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Ford unveils the facelifted Focus ST
A few months after the Focus’ facelift, Ford has unveiled the revamped ST version that benefits from the new exterior and interior styling changes introduced across the rest of the Focus line-up.
Priced between £18,250 and £20,850, the ST is available with three trim levels, ST, ST-2 and ST-3. Every Focus ST comes with 18in five-spoke alloy wheels, sports styling, body-hugging Recaro sports seats, a unique sports steering wheel and upgraded instrumentation. New to this generation of ST are the ‘Ford Power’ starter button and Easyfuel capless refuelling system. The ST-2 adds a Sony audio system, bi-xenon lights, LED rear lights and Quickclear heated windscreen while the ST-3 includes an in-dash six CD player plus full leather trim.
In common with other versions of the Focus family, the Focus ST features new options: a Tyre Deflation Detection System, a new audio connectivity module for external devices like Bluetooth, voice control and navigation systems plus various infotainment options including an affordable sat nav system with SD card slot.
Under the bonnet, there are no technical changes: there is the familiar 225bhp 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder Duratec engine which enables the ST to achieve a top speed of 150mph and run the 0-62mph in just 6.8 seconds.
April 29, 2008
Tracinda to buy Ford shares
Tracinda Corporation has announced it will acquire 20 million common shares of Ford’s stock.
Tracinda owned by Kirk Kerkorian (pictured) will offer $8.50 per share which represents a 13.3 per cent premium over Ford’s closing stock price of $7.50 on April 25. Ford released a statement made by Alan Mulally: “We welcome confidence in Ford and the progress we are making on our transformation plan. Any investor can purchase Ford shares, which are sold on the open market. The Ford team remains focused on executing our plan to transform Ford into a lean global enterprise delivering profitable growth for all.”
Tracinda and Kirk Kerkorian has taken a stake in GM in the past and obliged GM CEO to meet Carlos Ghosn for a potential partnership that never happened.
April 29, 2008
Bertone ensures its future through design
Placed under administration after filing for bankruptcy protection, Bertone suffered from a strong disagreement between family members preventing the situation from improving. Since then, things got better and a new business plan was decided.
The new business plan separates the current organization in two companies: Bertone Stile and Bertone Carroziera. Bertone Carroziera own the unique facility which has a production capacity of 70,000 vehicles. Under bankruptcy protection the 1,3000 staff employed by Bertone are being paid by the Italian government. All efforts are focused on Bertone Stile from now on. A new manager has been hired, Teresio Gaudio who is a former Aprilia’s manager. Gaudio’s first task will be to replace their main client, the Chinese carmaker Chery, which left Bertone to work with Studio Torino launched by a former Bertone head of design, Roberto Piatti.
The new business plan will also focus on design services more profitable than building prototypes or unique vehicles for larger carmakers. Gaudio expects Bertone Stile to be profitable by 2010. The company will reduce its staff from 95 to 80 people.
April 29, 2008
Citroen to launch microvan in December
Citroen will launch a minivan called Nemo in December of this year.
Unlike the recent Berlingo model, the future Nemo won’t be available as a commercial variant and will compete with the Renault Modus and Vauxhall Meriva. An appealing design might enable the French carmaker to meet success as Modus and Meriva look conventional.
The Nemo will be built in Slovakia with an expected target of 100,000 units per year.
April 29, 2008
Facelifted 911 leaked documents
A leaked document about the facelifted 911 has emerged on the Internet.
Porsche is expected to unveil the revamped 911 this summer, but thanks to the Internet, a leaked document reveals the main changes.
The facelifted 911 will upgrade its engines by adopting the same direct injection called DFI, short for Direct Fuel Injection, as the Cayenne SUV. The 3.6-litre engine gains 20bhp to 245bhp, while the torque output was raised to 288 lb ft. The 3.8-litre petrol unit has its power output jumping from 355 to 385bhp, while its torque output gains 15 lb ft to 310 lb ft. All engines will be hooked up to a redesigned manual gearbox with gear indicator featured in the instrument panel, but the big new sis the arrival of a dual-clutch gearbox dubbed Porsche Doppel Kupplungen, or just PDK for short. The new gearbox is derived from the Volkswagen’s DSG gearbox. Other technical upgrades include a revised PSM and a new braking system for the versions powered by the 3.6-litre engine with 330mm discs.
The revamped 911 will also lightly evolve on the exterior styling. On the inside, the central console will be redesigned and seats will be ventilated. There will also be a new communication system. Called Porsche Communication Management, it will feature a larger 6.5in screen.
