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46,126 crushed cars in the UK in 2007

The astonishing figure of crushed vehicles has been revealed by the Financial Times: 46,126 vehicles were crushed last year, a 34% increase over 2006.
Ten years ago, 8,000 cars were usually destroyed every year. Since the introduction of new policy in 2001 to clamp, tow away and crush after seven days vehicles with invalid road tax, the figure has exploded. In total 245,343 cars have been crushed since 2001.
If you car is clamped it will cost you £80 to release it. Double the amount, £160, if your vehicle has been impounded. You can also face prosecution with fines of up to £1,000. Last year about 129,000 cars were clamped.
Instead of stealing the machines of a small car makers, the offenders should try to change job and go into the booming car crushing business.
February 19, 2008
Chinese car luxury market boom

Bentley has sold 338 cars in China and Hong Kong last year, a 93 percent increase over 2006 while Rolls Royce sold 106 vehicles on the Chinese market.
Mainland China represents an critical market for the two carmakers. For Bentley China became its fifth market after the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan. Bentley sold 2,079 vehicles in the UK and 4,196 unit in the US last year.
Rolls Royce records a similar trend as China became its third largest market last year. The Iconic brand sold 1,100 cars in 2007.
With the rise of India, Asia will become the largest market for the two brands in the next ten years. Soon, the two carmakers might unveil their next models not, in Detroit or in Geneva, but at Delhi, Beijing or Shanghai.
February 19, 2008
Alfa Romeo to launch the Junior/Furiosa in July

During the presentation of the new Fiat 500 Abarth, a Fiat spokesman revealed that Alfa Romeo would launch the baby Alfa in July, about two months earlier than planned.
The launch date of the upcoming small Alfa was the Paris Motor Show in next October. But quick progress allowed the carmaker to move the launch date in July. This is a good news for the carmaker which struggles to increase its sales.
This news might also confirm the fragile situation of Alfa Romeo. In order to increase its sales globally, the company has no other choice than releasing the eagerly-awaited small model as soon as possible.
The baby Alfa will share its inner structure, powertrains and suspensions, with the Grande Punto, but will feature a unique exterior and interior styling. With this new model, the Italian marque plans to take on the established BMW Mini and hopes its Italian charm will convince people to choose the Junior/Furiosa.
Source: Thomson Financial
February 19, 2008
Chery to replace the controversial QQ3

Chery engineers are working hard to release this year the planned models: A6 CC convertible, A5 estate, the small QQ5. They still found time to replace the controversial QQ3. The future QQ2 is expected to be unveiled at the next Beijing Motor Show in April of this year.

Aware of the bad brand image of Chinese cars generated by catastrophic crash tests, Chery focused on improving the safety of the future small car. The bonnet has been redesigned to take into account pedestrians. The QQ2 will offer a choice of three petrol engines, 1.0-litre, 1.1-litre and 1.2-litre.
There will also be a 1.0-litre diesel unit on the menu. The QQ2 will become the first Chinese passenger car to be powered by a diesel engine. Actually, Chery doesn’t exepct the oil burner unit to meet a big success in China, but look at the European shores. The Chinese carmaker plans to launch the QQ2 in Europe next year.
February 19, 2008
Peugeot unveils the 308 SW

While the 308 CC is still yet to be released, Peugeot will unveil the 308 SW at the next Geneva Motor Show. The 308 SW tries to combine the best of the estates and the MPVs.

As predicted, the production version is similar to the 308 SW Prologue concept car displayed at Frankfurt last September. The front fascia keeps the controversial corporate grille while the rear end gets a panoramic window. Compared to the 308 hatchback, the wheelbase of the 308 SW has been lengthened by 100 mm. The new car is 71 mm longer than the outgoing model. The luggage compartment grows in size to 674 litres depending on the seat configuration. With the seats removed it provides a total volume of 2,149 litres up to the level of the roof.

Like the outgoing 307 SW, the new 308 is roomy enough for 7 people which is a unique offer in the segment. A lot of attention has also been paid to the modularity of the 308 SW. The rear seats in the second row are all individual, removable, identical in size and offer a multitude of combinations. To carry seven persons, two occasional rear seats can be fitted in the third row. The two seats are available as an option or as after-sales.

The 307 SW was favoured for its large glass roof. The new 308 SW panoramic glass roof is now 27% larger (total area of 1.68 m2) and extends beyond the heads of the second row passengers.

