Auto News linked by TVR&FF "Closed"

[Joey D]

Well with the A5 coming out and I assume an S5 and RS5 model I don't see much need for the RS4 anymore.

 

[Tornado]

Really? - every other car on Britain's roads seem to be a Range Rover Sport.

Driving next to MG's, I suspect.
I find it kinda odd that Ford has dumped probably untold billions of dollars into the 3 British makes it bought, and as soon as they turn around Ford tries to sell them off. Though maybe if Ford dumps Jaguar fast enough Jaguar management would be less conviced to ruin the XJ.

 

[JCE]

WTF. So you kill a good thing? Stupid stupid move Audi. They could at least make it limited production just to keep it.

 

[Dave A]

Really? - every other car on Britain's roads seem to be a Range Rover Sport.

I only see one Range Rover on a regular basis and thats one thats parked on my street. I don't see many besides thatr, let alone Range Rover Sports. Though as far as I'm aware, Range Rover is a profitable division for Ford.

 

[Pebb]

Source: AutoCar

Government wants lower drink-drive limit

The British Government is considering lowering the amount of alcohol that drivers can have legally in their blood, according to a report in the Times.

Currently the legal limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, but if the proposals are approved, this will be lowered to 50mg.

That means drivers would be restricted to about half a pint of strong lager or around 175ml of wine.

In the past seven years the number of people caught drink-driving in the UK has risen from 460 to 560, while in Germany it has dropped by half.

Britian currently has a higher limit than in most other EU countries, yet according to a 2005 European Commission study drivers in the UK are nine times less likely to be breathalysed.

Research from University College London reckons that a lower limit would save 65 lives a year.

We're all in favour of a lower limit. Problem is, it would still need to be enforced by actual police on the roads, at least until they invent the drink-drive camera.

 

[Philly]

WTF. So you kill a good thing? Stupid stupid move Audi. They could at least make it limited production just to keep it.

It doesn't seem like Audi likes to keep more than one RS model in production at a time. Maybe Audi just isn't capable of having two RS lines in production.

The RS4 was an awesome car. I'm sure it will be missed, and Audi should have at least tried to keep it going.

As for the alcohol article, I kinda think that 0% is best for the roads, but that is pretty impracticle. Great, the alcohol limit will be lower. How are they going to implement it?

 

[YSSMAN]

Like we do in Michigan I assume. Our BAC is set at .08, which I assume they will use in the UK. They have two ways of catching drivers, usually. One is the usual checking for impaired drivers based on their motoring ability (following too closely, speeding, swerving, etc) or at some points during the year the Police will also set-up "checkpoints" by which drivers are checked, and then separated.

When they are stopped, they are usually asked to perform a series of "tests," usually physical and verbal, and may be subject to an on-spot Breathalyzer as well. In Michigan you can turn down the Breathalyzer, for a $100 fine, but it will then be the Police Officer's decision if they want to take you to the station for bloodwork or not, maybe spend a night in the clank.

...Its good to lower it, I believe it was federally mandated for .08 (not to mention the safety belt laws that went with it)....

 

[Pebb]

Time for two pieces of news:

Source: Auto Express

Now R8 supercar goes diesel

The firm will make the R8 available with its new 4.2-litre V8 TDI unit late next year. Currently powering the Q7 SUV, the oil-burner produces 322bhp and 760Nm of torque. How-ever, it is likely to be tuned further for the R8, pumping out more than 350bhp and 800Nm of torque.

Hooked up to either the R8’s six-speed manual or six-speed R tronic transmissions, the four-wheel-drive supercar should be capable of going from 0-60mph in around five seconds, with a top speed of 160mph. And it will return around 30mpg.

The engine will be the final unit to go in the R8, after the 5.0-litre V10 model arrives in early 2008, priced around £85,000. The diesel version should cost about £70,000.

-----

Source: AutoCar

Panhard to become the French Lexus?

