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Pebb

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Ok all the news I read up online, which I think deserves a place in the Auto News will be posted up in here from now on. Anyway I start the ball rolling with some news from BMW.

Source: AutoCar

BMW wants US to make all its 4x4s

BMW is juggling its global car-making plants in a move that's expected to clear the way for a new niche model to be made in Austria.

There are at least four models new to BMW’s range pencilled into the forward model plan and any one or more of them could be built at the plant in Austria, currently home of the X3 soft-roader.

Space at the plant in Austria becomes available around 2010 when the next-generation X3 switches to BMW’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Pre-empting any possible criticism of the Austrian plant, run by Canadian supplier Magna, that it may not have delivered BMW’s exacting standards, therefore prompting the production changeover, BMW has said that more work could be put its way from 2010.

"We have been very happy with our relationship with Magna in Austria and there is a chance we might place production orders for future niche products there," said a BMW spokesman.

Up for grabs are the 8-series/Z8, a Merc SL competitor; the X1, a 1-series based junior 4x4; and a brace of MPVs , dubbed the F-series. The F3 is a 3-series-based five-seat people carrier, the F5 a 5-series-based seven-seater.

None are yet confirmed for production, although all will slot into gaps in the BMW range.

Z4 comes home

At the same time, BMW is also keeping its options open in Austria by bringing production of the slow-selling Z4 home to Germany.

Production of BMW’s next –generation small sports car will be switched to Regensburg, home of the 3-series, including the convertible. "There are possible production synergies with other open-top models in our range," said BMW.

The move of the X3 to the US means that from 2010 all X-model BMWs sold in Britain will be built in the US and exported across the Atlantic. BMW has already announced that from 2008 the new X6, a sporty derivative of the X5, will be built in the US.

To keep up with expectations of increased sales of 4x4 models, production capacity in the US is being expanded.

Today Spartanburg can make up to 140,000 cars a year, although poor sales of the Z4 mean that last year it made only 105,000 cars, using just 75 per cent capacity. Car plants are typically designed to build at least 80 per cent capacity, otherwise they lose money.

With the X6 and X3 coming, BWM will expand capacity in the US to "well over 200,000 cars", BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer said at BMW's annual general meeting on Tuesday (15 May).
 
BMW-branded MPVs will be pretty stupid, and the X-series range has always been stupid, but I know from Porsche's experience with the Cayenne not to discredit something that can provide the company with excess profit to enhance its sportier models.

Besides, it'd be neat if the F-series was available with RWD.
 
BMW-branded anything which isn't a sedan, coupe, convertible or another reasonable BMW, is stupid. As a reviewer said (in a X5 Vs. Discovery comparo): "If you buy the X5, you don't buy a good SUV, you buy a very tall roadcar. One of the best. But then again, why be stupid? Instead of buying the X5, buy the 5-series. With the change, upgrade it to the better engine."
 
Source: AutoCar

Greens suggest 20mph limit for London

A proposal to introduce 20mph speed limits across all London’s roads has met with amazement from motorists and motoring associations.

London’s anti-car Green party and the mayor have started the campaign, on the face of it to help cyclists and pedestrians, but the wholesale introduction of 20mph limits on all London’s roads threatens the mobility of millions of Londoners daily, particularly out of peak hours when the roads are quiet.

The Greens want to turn the rules for setting speed limits on their head, forcing councils to seek legal approval before raising the limit on major roads to 30mph or higher.

At the moment councils have to apply to reduce the 30mph limit to 20mph, a sensible limit for many of London’s maze of narrow side streets, but totally inappropriate for the major roads that link London’s historic ‘villages’ and also carry traffic through the capital to the outer trunk roads and motorways, which start in the suburbs.

If the Greens and the mayor get their way, many councils will inevitably struggle to find time to raise the limit, leaving motorists fuming at a miserable 20mph, particularly at off-peak times when the roads are not traffic-clogged.

Another question is who will pay for the enormous task of replacing all the road signs across the capital?

Both the RAC and AA support 20mph limits outside schools and in some residential areas, but both fear the wholesale application of 20mph will cause chaos.

"We are very worried about the law of unintended consequences," said the AA’s road safety expert Andrew Howard. "Many motorists will start to use tiny side streets for the most direct route if they are restricted to 20mph on main roads. And you could end up with the situation where the most inappropriate roads become much busier."

Howard says the example of Hull, where 20mph zones are limited to side roads, with main roads kept at 30mph or 40mph is a good one. "If you’re driving out of the ports at Hull, for example, you don’t see the 20mph limit. But if you’re parking at home you do."

The RAC has a similar view: "We are not opposed to 20mph limits in certain areas like outside schools and some home zones. But we risk making motorists look at speed limits in the wrong way."

Lib Dem MP for Manchester John Leech proposed a national 20mph speed limit in a 10-minute rule bill read out in February. But like most such bills it is stuck in the system, and unlikely to go any further.
 
