2009 Ford Fiesta

Ford confirmed today that it will build the Fiesta line at its Cuautitlan, Mexico, plant starting in early 2010 as part of $3 billion investment in the country.

The Fiesta will give Ford two strong highly fuel efficient competitors against such cars the Honda Fit and the Nissan Versa. The Fiesta nameplate is one of Ford's best known global small cars. It was last used on a North American vehicle in 1981.

It's not clear if the hatchback Fiesta will be the three-door, five-door or both. Ford officials in Dearborn would not confirm the number of doors Friday. However, a Ford official at the plant said both hatchbacks would be offered alongside the sedan in the United States.

"Ford is absolutely committed to leveraging our global assets to accelerate the shift to more fuel-efficient small cars and powertrain technologies that people really want and value," Ford CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement.

New vehicles part of $3 billion Mexican investment

Ford said the Cuautitlan plant will be transformed from making F-Series pickups for the Mexican market to small cars for all of North America.

The changes at the plant near Mexico City begin this year, as the plant is converted from its current production of F-Series pickups for the Mexican market to small cars for all of North America.

The automaker also said its Chihuahua Engine Plant, which builds I-4 engines, will make diesel engines for light- and medium-duty trucks in global markets. Ford further will build a transmission plant in Guanajuato as part of a joint venture with German supplier Getrag.

All told, Ford's plan will create 4,500 new jobs, the company said.

Ford added that after the changes are made, pickup trucks for the Mexican market will be imported from U.S. plants.

Ford said it expects its annual capacity in Mexico to increase to 500,000 vehicles and 330,000 transmissions by 2012. Ford's current capacity there is about 296,000 vehicles.

Bangkok, Thailand -- Japanese automakers in Thailand including Toyota are considering clarifying their plans on E85-compatible vehicles to clear confusion among consumers. Unlike their European counterparts, including Ford and Volvo, no Japanese automaker has announced its plan to import or assemble E85-compatible cars for the Thai market.

First Yamaha V-Max was introduced in 1984, had already proposed the most powerful block of the market. The engine of 2009 Yamaha V-max would be V-Four with 70° of 1,800 c.c., developing a power close to 210 horses.


This engine is the largest capacity for a machine of series, many high-tech solutions are equipped in it, that retained with a variable distribution and electronic management of acceleration via the system house fly-by-wire. Lastly, the price will be necessary to count around 15,000 euros.

Image gallery :



[Source : Moto Revue]
continue reading »

Subaru Tecnica International (STI - President: Ichiro Kudoh, Tokyo, Mitaka city), in charge of all motorsport activities in SUBARU, announced to the public the competition debut of their new World Rally Car, the "SUBARU Impreza WRC2008", by their official team, the SUBARU World Rally Team (SWRT - Representative: David Richards, Britain), from Round 7 of the world championship, the Acropolis Rally.

STI and SWRT presented the car to reporters in the Service Park of the Acropolis Rally on Wednesday, May 28th. Two examples of the "Impreza WRC2008" are scheduled to compete in Acropolis Rally from May 29th to June 1st.

The long-wheelbase, short-overhang Impreza WRC2008 has shown improvements in stability and control, with the greatest theme surrounding the car being the huge advances made in the development of the new car's chassis. Additionally, the entire body is lighter, with improved weight distribution.

SUBARU's trademark symmetrical AWD system and horizontally opposed boxer turbo engine combination, coupled with the low centre of gravity chassis have been much more thoroughly investigated for this model. In terms of engine, the same power plant used to contest events since Monte Carlo, the opening round of this season, will continue in the new car. Cooling systems such as the radiator and intercoolers have been completely redesigned to accommodate the new body. The drive system, including the new lightweight gearbox, has already demonstrated reliability and rally-level performance.

The design department of Fuji Heavy Industries and SWRT jointly designed the new car. The planning of the body shell was the result of an accumulation of know-how and involvement from every department right up to the present. This also brought about improvements in aerodynamic characteristics and cooling efficiency.

