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| 26 Feb, 2010 |
| Lexus
CT200h rivals 1-Series and A3 |
 Toyota has long wanted to produce a rival to BMW 1-Series and Audi A3. This car will be more appealing to European market than its oversized Lexus IS, especially if it can use the company's famous hybrid technology. So putting on the table are the following ingredients:
 Eventually, you get a strange-looking hatchback with rather long overhangs and small rear doors, a sporty profile and dashboard design similar to the baby BMW but without dynamics to match. Good luck !   |
| 25 Feb, 2010 |
| FIAT's
twin-cylinder engine debut ! |
  This extremely short engine is the long awaited twin-cylinder engine from FIAT. You might remember the Italian company had a good history of producing twin-cylinder engines for the old 500 and 126. They were chosen for low cost rather than any other reasons. The same cannot be said to the new engine. Driven by the requirements for low emission and consumption, the new 900cc twin-cylinder engine is a more advanced replacement for FIAT's existing 1.2 and 1.4-liter four-cylinder engines. Various states of tune will be offered, from 65 hp to 105 hp, all feature 4 valve per cylinder and the advanced Multiair variable valve timing and lift system. Further helped by the inherently lower frictional and thermal losses of twin-cylinder architecture, it offers superior fuel economy. The first version to be introduced is a 900 cc turbocharged unit. It will appear in FIAT 500 initially. This version produces 85 horsepower, sandwiching between the existing 1.2-liter 8V (69hp) and 1.4-liter 16V (100hp). Thanks to superior torque by turbocharging and Multiair, FIAT claims its performance is comparable to the 1.4 16V, while delivering 30% better fuel economy. Compare with the 1.2 8V, it drinks 15% less fuel yet delivers 25% more performance. As the current 1.2 engine returns 55 mpg EU combined cycle, the new engine is expected to achieve 65 mpg. CO2 emission is only 95 g/km. A straight-two engine generate a lot of vibration as both pistons run in the same direction and position. To deal with this, FIAT equips it with a weighty counter-rotating balancer shaft. This explain why the engine is only 10 percent lighter than a straight-4 engine with equivalent performance. On the plus side, FIAT claims its NVH matches at least that of 4-cylinder engines. Moreover, the twin-cylinder engine has significant advantage in packaging as it is 23 percent shorter than a straight-4 - this can be seen from the pictures. As a result, it can easily mate with an electric motor to form a hybrid powertrain in the future. |
| 25 Feb, 2010 |
| Lotus
Evora 414E hybrid concept |
 This is the only photo Lotus released for its new Geneva show car, Evora 414E hybrid concept. It shows a small 3-cylinder engine and a couple of power control modules occupy the space originally reserved for the Toyota V6. The rear window is decorated by fancy graphics resembling electronic circuits. The name 414E implies its horsepower count and the source of its power. This is a plug-in hybrid car like Chevrolet Volt. It employs two electric motors, each is capable of delivering 207 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque to a rear wheel. Supplied by a 17kWh Lithium-ion battery, it can travel up to 35 miles on electric power alone. Once the battery runs low, the 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine kicks in to recharge the battery. It is a low-revving unit, producing only 47 horsepower at 3500 rpm, but it is also much more fuel efficient than a high-revving engine necessary for conventional cars. Like Volt, the engine does not drive the car directly, but acts as a range-extender for the electric powertrain. With nearly 50 percent more power than the regular Evora, how to transfer its power to the rear wheels become crucial. Fortunately, by attaching a motor to each rear wheel allows Lotus to program "torque vectoring" into its rear axle, achieving the desired neutral handling. Lotus hasn't forget about sound and feel either. Although 414E employs a single-speed gearbox like most electric cars, it can simulate the gearshifts of a 7-speed gearbox through altering the power curve, bringing the driver conventional driving thrill, if not optimized performance. Similarly, its sound synthesis system, developed togther with sound specialist Harman, can simulate the noise of a V6 or V12 or just any fancy sound. This could also benefit pedestrian safety, as today's electric cars are too silent to be heard. The final question is: will Lotus bring 414E hybrid to showrooms ? I don't think so, considering the high costs and deviation from Lotus' philosophy. It seems more a showcase of its latest plug-in hybrid technology, which is being developed by Lotus Engineering for mass production manufacturers. |
