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Karmann to stop producing the Audi A4 convertible

Karmann will stop producing the Audi A4 convertible as its contract will later this year. The coachbuilder won’t build the upcoming A5 convertible. To commemorate the partnership, Audi will launch a limited edition called “Advance”.
This special edition will include a metallic paint, pearl nappa leather, parking sensors, steeling wheel mounted controls, alarm system, xenon headlights, Bose stereo and a navigation system for an extra €2,950.
Karmann has started to build the A4 convertible in 2002 and has built 200,000 cars since then. The loss of the Audi A4 convertible contract is a real blow for the German coachbuilder which suffers from Indina and Chinese competition.
February 19, 2008
First video of the Fiesta

Here is the first video of the all-new Fiesta that Ford will unveil at the Geneva Motor Show. The new Fiesta offers an appealing design, outside and inside, and will go on sale from next autumn under a three-door and five-door variants.
The Fiesta will offer a wide range of petrol engines from a 60bhp 1.25-litre to 115bhp 1.6-litre and two diesel units, a 68bhp 1.4-litre and a 90bhp 1.6-litre.
February 18, 2008
Webasto to unveil a concept car with an innovative heating and folding roof systems

The German parts supplier will unveil a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show called Light Concept.
Like Faurecia and its concept car, the Light Concept will aim at showcasing the expertise of the company’s technologies. The concept car will show the new “Webasto LigHT Concept”, a roof concept featuring a hybrid top with a new material mix and he Liquid Heat Generator (LHG), a newly developed auxiliary heating system which generates heat, which occurs through turbulence in the engine coolant, and is regulated by an intelligent hydraulic performance control.
Webasto has previously displayed concept cars such as the Welcome2 Concept unveiled in 2003. It was based on the Mercedes CL500.
February 18, 2008
Vauxhall unveils the facelifted Zafira

Vauxhall has unveiled the revamped Zafira that will be introduced with the new 08-plate.

In addition to the current trim levels, Vauxhall adds the new Exclusiv trim which comes with air conditioning, a CD stereo, remote central deadlocking, electric front windows, side, front and curtain airbags, 16-inch Structure wheels, roof rails and body-coloured bumpers.

The 2008 range gets more equipment as curtain airbags come as standard while Design, Elite and VXR models also get new piano black interior panles around the audio and ventilation controls.

Vauxhall sold 47,813 Zafiras last year, giving the model a total of 27.7 per cent of the compact MPV segment.
February 18, 2008
Nissan Tino hybrids tests in the US

Nissan has been testing a fleet of 20 Tino hybrids equipped with Li-ion batteries for the last three years in the US. One of the vehicles reached 150,000 miles.
The Li-ion rechargeable batteries have been developed by Nissan with the help of NEC. Both companies started in 2000 to develop the new batteries and equipped the 20 Tino in 2005 for real-world testing. One purpose of the test was to confirm the data forecasted by the simulation.
The real-world results of the Li-ion packs has proven to be very close to predictive simulations. The prototype battery packs have also proven to be more efficient than comparable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) packs.
February 18, 2008
First pictures of the Fiat 500 Abarth

After standing everybody up at the last Tokyo Motor Show, the Fiat 500 Abarth is finally coming to Geneva and here is the first picture of the sporty small car.
As predicted, the design is bold with an agressive body kit: new bumpers, side skirts, a rear diffuser, widened fenders, a roof spoiler, red mirror caps and two exhaust pipes at the rear end. On the inside, the car comes with two red bucket seats. Without a doubt, the 500 Abarth has already sent the Twingo RS to the forgotten pages of the automotive history books.
The Fiat 500 Abarth would feature the turbocharged 1.4-litre seen on the Punto. A normal version would have an out put of 120bhp while a esse esse would offer 150bhp.
Source: CarScoop
February 18, 2008
Video of the Koleos in action

After the two videos published yesterday which showed the exterior and interior of the new Renault Koleos, here is a new video that shows a dynamic Koleos trying some off-road exercises.
As expected, despite sharing its underpinnings with the Nissan X-Trail, the Koleos is engineered for on-road manners rather than mud-plugging ability.
February 18, 2008
More pictures of the new Delta

Here are three new pictures of the new Lancia Delta. These three new pictures reveal a bit more about the overall shape of the new Italian compact.

A previous post reported more details about the range of the future Delta and also the pricing for the Austrian market. What we need now is more pictures of the interior in order to judge the new company’s philosophy focused on Italian luxury.

The Lancia Delta will hit the showrooms in June in France but no launch date has been confirmed for the British market as the marque withdrew in 1995.
Source: CarScoop
February 18, 2008
Bajaj-Renault-Nissan to finish small car’s plan soon

Bajaj Auto, which plans to develop a low-cost small car in partnership with Renault-Nissan, is expected to announce the final details of the project in a “few weeks” according to the company’s CEO Rajiv Bajaj.
The small car project set to compete with the Tata Nano, was earlier pursued by only Bajaj Auto and Renault and later joined by Nissan.
Last year, Bajaj Auto and Renault had announced that they were in preliminary deliberations for exploring the small car project together. Since then, Nissan has joined as a partner in the project.
After Tata’s Nano was unveiled at Auto Expo, Carlos Ghosn decreased the targeted price of the future small car, saying that the expected cost would be around 2,550 dollars from the earlier stated 3,000 dollars.
February 18, 2008
Rolls Royce unveils the Phantom Coupe

Rolls Royce has announced it will reveal the new Phantom Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show.

The new Phantom Coupe will reinforce the lineup along the Phantom limousine and the Phantom Drophead Coupe. Like the latter, the new Coupe is gigantic but still beautifully proportioned. It also features the famous rear-hinged front coach-doors which ease access for the passengers and improves the character of the car.

The new Phantom Coupe is powered by the company’s 6.75-litre V12 which has an power output of 453bhp and at torque of 531 lb ft. The carmaker claims the engine is more efficient and added to an increased fuel capacity, the range will allow the lucky owner to go everywhere he wants.

Despite a 5,710 lb weight, the Phantom Coupe can run the 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds and reach the limited top speed of 155mph.
Click here to see all the pictures
February 18, 2008