SUBARU Impreza WRC2008 Vehicle outline:

[Source : Subaru Motorsport Magazine]
[Images courtesy of Subaru World Rally TEAM (SWRT)]

Image Gallery :
Unveiled in Acropolis Rally



Official Image







Related Article :
New Subaru confirmed for Acropolis

Volkswagen Golf TDi Hybrid Concept Car @ 2008 Geneva Motor Show

Wolfsburg, Germany -- Agreement has been reached on a co-operation which sees Volkswagen joining forces with Sanyo, one of the world’s leading developers of rechargeable batteries, to work on new and extremely efficient high-performance storage systems based on lithium-ion technology.

“Our focus in future,” says Prof Martin Winterkorn, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, “will be directed more strongly at making electrically powered automobiles alongside ones driven by more efficient combustion engines. Drivetrain electrification is the way forward if we wish to secure mobility in tomorrow’s world. This will involve energy recovery. The whole idea will be to no avail, however, as long as we do not have powerful energy storage systems at our disposal and as long as vehicle operations are not in tune with customer demands. This cooperation is an important step for us,” Winterkorn adds.

Emissions-free travel in an all-electric operating modus is already possible today, though only at limited speeds and over short distances. That makes it all the more important to develop new accumulators with the capacity, size, weight and cost attributes which will enable them to be used more efficiently in tomorrow’s automobiles. Lithium-ion technology, already very successfully used in communications electronics and portable computers, has the potential to satisfy even the particularly exacting demands placed on electro-traction systems in motor vehicles.

Back in March, at the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen showcased its Golf TDI Hybrid design study, which demonstrated just how much potential for energy reduction there is when you combine high-tech-diesel, electric-drive and 7-speed-DSG technology. Conceived as a powerful full-hybrid vehicle, the Golf TDI Hybrid can be operated using combustion-engine power only or using a combination of combustion and electric drive or using E-drive – i.e. the powerful and energy-efficient combination of TDI technology and an electric motor. The A1 project quattro presented by Audi at the most recent Tokyo Motor Show features a powertrain already designed to cover a distance of 100 km using this innovative storage method. The Group hopes to be able to employ lithium-ion technology in its first vehicles by 2010.

[Source : Volkswagen AG]

US carmaker Ford has outlined plans aimed at making up lost ground in the Philippines, where the company has recently been overtaken in volume sales terms by South Korea's Hyundai. The plan focuses on two main areas - raising Asia exports by adding new markets and boosting domestic sales with the launch of new models. According to Ford Philippines president Richard Baker, exports should rise by 40% in value terms to US$75mn, based on improved regional economic conditions and the addition of Singapore and Brunei as export destinations. Ford Philippines currently exports its locally-produced Ford Focus and Escape and their sister models, the Mazda 3 and Tribute, to Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.

On the domestic front, Baker commented that the company is aiming to raise sales by around 10% in 2008, which would mean selling around 8,000 more vehicles than last year. In particular, Ford will look to its best-selling model, the Everest SUV, which has already achieved growth of 50% year-on-year (y-o-y) in Q108. Another factor will be the choice of powertrain for new models. Baker added that Hyundai's success is partly due to its range of diesel models, which have proven popular at a time of high fuel prices.

In its attempt to boost its domestic sales and fight back against Hyundai, which has taken Ford's fourth place in the market, the US manufacturer plans to roll out its own range of diesel models. Two new models are slated for launch later in the year and will be new versions of existing models.

Engines already play an important part in Ford's strategy for the Philippines and as such, the company invested PHP1.1bn in a flex-fuel engine facility, which opened in 2007. Over the next five years, the facility will produce around 100,000 engines, capable of running on a 90:10 gasoline to ethanol combination. The engines will initially be fitted into the Ford Focus, and later in the Escape SUV and Mazda models, including the Mazda3 and Tribute SUV. Output is also exported to other markets in the ASEAN bloc and South Africa.

The recent performance of the Philippines auto market suggests that the conditions are suited to growth plans for manufacturers. After topping the 100,000 unit mark for the first time in 2007, sales in the first four months of 2008 reached 39,981 units. In April alone, sales were up by 4.3% from March, and up by 28.4% from April 2007, at 11,078 units. This puts the market on track to achieve CAMPI's forecast of 125,000 units in 2008, which is in line with BMI's projection of 127,335 units. However, Ford was not even in the top five for sales in the year to April.

Toyota Prius Battery

Tokyo, Japan --Toyota Motor Corp., seeking to stay in pole position in the fuel efficient car race, unveiled plans Friday to build a new factory producing batteries for eco-friendly vehicles.

