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GM to consider selling Hummer
GM has officially announced it will re-evaluate the future of the Hummer brand. A sale isn’t excluded.
The Hummer brand is in a difficult situation as large SUVs sales are dropping due to rising gas prices. Even with lower gas prices in the future (if it happens), consumers will keep in mind the current gas prices in the US and won’t be ready to jeopardize their finance to get a large SUV.
"Our greatest concern is the unprecedented rise in oil prices," said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, speaking before the automaker’s annual meeting in Delaware and GM is "undertaking a strategic review of the Hummer brand to determine its fit within the GM portfolio. At this point, the company is considering all options, from a complete revamp of the product lineup to a partial or complete sale of the brand."
Nothing is certain and it is sure that small models aren’t really suited to large American bums, but when your brand is the symbol of a former gas orgy, let’s say that your life expectancy is shot, especially when the parent company is currently restructuring the business.
June 5, 2008
Audi considering new supercar and compact SUV for U.S. market
Audi’s US CEO Johan de Nysschen has revealed that the German carmaker is considering two new models to the current lineup, a compact SUV and a supercar.
Audi has set an ambitious plan to increase its sales to 1.5 million vehicles by 2015 and the American market is a key market to reach the sales goal. The German carmaker still needs to catch BMW and Mercedes in terms of sales. Like the two other carmakers, Audi plans to to catch up with its competitors by launching two new models, a compact SUV and a supercar.
The compact SUV would be a lifestyle model similar to what Toyota did with the first-generation RAV4. Rumoured to be the future Q3, it would reinforce the company SUV’s lineup and would likely share its underpinnings with the next-generation A3. However, the compact SUV won’t be called Q3 as a result of the deal signed with Nissan over the use of the “Q” badge. The deal authorizes Audi to only use the “Q’ letter for the Q5 and Q7 on the American market.
The mentioned supercar raises concerns regarding its veracity. Even though it is revealed by Audi’s US CEO, how would BMW fit another supercar in its range without taking on the Lamborghini Gallardo or Murcielargo? Maybe Nysschen talked about the R8 Spider and V10 versions.
June 5, 2008
BMW to show X1 and Crossman concepts at Paris
BMW has announced it will unveil two concept cars at the Paris Motor Show that preview two future models, the BMW X1 compact SUV and the new Mini SUV, the Crossman.
The two concept cars will be unveiled at the same time as they share the same components in an attempt to cut cost. The X1 will be based on the 1-Series platform and will share its engine range with the BMW compact model. The Mini Crossman will be powered by the same engines found in the Cooper S and Cooper D. The X1 I expected to hit the showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2009, while the Crossman will go on sale from the second quarter of 2010.
The X1 will be built at the Leipzig factory in Germany, while the Crossman will be built by Magna Steyr as the Oxford plant which builds the Mini has no free production capacity due to high demand for the Mini model.
June 5, 2008
GM unveils its restructuring plan
GM has announced its plan to close four factories and maybe lay off 10,000 people in an attempt to restructure its business.
The American carmaker has decided to go bold to restructure its business as quick as possible and adapt to the growing demands for more fuel efficient vehicles. The carmaker will close four factories by the end of 2010. The concerned facilities are Oshawa, Moraine, Janesville and Toluca.
Located in Canada,. Oshawa builds the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Production will end next year. The plant in Moraine, Ohio builds the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7x and will cease production in 2010. The Janesville facility located in Wisconsin will be closed by 2010. This plant builds the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon. Production of the Chevrolet Kodiak will be ceased in the Toluca factory located in Mexico.
In the meantime, the carmaker will continue its switch to smaller models by launching a new global compact car and a new more efficient engine range for the American market. The new compact model will be powered by a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine.
June 5, 2008
Right-hand drive Camaro confirmed for Europe
In a surprising move, GM has confirmed that the long-awaited Camaro will be sold in Europe, but also in the UK in a right-hand drive version.
Nobody really expected GM to bring its muscle-car on the European market, but it has been confirmed that the Camaro will reach our shores thanks to its links with the Vauxhall VRX8 also sold in the UK. The Camaro shares its underpinnings with the Vauxhall model, the Zeta platform which has been designed to feature left-hand drive and right-hand drive versions. About 600 cars, half convertibles and half hardtops will be brought to the British market. The V6 powered and the rumoured four-cylinder unit will be reserved to the American market.