| 25 Feb, 2010 |
| Hummer
to die |
 BREAKING NEWS: After months of negotiation with Sichuan Tengzhong, GM failed to conclude the deal to sell its Hummer division. Although the state-owned Chinese truck maker wanted it, it could not convince the government to approve the acquisition. As a result, GM said it is going to wound down Hummer, like what it had done to Pontiac and Saturn. I can understand why the Chinese government opposed the deal. In recent years, it is strongly promoting the development and usage of green technology. In contrast, Hummer is a symbol of energy wasting and pollution. It could only survive at the peak of SUV fever from the late 1990s to early 2000s. Considering the worldwide trend shifts towards smaller and greener cars, Hummer is only a negative asset that needs its mother company to feed, without any prospect of turning black. It is better to leave it to the American to execute it. The death of Hummer will be seen as a victory to environmentalists. Myself ? a glass of beer please. |
| 24 Feb, 2010 |
| FIAT
Punto Evo Abarth |
 The Abarth version finally joins other Puntos to enter Evo era. Compare with the outgoing Abarth, you can see apart from the Evo's trademark grille it also gets more aggressive skirts and spoilers, which are now body-colored instead of black. Ditto the wheel arch extensions. The design of its alloy wheels are also new. The aerodynamic tweaks are claimed to lower its drag and lift, although no figures are provided.  As expected, the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine now gets Multiair technology. Its Garrett turbo is also larger than before. Slightly disappointing is, its maximum power inches up from the previous 155 hp to 165 hp, lower than the 170 hp version used in Alfa Romeo Mito Cloverleaf. However, max torque is improved from 170 lb-ft to 184 lb-ft, and the latter is available at 2250 rpm, 250 rpm lower than that of Alfa Romeo. Abarth said the new engine shortens 0-60 mph by 0.3 seconds to 7.5 sec, and lifts top speed by 3 mph to 132 mph. At the same time, fuel economy is improved from 41 mpg to 47 mpg. CO2 emission is a remarkable 142 g/km.  The Abarth is not quick enough to challenge the fastest B-segment hot hatches though. As before, you can pay extra for the SS (esseesse) tuning kit, which includes revised ECU and air filter, improved brakes, lower springs, 18-inch wheels and higher performance tires. Sadly, at 180 hp, the SS engine is no more powerful than before, therefore its performance still falls short of its strongest rivals, such as the new Volkswagen Polo GTI and Citroen DS3 Racing mentioned in this page. |
| 23 Feb, 2010 |
| Saab
sale completed |
 Spyker has completed the purchase of Saab from General Motors yesterday. The deal costs Spyker $74 million in cash plus an equity worth $326 million in the new company, Saab Spyker. |
| 23 Feb, 2010 |
| Audi RS5 |
 With the launch of RS5, the Audi A5 family is finally completed. As expected, the RS5 employs the previous RS4's 4.2-liter direct-injection V8. Thanks to tuned intake and exhaust, its maximum power is increased by 30hp to a total of 450hp, which is released at sky-high 8250 rpm. The previous RS4 engine could also rev to 8250 rpm, but that was its redline rather than the peak of power curve (which was 7800 rpm). Audi has not revealed the redline of the new engine. Maximum torque remains unchanged at 317 lb-ft, but it is now available from 4000-6000 rpm rather than the previous 5500 rpm.  The RS5 weighs 1650 kg (DIN), only 20 kg heavier than S5. As a result, performance is awesome: 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Its 155 mph speed regulation can be raised to 174 mph under the request of customers. The drivetrain consists of a S Tronic 7-speed twin-clutch transmission and Quattro system using a new, crown-gear self-locking center differential. The latter normally distributes 40:60 torque front to rear, and in case of tire slip up to 70 percent to the front axle or 85 percent to the rear axle. Audi said standard torque vectoring is available to all wheels, but I suppose it is a brake-actuating mechanism. If not, why does it need to offer the optional electronic sport rear differential, which is a real torque vectoring device ?  The suspension of RS5 is stiffer and 20mm lower than other A5s. They ride on 19-inch wheels wearing 265/35 tires or optional 20-inch wheels and 275/30 tires. The big wheels are necessary to accommodate the unusually powerful front brakes - 365mm dual-cast discs with 8-pot calipers, or optional ceramic brakes. This might imply its nose-heaviness. Externally, the RS5 has aluminum color lip spoiler and large intakes like TT RS. At the back, its tail spoiler raises automatically at 75 mph to reduce lift. Still, it doesn't look as sporty as BMW M3 coupe.  |
