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Ferrari to launch a £100,000 car

The car you see here is the future Ferrari which will be unveiled at the next Paris Motor Show. On the menu: 2+2 architecture, front engine and £100,000.
This is the company serious attempt to take on Aston Martin in the hundred grand segment. Like Aston Martin models, the Ferrari will feature a front engine with a 2+2 interior architecture. Details remain scarce but Ferrari engineers might use the V8 engine seen in the F430; however the engine might feature a direct-injection system and be detuned to 450bhp.
The biggest visual design element will be without a doubt the hatchback in order to boot roominess and practicality. The car is expected to be 20in shorter that the 612 Scaglietti.
Source: Quattroruote
February 9, 2008
Tata to pay £1.25bn for Jaguar and Land Rover

According to Economic Times of India, a deal will be concluded within two weeks and Tata Motors may pay £1.25 billion for the two British brands.
The final price will depend on agreements on engine supply, component sourcing, financing and other support services for which Jaguar and Land Rover would have to continue depending on Ford.
“The Tatas are in talks with Ford on other factors like the total pension liability. In case the company is able to strike a long term deal for engine supply, the pricing could go up,” said a senior consultant source.
Ford is getting upset by Fiat keen interest in sharing technology between Jaguar and Alfa Romeo and an insider said Ford is “unlikely to conclude any agreement not in its interest and that would not necessarily include a third party”.
Fiat then said it has “not had discussions … with Tata regarding this potential transaction or its participation in it.” On Monday, Tata Motors issued a statement clarifying that it “has had no discussions with Fiat on deployment of technologies developed by Jaguar and Land Rover”, the Economic Times said.
February 9, 2008
Hyundai Genesis won’t sport the company’s logo

Hyundai has finally made the decision not to feature the company’s logo on the Genesis set to compete on the premium segment.
At the Detroit Motor Show, Hyundai displayed two Genesis whose only difference was the grille. One was sporting the company’s logo while the other one was featuring four horizontal bars and a divider in the middle. After gauging the reaction to both grilles, Hyundai decided to drop the company’s logo, often synonym with cheap cars.
Also in an interview with Automotive News, Hyundai’s vice president of product development, John Krafic, said that the company expects a fifth of buyers will choose the V8 engine. He also said that cylinder deactivation and direct injection might be developped. He even mentioned a possible supercharger if there is a demand for it.
The Genesis will go on sale from next summer and will be available with a choice of V6 and V8 engines.
February 9, 2008
Opel to show the Meriva Concept at Geneva

Opel has announced it will unveil the Meriva Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in early March and released a sketch that previews the next-generation Meriva.
Due to go on sale from next year, the next-gen Meriva will take its inspiration from the Flextreme concept car displayed at the last Frankfurt Motor Show. Like the concept car, it will feature faired-in headlights and raised bonnet edges and will be more stylish than the current model as recent car maker’s models proved it.
technically, the Meriva will share its engines with the Corsa and will be powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre unit and two diesel units, a 1.3-litre and a 1.7-litre CDTI. All models will feature the stop-strat technology to improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions.
February 8, 2008
Diesel registrations jumped a further 10 per cent in the UK

If January sales for the British market fell by 2.1%, diesel registration increased by 10% over the same period last year, bringing the oil burner market share to 44.9%. This is the second highest-ever share.
One can explain such a result by the economic turnaround which changes consumer behaviour. Instead of looking for power, “Fuel efficiency is a high priority for customers” said Paul Everitt, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive.
New car registrations got off to a slow start in 2008, falling by 2.1 per cent or 3,506 units. Dual purpose (4×4), executive, mini and MPV segments all posted growth in January, up 7.6, 14.3, 16.4, and 20.8 per cent respectively. Alternatively fuelled vehicles registrations were up 14.4 per cent to 1,280 units for the month. Lower medium vehicles saw the largest volume increase of 1,860 units or 3.7 per cent.
Total registrations are expected to soften in 2008, but high fuel costs will see fuel efficiency a key consideration for new car buyers. This, and action on CO2 emissions, should mean that diesels’ market share will grow further.
January is traditionally a good month for fleet sales, and the segment was up 0.2 per cent compared to January 2007, and took the largest share of the market at 56.1 per cent. Private and business registrations start 2008 on a slightly weaker note, down 5.3 and 3.1 per cent respectively. The fall in private sales is one of the main contributors to the dip in January’s total.
The top 10 accounts for a third of January’s sales with the Ford Focus setting a firm hold on the top slot and confirming its nine year run at the top. Ford and Vauxhall remain the UK’s top selling marques, while Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Nissan all recorded significant growth. VW’s Golf was the best selling diesel, just ahead the Ford Focus
February 8, 2008
Maruti has no plan to build a Nano competitor

