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More details on future hybrid-powered Honda
Honda’s President, Takeo Fukui, has revealed more information about the eagerly-awaited affordable hybrid models.
The first model will be a hatchback version that Honda will launch in December of this year before selling it in April 2009. The five-seater will be powered by a small 1.4-litre petrol engine and a electric motor located under the front passenger seat. The new model will be able to run on full electric mode. The total power is announced for 95bhp which will likely be enough of urban journeys, but also for motorways. The small engine will enable the future hybrid-powered Honda to achieve an impressive 80mpg.
At 3,980 mm long, 1,720 mm wide and 1,55 mm high, the future model will offer similar dimensions to that of small models in Europe such as the Fiat Grande Punto or the Peugeot 207. Despite the battery pack, this hybrid car will only weigh 1,180kg which is similar to the top-seler in this market segment.
Built in Japan alongside the Civic Hybrid at Honda’s Suzuka factory, the future model is expected to cost around £10,000 on the Japanese market. Honda has a target of £13,000 for Europe. Honda plans to sell 200,000 units per year.
May 23, 2008
Lexus LF-A to cost more than £100,000
The closer we get to the launch date, the the riskier is the Lexus LF-A for Toyota. The latest information unveil a hefty price tag of £113,000.
The Lexus LF-A is a mysterious car. While Nissan regularly updated the motor world about the GT-R likely to generate buzz, Toyota is secretly working on the future LF-A. No launch date has been set up and the latest information don’t bode well for the future. A corporate product planning manager for Lexus, Ben Mitchell has confirmed that the price of the LF-A will start with a “two”, while information form Japan talks about £113,000.
At this price, Toyota has no rights to make a mistake otherwise its legitimacy in sports car will be shadowed for years. Available as a coupé and a roadster, the Lexus LF-A will be first launched under the coupé variant. The roadster version will likely be more expensive than the coupé. The LF-A will be powered by a 5.0-litre petrol engine delivering an estimated power output of 500bhp.
It seems that Toyota wants to copy Mercedes and launch a SLR-Like to boost its image. However, Lexus doesn’t have the brand image of the German carmaker and the SLR didn’t even meet the expected sales success.
May 23, 2008
Audi unveils the Clubsport Quattro
Last week, Petrol-Head unveiled some spyshots of the rumoured TT Clubsport Quattro. Surprising everybody, Audi has unveiled the final version.
The car was unveiled today at the Lake Worther Tour, an annual gathering of VW and Audi enthusiasts held in Austria. Compared to the TT, the biggest change is the new windscreen which is a low-level speedster style windscreen. The Clubsport Quattro is also 60 mm wider than the normal TT to make room for the bigger 19in wheels. The speedster sits on 235/55 tires and features the upgraded braking system seen on the new TTS. Under the bonnet, the Clubsport Quattro features a boosted version of the 2.0-litre TFSI unit which delivers 300bhp.
On the inside, the Clubsport comes with a aluminium pedals, a special instruments panal and specific door handles. Seats feature a specific race style with a tan leather uphosltery.
May 23, 2008
SUV in 2010 for Alfa
Alfa Romeo’s CEO has unveiled the future direction for the Italian marque in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.
Nominated in last December, Luca Di Meo has the huge task to turn Alfa Romeo profitable. He said that Alfa Romeo won’t be cheap models any more. Alfa Romeo will improve the build quality and ask people to pay for it. The carmaker has also set the ambitious plan to cover all the market segments like the German clique does and to expand in new markets.
This year will be dedicated to the new Mi.To. Alfa Romeo expects to sell 75,000 units per year. However 60,000 units will be enough to make a profit on the Baby Alfa. In comparison MIni sells more than 200,00 units per year. In 2009, the carmaker will finally unveil the next-generation 147. The next model will be powered by a wide engine range with a topping-unit which will deliver a power output of 265bhp. Alfa Romeo plans to sell 85,00 units per year. The rumoured SUV will be launched in 2010 and Alfa Romeo wants to sell 40,00 units per year.
The company will expand in new or current markets. China, Japan and Australia will be a priority, but the main focus will be the relaunch in the US. Luca Di Meo has still the ambition to sell 300,000 vehicles in 2010. However, the carmaker will be profitable with 250,000 sales.
May 23, 2008
Future 408 renderings
Though Peugeot is readying the 407’s facelift for next month, A French car magazine has released some details about the next-generation saloon.