The move comes amid growing competition between Japanese automakers to tap demand for economical cars amid soaring prices at the pump.

Toyota's joint venture with its partner Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. plans to spend 20 billion yen (192 million dollars) to build a plant in Kosai in central Shizuoka Prefecture, said Toyota spokesman Hideaki Homma.

Toyota has taken a lead in sales of hybrids, selling more than one million of its Prius model -- the world's first mass-produced hybrid -- since its launch about a decade ago.

But it is facing renewed competition from other Japanese automakers such as Honda as well as overseas rivals in the green automobile race.

Earlier the Nikkei business daily reported that Toyota aims to double its annual production of batteries for eco-friendly cars to one million units by 2011.

The joint venture, Panasonic EV Energy Co. (PEVE), will invest a total of 70 billion yen (673 million dollars) to expand production of the batteries, the Nikkei reported without naming its sources.

It said Toyota would build a new nickel metal-hydride battery plant in Taiwa, Miyagi Prefecture, though the automaker denied such decision had been taken.

The report said another new plant would produce lithium ion batteries for Toyota plug-in hybrids -- the first time Toyota has mass produced lithium-ion batteries.

Automakers have for years been competing to develop lithium-ion rechargeable batteries suitable for long distance hybrids, but there have been safety concerns after massive recalls by laptop computer manufacturers.

Nissan Motor Co. said this week it and NEC Corp. will invest 115 million dollars to mass produce new batteries for electric, hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles.

Honda Motor -- like Toyota a pioneer of hybrid-engine cars -- said this week it plans to introduce what it describes as an affordable hybrid in early 2009.

Hybrids are equipped with an electric motor and a standard petrol engine, making them more economical and environmentally friendly than conventional autos.

[Source : AFP via Autoblog]

Toyota Auris

Toyota is planning a ‘massive’ introduction of new models in Germany by 2009. The Japanese automaker is facing an significant drop in the market share and hopes the addition of new models will boost the brand’s image.

Toyota's share of the German car market dropped to 3.6 percent in the first quarter of this year, down from 4.2 percent in 2007, he said in an interview to be published today.

The expected market share at the end of 2008 will be closer to 3.6 percent than to 4.2 percent due to a lack of new products he added.

In 2009, the Japanese company will bring six new models and nine upgrades of existing models to the German market, including a diesel engine combined with an automatic transmission, Uyttenhoven said.

[Source : Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required)]

The 36th ADAC Zurich 24h Race at the Nürburgring reached its denouement with a third consecutive overall victory for team boss Olaf Manthey to add to his wins in 2006 and 2007. After 148 laps (3,755.94 km) of racing, the driver line-up of Timo Bernhard / Marc Lieb / Romain Dumas / Marcel Tiemann (Germany / Germany / Switzerland / Monaco) brought their Porsche 911 GT3-RSR home in style in front of 220,000 fans lining the 25.378-km circuit. It was a perfect weekend for former DTM driver Manthey, as his second car piloted by Armin Hahne / Christian Haarmann / Jochen Krumbach / Pierre Kaffer (Monaco / Germany / Germany / Switzerland) came home in second place. This was the Porsche 911 GT3-MR that won the 2006 edition of the race for Manthey. Third position in what was, at times, a dramatic race went to the two-times Nürburgring 24h winner Sabine Schmitz and her German team-mates Klaus Abbelen, Dr Edgar Althoff and Kenneth Heyer in their Porsche 997. The lead changed hands seventeen times over the course of the marathon Eifel race, with seven different teams getting a taste of life at the head of the field.