| 19 Feb, 2010 |
| Citroen
DS3 Racing |
 Having seen Volkswagen Polo GTi, our attention now turns to Citroen DS3 Racing, the limited edition Citroen uses to promote its WRC campaign next year, which is going to switch from C4 to DS3-based machines. Naturally, the car is the sportiest version in the DS3 family. What a pity its production will be limited to 1,000 cars. The Racing can be easily distinguished from lesser DS3 by its orange color decorations (roof, door mirrors, grille, wheels and interior trim) as well as the racing graphics on its sides and roof. If you have good eyes, you may also spot its pronounced wheel arches which widen its tracks by 30 mm. Its suspensions are not only stiffer but also lowered by 15 mm. Though the 205/40 tires are no wider than the 150hp model, they have lower profile and are wrapped around 18-inch rims. Look through the front rims and you will see cross-drilled discs and 4-piston calipers. Besides, the aerodynamic kits are also sportier, including a carbon-fiber rear diffuser.  Equally important is the 1.6-liter direct injection turbocharged engine, which is tuned to produce a full 200 horsepower and 203 pound-foot of torque. Despite of its very high specific output, its reliability is never in doubt, because the same engine may crank out 211 hp in Mini John Cooper Works and we heard no problems with that engine. To cope with the increased performance and expectation, Citroen has retuned the stability control, raising its threshold and allowing a complete deactivation. The electric power steering is also retuned to increase weight. With these changes, I suppose DS3 Racing could rival Renault Sport Clio for driving excitement. Its introduction will definitely help promoting the DS3 range. |
| 17 Feb, 2010 |
| Volkswagen
Polo GTi |
 These pictures seem to show a Volkswagen Golf GTi. Read carefully ! It is actually the new Polo GTi. Sharing much same profile, nose, headlamps and wheel design, the Polo GTi can be said a mini Golf GTi. Not just exterior, its interior tells the same story. A flat-bottomed steering wheel and classic tartan cloth seats resemble its bigger brother. However, we are more interested in the mechanical aspect. The last generation Polo GTi was powered by a 150 hp 1.8 turbo 20V engine. The new car's powertrain is much more advanced - a 1.4 Twincharger (supercharger + turbocharger) direct-injection engine producing 180 horsepower at 6200 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque from 2000-4500 rpm. In other words, the same engine as the one powering SEAT Ibiza Cupra. Its default transmission is 7-speed DSG. Such combination is able to crack 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, idenical to Golf GTi ! Thanks must be given to its light kerb weight of 1109 kg, some 210 kg less than its bigger brother. The Polo only loses to Golf at higher speed. Its top speed is 141 mph, 8 mph lower than Golf GTi.  The suspension of Polo GTi is set 15mm lower and stiffer than the standard car. It rides on the same 17-inch alloy wheels as Golf GTi, shod with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires. To tame understeer and wheelspin in corners, it is equipped with the brake-actuated XDS electronic differential like Golf and Scirocco. I hope its chassis is sharp enough to mark it out from its SEAT cousin. Just don't expect it to be as sharp as Renault Clio RS.  |
| 17 Feb, 2010 |
| Toyota
Passo / Daihatsu Boon |
 6 years is a long time by the standard of Japanese cars. However, under the current economy, not even a 6-year model cycle could guarantee everything new in the next generation. This is exactly what we find in the new generation Toyota Passo and its twins sister Daihatsu Boon. The supermini duo is built on the same platform as the outgoing cars, which is evident from its identical key dimensions, i.e. 2440 mm wheelbase, 1665 mm width and 1535 mm height. Only the overall length is stretched by 45 mm to improve looks and crash protection. Their exterior design is not significantly different from the original, just a little rounder and culter. Of course, the cabin is now better built, with higher quality materials, fresher design and more tasteful use of colors. Everything is predictable.  As before, they offer the choice of two engines. The entry-level 1.0 VVT-i engine is basically unchanged, while the 1.3 engine now gets dual-VVT-i, improving its output from 90 to 95 hp. Both engines now mate with CVT instead of the old 4-speed automatic transmission. As before, the duo is to be produced in Daihatsu's Ikeda plant, implying their development were led by the small car expert. From these pictures you can see apart from the front bumper design they are virtually identical.     |
