Entries from December 2007 ↓
December 17th, 2007 — mitsubishi, toyota
Tokyo (dpa) - Japanese automakers have applied to produce environmentally conscious eco-cars in Thailand, The Nikkei reported Friday.
Toyota Motor Corp and Mitsubishi Motors Corp plan to expand production capacity in Thailand and to begin manufacturing about 100,000 units of environmentally-friendly cars every year from 2010.
Toyota intends to invest about 17 billion yen (151.83 million dollars) and make the total of investment about 20 billion yen, Japan’s business daily said.
The Thai government has decided to give tax breaks to automakers that produce eco-cars with 1.3-litre or smaller gasoline engines and fuel efficiency of 20 kilometres per litre.
Honda Motor Co, Suzuki Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co have already received permission for their production plans. They plan to begin manufacturing eco-cars as early as 2010 in Thailand.
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December 16th, 2007 — nissan, spyshot
December 16th, 2007 — mazda, spyshot
December 16th, 2007 — Auto show / Motor Show, BMW
THE FIRST-EVER BMW X6 SPORTS ACTIVITY COUPE: BMW’s All-New X6 xDrive35i and X6 xDrive50i Make World Debuts at Detroit Auto Show in 2008
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - December 15, 2007, 6PM EST… BMW will once again introduce a ground-breaking idea to the world and the creation of a new segment with the debut of its all-new X6 Sports Activity Coupe at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January. The all-new vehicle redefines the very notion of a coupe — with five doors and four sculpted seats, a higher ride and loads of cargo space. It defies coupe conventions in one jaw-dropping look, combining coupe agility and SAV versatility, taking the coupe to a higher level.
As the world’s first Sports Activity Coupe, the BMW X6 will be available in two engine variants: the xDrive50i (4.4 V8 engine, 400 hp, 450lb.-ft torque) and the xDrive35i (3.0 inline six-cylinder engine, 300 hp, 300 lb.-ft torque), both with Twin Turbo and direct injection. The BMW X6 offers unique features and performance ability in a combination unmatched by any other vehicle. The new BMW X6’s design combines the sporting elegance of a large BMW Coupe with the powerful presence of a BMW X model.
The BMW X6 comes as standard with BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive technology with electronic control for variable distribution of drive power between the front and rear axles, consistently adjusted to driving conditions at all times and in all situations.
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December 13th, 2007 — honda
TORRANCE, Calif. - A prototype of the next-generation Honda Pilot will be unveiled at the January 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
The prototype will convey design features of the more boldly-styled, next-generation Pilot and will emphasize authentic SUV styling, clever interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience.
The current-generation Pilot offers versatile eight-passenger seating and all-weather, medium-duty off-road capabilities while earning a distinctive reputation in the midsize SUV class for its refined handling and ride comfort. Among its numerous accolades, the Honda Pilot has earned Car and Driver magazine’s prestigious “5Best Truck” award for six straight years (2002 thru 2007).
Additional Honda vehicles to be on display at NAIAS include the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, introduced at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, and the CR-Z concept vehicle, introduced at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Limited retail marketing of the FCX Clarity will begin in summer 2008. The CR-Z is a next-generation lightweight sports car concept equipped with Honda’s original gas-electric hybrid system.
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December 13th, 2007 — isuzu, toyota
Tokyo, Dec 12, 2007 (Jiji Press) - Isuzu Motors Ltd. <7202> President Susumu Hosoi on Wednesday indicated that the a new diesel engine being codeveloped with Toyota Motor Corp. <7203> may be used not only in cars for the European market but also in models intended for other regions.
Under their partnership, Isuzu and Toyota plan to start production of the new diesel engine around 2012 for use in Toyota models targeted at the European market.
“It is unlikely that this will be limited to Europe from the viewpoint of costs,” Hosoi said in an interview, referring to the need to cut the manufacturing costs by expanding production volume.
Hosoi said the new engine may also be used in Isuzu cars, although he noted that the two companies have not yet discussed specifics relating to this matter.
Isuzu plans annual production of around 20,000 units of the new engine, Hosoi said. The location of the production has yet to be decided.
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December 12th, 2007 — Auto show / Motor Show, nissan
A FORUM For Family Gatherings. The interior of the new Nissan FORUM Concept, which makes its public debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, features a front driver’s zone and rear kids’ zone – brought together into one unified family space through innovative technology. FORUM’s interior also features “Turntable Seating,” a unique 2nd row seat that can rotate 90 degrees to either side or 180 degrees to face the three-passenger 3rd row seat. FORUM also includes individual audio/entertainment systems with wireless monitors and a console-mounted microwave oven.
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December 12th, 2007 — Auto show / Motor Show, mazda
HIROSHIMA, Japan, December 12, 2007—Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premieres of the Mazda Furai concept vehicle and the heavily revised new Mazda RX-8 sports car at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), to be held in Detroit from Sunday, January 13 through Sunday, January 27, 2008. On the heels of its show-stopping debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in October, the Mazda Taiki concept vehicle also will make its North American debut, the first time it has been shown outside Japan. Additionally, Mazda will have a special display of racecars on its stand during the press days, and the full lineup of production cars for consumers to sample on the public days.
All attending media are invited to the company’s formal unveiling on the Mazda show stand, scheduled at 13:45 p.m. on Monday, January 14, 2008.
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December 11th, 2007 — Auto show / Motor Show, suzuki
American Suzuki Motor Corporation today announced that its midsize pickup truck will be produced by Nissan North America, Inc. The truck will be based on Nissan?s Frontier midsize pickup and built at the company?s manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn.
Production of the pickup truck will begin in the fall of 2008.
The vehicle will be marketed solely by Suzuki in North America.
In 2006, Suzuki and Nissan announced an agreement to expand the scope of their business collaboration. The pickup is part of that agreement, which also included the supply by Suzuki to Nissan of Alto minicars in Japan.
Suzuki Equator will show in Chicago Auto show 2008
Source : Suzuki press
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December 11th, 2007 — suzuki
New Delhi (PTI): Emphasising the importance given to its Indian operations, Japanese car major Suzuki Motor Co on Tuesday said it will be rolling out its fifth global product — to be showcased at the upcoming auto expo here as concept ‘A-Star’– only from the country.
“The A-Star is to be produced only in India, not even in Japan. This will be displayed at the Auto Expo in Delhi (in January) and it will come under SMC’s ‘family theme’,” SMC Chairman Osamu Suzuki told reporters here.
“The production of A-Star will start by the autumn of 2008 by when export to Europe would commence,” he added.
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