“This hat-trick of victories is the crowning glory of my career as a team boss,” beamed Olaf Manthey after his cars completed their one-two finish. However, their success was only achieved after the shock of an early setback. The number 1 Porsche was forced to dive into the pits on the opening lap after its water system developed a fault. This early misfortune served only to inspire a brilliant charge through the field culminating at 3.30 in the morning, when the team finally took over the lead. “We had some minor technical hitches to deal with early on, but apart from that we put together a virtually perfect race,” smiled Manthey. “The guys in the pits and in the cockpit did an excellent job.” His drivers certainly had every reason to celebrate – none more so than Marcel Tiemann, whose fourth victory in the ADAC Zurich 24h Race has elevated him into an elite club of the most successful drivers in the race’s history. “It’s fantastic, a wonderful feeling,” said the adopted Monegasque as he was swept up in the post-race relief. “This fourth win is something very special and puts me up there with the best. It also means I’ve completed a hat-trick with the same team. It’s just great.” There was jubilation too in the pit garage of the “Frikadelli” Porsche squad run by meat products manufacturer Klaus Abbelen. The Porsche 997 team of Abbelen, Dr Edgar Althoff and Sabine Schmitz made it into the top three, with Schmitz – as the only woman on the podium – once again underlining her claim as the most successful female driver in the history of the endurance classic. “The important thing was how consistently we performed over the whole 24 hours,” summed up the local favourite. “This third place is another high point in my career and means a lot to me. The team only came together at the start of the season and has put its heart and soul into the job in hand. I’m tremendously pleased for the whole team.”

Stuck clinches class victory; eye-catching success for Frentzen

There were also a lot of smiling faces in the garage of the Volkswagen works team at the ADAC Zurich 24h Race. Ahead of the market launch of the company’s new Scirocco, motorsport boss Kris Nissen sent the racing version of the fledgling car to prove its mettle in the world’s toughest race. And his decision paid off, the combination of Hans-Joachim Stuck, Thomas Mutsch, Giniel de Villiers and Dieter Depping finishing eleventh in the overall classification and claiming victory in their class. In so doing, the Scirocco came home ahead of its sister car (14th overall), in which three-times 24-hour race winner Stuck joined forces with two-times rally world champion Carlos Sainz. “We gave the Volkswagen Scirocco a really fantastic debut with the class victory,” said Stuck after the race. “It was an extraordinary experience shared with extraordinary team-mates. Putting in a successful performance alongside global stars such as Carlos Sainz in this amazing arena and in the world’s most exacting race gave me huge pleasure.” Heinz-Harald Frentzen, meanwhile, was celebrating an eye-catching success of his own. The ex-Formula One driver showcased the race technology of the future in the shape of the hybrid-drive Apollo racing car. After his team had worked through some technical problems, Frentzen went back out onto the circuit for the final one-and-a-half hours of the race to take his dashing new racer on a lap or two of honour and thank the fans and race organisers for their support. “I would like to thank all our technical partners and team members,” said Frentzen at the finish. “You can look at our result in two ways. On the one hand, we had two lots of problems with the gearbox in the conventional drive system. But, from a different perspective, the brake energy regeneration concept exceeded our expectations.”

[Source : 36th ADAC Zurich 24h Race]

Aston Martin introduced a revised version of the company’s critically acclaimed DB9 at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, which includes significant enhancements to standard specification.

These changes include a revised version of Aston Martin’s 6.0 litre V12 engine to deliver improved power and torque. Peak power of 470bhp (350kW) - increased by 20bhp (30Nm) - is now reached at 6,000rpm, resulting in a power to weight ratio of 267bhp per tonne (199kW/tonne) - an increase of 11bhp per tonne over the existing Aston Martin DB9.

Peak torque of 600Nm is delivered at 5,000rpm, providing even more accessible power for the driver, as well a greater performance feel overall. Accordingly, top speed is now 190mph (306km/h) and the benchmark 0-60mph time improves by 0.3 seconds for the Touchtronic transmission - which benefits from a new valve box and integrated transmission controls to achieve quicker gear shifts - to 4.6 seconds and by 0.1 seconds to 4.6 seconds for the manual gearbox.

The latest Aston Martin DB9 also incorporates a series of chassis developments for both the Coupe and Volante derivates. Bilstein dampers are introduced in addition to revised upper suspension arms and retuned suspension bushes to deliver improved ride quality; aiding greater refinement in the Volante and an enhanced sporting feel in the Coupe. The Aston Martin DB9 Volante also benefits from revisions to the front shear panel which increases torsional rigidity by 10%, further improving refinement.

The Aston Martin DB9 manages to combine all facets of style, quality and usability of a traditional Aston Martin without relying on retrospective detail or design. Accordingly, styling changes to the revised Aston Martin DB9 are subtle, reflecting the car’s timeless design and understated elegance.