| 16 Feb, 2010 |
| Peugeot
508 previewed by new concept |
 Last month, Peugeot's new design boss Gilles Vidal used SR1 concept sports car to preview his new styling theme. Now here comes the real thing... Peugeot 5 concept previews the forthcoming 508 sedan. The latter will be the successor of both 407 and 607. From these pictures, we can easily believe the concept is a slightly tweaked version of the production car, as the basics are production ready. The fact that its body profile very close to its sister car Citroen C5 also strengthens our believe that no significant changes will be necessary for the production 508.  The concept measures 4860 mm long, much longer than 407 (4676mm) but not so much than C5 (4780 mm). I expect its wheelbase will at least match the Citreon's 2815 mm, which should be more than enough to make a spacious D-segment car. Compare with C5, the Peugeot's styling is more elegant and dynamic. Its recessed grille is more prominent and graceful than that of the SR1 concept. The dancing-lion logo pressed on its bonnet and the word "Peugeot" located at the top of the grille are nice touches. Plenty of chromed parts, including window frames, grille and intake decors, inject sense of expensiveness without looking outdated. Overall, I am very pleased with its new design, much more than the current 407.  The concept is powered by PSA's Hybrid 4 powertrain which combines a 163hp 2.0HDi turbo diesel engine with a 37hp electric motor, driving the front wheels and rear wheels respectively. The result is 74 mpg consumption and CO2 emission of 99 g/km. Hybrid 4 is set to debut in 3008 next year, so it will eventually go to the production 508 as well. However, the majority of 508s sold will be powered by conventional engines, in particular the HDi diesel. PSA-Ford's 3.0-liter twin-turbo diesel V6 will power the range-topper. |
| 16 Feb, 2010 |
| Lotus
Elise facelift and new 1.6 engine |
 The long-serving Lotus Elise is receiving a facelift in 2010. These pictures show its front end gets smoother and closer to Evora, while at the back the engine lid and diffussers have also been revised. Such changes are said to reduce its drag by 4 percent. Apart from styling, the facelift also brings new LED daytime running lights and, most important, the addition of an entry-level 1.6-liter model. The latter is powered by Toyota's 1.6 Valvematic engine with dual-VVT-i and continuous variable valve lift, good for 136 horsepower and 118 pound-foot of torque. It is mated with a new close-ratio 6-speed manual box. The entry-level Elise promises 124 mph top speed and 0-60 mph sprint in 6.0 seconds. Its CO2 emission is 155g/km, 12g less than a base 1.8-liter Mazda MX-5.  |
| 16 Feb, 2010 |
| New Tata
CEO: Carl Peter Foster |
 Carl Peter Foster has long been known as the head of Opel
and GME. Last November, when GM abandoned its earlier plan to sell Opel
to Magna, we thought Mr. Foster must be very happy. To our surprise,
Foster was actually strongly in favour of the Magna deal, so strong
that he decided to resign. To lose a top job during the winter of
automotive industry seemed to be a disaster to many, but to our
surprise again, Mr. Foster found a new job within an eye's blink. Now
he is appointed as the CEO of Tata Motors, overseeing the global
business of Tata's automotive division. Ratan Tata hopes his rich
experience - 9 years at GM and 13 years in BMW - could help Tata to
become a "truly international company". One of his first jobs will be
to turnaround Jaguar Land Rover, which ran into heavy loss last year. |
| 11 Feb, 2010 |
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| Volvo S60 |
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 In prior to its world premier in next month's Geneva motor show, Volvo has released full details of the second generation S60. The outgoing S60 was pretty successful in sales figures - some 600,000 units were sold during its 9 years life span. Volvo hopes to repeat this with the new generation. It targets at 90,000 units annually. Production will take place at the Ghent plant in Belgium. The outgoing S60 was renowned for a coupe-style appearance. The new car develops further in this direction. A long front overhang, sloping bonnet and fast back result in a sleek and sporty appearance, as well as a low drag coefficient of 0.28. A crease line curves gently above the front and rear wheel arches to deliver a dynamic impression. Now the Volvo is completely removed from the boxy, conservative and safe image characterised it for decades. I still wonder if it is a wise move.  Compare with the Mk1, all dimensions have been increased, so it is also a bit heavier.
