February 28, 2007
Magna looking at Chrysler
Magna is a successful Canadian automotive supplier with strong political ties via Belinda Stronach.
News is trickling out on the ‘Net that Donald Walker, CEO of Magna, and Vince Galifi, CFO, both commented to analysts on a conference call that left impression they are seriously considering the purchase of the Chrysler Group.
This is seriously interesting news, though I don’t envy anyone the task of swallowing and retuning of the “Chrysler Group”.
It goes without saying, the morale at Chrysler is pretty low.
The Car Connection
Detroit Free Press
February 27, 2007
Pirelli rimes with rally
The news from the web is that Pirelli has bid and won the right to be the sole supplier for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 WRC.
This is good news for driver and team fans, removing the sea-saw effect that different tyres could have on each event of the World Rally Championship, tightening up the racing.
And yes, it should technically reduce costs …
February 26, 2007
Jetta SportWagon
Even with the VW recall (see previous article), I think I just found my next ride.
The 2008 Jetta SportWagon with 2.0 TDI engine (maybe DSG ?) is certainly enticing me to change when it becomes available. It’s a really nice looking wagon.
Props to VWvortex.com and the other pictures.
VW Faulty Break Lights = 800,000 car recal
This bit of news vie CNN Money:
“Volkswagen recalls nearly 800,000 cars. Defective brake lights on Golf, GTI, Jetta, New Beetle and R32 are a potential safety hazard and should be replaced.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Around 800,000 Volkswagen vehicles have been recalled Monday because of faulty brake lights, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said .
The 790,000 vehicles include Jettas, New Beetles, Golfs, GTIs and R32s.
The specific years and models affected are 1999-2005 Jetta sedans, 2001-2005 Jetta wagons, 1998-2007 New Beetle, 2003-2007 New Beetle Convertibles, 1999-2006 Golfs and GTIs and the 2004 R32, all in the United States.
The malfunctioning brake lights and brake light switches could fail to come on or remain stuck on.
This recall expands on one announced by Europe’s No. 1 carmaker last year, when 362,000 Jettas and New Beetles were recalled due to the same defective part.
Volkswagen said that dealers will immediately be prepared to accept service appointments to perform the repair at no charge, but the notification process isn’t scheduled to begin until April.
NHTSA did not say if any injuries had been reported linked to the defective brake lights.”
February 23, 2007
Wilkins Hyundai Subaru
It’s Friday. Get a laugh.
Props to the Family Guy
Rondo VS cee'd
Names matter. Even for station wagons.
In one corner is the Kia Rondo, which ought to be a Ron Popeil product name.
In the other corner is the Kia cee’d, an awful moniker for a “C segment” car.
Rondo is what North American buyers get to see, while European buyers get cee’d-ed. Err.
Same car with different styling right ? No. Unless someone stole the european teams design and snuck it into Korea, the latest Hyundai Elantra based Rondo is likely to be a good car, simply not as good as the European cee’d, if critics are to be believed.
This whole Kia-Hyundai empire is hard to follow, but their impact is being felt more and more. They are ramping up to bloody Honda, Suzuki, Subaru and are already ankle-biting Toyota. VW and Ford ? Those guys have already out priced themselves from the entry level market in prices. Ok, maybe VW’s Brazilian ‘City’ Golf and Jetta are an honest competition.
The cee’d is based on ED platform, developped by Kia, while Hyundai in Europe will build the Arnejs on FD platform, a pure sibling. Speculation is that the ED/FD platform, which replaces the both Elantra/Accent chassis, will be made into a WorldWide platform in 1-2 years.
So, does this mean the Rondo and new Elantra are goign to be around 1-2 years ? No clue.
One conjecture is that the Hyundai Arnejs is going to be the “Wagon” pair-up to the North American Elantra.
As I said, it’s hard to make sense of the this H&K empire design and marketing strategy. We shall know more after the Arnejs is shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Press release:
Hyundai Motor Company will unveil its new European C-segment hatchback at its press conference at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday 6 March 2007. Codenamed “FD”, this will be the first ever car from the Korean manufacturer designed specifically for Europe.