Exterior styling changes include the introduction of a new standard 19” 10-spoke alloy wheel, new door mirrors and a revised anodised aluminium five-bar grille. In the cabin changes include a new centre console constructed from die cast zinc with a painted iridium silver finish and the introduction of a new Emotion Control Unit (ECU) - first seen on the DBS in 2007. The ECU - constructed from glass, polished stainless steel and polycarbonate - replaces the key used previously for the DB9.

The innovative Aston Martin DB9 introduced an exciting new era for Aston Martin. The 2+2 sports car set new standards in its class due to its astonishing combination of technology, agility and design. The car marked the beginning of a new era for Aston Martin and became the first car to be hand-made at the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Sales of the Aston Martin DB9 started in spring 2004, and to date, more than 10,000 examples have been produced and delivered to customers around the world - surpassing the DB7 as the most successful Aston Martin of all time.

Deliveries of the updated Aston Martin DB9 begin during quarter two 2008, with prices from £113,950 for the DB9 Coupe and £122,950 for the DB9 Volante.

[Source : Aston Martin]

Image Gallery :

Los Angeles, CA -- The problem with global platforms is that what works really well for most of the world can really hurt in one specific market.

In the case of the outgoing Mazda6 midsize sedan, the U.S. market was stuck with a car that was too small and underpowered. It was a cruiserweight fighting in the heavyweight category.

For the 2009 redesign, Mazda created a modified, larger platform just for the U.S. market, creating a true rival to the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.

The basics

In growing 4.5 inches in wheelbase and nearly seven inches in overall length, the redesigned Mazda6 has measurements that place it near the top of the mid-size sedan segment.

Its base engine goes toe-to-toe with the segment leaders, and the optional V-6 is the largest and most powerful in the competitive set. Add to that the sporty styling that has become a Mazda hallmark, and the chances to conquest from the Big 3 Japanese entrants just got a lot better.

With the old model, Mazda tried to build sedan, five-door hatch and wagon variants, which added assembly line complexity. The hatch and wagon were not hot sellers, and the added complexity hurt vehicle quality. The 2009 Mazda6 comes only as a sedan. Also, the Mazda6 will be offered only in four trim levels, with two option packages, further reducing complexity.

Notable features

The body-in-white weighs about 70 pounds less than the old model, but the total car weighs about 200 pounds more.

Standard features include 16-inch wheels, halogen headlights, rear window defogger, intermittent wipers, split fold-down rear seats, six-speaker CD stereo with MP3 compatibility, illuminated vanity mirrors, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power mirrors, locks and windows, air conditioning with pollen filter, and disc brakes at all corners.

Whereas many sedan trunks open with hinges that impinge on luggage space, the Mazda6 uses elegant gas struts. The Mazda6 is the only midsize sedan that offers 18-inch wheels.

Standard safety features include dynamic stability control, traction control, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and six airbags.

"This car gives us the opportunity to take away from the edges of Camry, Accord and Altima," said Robert Davis, Mazda senior vice president of product development and quality. "We have a game changer that can get the buyer who wants sporty fun and style, and who wants to get away from the appliances."

Compromises and shortcomings

Like BMW, Mazda's upshift/downshift controls on the auto-manual gearbox are backward compared to the industry standard. To give the car a sportier ride, Mazda made the suspension a bit too busy, without sufficient suppleness. The coupe-like roofline means backseat passengers lose headroom, and actually can get baked by the sun. The seats could use better lumbar support. The optional Sirius radio has many updated functions, but no "live traffic" setting for the navigation system.

The Market

While the Camry, Accord and Altima have increased sales progressively over the past decade, the Mazda6 has stayed flat. Mazda wants to sell 100,000 sedans annually in North America -- about 75,000 in the U.S. -- to start. But Mazda has the capacity at the Flat Rock, Mich., plant to build 125,000 units on straight time. Mazda expects a 70-30 split between four-cylinder and six-cylinder production.

The Skinny

Definitely sportier in appearance, the Mazda6 now has the features and size to go toe-to-toe with the competition. Look at what happened when the Mazda3 succeeded the dowdy Protege. If Mazda can get the word out properly, the same sales success could occur with the Mazda6.

[Source : Automotive News (Subscription Required)]

Seat has revealed their new fourth generation Seat Ibiza to the world for the first time, besides their in-house Seat unveiling at Martorell headquarters, at the Madrid Motor Show in Spain, the marque's home market. The new Ibiza is built on the Volkswagen Group's new platform and allows for the new 'Arrow Design' concept with its simpler yet powerful geometric lines.