Volvo claimed the longer wheelbase liberates 50mm leg room and 30 mm knee room to rear passengers. However, it didn't mention rear headroom, which used to be compromised in the old car. It would be interesting to see how the coupe roofline can live together with sufficient headroom.  The interior design is very Scandinavian. As Volvo said, it combines function, simplicity and clarity. Volvo's trademark floating center console is presence. Build quality is upgraded as expected. The new S60 is built on the latest version of Ford's EUCD platform. It continues to be front-wheel drive in standard form. Haldex AWD system is standard on the range-topping T6 or optional on other models. As before, it rides on struts up front and multi-link suspension at the rear. Four-C independent adaptive damping is available on the top-spec car. Even without that, you can opt for either Comfort or Sport suspension tuning, very much like its German rivals. No matter in which forms, the S60 is claimed to be easily the most dynamic Volvo ever. Like its styling, its chassis tuning moves further away from comfort towards sports.  Its handling is lifted not only by firmer suspension setting, but also by the adoption of Corner Traction Control, which is a brake-actuated electronic differential lock, and Advanced Stablity Control. Compare with existing ESP systems, Advanced Stability Control adds a body roll sensor, thus it can react earlier and more progressively, suppressing understeer more naturally. This will help hiding its front-biased weight distribution. In the performance side, the new S60 offers a full range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. These include the new 1.6 and 2.0-liter GTDi four-cylinder engines with full variable valve timing and direct injection. They are available in various states of tune - 150hp, 180hp, 203hp and 240hp - effectively replacing the 20-year-old straight-5 engine.  However, the characterful 5-pot engine still lives in diesel form. The entry-level D3 engine has its displacement reduced to 2.0 liters, but it still cranks out the same 163hp as the original 2.4-liter D5. The new D5 engine had been introduced last year. It utilizes a small turbo and a large turbo to produce 205 horses at minimum lag. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a performance diesel engine to fight against BMW 330d / 335d or Audi A4 3.0TDI, Volvo S60 will hardly satisfy you. At the top of the model tree, T6 employs the turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six from V70 and S80. Thanks to reduced internal friction, its output is lifted from 285 to 304 hp. Maximum torque is 30 lb-ft higher than BMW 335i. If not because of its hefty weight - partly due to the AWD system - and the compulsory automatic gearbox it pairs with, it might just give the BMW some pressure. Below is details of the full engine range:
Note: 1.6 and 2.0 GTDi engines are not available with performance figures yet because they won't be offered until next year.  Most of the engines mate to 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, except the aforementioned T6 which employs 6-speed Geartronic automatic. Geartronic is optional on diesels, while the GTDi petrol engines can opt for 6-speed Powershift twin-clutch gearbox. Alright, the new S60 is not going to lead the class in performance, but it still excels in safety. Highlight is pedestrian detection system. It uses radar and camera to detect pedestrians in front of the car, then warns the driver with beep and flash lights at the head-up display, and simultaneously pre-charges the brake booster. If the driver fails to react, it will brake the car to full stop automatically. As long as the vehicle speed is no more than 35 km/h (22 mph), S60 can avoid hitting the pedestrian. Above that speed, the system can still greatly reduce impact force hence the injury caused to the pedestrian.  |
| 11 Feb, 2010 |
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| Audi A1 |
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 Also to be released in Geneva motor show is Audi's new entry-level model, A1. This car was previewed in the 2007 Frankfurt motor show concept, Metroproject. Little has been changed on its exterior styling, whose long-bonnet proportion still looks old fashioned. Anyway, like most other Audi cars, its styling is more about elegant details and quality finishing. The A1 is derived from the platform of Volkswagen Polo, but its classier packaging, build quality and the ability of customization guarantees a strong position as a rival to BMW's Mini. The car is considerably longer than Mini (see table below). In addition to its space-saving torsion-beam suspension, its cabin should be more spacious. 