To the typical UK Peugeot or Citroen driver, the name Panhard probably means very little. France's pioneering 19th century car-maker has become, in fact, too distant a prospect for most of us to know about. However, Panhard could be about to make a comeback, as the PSA Group's answer to BMW, Lexus, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Reports in the French motoring press today have suggested that PSA, parent company of the Peugeot and Citroen brands, is seriously considering a revival of the Panhard name, which Citroen acquired when it bought the company in 1965.

PSA appointed a new CEO late last year in former Airbus boss Christian Streiff. Among his objectives are driving up the quality and desirability of the group's cars. According to a quote published by Automotive News Europe, a PSA spokesman said that "going into premium vehicles is one of the options the new management is considering."

The same spokesman wouldn't comment on whether the Panhard brand figured in those plans, but did say that "all options are open; there is no taboo."

A brief history of Panhard

By the time Citroen bought it, Panhard was little more than a relic, but in its prime, it led the automotive world. Some of Panhard's first cars, built five years before the turn of the 20th century, helped define the classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive, front-wheel steer recipe still in use today by the makers of the world's most expensive saloons and coupes.

During those early years, Panhard enjoyed more than its fair share of racing success. It was a car jointly developed by Panhard and speed addict Emile Levassor that won the world's first acknowledged motor race, held in 1895 - a 732-mile sprint from Paris to Bordeaux and back again, which Levassor completed in 48 hours and 48 minutes.

After the first world war, Panhard concentrated on touring cars powered by sleeve-valve engines. These were some of the most refined and luxurious saloons of their day, being near silent, smooth by the standards of the time, and extremely well built, and it's from this period in its history that the marque gained its upmarket reputation.

Panhard stopped making cars in 1967; question is, what odds would you get for a return to prominence fifty years on? After today, perhaps not quite as long as you'd expect.

 

[Jim Prower]

There's the "Panhard Bar" in solid-rear-Axle suspensions, but other than that, Panhard is otherwise unused...will people have to start calling them "Track bars," ala NASCAR, dure to Copyrights?

And will the new Panhards use them?

On the R8...just more Le Mans connections.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'd take the diesel R8 before the gas version, just because it is such a cool idea. Sure, I know it isn't as fast, but the low-end acceleration would just be phenomenal!

 

[Eric.]

Source: AutoCar

End of the line for Audi RS4

Audi clearly thinks you can have too much of a good thing: the sensational RS4 saloon is now out of production.

The 414bhp V8-powered RS4 was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in 2005, and went on sale in the UK in October of that year.

It has been a big success for Audi – not least with us here at Autocar, who have fallen for its supercar pace and agility.

The saloon was joined in summer 2006 by the RS4 Avant and cabriolet, both of which remain in production for the moment.

Though Audi hasn't admitted as much, RS4 production is being phased out to make way for the forthcoming new RS6.

The RS6 is already in advanced testing. It's believed to use a turbocharged 5.0-litre V10, and is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

According to Autoweek, the RS4 looks like it will still be available for '08, as they are releasing the Cabriolet in the US. 300 of them. They make no mention that they are going to stop making them.

 

[Tornado]

4.2L diesel V8? Ghey. Where is the 6.0L god-himself-couldn't-pull-more V12 from the Q7, hmm? I would happily save a tree or two to know that my car has more thrust than Thrust itself.

 

[Jim Prower]

Sig-worthy, Toronado, Sig-worthy.

But, first, I must find a picture of a '67 Toronado for my avatar to match.

 

[Wolfe]

4.2L diesel V8? Ghey. Where is the 6.0L god-himself-couldn't-pull-more V12 from the Q7, hmm? I would happily save a tree or two to know that my car has more thrust than Thrust itself.

If it would have fit in the R8, that would have been perfect for a "road-going R10." But I doubt it would have fit.

 

[Tornado]

But I doubt it would have fit.

Then Audi is dumb. The R8 screams for that engine (or maybe the V10TDI). They need to have a luncheon with the AMG guys and study how the 6.0L V12 fits in the SL.

 

[niky]

Would prob'ly ruin the balance of the car. Remember, them diesels r' heavy muthers.

But the mere fact that they're putting a diesel into the R8? About time they put their money where their mouth is... or used their mouth to make money... errh... you know what I mean.