The Ibiza IV is all new in every sense of the word and has grown by 99 mm in length, has a 30 mm wider front track width and 33 mm in the rear which allows for larger diameter wheels ranging from 15 inch to 17 inch.

Initially the new Ibiza will have a choice of four engines, three petrol and one diesel. An entry level 1.2 liter 70 hp petrol engine, 1.4 liter 85 hp petrol engine, 1.6 liter 105 hp engine or the 1.9 liter TDI with 105 hp with the range topping 4.5 liter per 100 km fuel economy.

Press Released in PDF

[Source : SEAT]

Gallery : From SEAT



Gallery : From NetCarShow

Ford said it is cutting production in North America by 15 percent in the second quarter from the same period a year ago, dropping output by 20,000 units to 690,000 vehicles. In the third quarter, Ford expects to build between 510,000 to 540,000 units, down 15 to 20 percent from the same period last year. Fourth quarter production is forecasted to be between 590,000 to 630,000, down 8 percent.

“The challenge affecting the entire industry is the accelerating shift in consumer demand away from large trucks and SUVs to smaller cars and crossovers — combined with a steep rise in commodity prices and the weak U.S. economy,” said CEO Alan Mulally.

Ford said it will shift its focus to higher cars and crossover production in the second half of 2008. Vehicles that will see a boost in production will include the Ford Fusion, Edge, Escape and Focus. Mercury’s Milan and Mariner will also see an increase along with the Lincoln MKZ and MKX.

Pickups and SUVs have taken a large hit and Ford Says that “substantially higher commodity costs” and changes in consumer buying patterns are hurting the company’s its financial outlook.

Kia Motors Corporation has confirmed that its all-new production model will retain the spirit and name of the SOUL concept cars shown earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, and the first SOUL concept debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. As well as confirming the name, Kia has released the first official photograph of the production car, which will be called the ‘Kia Soul’.

“Reaction from the media and public to the three SOUL concept cars first unveiled at the Geneva Show in March and shown subsequently at other international events, has been overwhelmingly positive,” enthused Mr. Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President and COO, International Business Division, Kia Motors Corporation. “This reaction, plus the fact that both physically and emotionally the SOUL concept cars are so closely related to the new Kia Soul production car, made it a natural choice to retain this evocative name.”

The three concept cars – SOUL Burner, SOUL Diva and SOUL Searcher – were created by Kia’s European design team led by Gregory Guillaume, under the guidance of Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. They were developed from the original SOUL concept car designed jointly by Kia’s California and Korea design studios and unveiled in 2006 at Detroit.

Speaking about the choice of name for the original 2006 Detroit concept car, Tom Kearns, chief designer of Kia Motors America commented, “We wanted to inject some life into this car’s design and give it a soul. And of course ‘Soul’ also is a homophone for the home city of Kia Motors headquarters, in Korea so it’s a fun play on words.”

Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, strongly endorsed that name choice at the
Geneva Show earlier this year, commenting, “The name SOUL accurately reflects how people will be able to ‘express their spirit—their psyche’ with this new product. Through a variety of options, accessories and colours, they will be able to personalize their Kia Soul and create a sense of individuality, making the car a true reflection of their personality.”

Looking ahead to the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Gregory Guillaume observed, “Because the new Kia Soul is not a replacement for an existing vehicle and is destined to play a unique role within the Kia global lineup, it can be a bit of a rebel! The trio of Geneva concepts were ‘appetisers’ for the new model introduction at Paris, and you can be certain that the new Kia Soul model will retain the core DNA of the three exciting concepts.”

The all-new Kia Soul defies classification but its design will encourage customers to build an emotional bond with this rebellious new car. To be made in Korea from September 2008, Kia Soul provides a creative platform for buyers to individualise and match their car to their own personalities.

The new Kia Soul production car will make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show October 2008.

[Source : KIA World]

Tokyo, Japan -- Honda's fuel-sipping Fit will turn an even deeper shade of green with new plans to launch a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the popular subcompact in the early 2010s.

The hybrid Fit, announced here early today, will be the fourth hybrid from Honda Motor Co. by 2015, as the Japanese automaker chases rival Toyota Motor Corp. in the low-emission car race.