The 308 SW will offer a wide range of petrol engines, the 95bhp 1.4-litre, followed by the 120bhp 1.6-litre unit and topped by 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with 140bhp, 150bhp and 175bhp. Along the petrol units, there will be three diesel engines, a 90bhp 1.4-litre, a 110bhp 1.6-litre and a 136bhp 1.6-litre.
The 308 SW will reach our shores in June.
February 19, 2008
Saudi Arabia to build its first car factory

Saudi Arabia will build its first car factory in the eastern city of Dammam. The facility is expected to have a production capacity of 300,000 vehicles.
The new factory is the achievement of a man, Nasser Al Hajri, who had the idea in 1988 when he was an engineering student in the UK. “At that time I was thinking of manufacturing cars suitable for the people of the Gulf and other Arab countries,” he said.
Its company, Gulf Automobile Manufacturing Company (GAMC) has signed an agreement Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technological Regions (SACTR) to invest £50 million to build the future factory. At first, the factory will have a capacity of 15,000 cars. When the plant is shifted to its new three million square metres facility in Sudair, the capacity will grow to 300,000 cars.
This first factory is part of an ambitious plan to open more plants in Saudi Arabia in the next ten years. If GMAC employs 300 people today, the company plans to employ 50,000 workers in ten years.
There is one question that nobody asked: which type of car the factory will build?
Source: ArabianBusiness
February 19, 2008
Honda to unveil a new hybrid at the next Paris Motor Show

Honda will try to go ahead of Toyota by unveiling a new hybrid model sold at a competitive price and expected to account for 200,000 units per year.
The Japanese carmaker has set the ambitious plan to take on the ubiquitous Toyota Prius and will go mainstream with a hybrid model smaller than the compact Civic. The future car is expected to cost between £12,000 and £15,000. The most affordable Prius starts at £17,777. The car is expected to offer low CO2 emissions likely to be below 100g/km. The Insight (pictured) achieved an impressive 80g/km.
With such a low price, Honda wants to sell 200,000 cars per year likely to cover the cost of this ambitious project. Half of the production would be sent to the US while Europe would get a quarter of the quota and the rest of the world would share the other 25%. The company wants to model to account for 10% of its total production.
The small hybrid model would be the first model of a family of hybrid vehicles to reach the market. The range will be topped by the future CR-Z Concept unveiled at the last Tokyo Motor Show. Honda wants between 400,000 and 500,000 hybrid car each year by 2011.
February 19, 2008
Suzuki reveals UK pricing for the Splash

Suzuki has announced the pricing for the new Splash model which will go on sale on March 8 this year.

The entry level, 1.2 GLS, will cost £8,999. For this amount, the small Suzuki is fully equipped: CD tuner with MP3 player and steering wheel-mounted audio controls, leather-trimmed steering wheel, remote central locking, front electric windows , manual air conditioning, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, height-adjustable front seats and an information display. Add £500 for the 1.2 GLS+ and its extra equipment: 5 inch alloys, front foglamps and privacy glass on the rear side windows and tailgate. Both versions are powered by the same 85bhp petrol engine. Both versions feature a five-speed manual gearbox while the GLS+ can get a four-speed automatic gearbox as an option.

The diesel version, called 1.3 DDiS, offers the same equipment as the 1.2 GLS+ and is powered by the 74bhp 1.3-litre turbo diesel built in Suzuki’s new engine plant in India under licence from Fiat. The diesel version costs £10,499.

The Splash is built by Suzuki in Hungary, alongside the Suzuki Swift, SX4 and Ignis. The carmaker is targeting annual sales of approximately 60,000 units throughout Europe.
February 19, 2008
Opel Meriva Concept: clearer picture

Last week Opel revealed a sketch of the upcoming Meriva concept car that the company will reveal at Geneva. Our friends of Motorpasion have released a picture of the small MPV.
If the production version of the Meriva Concept stay close to the picture like the future Vectra will be with the GTC concept car, the next-generation Meriva will turn the head in the street.
The future Meriva will share its inner structure with the current Corsa model and will go on sale next year.
February 19, 2008
More images of the Volvo XC60 and engine range details

New pictures of the XC60 have leaked on the Internet and more details about the engine have also emerged.

The new pictures confirm that the appealing design of the new XC60. It is certain that it represents a new milestone for the Swedish carmaker.

The new crossover will be available with a choice of one petrol engine and two diesel units at first. The petrol engine will be the 285bhp 3.0-litre inline six unit seen on the S80. The diesel offer will be the turbocharged 2.4-litre 4 cylinder engine with 163 and 185bhp. It isn’t confirmed whether Volvo will feature a smaller petrol engine in the future. After all, the volume maker will likely be the diesel versions in Europe. In the US, the 3.0-litre engine offers enough power and attraction at a time when American consumers buy less V8 powered vehicles. However, a V6 diesel engine might be necessary in Europe in terms of brand image.

February 19, 2008