It'll be interesting to see if it's a lead that anyone will follow... but whether or not they do, at least someone's doing it.

 

[Hugo Boss]

If it would have fit in the R8, that would have been perfect for a "road-going R10." But I doubt it would have fit.

It seems the 4.2 V8 TDI doesn't fit either. That probably means a diesel R8 won't come at all, since I can't imagine they would fit the R8 with the 3.0 TDI.

Source is a Dutch car website, that states to have received the information from Kate Dixon from Audi UK. Couldn't find anything more about it using google, so I can't be sure.

 

[TheCracker]

I only see one Range Rover on a regular basis and thats one thats parked on my street. I don't see many besides thatr, let alone Range Rover Sports. Though as far as I'm aware, Range Rover is a profitable division for Ford.

Really?!! - i must honesty see a dozen Range Rovers or RR Sports every day

 

[Pebb]

Source: AutoCar

Austin-Healey to get Chinese revival

Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) has made a deal that will result in the revival of the Healey and Austin-Healey sports car brands.

NAC is the owner of MG – last month it restarted production of the TF roadster at Longbridge – so it’s well aware of the useful publicity that comes from using famous British names.

NAC’s deal is with the current owner of the Healey brand, HFI Automotive, an American firm that bought the rights to use the Healey name when it acquired Healey Automobile Consultants (established by Donald Healey and his son) in January 2006.

In February 2006, HFI announced plans for several new Healey sports cars; a "high-performance sports car with the DNA of a Healey 3000 - in convertible and coupe derivatives, as well as a modern affordable replacement for the much-loved Healey Sprite."

There’s no indication yet as to what form the new Healey or Austin-Healey will take.

Healey, a brief history

Healey was founded by Briton Donald Healey, and produced cars in Warwick from 1946 to 1954.

An Austin-engined prototype shown at the 1952 Earls Court motor show was adopted by BMC, and became the Austin-Healey 100. The brand was highly successful in the 1950s and early 60s, but it disappeared in 1970.

Healey then collaborated with Jensen, producing the troubled Jensen-Healey from 1972 to 1976.

 

[Jim Prower]

Well, we'll see...the concept looks good, but, then again, so did the MGF when new...

 

[Pebb]

Source: Auto Express

Lancia back in Britain

Sharing chassis design and engineering with the hotly anticipated Maserati Spyder, it will revive the Aurelia badge, last worn by the car pictured in our main image.

Featuring a metal folding roof, the two-plus-two would compete with the likes of the Jaguar XK and Lexus SC430, offering refinement and upmarket styling. Likely to be unveiled within the next 18 months – possibly at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show – the new drop-top will also offer a V8 engine and rear-wheel drive.

While prices are yet to be confirmed, given Lancia’s luxurious, top-end image, it’s expected that they will be higher than for equivalent Alfa Romeos, although less than those of Maserati. That means the car could cost as much as £50,000.

Yet the top-of-the-range Aurelia will not be the only Lancia to arrive in UK showrooms. Both the marque’s Musa mini- MPV, which is already on sale in its Italian home market, and the ever popular Ypsilon supermini look set to grace our shores as well. There are also plans to resurrect the formidable Delta name, famously applied to the four-wheel-drive hatchbacks of the Nineties, which were also the last Lancia-badged vehicles to be officially sold in Britain.

However, while the original Delta – particularly in sporty Integrale trim – owed much of its design and development to its roots in rallying, it’s anticipated that the new version will be a much less performance-oriented model similar to Fiat’s Bravo.

 

[Tornado]

It seems the 4.2 V8 TDI doesn't fit either. That probably means a diesel R8 won't come at all, since I can't imagine they would fit the R8 with the 3.0 TDI.

That would make sense, as I believe I read somewhere that the V12 and the V8 (probably the V10 too) share the same basic structure and block.

 

[Pebb]

Source: Auto Express

New Ford Focus is here

The family hatchback’s new look has been penned by Martin Smith – the man behind the latest Mondeo and the S-Max people carrier. His mission has been to inject some excitement into the conservative current design, and as our pictures show, Ford fans should have plenty to look forward to.