Honda already was planning to roll out an all new dedicated hybrid vehicle early next year, to challenged Toyota's Prius, followed by a sporty hybrid and a redesigned Civic hybrid.

The greener Fit's arrival dispels Honda's earlier skepticism about the viability of mounting pricey hybrid systems on small, low-priced cars that already get great mileage.

President Takeo Fukui has changed his tune -- in time with changing market realities.

"The Fit has great fuel efficiency to begin with, and if you put in a hybrid, it's going to get even better," Fukui said while announcing the car at a mid-year news conference. "So with crude oil prices going up this much, I think a Fit hybrid is now starting to make sense."

The Subaru World Rally Team ended months of speculation today by confirming its new Impreza World Rally Car will make its WRC debut on the next rally of the series - the Acropolis Rally of Greece.

Described by the team as ‘the most radically different Subaru World Rally Car in 15 years’ the new model - the Impreza WRC2008 - will be driven by Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson on the gravel event, which is round seven of the championship and starts on 29 May.

The new car is based on the most recent variant of the Impreza road car introduced in June 2007. But underneath the all new hatch-back bodyshell it retains the familiar Subaru powertrain of a horizontally-opposed turbocharged engine and symmetrical four-wheel drive system.

Detailed technical information will be revealed at the car’s official launch in Greece on 28 May, but the fact that the car carries - for the first time - the logo of suspension manufacturer BOS suggests it will retain the French company’s dampers.

Pre-launch pictures reveal a new livery for the WRC2008, marking the end of the familiar blue and yellow schemes which have decorated every one of the manufacturer’s cars since 1993. The team describes the new scheme, created around the Subaru corporate identity, as ‘dramatic’. One element of the colour scheme which is carried across, however, is the underlying metallic blue of the bodywork.

Subaru last won a WRC rally on the stages in Mexico 2005 and the team’s legions of fans around the world - not to mention its two drivers - are hoping the new car will herald a return to its rally winning days. Subaru took the FIA WRC manufacturers’ title in 1995, 1996 and 1997 and was the driving force behind three drivers’ title wins; with Colin McRae in 1995, Richard Burns in 2001 and most recently, Petter Solberg in 2003.

Solberg was deeply frustrated during the most recent rally in Sardinia and refused to talk to journalists about the reasons why he almost failed to finish inside the top 10. But he broke his silence to tell about the new car.

“Recently it’s been quite a stressful period for the whole team but I have good confidence that the new car should be reliable and fast,” said Solberg. “The whole package is completely different to the existing car and there are improvements all the way through. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in the Impreza story and personally I feel very proud. I’ve been involved in the project since the car was just a clay model in Japan, so it feels a bit like a baby to me.

“I have one day of testing with the car in France this week, to add to the two days I did before Sardinia. Of course it would have been nice to have a little more testing before we have to compete but it’s a team decision and I’m going to make the best of it in Greece.”

[Source : WRC , Concept car images courtesy of LeftlaneNews]

Few sports cars are developed specifically for Britain's roads. Those that have been tend to become true 'driver's cars'. Alfa Romeo is planning for the new, limited edition Alfa Romeo Brera S to join those ranks.

After a year of intensive suspension and chassis development at Prodrive, the world-leading motorsport specialist, the result is a sports coupe that subtly enhances all that is good about the original Alfa Brera, while bestowing it with outstanding driver feedback and handling.

Distinctly different from the rest of the line-up, this unique addition to Alfa Romeo's UK range includes refined styling changes, inside and out. And to ensure ultimate exclusivity, production of the Alfa Romeo Brera S will be limited to just 500 individually numbered models.

Power comes from a choice of two existing direct injection petrol engines - the 185 bhp 2.2 JTS and the 260 bhp 3.2 V6 JTS.

Marketing director at Alfa Romeo UK, Nicholas Bernard, says: "Significantly, the Alfa Romeo Brera S isn't simply about brute force, it's about how the available power is transferred to the road and how the road surface is communicated back to the driver to bring new levels of sports handling and driver-focused confidence and involvement."

Briefed to make the Alfa Romeo Brera S less of a long-distance tourer and more sporty on UK roads, the engineering team at Prodrive developed a unique suspension set-up. Prodrive engineers meticulously experimented with spring rates and ride heights to match the reduced weights of the 2008 model year Alfa Breras. Then followed an extensive damper tuning exercise to achieve the desired ride/handling balance and steering response required by driving enthusiasts in the UK.

