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GM forms joint venture in Uzbekistan
GM has set up a joint venture to build Chevrolet cars and sport utility vehicles in Uzbekistan.
GM has set up the joint venture with the state company UzAvtoSanoat which already builds 170,000 Chevrolet models per year built from kits that come from South Korea. The new entity will produce Chevrolet models such as Captiva and Epica at a pace of 250,000 vehicles per year. Gm will hold a stake of 25% + 1 share with an option to increase its share in the future. GM will help the Uzbek company to increase its quality build and its manufacturing equipment.
UzAvtoSanoat initially produced former Daewoo models such as Tico and Matiz. Indeed the carmaker had set up a venture with Daewoo before its collapse. Wen the Korean carmaker went into trouble, the Uzbek carmaker continued building the cars.
March 22, 2008
Chrysler to reduce its SUV lineup
In an interview given to Bloomberg, Jim Press revealed that the carmaker needs fewer SUVs.
Chrysler president said that the company needs half of its 11 current SUV models. Three quarters of its American sales are generated by its SUV models and the carmaker wants to consolidate its brands to cut costs.
"We’re going to stop overlapping, we’re going to bring everything under one roof. By doing that we will have more products in the markets we are not covering,” Press said. "Our finances will have better quality.”
Chrysler has plans to reduce total models by almost a third, to about 19 from 28. The carmaker has already axed the Pacifica and PT Cruiser Convertible models.
March 22, 2008
Video: Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
Lamborghini unveiled the Gallardo LP560-4 at Geneva and this promotional video reveals a few more details about the revamped supercar.
The LP560-4 is powered by the new 5.2-litre V10 engine which delivers a power output of 560bhp. The power increase combined with the weight reduction allows the new Gallardo to achieve a power-to-weight ratio of only 2.5 kg per bhp.

March 22, 2008
Audi Q5’s pictures
Here is at last a clear picture of the long-awaited Audi Q5 rumoured to be unveiled at the next Beijing Motor Show.
The Q5 will reinforce the company’s lineup by sitting below the Q7 and Allroad models. Geneva Motor SHow had been initially thought to be the show where Audi would unveil its latest model, but China appears to be the natural location after the carmaker unveiled the Cross Coupe Quattro at Shanghai last year.
The SUV will be based on the company’s Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLP) used by the A4 and the A5. MLP allows Audi to place the longitudinally-installed engine and transmission further back behind the axle and helps stretch the wheelbase without lengthening the car’s exterior dimensions. The Q5 will be roomy enough for five people. Audi has no plan for a seven-seater version.
The SUV will share its engine range with the Audi A4 featuring four cylinder and V6 petrol engines, and TDI engines. The Q5 will likely be the first model to be equipped with the in-house seven speed dual clutch gearbox, called DSG Audi S-Tronic able to handle 405lb ft of torque.
The Q5 is expected to be used by Porsche for the rumoured Roxster.
March 22, 2008
Hummer H3 to get 3.6-litre V6 and an oil-burner
Hummer will add a 3.6-litre V6 petrol unit and a diesel engine in the upcoming years to gain some green credentials.
At a time when gas prices and and global warming awareness are rising, launching a V8-powered SUV wasn’t the best message to send to the public in terms of brand image. The carmaker has decided to tackle its green credential problem by adding in the coming years two more efficient engines, the 3.6-litre V6 seen on the Cadillac CTS and a diesel engine.
The 3.6-litre V6 powered H3 will be launched next year as a 2010 model year. Codenamed LLT, the 3.6-litre engine features a direct injection system that is claimed to have 15% greater power, 8% greater torque, and 3% better fuel economy than it’s port-injected counterpart.
The details about the diesel engine remains scarce as the unit hasn’t even been confirmed by Hymmer itself. The diesel engine won’t likely arrive before 2012. It is rumoured that the company could feature a 4.5-litre unit although the company is currently working a 2.9-litre unit due to appear on the CTS.
