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More details on the next Honda Jazz

The Japanese car magazine Mag-X has revealed more information about the next generation Honda Fit/Jazz due to be launched at the next Tokyo Motor Show.
The biggest news concerns the design. The next Fit/jazz has been realised by the same designer who did the European Civic, Toshiyuki Okumoto. Although limited by the current design, which Honda wants to preserve, the designer will probably add his personal touch. Thus, the next Fit/Jazz will be edgy. The car may inherit the sun roof from the Airwave. The new model will grow: 2” longer and 1” larger than the current Fit/Jazz. These improvements, combined with an appealing design, will allow Honda to mode the Fit/Jazz upmarket.
As I reported in a previous post, the car will feature two all new i-VTEC engines, 1.3 litre and 1.5 litre. The 1.3 litre engine may jump from 86bhp to 100bhp according to Mag-X.
July 24, 2007
Spyshots: BMW X6

With these spyshots, the BMW X6 reveals its the last remaining mysteries of its design. A lot of people have been speculating about the hatchback. Now the speculation is over. The X6 will be a German interpretation of the rather unique Ssangyong Actyon.
Obviously, we can expect a better look than the Korean alien, but this attempt to merge a SUV, an estate and a coupé will still stun BMW aficionados.
The X6 will share 70% of its components with the X5 and will be built in BMW’s American factory, based in Spartanburg, on the same assembly lines as the X5. BMW will sell the car as an upmarket X5 with a rumoured £3,000 excess. The German carmaker expects to produce 120,000 X5 and 40,000 X6 in 2008.
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July 23, 2007
Audi A5 Sportback?

Remember the Audi 100/200 Avant models? In the eighties, they were considered the most stylish estates available on the market. The 200 Turbo Quattro Avant model built up a reputation thanks to its famous four wheel drive system and its turbocharged 2.2 litre 5 cylinder engine that produced 220bhp. Well, it seems that the Avant could be set for a comeback in the form of an A5 Sportback.
After the 4 door coupé was popularised by Mercedes through the CLS, I wonder if Audi will try to launch a new niche in the form of the 5 door estate coupé. This may sound like a joke, but if it is in fact serious, the rumoured A5 estate may have hard time meeting with success, positioned as it would be between the Audi A4 and A6 estates. Some critics will argue that a shooting brake would be a better way to extend the Audi range. However, past shooting brake vehicles like the BMW Z3 coupé or the Honda Aerodeck have seldom met with success.
This Audi A5 may just be a rumour, but considering that Audi wants to launch 18 new cars over the next few years and jump from a sales figure of less than 1 million to 1.5 million vehicles, an Audi A5 Sportback may be a good idea. Audi will just have to find the right formula.
The Sportback version will share its platform and its engines with the newly launched A5. Expect to see a large range of TDI engines producing from 140bhp to more than 200bhp. The petrol engines will feature the TFSI units and obviously the 4.2 litre V8 for the sporty RS5.
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July 23, 2007
Spyshots: BMW 1-Series convertible

Here are some new spyshots of the next BMW 1-Series convertible. This time, the compact convertible has its roof down.
In all likelihood, the car will be unveiled at the next 2008 Geneva Motor Show. No information is available concerning the engine but inline 4 and 6 will be available in order to compete with the future Audi A3 convertible.

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July 23, 2007
Porsche to launch a hybrid Cayenne in 2009

Honda CEO Takeo Fukui recently announced that Honda would rely on diesel engines for the top models because they offer more potential for economising than hybrids on bigger engines. This, however, is a step that Porsche will never take for its cars, even its SUVs. The German carmaker has opted for the hybrid solution to decrease its CO2 emissions. According to Autobild, Porsche will launch in 2009 a hybrid version of the Cayenne.
The Hybrid solution will be made of a 3.6 litre V6 engine coupled with an electric engine. The first will produce 280bhp and the second 50bhp. The car will be able to use both engines individually or the two together. The batteries will be installed near the tank. The system will allow consumption and CO2 emissions to be decreased by 15%.
However, the current V6 emits 310g of CO2 per kilometer. With a 15% decrease it will still be 264g. Considerable effort is still required if Porsche is to meet the 2012 EU regulations.
We understand why Wendelin Wiedeking was so upset when the 2012 regulations were voted in by the European parliament. CO2 level is calculated as the average emissions made by the current range for each carmaker. At this pace, Porsche will never be able to comply with the EU laws in 2012. One solution may be the integration of Volkswagen into the Porsche calculation, which explains why Porsche wants to buy the whole Volkswagen Group.
July 23, 2007
VW China will design and build a saloon for the US