In developing the FD, Hyundai focused on combining cultivated dynamics with sleek, sophisticated styling, generous equipment levels and up-to-the-minute safety package. The car is due to go on sale across Europe in the summer.
With the launch of FD, Hyundai will simultaneously introduce a new alphanumerical naming strategy for all its products going forward. In the past, product names have been chosen to express the values inherent in, or associated with, each individual Hyundai model. Now, however, Hyundai is taking a more holistic approach to its vehicle nomenclature.
The new nomenclature will display a clearer technology-orientation and be closely linked to Hyundai’s brand promise of “Quality, Self-assurance, and Inspiring”.
Managing Director of Hyundai Motor UK Ltd, Tony Whitehorn, said: “Geneva marks a significant turning point in the history of Hyundai, which has grown at a phenomenal rate in its relatively brief history to become the world’s sixth largest motor manufacturer.
“The launch of FD, combined with the new naming strategy, the imminent arrival of a 300,000 unit European manufacturing facility and new advanced R&D facilities and European Headquarters in Germany, signals Hyundai’s development into a mainstream European manufacturer with serious intentions to provide high quality and affordable cars designed and built specifically to European tastes.”
February 22, 2007
Renault Suicides ?
This piece of news is just too weird not to pass on verbatum from Verdict on Cars via Reuters.
“Three separate suicides at a Renault SA design centre have prompted an investigation by French police. The latest death came last week when a man’s body was discovered at his house, with a note blaming work pressure for his actions. In January another worked drowned himself in a lake near the centre, and in October a third worker jumped out the office window and died. Renault introduced a work-intensive restructuring program last year, which unions say has put unreasonable pressure on employees. A Renault spokeswoman said the company “deeply regrets” the incidents.”
Happy 50th Trabi!
“The Trabant, the smoke-spewing communist car whose coughing two-stroke engine has been compared to a death rattle, is celebrating its 50th birthday and east Germans are preparing for a year of nostalgic road pollution.” - so quips The Times
My family actually had a white Trabi when I was young. It came to replace what I remember to be a GAZ (Gorki’y Automobil Zavod) 69 ex-military jeep. It was a HUGE downer in style for a young kid.
The following jokes from The Times’ article illustrate perfectly the Trabi:
-How do you double the value of a Trabant?
Fill its petrol tank
-How do you treble its value?
Put a banana on the back seat
-How do you make a sports car out of a Trabi?
Put a pair of trainers in the boot
-Why does the Trabi have a heated rear window?
Keeps your hands warm while you push it
-Man in garage: Do you have two windscreen wipers for a Trabi?
Garage-owner thinks long and hard. “OK,” he says at last, “it’s a deal”
-Factory rings lucky East German on Trabi waiting list. “Comrade Schulz, you will get delivery of a Trabant in ten years time, on February 20, 1998”
Schulz: “Morning or afternoon? I have the plumber coming in the morning.”
February 21, 2007
GM-Chrysler Rumors
Both companies deny it, but the market is now 50-50 on the idea that General Motors may wed the North American branch of Daimler-Chrysler.
If it is to be believed, J.P. Morgan has been hired to find a buyer for roughly 13 billion dollars.
What good is it to GM ? Beats me.
AllPar.com tries to make some sense of it.
leftlanenews reports the latest.
Nissan Rogue
Nissan unveiled the X-Trail’s worldwide replacement. Named Dualis in Japan, Qashqai in UK and most likely rest of Europe.
Designed in London, the vehicle is named after a nomadic tribe in Iran.
Autonet.ca preview.
leftlanenews preview.
Wikipedia Entry contains larger picture.
Maserati GranTourismo
Pininfarina and Maserati teamed up to produce a 60th anniversary followup to Maserati’s very first road going car, the 1947 GranTourismo.
Beauty ain’t she ?