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Pontiac Vibe to be cheaply priced

Pontiac has announced the prices for the recently unveiled Vibe which will be on sale in next February. The entry level will start at $15,895/£7,822 followed by the four-wheel drive at $19,495/£9594. The top of the range, the GT will have a price tag of $19,895/£9,791.
GM has unveiled the new Pontiac Vibe at the last Los Angeles Auto Show. Like its sister, the Toyota Matrix, it derives from the ubiquitous Toyota Corolla/Auris. Indeed, the NUMMI joint venture authorizes GM to do the styling, the final calibration and tuning for every new model. Other actions fall to Toyota. Obviously, the Japanese carmaker select the closest components available in its range, which is the Corolla model.
Compared to the previous generation, the new Vibe offers a more customized style and switches from a SUV-like design to a sportier look, especially the GT version. Nevertheless, GM still describes the car as a crossover. This a very silly marketing gimmick.
As said earlier Toyota provides underpinnings and engines, which are based on the Corolla. The entry level gets the 1.8 litre VVTi petrol unit which has an output of 132 bhp and a torque of 128 lb-ft. It is available with a choice of a five speed manual gearbox and four speed automatic gearbox. The sporty version, GT, receives a 2.4 litre engine which produces 158 bhp and a torque of 162 lb-ft. Like the entry level, the GT can get a manual gearbox or an automatic gearbox, but with five speeds. The Vibe is also available with an all-wheel drive transmission, which gets the GT engine but associated with a four-speed automatic gearbox. oddly, the entry level can also be equipped with the GT engine as an option. The rear suspension is different among the versions. The 1.8 litre model has a classic torsion-beam rear suspension while the GT gets a multi-link independent rear suspension.
On the inside, the Vibe keeps the original design, but with an improved quality, at least on pictures. The dashboard is more driver-focused with its gear stick inspired from the Toyota Matrix and Auris. Standard features include the GM StabiliTrak electronic vehicle stability system, a tire pressure monitoring system a dual-stage frontal air bags with a passenger sensing system and, head curtain side air bags, a steering column with telescoping/rake adjustability, a 115-volt, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat and front active headrests. All models are equipped with the latest version of OnStar system.
December 10, 2007
Antonio Baravalle leaves Alfa Romeo

Antonio Baravalle left Alfa Romeo to become CEO of the Mundadori media group. Fiat refused to comment on his departure, but it is rumoured that Baravalle left on his own. It is rumoured that Alfa Romeo is Fiat’s biggest money loser according to Automotive News Europe. A change of CEO might not be the best news for the Italian brand. Aware of the problem, Fiat is looking for a replacement within the company.
Born on December 23 1964 in Turin, Antonio Baravalle graduated in Mathematical and Physical Sciences before taking a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the SAA in the same city. After several sales jobs between 1989 and 1992, he joined the Diageo to become sales manager of one of its distribution channels. He joined Fiat in 1999 and became sales coordinator for several European markets in the Alfa Romeo Business Unit in 2002. He became Alfa Romeo marketing manager in September 2003, but moved to Lancia to succeed Luca De Meo as Lancia Brand & Commercial Manager. He came back to Alfa Romeo as CEO to replace Karl-Heinz Kalbfell in September 2005.
Mundorario media group is owned at 51.2% by Fininvest, the conglomerate owned by Silvio Berlusconi.
December 10, 2007
6,000 deposits for the Dodge Challenger

This is a very good news for the troubled Chrysler. The American car maker received 4,300 pre-order deposits for the first day of the Dodge Challenger debut. From December 3 until last Friday, it recorded 6,000 deposits. This unplanned rush might also become a nightmare as Chrysler originally planned to build 5,000 cars per year. The waiting list might become longer when the car will be officially on sale. But, Chrysler has announced that it might increase the production to 10,000.
If demand remains strong, Chrysler might increase the production to 30,000 units per year in 2009 according to the Challenger Brand Manager, Mark Mallie. Of the 6,000 deposits, a trend emerges as the HEMi orange colour has been the most popular among the available paints that also include black and silver.
With a price tag of $37,995/£18,700, the Challenger SRT8 is a competitive offer thanks to its bold design but also its 6.1-litre V8 HEMI engine whose power remains unknown. Officially launched at the next Detroit Motor Show, the unique SRT8 model will be followed by a full engine range later with a V6 engine for the entry level. With the Challenger coupé, Chrysler hopes to meet that same success Ford met with the Mustang.
December 10, 2007
Spyshot: BMW X1 prototype

Here is the picture of the future the small BMW SUV X1 due to be on sale in 2010. At the beginning it was thought that the vehicle on the picture was the next-generation X3 but a closer look and new information suggests it is the future X1.
Secrecy surrounds the X1 model although it is believed that it will offer an overall design similar to the BMW X6 model with a unique SUV-coupé shape. It is rumoured that the X1 will offer dimensions similar to the Toyta RAV4. It will likely feature BMW 1-Series underpinnings.
It appears that BMW is quite determined to offer a full range of SUV-coupé models with the X6 unveiled at the last Frankfurt Motor Show and the announced X4 model which will be unveiled in 2008 or 2009. While the X6 is a four-door SUV, the X4 will offer only two-doors. Thus, the X1 might also be a two-door SUV. Sales will say whether consumers is ready for those oddly designed vehicles. I am rather sceptical about the future success of the SUV-coupé models.
Click here to see all the pictures
Source: Leftlanenews
December 10, 2007
Hummer H3 Black edition

European Hummer fans can rub their hands as the importer of the iconic SUV has launched a limited edition of the H3 model called Black Edition. Only 50 units will be sold in Europe and, of course, the vehicle will feature a black paint and a black interior.