It may also beat Mini for efficiency. 2 petrol and 2 diesel engines will be offered. All come with direct injection, turbocharging, auto start-stop and brake energy regeneration:
 The 90hp diesel engine is the King of Frugality - it returns 74 mpg and emits a hybrid-rivaling 99 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The 105 hp TDI is not much behind, returning 72 mpg. However, the A1 is unlikely to match Mini for dynamics. Audi said its battery is placed under the boot to improve weight distribution, and the use of hot-stamped ultra-high strength steel improves strength-to-weight ratio of its chassis, but the disadvantages of its semi-independent rear suspension will be difficult to overcome. Moreover, until now we have yet to see a front-wheel drive Audi can match the best of its class. Note that A1 will be the only Audi not available with Quattro.  |
| 8 Feb, 2010 |
| Porsche
911 Turbo S |
 Whenever you see the launch of Turbo S, you know it signals the end of an era. In January 1998, Porsche produced the farewell version of the last air-cooled 993. It was basically a Turbo tuned to deliver the highest horsepower. In 2005, 996 iteration bowed out on high with another Turbo S. Now, as 997 is cruising to sunset, it also produces a Turbo S.  No one can distinguish the Turbo S from the regular Turbo without looking at its badge. This is because comestically it is identical to the Turbo. The chassis is also the same, although it gets all the go-faster equipment as standard, such as Sport Chrono pack (with launch control), PDK gearbox and its gearshift paddles. The biggest difference is, of course, a higher boosted engine. Horsepower increases from 500 to 530hp, while max. torque increases by 37 lb-ft to 516 lb-ft. As a result, top speed is lifted by a couple of mph to 196. 0-100 km/h acceleration improves by 0.1 sec to 3.3. Is that enough to justify the price hike of 15 percent ? Well, history says we had better to save the money and wait for the next generation 911, which will undoubtedly raise the bar again. |
| 6 Feb, 2010 |
| Renault
Wind and Megane CC |
 Renault is launching an open-air assault with two new models. Wind is a Twingo-based small roadster in the mould of Opel Tigra TwinTop. If you find it familiar, it must be because you saw it here in July 2007, when it was known as "Twingo CC concept". Back in 3 years ago, official renderings of the concept car was leaked to the public, but unfortunately it did not make into motor shows debut as expected. Renault postponed the project as a result of cost cutting. Now the car is finally back on production plan, albeit with a new name and a facelift.  As in the original concept, Wind has a targa roof with a fixed rollover bar behind the seats. It employs a simple pivoted roof mechanism, which rotates and stores neatly into the luggage bay. Such roof mechanism is patented by Fioravanti and first introduced on Ferrari 575 Superamerica. Compare with Ferrari's system, the one in Renault has two superior features: its roof is stored in the boot rather than resting on the boot, and its rear screen is fixed in place rather than rotating together with the roof. These ensure the roof does not hamper the looks of the car when it is opened.  Compare with rivals with folding metal roofs, the arrangement of Wind is much simpler, cheaper and lighter. It also engages less luggage space, which is a remarkable 270 liters regardless of the position of roof. Moreover, the time taken for the roof to open or close is halved to only 12 seconds. Owing to its longer front and rear overhangs, Wind is 230mm longer than Twingo. In addition to the roof mechanism, it should be heavier than its sibling. Predictably, Renault will power it with the most powerful engines from Twingo, i.e., 100hp 1.2 TCE turbo and 133hp 1.6-16V VVT (from Twingo RS).  Another open-top model Renault introducing is the new generation Megane Coupe-Cabriolet. Like the last generation Megane CC, it employs a two-piece retractable glass roof. It takes 21 seconds to open or close and a long boot to store it. With the roof stored, luggage space goes down from 417 to 211 liters. The former is not as large as the old car (490 liters), but the latter is slightly bigger (up from 190 liters). The old car was criticized for a flexible chassis, so it is a good news to hear the new CC has increased torsional rigidity by as much as 80 percent.  6 familiar engines will be offered: 110hp 1.6, 130hp 1.4TCE turbo, 140hp 2.0 petrol and 3 versions of 2.0dCi turbo diesel (110, 130 and 160hp). Most of them will pair with 6-speed manual gearbox, but 2.0 petrol will get a CVT by Jatco (Nissan) while the least powerful diesel will have optional twin-clutch gearbox, a first for Renault. Anyway, the new Megane CC seems not to be a new class leader, and definitely not as trend-setting as Wind. |
| 6 Feb, 2010 |
| Toyota
recalls 8 million cars ! |
 The
biggest news last week in the automotive industry must be Toyota's
massive recall. More than 8 million cars have to be recalled to fix
problems concerning sticky throttle pedal and unintended acceleration.