Unlike the recently revised C-MAX, which simply featured a new front end and a number of tweaks at the rear, the fresh Focus is tipped to benefit from a thorough revamp with many new body panels. Significant improvements are expected inside, with upgraded materials and a more advanced cabin control system – similar to the Human Machine Interface (HMI) which debuted in the Mondeo.
Following its unveiling in left-hand-drive form in September – possibly at the Frank*furt Motor Show – the UK-specification Focus will arrive on main dealer forecourts here before the end of the year.

The compact family Ford aims to fight off the challenge of fresh competition in the shape of the Nissan Qashqai and revised Vauxhall Astra. By committing to a more radical look, designers will try to make the newcomer appeal to a younger audience than the out*going model. With many of its styling cues borrowed from the latest Mondeo and new S-MAX, the Focus’s design is set to turn heads both from the front and rear.

Inside, the newcomer will capitalise on the strengths of Ford’s latest cabin layouts. Practical touches are set to be adopted from the C-MAX in an attempt to give the car even greater versatility.

As we previously reported, plans for a hot RS version of the current Focus have been shelved, but a successor to the potent ST is sure to feature in the future. While there has been no official word on the pro*gress of the RS project, it’s thought the appeal of such a model still burns brightly within Ford – although it’s unlikely that the high-performance flagship will appear in showrooms before 2009.

What is clear is that the revised Focus will herald a period of unprecedented new launches from the brand. Along with the X-MAX compact SUV, Ford will take the wraps off its next-generation Ka and new Fiesta – all within 18 months.
The success of the Focus range is at the heart of this new product plan, and reveals exactly why Ford has taken the decision to facelift the model now.

Expect the line-up to mirror the existing range of three, four and five-door hatches, plus the estate and coupé-cabriolet. Prices have still to be confirmed, but it’s thought they will rise only slightly to keep the car competitive with the likes of the Astra and Volkswagen Golf.

...As current diesel goes out with a bang!

While the revised Focus is around the corner, Ford has just pulled the covers off a new sporty version of the current model that blends ST looks and diesel economy.

Unveiled at the Barcelona Motor Show, this is the WRC-S special edition. Devilish marketing bosses have limited numbers to 666, while every example is signed by Ford rally star Marcus Gronholm. A plaque inside gives each model a unique touch.

Power comes from a standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder 134bhp engine. But WRC and chequered flag decals make the special look like a rally car for the road. The bad news for hot hatch fans is that this Focus will be available only to Spanish buyers. While other European countries will offer similar models, UK bosses have chosen not to bring the ST-styled diesel here.

 

[Jim Prower]

......

Bring it here...pweeeeeaseeee......

I mean, seriously, that's light years better than the "Gilette Grille" '08 that's coming out here...and in Ford's HOME MARKET, for lord's sake...

 

[TopHat]

So waitasec.


You've gone through THREE Focus models?

We're still on the first generation. 3rd facelift.

FACE. PALM.

 

[YSSMAN]

...This is making me sick, Ford...

 

[Wolfe]

Okay. Missing out on the Mk.II Focus wasn't too bad, because it looked horrible, especially compared to the Mk.I. But now Ford makes the Focus awesome-looking again, and we all know we still won't get it...damnit.

 

[Jim Prower]

And ours gets WORSE, to top it all off...

 

[Dave A]

Really, I actually think the MKII Focus looks much cleaner than the MKI in the metal. I agree that in pictures it doesn't look great, and it is a more conservatively styled car, but imo the MKII looks a bit better thanks to it's cleaner design.

......

Bring it here...pweeeeeaseeee......

I mean, seriously, that's light years better than the "Gilette Grille" '08 that's coming out here...and in Ford's HOME MARKET, for lord's sake...

You say that's Fords home market, but our cars arn't very often products of Ford USA, they're produces of Ford Europe, which isn't Ford USA. That's in a way, but not exactly the same as saying SEAT's are German because of VW. Basically, Ford Europe and Ford USA are as good as two seperate brands contained under one umbrella.

 

[Dave A]

EDIT: I quoted myself by mistake instead of editing the post .