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1

Feb

2008 Renault Twingo RS

Posted by galardo  Published in Renault

Renault has always been the unsung hero of the hot-hatch world with its potent Megane variants, and now it has unveiled a pocket-sized rocket in the new Renault Twingo RS.

Proving that size isn’t everything, the Twingo RenaultSport is sure to be fun, fuel efficient, and agile.

Rather than force-feeding the 1.6-litre engine, Renault has gently coaxed an impressive 99kW in its naturally aspirated guise.

The unique ground effects kit certainly makes for an attractive and aggressive package, taken from Renault’s 2006 Paris concept.

The Twingo RS is set to make its official debut at this year Geneva motor show.

Source: 2008 Renault Twingo RS

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1

Feb

Spy Shots: Volkswagen Routan vannin’ around

Posted by galardo  Published in Volkswagen

Dan Roth
Chicago Auto Show, Spy Photos, Minivans/MPVs, Volkswagen

Priddy and Company stumbled across a dolled up VW Routan and managed to capture a shot. Earth shattering revelation here: it looks like a Grand Caravan. It’d be natural to assume some similarities, there’s only so much you can do to the basic body shell when badge engineering, but when the spy photogs almost pass it right by, that says something. The boys in the camoflage department deserve a little something extra in their envelope this week, because there aren’t too many clues as to what the undisguised version will look like (besides, say, a Chrysler minivan.)

The most noticeable element that we can discern are taillights that are subtly reshaped and have different lenses. It might just be the angle, but it’s possible that the rear quarter windows and back hatch are reshaped, as well. It almost looks like there’s a little more rake in the aft pillars and you can be sure that the bumper and back hatch have been redone. Ever since a ‘74 Kombi stole my heart, I’ve been waiting for a new Microbus, especially with Volkswagen’s penchant for the retro. We’ll wait until Chicago to pass final judgement, and give props to Chrysler for finding someone to take some of their production volume and keep the lines rolling.

[Source: Jalopnik, Photo: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

Source: Spy Shots: Volkswagen Routan vannin’ around

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1

Feb

Zap and Youngman reach a deal for North American bus market

Posted by galardo  Published in Other

Sebastian Blanco
Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Zap, Natural Gas

Zap’s partnership with Youngman Automotive Group is expanding. The two companies announced yesterday that Zap now has the rights to distribute the Chinese company’s full line of buses in the North American bus market. In September 2007, Zap and Youngman announced they would partner in a joint venture that will bring new EVs, and hybrids to market. That agreement dealt with “electric and hybrid vehicles for the passenger car, truck and bus markets.” The new announcement doesn’t deal with those advanced technologies (Zap will promote Youngman buses that run on compressed natural gas/CNG), but does broaden Zap’s offerings in the U.S. As Youngman Chairman Pang Qingnian said in a statement:

The more I look at the emerging market for advanced technology vehicles, the more I see that ZAP is one of the only companies offering a selection of vehicles available for sale today. Buses can only enhance ZAP’s overall business plan and I decided, rather than wait until the joint venture vehicles become available, to do something today that can benefit both companies. Also, my family and I have come to know Mr. Steve Schneider over the past year and this has become much more than a business relationship. I have complete confidence and trust in him and working together I believe we can make a difference for the world environment.

From Zap’s point of view, the plan is to make some money off of these buses. ZAP CEO Steve Schneider said that, “These buses are highly profitable and will add to our marketing and distribution strategy.”

Related:

  • Zap just now looking for someone to engineer the Alias, hopes to start production Q2 ‘09
  • ZAP enters into joint venture with China’s Youngman for new EVs, hybrids

[Source: ZAP]

ZAP Signs Second Exclusive Distribution Agreement with Youngman for North American Bus Market

JINHUA, China and SANTA ROSA, Calif., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Youngman Automotive Group, one of China’s leading bus manufacturers, has signed a second exclusive distribution agreement with US electric car pioneer ZAP (BULLETIN BOARD: ZAAP) granting the rights to distribute its full line of buses in North America, the two companies announced jointly today.

