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Lotus to unveil an all-new model at the London Motor Show
Lotus will celebrate its 60th anniversary at the next London Motor Show by unveiling an all-new model. Secrecy surrounds this all-new car although some observers believe that the carmaker will launch the Eagle.
The eagerly awaited model has been spotted several times by spy photographers but details remain scarce. It is rumoured that the car will be powered by a 300bhp V6 engine sourced from Toyota. The engine will be hooked to a semi automatic gearbox with paddle-shift on the wheels, a first on a Lotus model. The Eagle would be a 2+2 coupé which might change name on some markets to adopt the Ethos moniker. Due to go on sale from early 2009, the Eagle will be sold at a price close to that of the Cayman S.
After the launch of the Eagle coupé, Lotus engineers will focus on developing the future Esprit expected to be powered by a BMW V8 engine delivering around 400bhp.
March 21, 2008
Toyota to miss its 2008 sales target
After Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe complaining about the rising yen, Tokuichi Uranishi, executive vice president of Toyota announced that the carmaker will miss its sales target of 9.85 million vehicles for this year.
Slowing sales in the US, Europe and Japan will prevent the second-largest carmaker in the world from achieving its sales target for the current year despite the growth recorded in the emerging markets such as China where the carmaker might open its eighth factory or Russia where a new plant was recently opened.
Along with the slowing sales, the rising yen will also hurt the company’s profits on exports form Japan. A 1 yen gain in the Japanese currency against the dollar cuts Toyota’s annual profit by £175 million, according to the automaker.
March 21, 2008
Ford invests £250 million in India
Ford will invest £250 million in India over the next two years to boost its production capacity of small cars from 100,000 today to 250,000 by 2010.
"We have lined up $500 million for our expansion plans in India. By 2010, we will ramp up our installed capacity to 250,000 units per annum from 100,000 units currently for rolling out compact cars, new versions of engines and critical components for domestic and overseas consumption," Ford India vice-president Scott McCormack told newspapers.
The £250 million will be added to the £400 million already invested over the last ten years at the Maraimala factory, located near Chennai, which builds the Ford Ikon, Fusion, Fiesta and Endeavour models. The investment will also be used for the future small car the carmaker plans to launch on the Indian market in 2010. "We are working on the small car programme and will be launching it in 2010", said Scott McCormack, Vice-President, Marketing, Sales and Service. With small and compact cars accounting for over 70-80 percent of total passengers vehicles in the Indian auto market, Ford India wants to focus on volume production to increase its market share.
In 2007 Ford sales suffered from higher interest rates and a competitive market. The carmaker sold 38,000 vehicles compared to 36,000 in 2006. However, Ford sees 2008 as a better year thanks to the Endeavour and the new Fusion Plus.
March 21, 2008
GM to consider a 4 cylinder unit for the Camaro
GM is considering fitting a 4 cylinder engine into the future Chevrolet Camaro as an entry-level model.
The carmaker Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has announced the company was seriously thinking at installing a four-cylinder unit under the bonnet of the future Camaro. The engine under consideration would be the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol unit of the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. Its delivered power, 260bhp, is close to the V6 that will be featured on the Camaro, the 3.6-litre V6 of the Cadillac CTS. A smaller engine would enable the future Camaro to offer a better fuel efficiency which is an appealing offer at a time of rising gas prices. However a four cylinder unit might damage the Camaro’s image in terms of sale that might not also enjoy a competitive selling price.
Lutz did not speak specifically on the topic of pricing, but said that the Camaro was “going to be above Mustang” pricing. He justified the higher price by a better interior and by a better handling provided by better rear-suspension architecture. The more we learn about the Camaro, the more we think the car will struggle on the market.
March 21, 2008
Remote controlled Hummer
As a child we all had a remote controlled toy car and hoped to drive daddy’s car remotely. Well, it’s now possible with a transformed Hummer H3.
An engineer from the Cranfield university, Dr James Brighton, has transformed the Hummer H3 into a remote controlled vehicle to create the ultimate boy’s toy.
“Converting the HUMMER H3 into the super-sized remote control car took a month to complete but we’ve had lots of fun in the process. The results are clear – all controllers will be amazed by the handling ability – the best any radio controlled vehicle has had to date. The vehicle is capable of climbing a 407mm vertical wall, traversing a 40% side slope and operating in up to 610mm of water – imagine the fun,” said James Brighton
March 19, 2008
Spyshot: Chery A3 hatchback
The Chinese carmakers are getting serious about design. The future Chery A3 is one of the latest example.
Due to go on sale soon, the latest Chery, a compact model, features a design that has nothing to envy to established rivals at least at first glance. The design is modern and lines are sleek. Instead of launching a revamped ZX, Citroen should think at launching a real car on the Chinese market. However, Chery has a long path to follow before being able to offer an attractive package with a strong character like European carmakers do. Along with the hatchback, the carmaker will also launch the A3 saloon.
Under the bonnet, the A3 five-door will be available with a choice of 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines. The future car is expected to cost around £8,700 for the entry-level.
Source: Chinacartimes
March 19, 2008
Next Acura RL might feature a V8
The next-generation Acura RL might feature a V8 petrol engine according to company sources. This confirms the V8 engine announced by a car magazine for the next Legend.
Last month, Petrol-Head reported the rumour spread by Best Car about a V8-powered Honda Legend. Some company sources in the US are confirming the carmaker is currently working on a 420bhp 4.8-litre V8 engine. The Japanese car magazine expected the V8 to a displacement of 4.5-litre that delivers about 400bhp. Such an engine would be welcome by showrooms as the Acura RL suffers from poor sales in the US due to the lack of V8 engines. However in Europe, The Legend would need a diesel engine to compete with the German clique.
The future engine would embed the same cylinder deactivation technology seen on recently launched Japanese V6-powered Inspire model. The next Acura RL will be launched in 2010 at the same time as the Honda Legend.
March 19, 2008
Chevrolet Camaro without camo
The Chevrolet Camaro has been caught on video without camouflage.
GM has recently announced that the Camaro will be delayed by several months. The muscle car will be powered by V6 and V8 petrol engines.
March 19, 2008
Spyshot: Dodge Breeze
Here are the first spyshots of the new Dodge Breeze expected to go on sale in Mexico next year.
The Dodge Breeze will spearhead the arrival of Chinese on the American continent as Chrysler plans to sell Chery models under the Dodge label in South America as a part of a deal due to be signed with the Chinese carmaker Chery. In order to bring the car on the market as soon as possible, Chrysler seems not to have bothered giving the car a unique exterior styling. The Breeze will be a re-badged Chery A1 as American are used to doing it.
The Breeze was previously used for the Chrysler Stratus saloon sold under the badge Plymouth.
March 19, 2008
Buick to unveil the Invicta at the Beijing Motor Show
Buick has announced it will unveil a concept car called Invicta at the Beijing Motor Show in April.
Buick is the spearhead of GM on the Chinese market. If the carmaker sales suffer from a poor brand image in the US, the situation is different in China where the Excelle and Park models are bought for their luxurious image.
Like the Riviera seen at Shanghai last year, the Invicta moniker has been used on a previous model forty-five years ago. At that time, it was the most powerful Buick. The concept car will pay homage to Buicks of the 1940s through the 1970s thanks to a collaboration between various GM Design Studios around the world. The Invicta will feature a nostalgic sweepspear design cue and a curved line running the length of the car. The exterior will also feature Buick’s signature vertical chrome waterfall grille and a new look to its portholes.
March 19, 2008