With a sales drop of 40% over the prior year, Peugeot is working hard on the next 408 which is expected to be launched in September 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. From the renderings released by Auto Plus, Peugeot designers have decided to update the current design like they did with the 308 compact model. The future 408 will feature the new corporate nose and sharper lines at the rear end.
The future 408 will grow in size to match the German competition and the Citroen C5. Its length will be increased from 4,680 mm to 4,800 mm. At this early stage, it is unknown whether the 408 will be roomier or not. Engine range will likely be the same with a topping-power of 220bhp.
May 23, 2008
New Hinda Freed to be unveiled next week
Honda has confirmed it will unveil next week the Freed model which is a minivan version of the Civic compact car.
The Freed will share its underpinnings with the Civic. Lengthened and widened, it will be able to carry up to eight passengers. The Freed will likely replace the weird Mobilio which is available as five or seven seater in Japan.
The compact MPV will be powered by the 118bhp 1.5-litre unit seen on the Jazz/Fit.
Will the Freed be imported to Europe? The answer is likely to be a firm no. However with a growing small MPV market, Honda might be convinced to bring the Freed on our shores.
May 23, 2008
Next-generation BMW 5-Series might get hatchback version
This is probably the most astonishing rumour, but BMW is seriously considering building a hatchback variant of the next-generation 5-Series.
Like the new Skoda Superb, the German carmaker wants to make a two-in-one 5-Series combining the advantage of a hatchback and a saloon. The rumoured boot would be designed to act like a conventional boot or hatchback. Why would BMW decide to release a hatchback 5-Series? In the family car segment, a hatchback is a quite common body, but in the executive segments, the only carmakers to sell hatchback models are the French clique which don’t record big sales. If customers want practicality, they generally ten to buy the estate version which is much sexier than a hatchback model, except for the Citroen C6.
The hatchback body would be sold along with the saloon and estate models. How will BMW explain the new body to its usual customers? Maybe an emerging market favours hatchback models and BMW is betting that the specific costs will be then covered. Future will say.
May 23, 2008
Fiat to consider launching a new brand
Fiat is considering launching a low cost brand that would sell budget models like Renault did with Dacia.
The Italian carmaker is studying the opportunity to launch a new brand devoted to budget models. A final decision will be made has announced Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne at a congress in Turin. Launching a low cost brand after other carmakers will be a difficult move. So, Fiat is considering launching a famous model under the future brand. According to the rumour, the Italian group would be ready to launch a modern ‘Topolino” whose price tag would be around £4,800.
Secrecy surrounds the future model although some observers believe that the Topolino might share its inner-structure with Punto platform. Shortened, the Topolino would be powered by petrol engine delivering less than 100bhp. Production would be done in Serbia where Fiat recently acquired Zastava.
May 23, 2008
Toyota Camry to take over the F-150?
This might be the worst nightmare for the American carmaker. Will the Camry take over the F-150?
This is pure speculation as the F-150 still outsells by far the Toyota saloon. For the first time, the Camry took the second place in April just in front the Chevrolet Silverado which has been the second best-seller in the US for years. Toyota sold 40,016 Camrys, while Chevrolet sold 37,231 Silverados. The Chevrolet Silverado recorded a 24.7% decrease over the previous month. However, it still remains the number two on the market since the beginning of the year.
If gas prices hiked again, the Silverado would record another blow. The Ford F-150 wouldn’t be immune to higher gas prices too. Maybe one day, the Camry will end the 31 years of the F-150 as the best-selling vehicle in the US?
May 20, 2008
Chrysler wants to cut costs by 25%
Chrysler has announced it will reduce costs by 25 per cent over the next three years by changing the production process and improving the number shared pars between models.
Chrysler executives continue making significant changes to Chrysler. After the will to reduce the number of models, the carmaker has announced it will change its way of working with suppliers. First, it will reduce the number of parts in order to cut cost. It will also extend its production schedule from one week to thirty days allowing suppliers to plan production in a more efficient way than today. In the meantime, the carmaker asks suppliers located in North America to match prices of companies in low-cost countries such as China and India.
Every year, Chrysler is buying for £20 billion of supplies, mainly in the US. The carmaker believes that it will boost its chance of surviving on the global market if it outsources its parts production to poorer countries. However, the decision to move production abroad is always badly felt by consumers. In the meantime, outsourcing in China or India might become a disadvantage to react quickly to the market. By pressuring its American suppliers, Chrysler tries to get the best of the two worlds: cheap prices, while keeping a good brand image.
May 20, 2008