Youngman has become a leading manufacturer of buses in China under the leadership of Chairman Pang Qingnian. The Company specializes in luxury motor coaches for tourism and corporate use as well as high quality public transportation for municipalities. Youngman’s motor coaches have been issued a five star rating by the Chinese Ministry of Construction. The Company also builds high-quality commercial trucks and recently received one of a limited number of licenses to make automobiles from the Chinese government. A leader in China’s manufacturing sector, Mr. Pang was recently elected as a Congressman for Zhejiang province.

“The more I look at the emerging market for advanced technology vehicles, the more I see that ZAP is one of the only companies offering a selection of vehicles available for sale today,” said Youngman Chairman Pang. “Buses can only enhance ZAP’s overall business plan and I decided, rather than wait until the joint venture vehicles become available, to do something today that can benefit both companies. Also, my family and I have come to know Mr. Steve Schneider over the past year and this has become much more than a business relationship. I have complete confidence and trust in him and working together I believe we can make a difference for the world environment.”

Youngman is currently manufacturing and exporting six bus platforms available in 71 different configurations with the capacity to build 10,000 units annually. Youngman and ZAP expect to introduce buses using electric, hybrid and other advanced technology power trains as part of their joint venture. While today’s agreement is based on conventional bus technologies, ZAP CEO Steve Schneider is looking forward to marketing energy efficient buses, particularly those that run on compressed natural gas.

“These buses are highly profitable and will add to our marketing and distribution strategy,” said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. “Youngman is already exporting to Russia, Germany, other parts of Europe and the Pacific Rim and we look forward to introducing these low-cost, high quality buses to the North American market. Initially our objective is to attract volume distribution to penetrate the market with a longer-term objective of creating economic growth and green collar jobs in California.”

This is the second exclusive distribution agreement for ZAP with Youngman. In October 2007, the two companies signed a joint venture agreement to manufacture, market and distribute electric and hybrid vehicles for the passenger car, truck and bus markets. ZAP will focus on marketing and distribution while Youngman will contribute manufacturing and development resources. Albert Lam is the Chairman of the joint venture company as well as a member of ZAP’s board of directors.

“Since joining ZAP I wanted to make a contribution towards the company’s future. Bringing ZAP and Youngman together on this distributorship arrangement can take ZAP to the next level,” said Mr. Lam, who stepped down as CEO of Lotus Engineering last year to be Chairman of the new joint venture company being established between ZAP and Youngman.

Lam added: “After completing a world tour with Steve Schneider and seeing the reactions on a global level from the manufactures, suppliers, distributors, and investors, I could not be more enthusiastic. The world is changing and it takes visionary companies with an entrepreneurial spirit like ZAP and Youngman to take a leadership role and make things happen.”

About Youngman Automotive Group

Youngman recently introduced advanced manufacturing technology to its facilities in a joint venture with Neoplan of Germany. Youngman’s manufacturing is based on the ISO9001 international standard of quality for its bus production. The manufacturing facility in Jinhua, China covers an area over four million square feet. Youngman employs 4,000 workers, including 700 research and development staff. With seven production facilities in process, Youngman expects to soon have the capacity to produce 200,000 vehicles per year, including a capacity to build 10,000 buses annually. For more information about Youngman Automotive Group, visit http://www.youngman-bus.com/.

About ZAP

ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 100,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP has a joint venture to manufacture electric and hybrid vehicles with Youngman Automotive Group, one of China’s leading manufacturers of buses and trucks. ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. ZAP is also developing a new generation of vehicles using advanced nanotech batteries with Advanced Battery Technologies. The Company recently announced a strategic partnership with Dubai-based Al Yousuf Group to expand its international vehicle distribution. ZAP also makes an innovative, new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics from cell phones to laptops. For product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.zapworld.com/.

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company’s products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company’s dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: Zap and Youngman reach a deal for North American bus market

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1

Feb

Mini Clubman to Drive Continued Growth

Posted by galardo  Published in Other

The Clubman will help the Mini brand continue growing as the second-generation Cooper did in 2007.

Mini announced record sales in 2007, with sales up 18.5 percent over 2006 to more than 222,000 units worldwide.

“That s the most Minis we have ever sold,” said BMW AG’s Stefan Krause, the board of management member responsible for sales and marketing, at the Detroit auto show. “Our decision to expand production capacity at our Mini plant in Oxford, England, was the right one.”