Source: AutoCar

MG production restarting at Longbridge

Nanjing Automotive is due to restart production of the MG TF roadster at Longbridge on Tuesday 29 May.

The Chinese firm said that it intends to start selling the cars in the second half of the year.

It is unclear whether or not the TFs will be fully built at Longbridge or merely assembled from kits shipped from China.

Nanjing has already started initial production of the MG7 – its version of the former MG ZT saloon – at its factory in China.

Nanjing said that it has 98 British dealers interested in selling the new MGFs. Rival Chinese firm SAIC, which bought the rights to the ZT’s sister car, the Rover 75, is planning to sell that through SsangYong dealerships.
 
Source: Auto Express








Citroen's winged wonder

We give our exclusive verdict on stunning gullwing-doored C-Métisse supercar

It's the Citroen that's heaven sent! Not since the introduction of the legendary DS - a model with a name that plays on the French word for Goddess - has a car combined the latest technology with such futuristic looks.

he C-Métisse is a show-stopper that takes inspiration from the stars. But is the supercar - which debuted at last year's Paris Motor Show - as good to drive as it is to look at? Auto Express got behind the wheel to find out.

We caught up with the futuristic diesel-electric hybrid at a top-secret test track in France. There's no doubt that out in the open, the newcomer looks every inch the stunner it did under the bright lights of the expo.

The C-Métisse sits only millimetres from the tarmac, and the low-slung bodywork gives more than a hint about the look of the forthcoming replacement for the Citroen C5.

Penned by British designer Steve Platt, it's an amazing creation, and is a testament to the firm's new-found creative confidence. Platt, from Hayle in Cornwall, explained: "I'm not a sci-fi nut, but when it came to creating this car, I was heavily influenced by how movie designers achieve the look of robots and spaceships."

But despite its 'out-of-this-world' styling, the C-Métisse is actually a conventional four-door hatchback - and it's big, too. Despite being only 1,240mm tall, it measures 4,740mm long and 2,000mm wide. That makes it a similar length to the current C5, but nearly 300mm wider.

With its plunging bonnet, chiselled rear end and concave back window - which has taken inspiration from the manufacturer's C6 limousine - the car has an off-the-wall design. But it's purposeful, too, with large air vents and huge 21-inch alloy wheels that give it a look that wouldn't be out of place on a Porsche or Ferrari.

If you think it's crazy from the outside, just wait until you see the interior - as this is the most spectacular part of the car. The drama starts from the moment you open the gullwing doors. All of the major controls are grouped together in a series of rotary knobs around the steering wheel. The set-up is similar to BMW's iDrive cabin control system, and the idea is to reduce the amount of switchgear on display, and make the car's functions easier to manage.

Science fiction-inspired details are everywhere. From the roof-mounted headrest to the overhead starter button and skeletal centre console, everything feels very futuristic.

The C-Métisse's four individual chairs are trimmed in white leather, and they are extremely comfortable. Each even has its own air-conditioning system, which can be adjusted using controls mounted on the doors.

Fire the engine, and the expected roar of the 2.7-litre V6 HDi powerplant is strangely absent. The newcomer's clever hybrid transmission means the oil-burning engine doesn't start driving the front wheels until the car has reached 20mph. Up to that point, all forward motion comes from the electrically powered rear wheels.

With 208bhp and 400Nm of torque on offer, acceleration is extremely impressive. The sprint from 0-60mph is dispatched in only 6.2 seconds, while the top speed is a claimed 156mph. Yet at the same time, Citroen says that CO2 emissions are low, and fuel economy is a frugal 45mpg. In short, this is the kind of concept car you really could live with every day.

However, for the time being, the C-Métisse is a one-off machine. So how long will it be before we can drive one home? Bosses at the firm are making no promises, yet with the new C5 pencilled in to appear at next March's Geneva Motor Show, it might be worth getting down to your local dealer early. If the next-generation family hatchback looks anything like the C-Métisse, demand is certain to be very strong indeed.
 
Dave A
So, it's never been driven in a magazine before.
Click to expand...

I don't see anywhere where they mention driving it other than firing the car up, and mentioning quick accelleration - and even then, they don't word it as if they actually drove the car. They just say what happens - and not even necessarily as if they were there.

But damn, if Citroen produced this thing I'll regain my trust in the French automobile industry.
 
It might have just been a headline I read in the actal magazine then, it said something along the lines of "Driving Citorens new Supercar". Regardless of that it's just a news snippet, it doesn't matter if the car was revealed ages ago, the article is new.
 
They'd have to rename it too. When I hear "Metisse," I can't Help but think it was designed by a guy who made art out of paper cutouts.
 
Source: Auto Express

Ford ditches new Focus RS

According to our sources, the firm will not use the famous RS badge on the current or imminent facelifted MkII machine - due late in 2008 - because of concerns over CO2 emissions.

One potential RS customer, who had placed a deposit for the car at his local dealership, said: "I'd handed over the cash 18 months ago, not wanting to miss out. But I was told staff had to return it, as the project has been abandoned on environmental grounds."

