Entries from March 2009 ↓

An image showing the concept version of Kia’s upcoming VG luxury sedan has leaked to the web ahead of its unveiling at the Seoul Motor Show next month. Dubbed the KND-5, the concept hints at what we can expect from the company’s new Amanti replacement which will officially debut later this year.

Created to rival other near-luxury sedans such as the Volkswagen Passat CC, the new KND-5 concept boasts an elegant exterior which features upscale design touches such as LED lighting, 20-inch wheels, and a massive panoramic glass roof.

The Kia KND-5 concept is roughly the same size as the current Kia Amanti, measuring 4945mm long, 1850mm wide and 1475mm high. The concept car is built on a newly developed front-wheel-drive platform with a wheelbase of 2845mm.

Perhaps the most interesting information about this near-production concept vehicle is the engine unit displaced under it’s hood. According to Kia’s official Korean press release, the KND-5 concept features a 3.5L V6 Lambda engine!

Designed under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, the KND-5 concept previews Kia’s upcoming near-luxury sedan, code-named VG, which spy pics have been seen quite oftenly on the web lately. The 2010 Kia VG will share it’s FWD platform with the next gen Hyundai Azera (codenamed HG) and is scheduled to make it’s official Korean debut in September this year.

The KND-5 concept, will be put on display at the Kia’s booth at Seoul Auto Show alongside next generation, 2010 Kia Sorento and Kia Forte hybrid electric vehicle, the world’s first hybrid car to be powered by LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gasoline) and applied with lithium polymer (Li–poly) batteries.

Malaysian automaker Proton has said it will manufacture electric cars for eco-conscious markets in Europe and the United States, in a deal with Netherlands-based Detroit Electric.

The deal is expected to boost Proton revenue by 2.0 billion ringgit (548 million dollars over the next four years, managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamad Tahir told state media.

Detroit Electric said that by 2012 it plans to sell more than 270,000 of the zero-emission electric vehicles in the US and Europe as well as China, priced from 23,000 to 33,000 dollars.

Its chief executive officer Albert Lam said the vehicles, powered by a lithium polymer battery, will have a single-charge range of between 180 kilometres (111 miles) and 325 kilometres depending on battery size.

He said he was confident in the project despite the global downturn which has seen car sales plummet globally.

“Our target audience are those who purchase practical and affordable vehicles. This makes our products fit the pockets of a very wide audience,” he said in a statement late Monday.

Detroit Electric was an icon of the United States auto industry in the early 1900s, producing the first electric cars. But it went bankrupt in 1939 and was revived by Lam and other shareholders in the Netherlands and the US last year.

Proton also said it was considering sell the vehicles — based on its Persona and Gen.2 models — in Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Proton was formed 25 years ago as part of an ambitious national industrialisation plan, but its market share has slumped in recent years as it floundered in a newly deregulated market.

Confired that Next Gen nissan March (W02A/X02A) to be bigger than curretn model,not smaller as I heared ever.Debut togheter around the world early 2010.

Geely Automobile to buy automatic transmission companies in Australia at the signing ceremony, New South Wales, Australia Government Building. Chinese ambassador to Australia Zhang Junsai; New South Wales Minister of China and Australia, such as government officials and mainstream media in the two countries attended the signing ceremony.

The company name is DSI, DSI is the abbreviation of Drivetrain Systems International. DSI automatic transmission is a set R & D, manufacturing and sales of automatic transmission major companies, is the world’s only two independent enterprise outside the vehicle automatic transmission companies, covers an area of 300,000 ㎡, the factory area 36000 ㎡; Institute covers an area of 3,000 ㎡. With an annual output of 180,000 Units of the production capacity of automatic transmission; the company has 80 years of history, has accumulated abundant technology and industry experience. Automatic transmission parts and components world-renowned company BorgWarner once wholly owned by the company for 30 years. DSI company has a number of world-class excellent engineers, its products cover four-speed and six-speed before and after the drive and all-drive high torque automatic transmission for Ford, Chrysler and Ssangyong Motor Co. and other world-renowned facilities, is currently being development of the world’s advanced level before and after the eight-speed automatic transmission drives, DCT dual-clutch transmission and CVT Continuously Variable Transmission.

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Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor Co plans to display 12 own-brand models at the 2009 Shanghai auto show in April, state media Xinhua reported.

According to the news agency, three Great Wall SUVs still being developed will make their public appearance at the Shanghai show. They include Hover M1 driven by a 1.3L engine, Hover H5 powered by a 2.4L engine and Hover M3, a five-seat compact SUV.

In addition, three Great Wall sedans including Florid, Peri and Cool bear, along with Wingle pickup and Cowry MPV, will be displayed at the event. A newly developed electric car and a Wingle RV will also be exhibited.

Great Wall Motor is aiming for a nearly 70 percent jump in vehicle sales to 200,000 units this year, banking on policy support and new models to boost demand for its pickup trucks and small passenger cars.

TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces the launch in Japan today of the redesigned “Crown Majesta”.

The fifth-generation Crown Majesta—the Toyota brand’s top sedan—features a high-quality interior with enhanced comfort and safety features, all designed to offer the highest levels of satisfaction to both drivers and passengers.