U.S.: Mini’s Largest Market

In 2007, about one in five Minis were sold in the U.S., the brand’s second-largest market behind the United Kingdom. The Mini is sold in 70 markets.

The U.S. figure of 42,000 units sold in 2007 is a 7 percent increase over 2006 sales. “These figures again prove that the second generation of Minis, which were only launched in the U.S. market in February 2007, is being well received,” Krause said.

He added that one in five Mini Convertibles sold in America has the upscale Sidewalk package that was launched in April 2007. He noted that the Cooper S performance model accounts for 50 percent of U.S. sales.

In addition, month after month, Edmunds.com’s analysis of Total Cost of Incentives (TCI) shows Mini, along with Toyota’s Scion, spend virtually nothing on incentives, less than $200 a vehicle.

Continued 2008 Growth

Krause said the Mini brand would continue to grow in 2008. Mini has 82 Mini dealers in the U.S. and intends to add about a dozen dealers by 2010. He said the Mini Cooper Clubman and the Mini Cooper S Clubman, which debuted at the Los Angeles auto show in November, would begin U.S. sales Feb. 16.

The Mini Clubman “is the essence of the historic shooting brake,” said Krause at the Detroit auto show. It combines coupe elements with distinctive rear split doors. The vehicle’s club door on the passenger side makes it easier for passengers to climb into the rear seats. With the rear seats down, the diminutive car has more than 32 cubic feet of cargo space.

Crossover on the Horizon

Krause reiterated hints made before that Mini will launch a crossover vehicle in the near future but said little more about it.However, he said a Mini crossover would convey the same driving fun and go-cart feeling as current Mini offerings but would be paired with other functional features.

Source: Mini Clubman to Drive Continued Growth

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1

Feb

Auto Marketers Grapple with the Glow of Celebrity

Posted by galardo  Published in Other

By Dale Buss

Where would Buick be without Tiger Woods? General Motors executives can’t decide if they really want to find out. They believe that the golfing phenom and global celebrity (leading in this weekend’s Dubai Desert Classic) is so popular that he – rather than Buick vehicles – became central to the brand over the years.

But now that the Enclave has rescued Buick from the sales doldrums, a new advertising campaign shows that division executives are unafraid to put a renascent Woods front and center with the stylish crossover vehicle.

“These spots are very significant because they represent both Buick and Tiger moving to another stage in our life cycle,” Maria Rohrer, Buick’s marketing director, told AutoObserver. “We’ve used him in testimonial before, but we’ve never used him in this kind of emotional way. It’s wonderful when the stars align like this.”

But recently, Mark LaNeve, GM North American vice president of sales, service and marketing, provided a glimpse of GM’s hand-wringing over Woods’ role in Buick’s marketing. “Tiger is great, but I don’t like any celebrity at the core of a brand,” he said. “So we want him to plus-up the brand but not be the core of the message. We want him not selling but validating.”

GM’s changing relationship with Tiger underscores both the rewards and the perils of “dancing with the stars” in automotive marketing and advertising. LaNeve and other industry executives are quick to utter the mantra, “The car is the star.” Yet they dabble with celebrities in more and different ways than ever before.

Consider what you’ve seen in just a cross-section of automotive TV advertising lately. There was anti-establishment icon Bob Dylan shilling for XM Radio and Cadillac late last year. Crusty kick-boxing TV and movie star Chuck Norris is still looking like a bull in a China shop in an ad for Honda’s Ridgeline. Woods has been plugging for OnStar as well as Buick.  Country music star Toby Keith also is still promoting Ford trucks after all these years.

Harry Connick Jr. is driving a new MKX in Lincoln ads that show the singer-actor going on a hopeful post-Katrina tour of his home town of New Orleans. And now that "American Idol" is on the air again, expect Ford to further fudge the “car-is-star” mantra when its vehicles share the stage with Idol contestants each week in those specially made, upbeat music videos that are aired during the broadcasts.

“Celebrities can always be great if they fit strategically,” said Deborah Meyer, the new Chrysler CMO who helped forge a few relationships with Hollywood types as a top marketing executive of Lexus, her last stop.

“I don’t like to use them as spokespeople for a campaign or a model. I’m more interested in making sure the people know the great benefits and features of vehicles instead of the celebrity. But when you have fun ways to use them and have them as part of a campaign or a message, I will.”