A Ford spokesperson revealed: "Our commitment to performance cars meant that we did build a number of Focus engineering mules to test and develop high-performance parts for future products. Sadly, we never got to the point where we were ready to begin developing a business case for an RS-badged Focus."

Auto Express last scooped these cars in Issue 933. It's believed that prototypes offered around 300bhp and four-wheel drive. But the spokesperson was keen to dismiss the claim that the decision was eco-based.

"It's worth bearing in mind that it's not the green issue which is driving this decision - cars have to be profitable. While Britain is the home of RS, there's not enough interest across other markets for us to earn the kind of money that's going to give the vehicle a green light," said the spokesperson.

However, there is still hope for fast Ford fans. Potential RS versions of the MkIII Focus, due in 2010, are possible.
 
Seriously, they were worried about the environment, so they decided to scrap the project? Wow, and I thought Ford North America was populated by idiots...

What did they do, stick a 4.6L modular in there with the AWD system from the Explorer? What ever happened to tuning the 2.5T even further?

Idiot at Ford
"It's worth bearing in mind that it's not the green issue which is driving this decision - cars have to be profitable. While Britain is the home of RS, there's not enough interest across other markets for us to earn the kind of money that's going to give the vehicle a green light."
Click to expand...

REALLY? I mean, its just a hunch, but I'd say that there are some folks about 3300 miles away would LOVE to have the RS, much less the MKII Focus for sale...

Completely idiotic thinking here. People wonder why the folks in Detroit are so stupid, this has to be one of the better cases against them...
 
That doesn't make sense.....they can make a Ford Mustang for the USA which is probably worse emissions than what a Focus can do but we aren't going to get it? Hey? What is going on? I bet it's all that hate mail from Green Peace.
 
No fair, I really wanted to see the next gen of RS's as I still see MK1 RS's around fairly often (though I've had an unusual drought the last few weeks).
 
Ford (UK) has to be run by some idiots to give up possibly the best thing from Ford in Europe--an AWD 300bhp Focus. The Focus RS would of sold in huge numbers, the emissions that thing would of put out would of been little to "harm" the enviorment. Come on tree huggers STFU and go away already, you're ruining life for the rest of us. I vote to relocate these people to the moon or something.
 
let's see. they're not bothered if they make a pick-up that spews gasoline from the exhaust, but when the fuel is actually burned and used to produce power, they're suddenly becoming treehuggers..
 
Leonidae
let's see. they're not bothered if they make a pick-up that spews gasoline from the exhaust, but when the fuel is actually burned and used to produce power, they're suddenly becoming treehuggers..
Click to expand...

A similar thought popped into my mind...Expeditions, GT500s anyone?
 
Perhaps that's because this might actualy be the reason "It's worth bearing in mind that it's not the green issue which is driving this decision - cars have to be profitable. While Britain is the home of RS, there's not enough interest across other markets for us to earn the kind of money that's going to give the vehicle a green light".
 
Leonidae
let's see. they're not bothered if they make a pick-up that spews gasoline from the exhaust, but when the fuel is actually burned and used to produce power, they're suddenly becoming treehuggers..
Click to expand...

The only trucks I know of to spew gasoline out the exhaust all have some serious mechanical issues. Most cars, trucks, and SUV's just emit carbon monoxide.
 
Im sure a large amount of people in the US would have been interested in this car. Even though that would never have happened. Still its a shame
 
Source: AutoCar

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First glimpse of next Seat Toledo

These teaser sketches are our first glimpse of Seat's new Mondeo rival, due to go on sale in 2009.

The new car, which will be called the Bolero, will be available as both a saloon and estate, and replaces the slow-selling Toledo hatch.

While previous Toledos were saloons or estates, the current model is essentially an Altea with a distended rump.

It hasn't sold well, not least because of its awkward rear styling, especially next to the cheaper and better-looking Altea. The recent arrival of the Altea XL also pretty much eliminated the Toledo's reason for being.

The Bolero will be built at Seat's Martorell factory near Barcelona. It will be based on the Volkswagen Passat platform, and as with the rest of Seat's current line-up will use VW Group engines and components.
 
That should be a beast worthy of rivalling Alfa Romeo looks if they get it right.

It's been a while since we've seen a proper big saloon SEAT aswell, hasn't it?
 
Source: Auto Express

car_photo_218631_7.jpg


Two-seater marks Ginetta's half-century

That's what UK marque Ginetta is doing. This is the first picture of the firm's G50, which goes on sale in 2008.

The two-seater has a racy-looking body and an all-new chassis, which will form the basis for all future models. Under the bonnet, there's a 300bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine, which drives the rear wheels through a five-speed sequential manual gearbox. But the new supercar won't only be built in roadgoing guise; there will also be a G50 Cup racer. There is no word on prices yet.
 
Are they using a modified Renault/Nissan VQ engine? Because that size and bhp is eriely similar to the VQ. And I must say that artist rendering (I think it is) looks pretty damn good. I like it.
 
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