfield factory will build 40,000 cars every year, of which 15,000 will be exported to South Africa.
With this shift in its current product range, Ford tries to meet the demand for small cars, which has exploded over the past ten years. Small cars accounted for 21.7 per cent of all new cars sold in Australia last year, up from 15.4 per cent in 1998.
July 25, 2007
Callaway C16 Speedster to debut at Pebble Beach

Callaway will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary by unveiling the C16 speedster at the next Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, probably the most upmarket car show in the world.

This time, the American tuner decided to be more radical. It will add a speedster to the current coupé and convertible models. On the speedster, the windshield will be replaced by two wind deflectors.

Like the other models, the Callaway C16 speedster is powered by the 6.2 L V8 found in the original Corvette. Thanks to a supercharger the power reaches 690bhp/700hp and the torque is 660 ft-lbs/895N. With such power, the speedster can run 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 210mph/338km/h.
On the technical side, the car has received a new suspension set that features an advanced spring/damper system. The user can customise the suspension settings for track or road conditions by choosing one of the 10-position compression and rebound modes.
The C16 speedster will cost £148,000/€222,000/£305,000.
July 25, 2007
First Phantom Drophead Coupés leave Rolls-Royce factory

The five first Phantom Drophead Coupés left the company’s head office last Friday. Despite the £260,000/$407,000/€370,000 price tag, all five customers chose the optional steel bonnet and the rear teak deck.
The bonnet is machine brushed before being hand finished to ensure a uniform grain throughout. The deck is made up of separate solid teak slats, hand sanded and waxed. Of course, customers also had the option to personalise the car’s interior with wood veneer and leather choices.
July 24, 2007
Chinese government bans 444 vehicles

While the U.S. are still reluctant to reduce their car emissions, the Chinese government wants to improve its status in the world and nowadays the best way to do this is by reducing its carbon footprint. Beijing has therefore decided to forbid the sale of 444 vehicles because they do not meet current energy saving regulations.
This is the first time the central government has taken action to solve the country’s transportation problem. Recently Beijing mayorl announced it would ban 1 million cars from entering the capital from 7 to 20 August next year during the olympic games. Likewise the mayor of Shenzhen has urged its citizens to stop buying cars.
Source photo: Business Week
July 24, 2007