The “C” Word

Of course, Meyer wasn’t at Chrysler when the company committed perhaps the ultimate boner in the use of a celebrity for marketing – a huge step backward that besmirched the practice in the industry for years afterward. In 2003, Chrysler committed $14 million to a three-year endorsement deal with singer Celine Dion, reportedly against the advice of its ad agency BBDO.

Soon, Chrysler had the songstress spreading her wings in the company’s new Pacifica crossover vehicle, which at the time was considered a crucial launch. And almost as quickly, the ads – and the relationship between Dion and Chrysler – tanked. Dealers complained that the ads sold more of the star than the car. And Pacifica gained little sales momentum.

“We were trying to take the car to a place that said, ‘This is classy and elegant, but you can afford it,’” recalled Jim Schroer, who was head of Chrysler marketing at the time – but not for long after. “There were millions of people in consumer research who testified that it was a good choice. She even beat out Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Phil as choices because she was an approachable, classy person.”

Now president and chief executive of the Carlson Marketing agency in Minneapolis, Schroer conceded that “we might have been premature as to when we started” the campaign because “it was launched before it was obvious to buyers that the brand was going to stand for classy, elegant styling. If we’d maybe waited to launch the campaign until we had the [newly styled] 300 available, it might have clicked.”

But outsiders are harder on Schroer. “She was the wrong celebrity for the product,” said Art Spinella, president of CNW Research, a Bandon, Ore.-based automotive-market research firm. “It was an appeal to an upscale audience, and Celine at the time was pretty much a Branson, Missouri, kind of celebrity. The mix and match didn’t work.”

Tiger: Buy the Tale

The case of Woods and Buick is more positive but just as instructive in the complications of tying an automotive brand to a celebrity. They hooked up in 1999, just as Woods’ prospects of dominating professional golf were becoming blatantly obvious. Buick was the original and largest corporate sponsor of the Professional Golf Association tour, and males of boomer age and older – the typical pro-golf fan – are Buick’s target. Thus, not only did landing Woods’ continuing endorsement seem logical, Buick regarded it as a great coup.

But over the ensuing years, the partnership hasn’t quite worked out as Buick had hoped, for at least two reasons. The first is Woods himself: While he has continued to pile up impressive achievements in what has become the sport’s most fantastic career, and now ranks as one of the best-known individuals in the entire world, he really doesn’t excite consumers.

“He’s a great golfer and a helluva nice guy, but he really doesn’t create an emotional connection between his personality and that of a Buick,” said Schroer. Exhibit A: Woods’ “Q” scores. About 88% of American sports fans, for example, know who he is, but only 40% have a positive view of him, according to a recent Q score. Compiled by Marketing Evaluations, these are the survey-based measures upon which advertisers rely in choosing endorsers.

The second problem was of Buick’s own making: its vehicles. The brand – until very recently – simply hasn’t put forth the most compelling products or overall marketing message and, instead, has been overshadowed by its prized celebrity endorser.

Woods and Buick ranked as “a classic case” of where “a celebrity is eclipsing the overall message,” snarked George Rogers, president and chief executive officer of Team Detroit, the agency joint venture that oversees Ford’s advertising. Even GM’s LaNeve conceded that Woods “became core to Buick in how he was used.”

“Sometimes because of his celebrity there may be a chance to overshadow the product, but we’re really trying to use that [celebrity] to our advantage,” Rohrer said. And at first, Woods was little associated with Enclave per se. “We wanted to make sure the product attributes got highlighted,” she explained, “because they’re superior to the competition.”

A Surging Duo

But things have changed very quickly for Buick and for Woods, resulting in the remarkable new TV ads.

First, Enclave took off like a rocket. Buick already has logged just under 30,000 sales since the vehicle’s debut last summer, Rohrer said, about 35% more than Buick projected. New Buick customers account for 43% of sales. About 90% of Enclave customers are buying the high-content CXL model. Automotive press have given Enclave rave reviews as well. In short: There simply is no danger of this hot-selling vehicle being eclipsed at this point, even by Woods.

“This is all information,” Rohrer concluded, “that says something is happening to this brand.”