In a previous post it was reported that Hyundai planned to launch a budget car set to compete with the Tata Nano. Since then, the Indian press is reporting similar plans for Maruti but Suzuki issued a statement to deny the rumours.
The company said that it has “no plans of developing or offering a new car below the Maruti 800.” and reminds that it has built a succesful people car for the last 24 years with the 800 model.
Instead of competing with Tata, Maruti wants to move upmarket with the future Splash and A-Star models.
February 8, 2008
Aston Martin to collaborate with Mercedes

Aston Martin and Mercedes might collaborate to develop new models and new engines. The car maker might even go into the wild by selling branded merchandising.
In an interview with Automotive News, Adham Charanoglu, business development manager for Investment Dar, which is a shareholder of the British car maker said the company has entered into talks with Mercedes and with LVMH’s Louis Vuitton and PPR’s Gucci.
Joining forces with Mercedes is a good news for Aston Martin as the German car maker proved its ability to design and build expensive cars, and sell branded merchandising. Anyway, Charanoglu has set an ambitious plan to increase the company’s sales from £50 million in 2006 to £150 million next year. Aston Martin will increase its production from 7,000 last year to 8,000 this year. He also confirmed indirectly that the future Rapide won’t be built in the UK. “Whatever has been produced in the UK will continue to be produced in the UK,” said Charanoglu.
Charanoglu wants the company to focus on emerging markets such as China, Russia but also in the Middle East. With almost 20% of the Bugatti production only in Dubai, it is certain that Aston Martin can perform well there. Russia already has an Aston Martin dealership, but will get another this year, and China recently opened its first dealership.
February 8, 2008
Volkswagen Routan unveiled

Volkswagen has unveiled its new people carrier, the Routan, intended for the American market while the Sharan is at its of life in Europe.

Sharing its underpinnings with the Chrysler Voyager, the Routan also offer a similar exterior styling despite featuring a different front fascia and rear end.

Intended to increase the sales on the American market, Volkswagen featured the Routan with engines that match the American tastes. The will be available with a choice of two V6 petrol engines, a 197bhp 3.6-litre and a 251bhp 4.0-litre.

The Routan isn’t expected to cross the Atlantic ocean.
February 8, 2008
Lancia Delta revealed

Lancia has revealed the first official pictures of the new Delta. Unsurprisingly, the new model adopts an original positioning, halfway between a compact and a saloon. For the carmaker, the new Delta spearhead a revival of the Italian marque.
Until now, the Italian brand was surviving by revamping its lineup or creating limited editions. With the new Delta, Lancia offers a new car at last derived from the Fiat Bravo. Lancia seized the opportunity to associate the Delta with its heritage and the press release doesn’t hesitate to mention the Aprillia, the Appia or the Fulvia. Unfortunately, the previous model to proclaim the company’s heritage was the Thesis. Despite its qualities, the executive saloon never convinced people to buy it. Intelligently, Lancia doesn’t try to associate the new model with the former Delta which rhymes with sportiness and not luxury.

At 4,500 mm long, 1,800 mm wide and 1,500 mm high, the new Delta is bigger than the Fiat Bravo and features a long wheelbase of 2,700 mm. On the inside, the rear bench seat can move forward and rearward while a new GPS system will be on offer.

The exact spec of the new Delta remains unknown although Lancia gave a few details about the engine range. Both normally-aspirated and turbocharged engines will be available on the Delta. The range is likely to start with Fiat’s 118bhp 1.9-litre MultiJet diesel, and the topping engine will be to 200bhp 2.0-litre turbo unit.
February 8, 2008
New Zealand sales hits a new record

New Zealand domestic market registered 9,399 vehicles over the same period last year. Toyota lead the market followed by Holden and Ford.
If in Europe and in the US, the new vehicle markets are gloomy, the other side of the world, New Zealand, recorded a 11% increase over January 2007. Perry Kerr, CEO of the Motor Industry Association, said: “Not only was this the best January in the history of our industry, but it came after a particularly strong finish to the previous year.”
The good January follows a great 2007 year. Sales of new vehicles in New Zealand last year cracked the 100,000 miletsone. The final figure of 102,468 was only 980 units behind the 16-year record set in 2005.
February 8, 2008