April 29, 2008
BMW unveils M1 Homage
BMW took the wraps off the M1 Homage at the first public day of the classic car show “Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este”.
The M1 Homage commemorates the thirtieth anniversary of the M1 supercar which was produced by the German carmaker from 1978 to 1981. It isn’t confirmed whether this show car previews a future model or not. However, BMW has sees the supercar market as a opportunity to catch and it is rumoured that the carmaker is currently working on a new supercar.
With the success met by the Audi R8 and the future Mercedes SLC, BMW is certainly tempted to add a supercar to its lineup.
April 29, 2008
Mazda unveils the American Mazda 6
Initially launched in Japan and in Europe, the new Mazda 6 was unveiled in the US. Generally, a launch in a new country doesn’t require to mention it, but the American Mazda 6 is different from the European and Japanese versions.
First, the American Mazda 6 is only available as a saloon. The outgoing model was also available with the five-door and estate variants, but poor sales condemn them to disappear. Secondly, the Americanised Mazda was redesigned at the rear end. The boot lid is now longer and real lights are bigger than the European/Japanese version. At the front end, the bumpers are lightly modified.
Under the bonnet, the 6 will start with the 2.5-litre unit which is the topping engine in Japan and in Europe. It can be hooked up to a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearboxes. The most powerful engine will be the 3.7-litre V6 petrol unit from the CX-9. Only associated with a six-speed automatic gearbox, it delivers 269bhp.
Like the outgoing model, the new Mazda 6 will be built at FlatRock in Michigan.
April 29, 2008
Future baby Rolls-Royce
The baby Rolls has been spotted during testing and reveals a bit more about the future luxury model.
Due to be unveiled next year, the future entry-level Rolls Royce is currently in development. Despite initial beliefs, the future model won’t share its inner structure with the next-generation long-wheelbase 7-Series, but will offer similar dimensions. Except the engine which will be a BMW unit like the Phantom, electronic architecture and components will be shared with the future BMW’s flagship.
The spotted model gives some clues about the direction taken by designers. The baby Rolls will be a small Phantom, featuring the corporate’s long nose and and short rear bootlid. Like the Phantom, the small Rolls Royce will come with narrow suicide rear doors and wide C-pillar to protect passengers’ intimacy.
The future Rolls Royce is expected to cost between £125,000 and £150,000.
April 29, 2008
5.0-litre engine to replace current AMG V8 and V12
Like Audi which decided to drop the V8 engine on the S4, AMG has to redesign its engine range to comply with the future regulations. The carmaker plans to replace its 6.2-litre V8 and
5.5-litre V12 by an all-new turbocharged 5.0-litre V8.
The new engine is reported to be equipped with two turbocharges and to be available in two versions. An entry version, which will replace the 6.2-litre V8, will deliver a power output of 570bhp and a torque of 665 lb ft, while the 5.5-litre V12 successor will deliver a power output of 700bhp and a torque output of 885 lb ft. If AMG plans to downsize its engines, the brand has no plans to stop raising power.
AMG has also plans to develop a hybrid-powered version expected to be called ‘BluePower’. The new 5.0-litre engine will be hooked up to a new electrically operated gearbox which will enable faster and more efficient gearshifts than a conventional automatic gearbox.
April 29, 2008
Audi plans to sell 1200 vehicles in India this year
The German carmaker’s war has found a new battlefield in India. After BMW which announced its plan to become the first premium bran din India, Audi has announced it will increase its efforts there to keep up with BMW and Mercedes Benz.
The German carmaker has announced it plans to sell 1,200 vehicles on the Indian market this year. "We are expecting to sell 1,200 of our cars in the Indian market in 2008 compared to 350 cars sold last year on the back of growing demand for luxury cars in the market," said Audi India managing director Benoit Tiers.
"The sale of total luxury cars in India during first two months of this year posted 176 per cent growth, while the car industry as a whole posted just 9 per cent growth, which shows the demand for luxury cars is growing at a tremendous pace," he said, adding "soon India will be among five major car markets for the company."
The carmaker will soon start building the A4 at its plant located in Aurangabad with the plan to sell the saloon on the Indian market from July of this year. Along with the A4, Audi is also considering selling the new Q5 there. At present, Audi assembles A6 variant at its plant and has so far invested €20 million/ £16 million. An additional €10 million/£8 million will be invested for the A4 production.
April 29, 2008