Oddly, this limited edition will be available with two versions. There will be a basic version based on the H3 Adventure model which will add the black trimmings and a set of black accessories such as a black grille, tubular assist steps, roof crossbars, lockable fuel door, door handles, mirrors and black powder-coated wheels. The upper version limited to twenty five units will add the large electric sliding sunroof. While the added equipment has been valued at €6,150/£4,434, the customer will only pay those €1,250/£901. In Germany, the H3 Black edition will cost €49,950/£36,014 including VAT.
The H3 is powered by a 241bhp 3.7-litre five cylinder engine which has a torque of 242 lb-ft at 4,600rpm.
December 10, 2007
Honda Fit/Jazz takes tops the sales chart in Japan

After a successful launch, the new Honda Fit/Jazz shakes up the November sales chart in Japan by taking the first rank in front of the ubiquitous Toyota Corolla.
In November, Honda Fit/Jazz’s sales have more than doubled over the same period last year while the Corolla’s sales slowed down by 10% last month. Some people might think it would worry Toyota, but the giant carmaker has 8 cars cracking the top ten. The other car maker to be in the top ten is Nissan.
Is it a real good news for Honda? Yes, it is a good news as the Honda Fit is not especially a revolution compared to the previous model. It is also a sign that Japanese consumers favour cars with clever interior. But, it is also the Fit/Jazz’s good sales results are also worrying for the Japanese car makers. The Corolla is a compact model while the Fit/Jazz is a small car. In other words, Japanese consumers have less money and prefers to buy smaller and smarter cars than the larger classic sedans. It means thinner profit margins for Japanese car makers.
December 10, 2007
American car makers to stop building large pick-up models

Due to a big sales slump in November, Chrysler, Ford and GM have announced they will stop producing temporarily the large pick-ups in order to avoid having a whole stock of them.
Indeed, in November, large pick-up sales have decreased by 8.3% while the overall market has slowed down by 3%. GM has 5 months stock of the Silverado model while Dodge has 4 months stock of the Ram model.
GM will stop production in the three factories where the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are being built in next January. Chrysler will stop the Warren and Fenton factories from just before Christmas to end of January and in its Mexican plant during the first two weeks of January.
Ford hasn’t announced yet when it will stop the production lines. Perhaps the American car maker is still thinking about as the news might threat the launch of the new F150 model at the next Detroit Motor Show.
December 10, 2007
Audi R8 named sports car of the year by Autoblid

Autobild’s journalists voted the Audi R8 sports car of the year. The Audi R8 won over the Porsche 911 GT3 and the BMW M3. The trophy was given to Werner Frowein, Managing Director of quattro GmbH.
The journalists chose the Audi R8 because “t is currently the most complete vehicle with the hottest body in the sports segment and, despite being a newcomer, displays no serious weaknesses.” For a first sports car, it is quite an achievement for Audi.
One does expect a lot of debates over this trophy fans and detractors of the Audi R8.
December 5, 2007
Rumours on the next-generation Cayenne

It is rumoured that the next-generation Cayenne might be the symbol of a strategic move for the German car maker. Indeed, the SUV would be smaller in every dimension than the current model and would be engineered for on-road manners rather than off-road abilities.
Likely to be unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the future Cayenne would be based on the Audi Q5 platform in order to cut cost and share components with the Volkswagen Group. Secrecy surrounds the engine range but it is said that the Cayenne will still feature V8 engines either naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Along the big block, the next-generation Cayenne would also receive smaller V6 units. It is also said that it will feature a hybrid engine which can reach an impressive 32 mpg.
Despite being an achiever on the road, the current Cayenne is an impressive off-roader, but it might change in the future. The next Cayenne would be road-biased and would likely be considered as a crossover. How would Porsche market it is an interesting question.
A smaller Cayenne would probably help Porsche meet the CO2 emissions limits of 120g/km due to come into force in Europe in 2012. But, it might also be a dangerous move as the Cayenne appears to be a symbol of opulence in the streets nowadays. A smaller Cayenne might cause the SUV to lose the interest of current customers unless other competitors follow Porsche and release smaller SUVs in the future.
Source: Motor Authority
December 5, 2007
6 millionth car for Seat Martorell

Open in 1993, the Martorell Seat factory, located in Spain, produced 6 million vehicles. The car is an Ibiza Ecomotive which features the 79bhp 1.4-litre TDI engine.
Martorell factory started to produce cars in 1993. If the production lines rolled off two cars, the Ibiza and the Córdoba at the beginning, today it produces all Seat models, except the Alhambra built in the Palmela factory in Portugal. Initially designed for production of 1,500 units per day, it currently puts out 2,000 cars daily. The Martorell plant is considered as the most advanced factory in Spain and regularly tops the productivity charts in Europe.
December 5, 2007