These cars cover a variety of models sold in USA, Europe and Japan,
including iQ, Aygo, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Matrix, Avensis, Camry,
Avalon and some SUVs and pickups. Undoubtedly, the incident will hurt
the reliable image Toyota had established for decades ! However, the quality and design problem may not be limited to throttle mechanism. In Japan and USA, reports regarding faulty braking in Mk3 Prius are spreading out. Toyota acknowledged that under certain conditions, in particular running on undulated roads, may cause its hot-selling hybrid car to react slowly to brake action. The delay could be up to 1 second ! As a result, Prius and its sibling Lexus HS250 (Toyota Sai) are almost certain to join the list of recall. The recall has already hit the sales of Toyota. In the USA, its sales fell by 16% in January compared with the same period last year. That is a sharp contrast with most rivals (Ford rose 25%, GM +14%, Nissan +16%). Compare with a month ago, it sales even plunged by 47 percent ! I suspect these problems are not just individual incidents. They might be the outcome of Toyota's aggressive expansion in the last few years, where quality was sacrificed as a result. If that is really the case, I believe more problems will be uncovered in the coming months... it might take many years to rebuild its image, just like what Mercedes-Benz experienced in the 1990s. |
| 6 Feb, 2010 |
| Saab
Spyker product plan revealed |
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Having won GM's agreement to purchase Saab, Spyker CEO
Victor Muller has announced his product plan for Saab: Mid-2010: New 9-5 Early 2011: 9-4X 2012: New 9-3 The first two were already reported before. What's new is the new 9-3, which is currently under development by GM. What about the rumored entry-level car, 9-1 ? Muller said it is not in the pipeline yet, but could be put into development if the required funding is found. Even without this car, he projected the annual sales volume of Saab (including the Mexican-built 9-4X) would be 100,000-125,000 units. It would be a sharp increase from last year's 40,000 units, but don't forget as late as 2007 Saab was still producing 125,000 cars a year ! What disappointed me is the lack of new direction for the Swedish brand. Until now, the most interesting (and probably the most feasible as well) proposal I heard came from Christian von Koenigsegg, who planned to turn Saab into a classier, lower volume maker of high value, green and niche cars. In contrast, the direction laid out by Victor Muller follows exactly the same path of GM's. So what can persuade us that he could succeed while GM not ? Does Muller really have a vision on how Saab could develop in the next 5 to 10 years ? Now I increasingly suspect he would sell Saab back to GM. From another view point, the soap opera of sell-wind down-sell might just be a trick that the General used to get funding from European Investment Bank... |
| 6 Feb, 2010 |
| Honda
Insight sales disappointing |
 Honda originally planned to sell 200,000 Insights a year. However, as 2009 closed, the target turned out to be missed widely. Last year, only 130,000 units were sold globally. United States market was particularly disappointing, with 20,600 units sold, versus the first year target of 90,000 units. Economic recession aside, the main reasons seemed to be its limited performance, little reward in fuel economy and, probably most important, not cheap enough to escape from the competition of the much more talented Toyota Prius. |