According to Prodrive Project Leader, Peter Cambridge, the result is "a car that 'shrinks' around the driver and delivers all the fun and engagement of a sports car driving experience on A and B-roads. Yet, on motorways, offers a compliant and composed ride."

The sports car driving experience is achieved by reducing roll and pitch, flattening the cornering attitude, and subsequently instilling confidence-inspiring steering.

Peter Cambridge comments: "Our painstaking work with the spring set-up controls exactly how much the car pitches and rolls with every lump, bump, camber and pothole on our roads. Then we developed the dampers to control the rate at which the springs respond. Once we were satisfied with that, we set about really affecting the feel and response of the steering to inspire confidence."

To reduce roll and pitch and achieve an even flatter cornering attitude, Prodrive commissioned bespoke Eibach coil springs and Bilstein dampers.

Spring rates are increased by over 50 per cent compared to the standard Alfa Brera, giving the car a more nimble and agile feel, while the specially tuned gas-filled mono-tube dampers give tighter body control. A careful balance has been created to maintain good compliance over ridges and bumps in the road.

At the same time, the suspension static geometry has also been revised to optimise steering and handling. These changes, together with new 19" alloy wheels and Pirelli PZero Nero tyres, have created a more responsive turn-in to corners, with increased driver feedback, allowing the driver to explore the dynamic limits of the car.

To further enhance suspension geometry, the cars have been lowered by 10 mm front and rear. This lower centre of gravity helps reduce roll and improve cornering and braking performance. In addition, the lowered suspension gives the Alfa Romeo Brera S a more purposeful stance.

At each corner of the Alfa Romeo Brera S, unique Alfa 8C Competizione-inspired, lightweight 19" alloy wheels have been fitted. Although the wheels are eye-catching, the all-new design was commissioned by Prodrive primarily for performance, rather than just cosmetic appeal. The reason is unsprung weight - the weight carried by the car on the 'road side' of the spring and shock absorber. This plays a significant role in the way the car steers, handles and transmits feedback to the driver.

The lighter the wheel, the better it tracks undulations in the road surface without requiring heavy damping to control it. The unsprung weight has been further reduced by the adoption of hollow anti-roll bars and aluminium suspension components from the Factory.

As a result, the weight of both Alfa Romeo Brera S models is lower than the rest of the range. The front-wheel drive 3.2 V6 JTS is almost 100 kg lighter than the Q4 version and the 2.2 JTS version weighs 35 kg less.

The Alfa Romeo Brera S also sounds different from the standard range. The original characteristic growl of the V6 has been enhanced by careful redesign of the rear silencers. Thanks to a Holmholtz resonator connected in tandem with each silencer, the 2.2 JTS model now emits a sportier yet refined burble.

The exhaust has been altered to mirror the shape of the rear lights. Finished with chrome embellishers, they feature a Prodrive logo on the tailpipe exterior. This is just one of several subtle exterior enhancements to the award-winning Alfa Brera, including Prodrive branded front stone deflectors, and a bespoke red 'S' or 'SV6' on the C-pillar.

Inside the 3.2 V6 JTS Alfa Romeo Brera S, changes are more obvious. Not only are the supportive sports seats upholstered in soft black Frau® leather with red stitching, so are the dashboard fascia, door panels, steering wheel and gearlever. The centre console and instruments are faced in a dark finish. This interior can also be specified on the 2.2 JTS version.

Foot pedals are fashioned from drilled aluminium and the headrest recess houses a limited edition Brera S aluminium plate, featuring the flags of Italy and Britain.

For the record, the 2.2 JTS and 3.2 V6 JTS Alfa Romeo Brera S can reach 62 mph from rest in 8.6 and 7.0 seconds respectively, on the way to maximum speeds of 139 and 155 mph.

The transition from Alfa Brera to Brera S takes place at Alfa Romeo UK's dedicated import centre, near Bristol, and is overseen by Prodrive.

Nicholas Bernard says: "The standard Brera is well loved and delivers a great all-round driving experience. But the Alfa Romeo Brera S is deliberately honed, tuned and fettled for British roads and aimed directly at a dedicated audience of driving enthusiasts."

[Source : Alfa Romeo]