Second, Woods has become an even hotter celebrity commodity, if that is possible. Over the last few years, he has undergone significant personal transformation — getting married, becoming a father, and losing his own father in death. Yet last season was one of his best ever.

And so his millions of avid fans were rapt about the possibilities for Woods to elevate his godlike status in the game even further this year. Then he opened 2008 unapologetically postulating that he could win all four of the game’s major tournaments this season, and blowing away the competition in January at Buick’s own invitation tournament in La Jolla, Calif., Woods’ fourth straight victory in the event.

“He has also reached a new stage in his life,” Rohrer explained. “The man is so dominant mentally and physically, and in his game. He’s not fearing the competition. Now he’s about how can he be a better father and husband as well as player, and in general.”

The third development: Woods and Buick agreed that he should begin putting a stronger imprimatur on Enclave. So Buick has just drawn two 30-second TV ads from a long testimonial by Woods that is offered at Buick.com.

For people who have followed the Buick-Woods relationship, the full testimonial is a true revelation. A goateed Woods is apparently not scripted as he talks about Enclave in two settings: seated on a country club veranda, and behind the wheel of an Enclave. He’s much more relaxed, much more personal, and apparently much more genuinely engaged in the task of promoting his sponsor and its products than he has ever been depicted before.

Woods seems to demonstrate a real fondness for Enclave and casually mixes in references to his family. For example, Woods talks about how Enclave is big and versatile enough to accommodate his wife, Elin; baby daughter, Sam; and even their two dogs. “We consider the dogs part of the family,” he says. “I’ve got a nice little packing system that I do, and everything just fits perfectly.

“It’s as smooth as smooth can be,” he also says.

“Now that we’ve expanded our family, with Sam, I’m looking at safety in a whole new light … You have to be in a vehicle that will protect, and Enclave definitely does that for us.

“With the quiet tuning, it [makes Sam’s] screaming seem a lot louder.

“You feel like this car was made specifically for you. You can feel the passion and the detailing.”

GM is still trying to spread Woods around a bit more. He also can be seen, for example, in an advertisement for OnStar. Yes, he’s driving a Buick – but GM at least found a way to stretch the equity inherent in Woods’ endorsement to one of its other brands.

And LaNeve believes that Woods “has value beyond Buick, for instance with his great concern for community service.” Woods is “a big asset” for GM marketing, he said.

But don’t expect Rohrer to allow Woods to show up in ads for another GM vehicle brand. “We probably wouldn’t share him with another [car] division,” she said. “The whole idea is to keep him tied to the Buick family.”

Cadillac Embraces Celebrity

Undeterred by Buick’s iffy experience with Woods and other automakers’ challenges with celebrities, Cadillac has been determinedly upping the star quotient in its marketing. Star turns with Cadillac in TV advertising recently have included actor Andy Garcia and former National Football League star Tiki Barber. Also, "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Private Practice" star Kate Walsh has been featured on MyCadillacStory.com talking about her grandfather’s Cadillac.

One asset Cadillac has, almost uniquely, is that as a luxury brand, it’s always had enough cachet to be associated with the rich and famous. Elvis Presley, for example, was well known as a Cadillac fan, and many professional sports stars have been enthusiastically “down” with the Escalade SUV.

“We place a high emphasis on authenticity” in the use of celebrities, said Liz Vanzura, Cadillac’s global marketing director. “With other brands, you can’t understand the association with celebrity. With us – it’s part of our history.”

Still, Cadillac’s latest celebrity hook-up – with Dylan – has caused some head-scratching. Dylan gained fame in the Sixties as a decidedly countercultural rabble-rousing musician. And although few things could be a bigger part of the military-industrial complex than General Motors, 40 years later Dylan approached Cadillac about a partnership – and Cadillac took him up on it.

“First of all, he’s a major fan of our brand,” Vanzura explained. “Second, there is still a major mystique around him; his entire career has been about choosing his own path, and that is the kind of spirit we admire about our brand. And third, we were approached.” XM Radio came to Cadillac with the news that it was working with Dylan on a radio show that would be centered around Cadillac, she said.

So Dylan showed up as the star of a multi-channel marketing campaign for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade that integrated his XM Radio show, "Theme Time Radio Hour," with TV ads in which he’s driving and is shown getting out of an Escalade. His Cadillac-theme episode on XM premiered October 24, 2007.