According to Automotive news, VW will sell a saloon designed and built in China on the American market in coming years.
This is a big step for Volkswagen China. The company usually only designs and builds cars for the Chinese market. It would not be capable of breaking into the global market alone (did i get the wrong meaning here?). The parent company Volkswagen AG will lend a hand by leading the technical developments while Volkswagen China will be responsible for the car’s exterior and interior styling. Despite being sold on both the Chinese and American markets, the saloon will offer the same design as Volkswagen studies have shown American and Chinese consumers to have similar tastes. However, there will be some differences in the smaller details. The Chinese version will feature a more luxurious interior. It will replace the current Passat Lingyu. On the American market, the saloon will be sold as an entry-level model.
With this collaboration, Volkswagen hopes to mix the best of what its German offices can offer, highly valuable technical knowledge, with the advantage of its Chinese offices’, cheap manufacturing. By doing this, they hope to be able to succeed on the competitive global market.
July 23, 2007
Mercedes G55 on three wheels!

Imagine a 5,500lbs object powered by a 500 bhp V8 making a drift on a roundabout. Not the brightest of ideas, obviously, but still impressive. Enjoy the video!

July 23, 2007
Honda delays the next NSX by two years

Honda CEO Takeo Fukui has announced that Honda will postpone the launch of the next NSX from 2008 to 2010. This is bad news not only for Honda fans but for all car fanatics.
The delay is due to the Acura brand that Honda wants to launch in Japan. Originally planned for 2008, Honda decided recently to postpone its introduction until 2010. One possible reason for their decision is fellow Japanese carmaker Toyota’s lack of success with its Lexus brand on the Japanese market.
Launched in 2005, Toyota sold 60,000 Lexus cars in 2006. This was half of their sales target. The problem was – and still is – that the Lexus brand has little recognition in Japan, where Toyota is not considered as a luxury brand (carmaker?). In order to offer the best possible service, Toyota sent Lexus staff to a well-respected institute that teaches etiquette. There the staff learned skills such as how to adopt the same posture used by samurai 700 years ago and the best way to serve tea. Unfortunately, though some customers were impressed, others found it to be simply too much.
Launching a luxury brand in such a conservative market is a real challenge. The delay announced by Honda seems justified, even though Honda has a better luxury image than Toyota.
Autocar announced that the NSX would probably not be launched before the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show as Honda will want to launch the supercar in its home market first. In my opinon, the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show may be the show chosen to unveil the car. Honda may sell the car a few months later in 2010. The 2010 Detroit Motor Show could also be a good choice as the brand Acura enjoys a strong image on American soil. 2011 would be too late and, with today’s shorter economic cycles, would increase the risk of the NSX arriving during a recession.
July 23, 2007
1941 Indy 500 video in colour

Here is a masterpiece that only the internet allows us to find. A thirty minute video of the legendary Indy 500 made in 1941 and filmed in colour! Pure bliss.

July 23, 2007
More information on the Mercedes SLC
Mercedes is planning a big move into aluminium technology, using aluminium bodywork for the new SLC due to be launched in 2010.
Mercedes is still hesitating over which design to choose for the supercar, set to compete with the Audi R8. Two projects are competing with each other. The first, already mentioned by Auto, Motor und Sport one year ago, is a retro-design that takes inspiration from the legendary 1955 300 SL. The car may feature an updated verison of the famous gullwing doors. The second project is a refreshed design of the SLR supercar.
The supercar is expected to use the most powerful AMG engine, the V12, which produces more than 600 bhp. It is reported that AMG may push it up to 700bhp. The car will also feature a V8 engine for the entry-level version.
The supercar will be produced by HWA, a company created by AMG’s cofounder when he sold AMG to Mercedes. The price is expected to be set at in excess of £100,000.
Source: Autoweek
July 20, 2007