Specific improvements include a longer wheelbase and exterior styling that exudes presence and energy. The 4.6-liter V8 gasoline engine provides ample power and is combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission for smooth, powerful cruising and response. In addition, three world-first1 technologies—the Front-side Pre-crash Safety System, Pre-crash Seatbacks and a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) rear-seat center airbag—enhance safety and improve overall vehicle performance.

Monthly sales target for Japan: 1,000 units

Assembly Plant:
Motomachi Plant, Toyota Motor Corporation

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Mazda Motor Corp said on Thursday it expected to develop a diesel engine that was cheaper and about as fuel-efficient as some hybrid cars by 2011 as part of its efforts to improve mileage without the aid of costly electric systems.

The Hiroshima-based automaker has set a target of raising its global car fleet’s fuel economy by 30 percent by 2015, and plans to rely on advances in internal combustion engines, automatic transmissions and vehicle weight reduction to reach that goal.

As one pillar of that plan, Mazda is working on a clean diesel engine with a displacement of about 2.0 liters that would be as fuel-efficient as a 660cc gasoline microcar and a “mild” hybrid car, Mazda’s head of research and development said.

“We believe that improving today’s conventional engines at a low cost is the most effective way to get fuel-efficient cars to proliferate,” R&D Chief Seita Kanai told reporters in Tokyo.

Gasoline-electric hybrid cars are gaining popularity but still carry a premium over conventional gasoline and diesel cars.

Hybrid proponents such as Toyota Motor Corp have argued that tighter emissions regulations in future would mean that cleaning the exhaust from diesel engines could cost as much as or more than gasoline-electric hybrid technology.

But Kanai said Mazda’s new diesel engine would cost less, not more, partly due to its proprietary single-nanotechnology, which reduces the use of precious metals in emission-cleaning catalysts, and a new diesel particulate filter that negates the need for expensive after-treatment parts.

Kanai said Mazda would begin mounting electric devices such as an electric motor in a hybrid car during the second stage of mileage improvements.

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With General Motors in the US facing difficulties, the Thai unit is looking for local sources of financing to start up construction of its stalled diesel plant by the third quarter.

“We are working with the Export-Import Bank of Thailand to get loans,” Steve Carlisle, president of General Motors Southeast Asia Operations and Chevrolet Sales (Thailand), said yesterday.

“We will present our case and will get a reply in one week to 10 days. If the loans come through we can work out the details within two-three months. If it does not, we will have to re-evaluate our plan and make changes accordingly before re-submitting,” he said while appearing at the Bangkok International Motor Show.

The carmaker was also in discussions with other banks on the Bt15 billion it needs to re-start construction of its diesel plant.

GM has also postponed the launch of the next generation of Colorado pickup trucks by one year.

Another method to bring in more cash is to sell off parts of non-core businesses.

GMAC, the financial division of GM, has been restructured recently with GM only retaining 7 per cent. GM is also in the process of shedding brands like Saab and Hummer.

GM has to look for local funding for its projects as the US has stated that the loan extended to GM was for local use only.

Carlisle said operations had stabilised now after some lay-offs and temporary factory shutdowns.

“We will continue with temporary shutdowns to adjust to market demand. Currently we are also taking this opportunity to re-train our staff.

“What we want to say to Thai consumers is that we’re here to stay. This week we opened a new showroom and our growth plans are still on track,” he added.

Chevrolet has also launched a special edition of the Captiva SUV with GPS navigation.

source: www.nationmultimedia.com

BLUE-WILL – Hyundai charges in with advanced hybrid concept

* All-new concept car to be unveiled at Seoul Show
* Lithium-Ion batteries and a 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine
* Solar panels boost battery range

Hyundai has revealed the first pictures of an innovative plug-in hybrid concept car. Due to be revealed at the Seoul Motor Show which opens on April 2nd, the “BLUE-WILL”, has exceptionally advanced technology crammed inside its striking bodyshell.

Recycled PET soft drink bottles were used to make the material for the headlamp bezels while use has also been made of bio-plastics: PLA for the interior while PA11 was specified for the engine cover. These materials are made from plants extract rather than fossil fuels and are bio-degradable.

The BLUE-WILL concept is powered by an all-aluminium Gasoline Direct Injected 1.6-litre engine which is coupled to a Continuously Variable Transmission and a 100kw electric motor which is at the heart of Hyundai’s parallel hybrid drive architecture.

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PSA Peugeot Citroen’s new automotive technical and styling center (TASC) in Shanghai will roll out a world car in the coming three years and plans to put it on sale in the global markets, local media reported today.

The Shanghai Morning Post cited TASC president, who was also a general designer of Citroen C4, as saying that a new PSA world car developed by the center is expected to come to the market by 2012.

The PSA technology center went into operation in November 2008 with a total investment of one billion yuan. As part of the French car maker’s CAP 2010 blueprint, the establishment of the center aims to strengthen its engineering capability for faster expansion on the Chinese mainland.

The center currently has a staff of 220 people, including 30 designers, 110 engineers and 40 members of the procurement department. The center will be staffed with more than 500 members by 2010.