Honda Gives Norris Some Props

Honda’s brand personality is to be above such foolishness as celebrity endorsements. “We’re fortunate to have a strong brand and brand names, and we don’t feel it’s critical for us to borrow imagery from celebrities,” sniffed Tom Peyton, senior manager of national advertising. “So as a general principle, it’s not something we’re looking for.”

However, Honda marketers appear to be having lots of fun with their current TV ad for Ridgeline featuring Norris, the archetypal tough guy who also recently has been seen shilling for Mountain Dew. The commercial opens in an elegant restaurant, with coffee being poured into fine china and a harpist playing “Greensleeves” in the background.

Then, in walks a grubby Norris, clad in black, sort of as an American Ninja-style warrior, growl on his face and casing the well-dressed ladies who are chatting quietly. “Tough meets classy,” says the announcer. “The stylish, four-door Ridgeline, built by Honda.”

Peyton said Honda used Norris “because he sort of fit the theme of the commercials that we were going with, more so than we had an intent to us celebrities.”

Ford’s brushes with celebrity marketing have been focused on its trucks, where  Keith and fellow country star Alan Jackson have touted Ford trucks over the years. But Ford spokesman Jim Cain was careful to note that the relationship with Keith, for example, is “a natural fit” because he owns a ranch and comes from a family that has owned Ford trucks for years.

“A lot of the celebrity link-ups you see may make for a memorable ad, but the connection to the brand or product is usually a bit nebulous,” Cain said.

Team Detroit’s Rogers said he’ll continue to make sure that Ford’s association with celebrities reek of authenticity and never get in the way of the company’s improving products. “The bottom line,” he said, “is the car is still the star.”

Source: Auto Marketers Grapple with the Glow of Celebrity

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1

Feb

2008 Dodge Challenger: Official Rear-End View Image Leaked

Posted by galardo  Published in Dodge

Up until now, we’ve seen several official images of the 2008 Challenger’s front-end but this is the first time we get the chance to see the production version’s arse. The most notable changes compared to the concept are the slightly revised tail-lamps, the new black boot-lid spoiler and the smaller, dual rectangular exhaust pipes. Our opinion? Overall, we’d say it looks quite good.

Via: Autoblog.com

Source: 2008 Dodge Challenger: Official Rear-End View Image Leaked

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1

Feb

2009 Suzuki Equator to be unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show

Posted by galardo  Published in Suzuki

Simona Alina   Source:Pickup Truck
Filed in: Suzuki | 2008 | Chicago Auto Show | pickup trucks | Suzuki Equator

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Suzuki will unveil at the Chicago Auto Show the 2009 Equator, a pick-up based on the Frontier midsize pickup and scheduled to be built at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn. Production of the pickup truck will begin in 2008.

Until the official debut in just a few days, PickupTruck smashed the embargo again and released the first official image of the Equator.

More details will follow; you know it already: as soon as an embargo is broken, it really is!

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Source:Pickup Truck

Source: 2009 Suzuki Equator to be unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show

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1

Feb

BMW to produce all-electric car?

Posted by galardo  Published in Bmw


With automakers facing stricter emissions regulations worldwide, a number of alternative fuel/power source are being investigated. While we're all familiar with clean diesels, hydrogen fuel-cells and even General Motors' EFlex system, it seems that no automaker is even considering an all-electric vehicle. But that could all change as BMW has announced that it is considering producing an EV.

While BMW is working on its fuel-cell technology, Jochen Schmalholz, head of BMW's clean-energy technology, told Drive that BMW is considering electric vehicles to fill the 15 to 20 year void before hydrogen vehicles will actually be practical. BMW has even predicted that hydrogen cars could still be 30 years out.

”We will only bring this if it makes sense,” he says. “At the moment we are not really convinced it will work for BMW. But if it makes commercial sense and it makes sense to our customers, then we will do it.”

Schmalholz commented that hydrogen vehicles aren't 15 to 20 years out because of technology, but rather because of a lack of infrastructure. An all-electric vehicle would help BMW comply with new emissions regulations until its hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles become viable.

Source: BMW to produce all-electric car?

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