In order to cut maintenance cost, GM will only bring the most powerful version which shares its engine with the VRX8, a 400bhp V8 petrol unit. The Camaro will keep its current label, Chevrolet, as GM has plan to increase the sales of its brand on the European market. GM plans to double the lineup by 2012.
Source: Autocar
June 5, 2008
Seat unveils the three-door Ibiza
Probably under pressure after an unofficial picture of the three-door Ibiza has emerged on the internet, Seat took the wraps off the Ibiza SportsCoupé.
With two fewer doors, the three-door variant is more appealing than the five-door version. At 4,034 mm long and 1,428 mm high, this new variant is 18mm shorter and 17 mm lower than the five-door sister. It also features a different C pillar. The three-door Ibiza is slightly closer to the Bocanegra concept car. However calling it a SportsCoupé is a bit presumptuous.
The three-door variant is the first model in its market segment to be equipped with a seven-speed DSG double clutch gearbox which will be associated with a 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine.
June 5, 2008
Next Golf to feature smaller engines
The next-generation Golf will be launched within one year, but technical details still remain scarce. A new report gives more information about the engine range.
With the next Golf, VW will continue downsizing the current engine range and plans to release unexpected small engine under the bonnet of the future compact model according to the German news website Automobilwoche. Until now, the smallest engine available on the Golf is the turbocharged 1.4-litre unit which delivers a power output of 168bhp. In the future lineup, rumours talk about a small 1.2-litre petrol unit of which delivered power remains unknown.
The most surprising engine might be a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit which would power the future entry-level version. Without a doubt, selling an entry-level 1.0-litre-powered Golf will be a difficult exercise. As Audi previously said, consumers aren’t ready to buy an Audi A6 powered by a 1.4-litre engine. How will potential buyers react to a 1.0-litre petrol engine under the Golf’s bonnet. Such a tiny displacement was considered reserved to city models five years and even today.
June 5, 2008
Future BMW X1 SUV to be produced in Germany
BMW has announced it will build the future X1 in Germany.
Building models in regions where they sell the most is part of the ambitious plan BMW is readying to increase its profit margin. The carmaker doesn’t expect its small SUV to be a top-seller on the American market, so its production won’t be moved to the US like the other models. It will stay in Europe, its potential largest market, at the carmaker’s Leipzig facility.
The current X5 and new X6 crossover coupé are being built at Spartanburg, located in South Carolina. They will be joined by the next-generation X3 model. The current X3 is currently produced by Magna Steyr in Austria.
The X1 will share its underpinnings with the next-generation 1-Series compact model.
June 3, 2008
Mercedes moves into its new design studio
Mercedes has strong ambition on the American market and its recent acquisition of the Chrysler Pacifica Advanced Product Design Center proves that carmaker isn’t ready to leave the market to Lexus, Audi or even Hyundai.
The former Chrysler design center will enable the carmaker to increase its current design capacity in the US With three times the space of its current facility. Located in Carlsbad, California, the new facility offers 35,000 square feet of space which will be more than enough for the current team of 25 people. The new company’s head of design Gorden Wagener manged this design studio which created the latest F700 concept car.
The new facility will join the two other facilities located in Tokyo and Sindelfingen. The new facility will likely boost the carmaker’s efforts to develop a global design operation. However, the three design centers are located in developed countries. Will Mercedes join other carmakers in building future design centers in China or India, future largest markets in the world?
June 3, 2008
Audi R8 to feature full LED headlights
Audi has unveiled the first LEd headlights on the market which will be available as an option on the R8 supercar.
Audi has strong ambition for the Audi R8 and the new LED headlamps, confirms the carmaker wants to lead the market in terms of innovation. Generally seen on the concept cars, the Audi R8 is the first production car to offer LEd headlights. In addition to the daytime running light which now features 24 LEDs per headlamp, light-emitting diodes are also used for the turn signals, the low-beam and the high-beam headlights. However, the new lights aren’t cheap and will cost the buyer a hefty price of €3,590.
LEDs have prominent advantages: lower energy consumption and a color that more closely resembles daylight, provides greater contrast and is easier on the human eye. LEDs are also non-wearing, require a lower voltage, are compact and offer greater design freedom.
June 3, 2008