Source: Autoblog and Pickuptruck
March 22, 2008
Carlos Ghosn bullish on emerging markets
During a visit at a Nissan factory in Malaysia, Carlos Ghosn said he was optimistic about Nissan sales in emerging markets despite tougher times in Europe, Japan and in the US.
The Renault-Nissan boss said he is “very bullish in the emerging markets” and sees “strong growth in Russia, India, China, the Middle East and Brazil.” He expects the situation to remain unchanged for this year and said “The emerging markets grew 20 percent” since the beginning of the year.
Nissan is also confident about the ASEAN market which groups 10 Southeast Asian countries. Despite a recent slowdown, the company is a small player there with a 5% market share.
Nissan will end its financial year at the end of this month and Ghosn said that to date, Nissan had sold 3.7 million vehicles. The Renault-Nissan CEO remained cautious over this year outlook as recession in the US kips a lid on demand there.
March 22, 2008
Scion to expand its lineup to boost sales
If Toyota increased its sales globally and among its brands over the years, Scion looks like a lame duck with its declining sales. Toyota plans to expand the lineup to increase the brand’s sales.
With sales down by 25% to 130,000 last year, Scion’s future look blurred as company’s executives expect the volumes to remain unchanged this year. In an interview with Detroit News, Scion vice president Jack Hollis explains the poor sales as a result of a limited lineup. Aware of the problem, Scion is determined to take the bull by the horns and the carmaker plans to release three new models in the future to boost sales.
“Looking at fresh new concepts is something that Scion will be doing more often as we consider the possibility of adding a fourth, fifth or sixth vehicle to our lineup to expand the flow of youth into Toyota and Lexus,” told Holis to the newspaper.
The company is also considering launching hybrid models. Until now, Toyota has reserved its hybrid solutions to the top of the range or to a car, the Prius, designed around the hybrid solution. Developing hybrid Scion models might be a financial challenge as the brand sells its current lineup at a competitive price.
March 21, 2008
Seat to build the Cordoba in Mexico
Seat executives have selected Mexico to build the Cordoba model intended to be sold in South America.
Along with the ambitious plan to launch forty new models by 2018 to increase its global sales, the Spanish carmaker plans to focus on the emerging markets base in South America. Starting almost from scratch, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia will become the company’s priority over the next years. Thanks to the combination of an expanding lineup and investments in South America, Seat plans to sell 800,000 vehicles by 2018 from 430,000 last year.
The Cordoba will be built at 40,000 units in 2009 and will be sold in Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
March 21, 2008
Spyshots: Chery B13
Here are the spyshots of the Chery MPV called B13 due to be unveiled next month at the Beijing Motor Show
Little by little, Chery is building a complete lineup. The B13 had been displayed as a concept car at the 2006 Beijing Motor Show. Since then, news remained scarce and observers believed the MPV was whisked off as it’s the tradition among Chinese carmakers.
If the concept car featured rotating seats for the second row with table, the production version appears to be more conventional favouring roominess. However, the overall treatment is still heading for the top of the segment with leather upholstery and wood panels. The spotted B13 also featured a drop down DVD player from the roof.
Technically, the B13 will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol engine hooked up to a six speed automatic gearbox. The B13 is expected to go on sale from May.
Source: Chinacartimes
March 21, 2008
Ford to fund future models with bid’s money
Ford CEO Allan Mullally has announced at a conference that Ford will use the Jaguar and Land Rover money to fund new models instead of paying off some debts as initially thought.
Ford has set the ambitious plan to rejunevate 70% of its lineup over the next years and plans to use the money raised by the Jaguar and Land Rover bid. The money will also be used to increase its development process. “The proceeds will be invested on our quality and productivity and new product development, ” said Mullally.
The company also plans to improve its manufacturing process and reduce its current lineup to cut costs. The carmaker plans to launch the same model on several continents. After the new Fiesta expected to be sold in Europe, in the US and in China, Ford has decided to sell the next-generation Mondeo exactly under the same design in Europe and in the US. The expected savings of doing the same car should be around £150 million to £225 million in costs.
March 21, 2008