Lancia: From Rallying to Catwalking

As we were going through Lancia’s official press site looking for car pics we happened to notice the absurd number of images with women –and that’s not including the show car babes. Don’t get us wrong; one of the first things we do at European car salons is to visit the Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Fiat stands, but it did made us think of what Fiat has turned Lancia into. The company that once produced automotive legends like the Fulvia Coupe and the Delta HF Integrale is now all about haute-couture versions of Fiat cars adorned with chicks. Well, it could have been worse, meaning that Lancia could be making wanna-be luxury versions of Fiats without the babes… Anyways, follow the jump to check out the selected pics we downloaded from of Lancia’s site. -Continued















Source:Lancia


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2009 Nissan 370Z Spied

Finally, here’s concrete proof that Nissan’s next Z car will be called the 370Z. Our spies spotted a pre-production version – and for the first time ever, they got a glimpse of the badge. It read 370Z, confirming that under the bonnet of the two-seater coupé is a 3.7-litre V6. This is the same unit as used by Nissan luxury offshoot Infiniti. As a result, the 370Z promises to be quicker and more powerful than the 350Z, with around 325bhp on tap – up from 309bhp. We have already spotted test mules for the new model disguised as a 350Z (above), but our spy pictures reveal a distinctive new look – and its shark fin-style headlamps have clearly been inspired by those fitted to the company’s Maxima luxury saloon. The handsome four-door made its debut at last month’s New York Motor Show (Newsweek, Issue 1,005), and the Z car will share its smart projector-style headlamps, with a row of fashionable LED lights included, too.Our shots show Nissan’s designers have taken an evolutionary approach elsewhere, and you can clearly make out the diffuser-style bumper at the rear, complete with twin tailpipes and flush-fitting light clusters. The front end of the car was partially disguised, but expect a characteristically smooth nose, incorporating a large lower air intake. Inside, there’s improved trim and a trio of alloy-trimmed instrument dials ahead of the driver. The 370Z is set to be revealed officially at November’s Los Angeles expo, before hitting UK dealers in 2009. It could also benefit from upgrades from Nissan’s Nismo performance division. The tuning outfit will be familiar to Japanese buyers and enthusiasts around the world, yet is little known in the UK. According to insiders, the firm is planning to widen its reach – but only if it can engineer performance improvements rather than cosmetic enhancements alone.

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2010 BMW Z4 Spied

Our spies have lifted the lid on the next-generation BMW Z4 – and the big news is that it’s getting a folding metal roof for the first time! Look closely at these prototypes, and you’ll see that instead of a fabric affair, the new Z4 is following in the footsteps of its 3-Series Convertible big brother, plus its Mercedes SLK rival, with a retractable steel top। As our artist’s impression shows, the car will also get a more muscular look. And the convertible has another trick up its sleeve. BMW isn’t content with raining on the SLK’s parade, as it will seek to outgun the Porsche Boxster with a new range of powerful engines for the car. These are likely to include the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder unit. There’s even the possibility that the Z4 will be available with diesel power for the first time, too. And a flagship M model could get the new 4.0-litre V8 from the M3 – although a broad line-up of four-cylinder and normally aspirated six-cylinder petrol powerplants will continue to be offered. All cars will benefit from BMW’s Efficient Dynamics programme, which helps to cut CO2 emissions and boost fuel economy with features such as an engine stop/start facility. Under the skin, the platform is shared with the latest-generation 3-Series, so the rear-wheel-drive Z4 will continue to provide driver-pleasing handling. Although these prototypes appear to be much bigger than the current model, this is down to the bulky disguise. Peel back all that plastic camouflage, and the newcomer measures only around an inch or so longer and wider than the existing Z4. Our sources have also discovered that production is likely to shift from South Carolina in the US to BMW’s plant at Regensburg, Germany. Sales will start in the UK late in 2009.


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Audi A4 Avant Driving Footage

According to Audi, beautiful wagons are called Avant, and judging by the sheer elegance of the A4 Avant in this video, it is difficult to argue with them. Previously we have only had the opportunity to the latest variant in the A4 range from in the studio, but with this latest footage we are able to see how it looks on the road.

The video shows the Avant on the country roads of Ibiza driving with a certain degree of elegance, whilst showing glimpses of the powerful performance it is capable of, and for those of you who wish to see the detailing in a little more detail - keep watching until the end for some beauty shots of the interior and exterior.

When it is launched at the end of the month with prices starting at €30,600, Audi will be hoping they can continue the success of the previous generation A4 Avant which saw it become the world's most successful car in the midsize premium wagon segment.

Source: Audi

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RUMORS: Mercedes Wants to Buy Aston Martin!

A strong rumour, yes rumour, going around is that Mercedes-Benz is working on a plan to cease control of Aston Martin. This rumour originally grew roots in February when Adham Charonoglu, of Aston’s Kuwaiti majority shareholder Investment DAR, thinly suggested that a tie-up between Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin would make a lot of sense, financially and in other automotive ways. Could Merc be now looking seriously at this proposition?


Officially no one is saying. However, McLaren and Merc end their SLR collaboration by 2009, and the German company will be looking at replacing it from in-house, probably straight from AMG or possibly elsewhere. Aston Martin could present a great option for Merc going forward in the premium sports car segment. The sharing of technology would help Aston Martin to a great degree as it increases its sales footprint around the globe and parts becoming more and more expensive to make.

Source: औतोकार


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Ford CEO Mulally Earns $22 million

Ford Motor Company is reporting that it is paying its CEO Alan Mulally more than USD22 million (€13,95 million) for work done during the 2007 financial year. Ford reported losses amounting to USD2.7 billion during the same period. Union boss Ron Gettelfinger who serves as President of United Auto Workers said: "We did not sacrifice so that management could find a way to reward themselves with higher compensation,” referring to the agreement the UAW made with the auto industry in 2007.


Mulally replaced heir apparent Bill Ford Jr. at the helm in 2006 when he was hired by Ford, now chairman, from a successful flight running aero company Boeing. That year he received USD39 million in compensation for his troubles. Ford is to reward all workers, including hourly ones in North America with bonuses as a thank you for helping to guide the company through hard times.

It aims to return to profitability in 2009 after narrowing annual losses by USD10 billion in 2007. Partly to thank are the sales of the Aston Martin brand. Jaguar and Land Rover money should only reflect in next year’s annual financial report and we know more or less how much that will be already.

Source: Reuters via Washingtonpost.com

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Chery to export 3 models down-under (AU)

Chery is now invading the Australian market with 3 new models. The vehicles won't be imported directly by Chery but Ateco, the exclusive importer for Ferrari, Citroen, Peugeot, FIAT, Alfa Romeo and Maserati for Australia. The deal has been three years in the making, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November 2005.

Sales figures stand at 261,000 in China last year with 120,00 exports. Chery is set to introduce 38 new vehicles within the next 5 years. The QQ (Chevrolet Matiz clone), QQ6 (Chevrolet Matiz sedan) and the Tiggo SUV (2nd generation Toyota RAV4) will arrive this year.

Chery started producing cars back in 1999, in August 2007 they built their millionth car. Chery has a production capacity of 650,000 units and plans to lift that number up to 1 million annually.
“We believe that China represents the future as a source of automotive products which makes this association with Chery a very exciting development for Ateco,” Mr Neville Crichton, Ateco Governing Director had said.

So that got me thinking, will Chery come over into the UK anytime soon despite them testing their cars here? Another thing I forgot to mention, they were right-hand-drive cars.