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Hyundai to build a factory in Russia by 2009

Hyundai has announced that it had signed a memorandum with St. Petersburg to build a new factory in the Russian city. It will invest £200 million to build the plant in order to have a annual production capacity of 100,000 cars.
The construction will start next year and the Hyundai’s sixth overseas facility will be complete by 2009. It will enable Hyundai to compete on one of the fastest growing market in the world. The Russian market will grow from 2 million units last year to 3.85 million vehicles next year and to 3.5 million vehicles in 2011.
Source image: Times
December 18, 2007
Nissan might axe the Titan

The Nissan Titan has been a failure as sales has picked to 60,691 vehicles for the first eleven months of this year while its direct competitor, Toyota Tundra, has been sold at 177,336 units over the same period. With such low figures, Titan’s profitability has been compromised and Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn is seriously considering killing the pickup.
The pickup market has been sluggish in recent years and there is a fierce struggle on for a pie. Added to forecasted higher gas prices, the Titan’s future looks shadowed. Axing the product would be the last solution as Carlos Ghosn would prefer a partnership with another car maker. Last Friday it was rumoured that Nissan was in talks with Chrysler on a possible partnership. For Chrysler, it would be an opportunity to reduce costs at a time when the American brand struggles financially to survive.
December 18, 2007
Future Mini Crossover to be called Crossman

Mini CEO Kay Segler has given more details about the future Mini crossover in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport. It will be christened Crossman and will be available with a choice of FWD and AWD versions.
It was originally thought that the Mini Crossover will be called Colorado but that is the codename for the project. Crossman features the family characteristic by starting with a ‘c’ and starting by ‘man’. Due to appear in 2010, it will be built at 45,000 units per year while earlier rumours reported a 65,000 target.
The Crossman will be manufactured by Magna in its Austrian factory, formerly owned by Steyr Puch.
December 18, 2007
Strong sales result for Volkswagen in November

Volkswagen has increased its global sales by 10.3% in November over the same period last year. A total of 324,000 vehicles were delivered to customers.
On the first eleven months of this year, the German brand has recorded a strong 8.8% increase with 3.37 million delivered vehicles.
China remains the largest market with 726,000 delivered vehicles, an increase of 28% over the same period last year, but is not the fastest growing market anymore. Indeed, Brazil has recorded a 34.7% increase on the first eleven month with 448,000 vehicles.
Unfortunately, sales were down by 7.8% in Europe, but the German brand has strong expectations for this market next year as it will launch the eagerly-awaited Scirocco coupé, the Passat coupé, while the BlueMotion models sales will increase their current market share from 7 to 10%.
December 18, 2007
Spyshots: Fiat 500 Abarth

The car you see here is the Fiat 500 Abarth which will likely be one of the hottest small car of 2008. The 500 Abarth will feature bold design and powerful engines and will revive the famous former 500 Abarth.
While Fiat has been shy with the Grand Punto Abarth, it will go wild with the Abarth like it did with the normal model. The main changes will be a huge front bumper with large air intakes, a rear fender and dual exhaust pipes. On the pictures, the rear bumper seems to look like the normal version’s but expect a bold design too like the front fascia.
The baby Abarth will be powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine which will has an output of 155bhp. If you think it will just enough to move the announced 1088kg of the car, it is rumoured that a 180bhp version will be available as an option. If true, the 500 Abarth might become the hottest small car of the market and a nightmare for the 197bhp Clio Renaultsport.
The 500 Abarth will be officially unveiled at the next Geneva Motor Show.
Source: autoblog.it
December 18, 2007
Renault has recorded a 15.5% increase in November

French car maker’s global sales have recorded a 15.5% increase in November over the same period last year thanks to the new models and the Logan. Since the beginning of this year, Renault recorded a 1.3% increase.
Once again, Dacia recorded the strongest growth with a 42% increase, followed by Renault with 14.3%. On the other hand, Samsung recorded a 10,1% increase. The new QM5 model will likely boost sale in the next months.
The healthiest markets are the Netherlands with +30.3%, Italy with +23.8% and France with +21.6%.
Renault expect strong results for the first 2008 trimester as the Laguna Estate, Clio Estate, the Modus and the new Kangoo will hit the showrooms.
December 18, 2007
Hyundai Genesis coupé to feature a turbocharged engine

It was rumoured and Hyundai’s U.S. product development chief, John Krafcik, confirmed it an interview with Automotive News. The future Genesis coupé will feature a turbocharged engine.
Contrary to popular belief, the engine will not be a V6 petrol unit but a smaller 4 cylinder unit that will also feature direct-injection technology. A smaller engine has been preferred in order to meet the emission regulation and reduce the consumption, essential selling factor at a time when petrol prices are sky-rocketing. He also ruled out the rumoured V8 engine by the same token.
He also revealed that Hyundai doesn’t consider the Genesis coupé as a replacement for the current Coupé SIII model. Indeed, the Korean carmaker expects to launch a new FWD Coupé in the future, but Krafcik didn’t give any timeline. He also said that Hyundai has no plan to release hybrid models due to high costs.
December 18, 2007
Pininfarina to unveil the Sintesi concept car at the Geneva Motor Show

The troubled Pininfarina has announced it will release a concept car named Sintesi at the next Geneva Motor Show.
The Sintesi will be concept car sporting the coachbuilder’s values, sportiness and elegance first, innovation and craftsmanship. It will explore new typologies of mobility, active safety and packaging solutions.
One does hope it will also bring new contracts for the Italian icon.
December 18, 2007
More pictures of the Subaru Forester

Here are more pictures of the Subaru Forester which will be unveiled on Christmas day likely to be taken in a dealership.
December 18, 2007
Renderings: Citroen C3

The next-generation Citroen C3 will go on sale from the end of next year and here is one of the first rendering of the small French car. According to company sources, this rendering is very close to the production model except for the alloy wheels.

On sale since 2002, the current C3 marked the company’s spearhead in reviving the French brand thanks to a design that took inspiration from the populous 2CV. The next-generation will have to do its best to match the latest models’ design which were well acclaimed by the press.

The next C3 will share its underpinning with the 207 and will grow , of course, in size in all dimensions. Like the 207 it will be available in various variants but they won’t compete directly with the 207 versions. Peugeot focus on estates while Citroen favours MPV. The C3 will offer a small MPV which might become one of the hottest vehicles in 2009 thanks to an appealing design. It will the first variant to be launched on the market at the end of 2008 while the three and five-door models will be launched at the beginning of 2009.
Secrecy surrounds the exact spec of the small car but it is rumoured that it will feature a large panoramic windscreen while the three door version will be coupé-biased and will be available with a two-tone paint scheme. Like the Fiat 500, the C3 coupé will allow customers to personalise the interior with gloss paint panels.
Source: Worldscoop
December 18, 2007