March 6, 2010
Filed under: Car Manufacturers — Alan @ 6:01 am
Although Renault announced plans to close the Valladolid Factory in Spain a few weeks ago, the news is now good for workers at the factor as the doors will stay open for at least four more years to build a new electric car model.
Renault decided to build the new electric model at Valladolid as part of the agreement that will keep the plant open and help aid mass market expansion of electric vehicles.
The new electric car will have an ecological motor starting on the production line in 2012 and a more traditional line will be produced at the plant beginning in 2013.
Industry Minister of Spain Miguel Sebastian stated that the new electric car plan assures that Valladolid will stay open for the next ten years with a €500 million investment over the coming four years in the area.
February 11, 2010
Filed under: Car Manufacturers, Motor industry — admin @ 3:51 pm
Less than 72-hours after releasing betting on the next automaker to issue a major recall, bookmaking company Paddy Power were forced to pay out yesterday on Honda after the car-making giant announced a widening of its recall due to potentially deadly air bags.
Honda were considered relative outsiders on the bookmakers list and were available at long odds of 16/1. Scores of shrewd punters took advantage of the bookies generous odds triggering a payout in excess of €7,000.
Paddy Power said “We didn’t expect another recall to follow so soon after Toyota’s announcement. That said, we obviously were caught napping and fully deserved to have our pants taken down. Needless to say we’ll be keeping a very close eye on this betting moving forward”
Paddy Power continue to take bets on the next car manufacturer to issue a major recall (without Toyota and Honda). Japan’s sixth largest automaker Mitsubishi Motors is now the bookies 4/1 favourite followed by Nissan at 6/1 and Daihatsu and Mazda at 8/1.
Next Car Company to recall?
4/1 Mitsubishi Motors
6/1 Nissan
8/1 Daihatsu
8/1 Mazda
10/1 Volvo
10/1 Audi
12/1 Hyundai
12/1 Ford
14/1 Dodge
14/1 Fiat
16/1 Volkswagon
16/1 Vauxhall
18/1 BMW
20/1 Chrysler
20/1 Mercedes-Benz
33/1 Daewoo
33/1 Alfa Romeo
40/1 Hummer
50/1 Skoda
80/1 Ferrari
Filed under: Car Manufacturers — Alan @ 6:59 am
Reports from Toyota suggest that the Japanese company will soon make an announcement regarding its Prius hybrid and the possibility of a large recall due to brake problems.
The car giant who currently is the largest in the world has maintained that they have not come to a final decision regarding the hybrid yet, although American car dealers have already been contacted.
The brake defect affects the new Prius models, out of which there are about 5000 in the UK that were made along with their American and Japanese counterparts at the Tsusumi Toyota plant.
At this point, it is known that a repair is needed to the software systems that allow the brakes on the models to be controlled properly, and will take around a half an hour to be completed at dealership.
At the moment, the car makes has been forced to recall over eight million units worldwide due to problems with the accelerator jamming and/or sticking.
Additionally, there have been separate reports that Toyota has instructed United States dealers to begin repairs on Prius vehicles that are still located in their lots.
The announcement regarding the official action plan is expected to come soon.
Japanese and United States Prius drivers have issued complaints that brakes only start working after a slight delay, which Toyota claims can easily be fixed if the software programming is changed.
The delay causes a lag as the car switches from electric motor brakes and petrol engine brakes, which is actually the key to increasing the high mileage capabilities of the hybrid.
February 4, 2010
Filed under: Car Manufacturers — Alan @ 10:04 am
Over 180,000 British cars have been affected by a massive recall from Toyota the Japanese car giant, who announced that seven models are affected by a problem with the accelerator pedal. Internationally Toyota has been forced to recall millions of its cars.
Additionally, the company is looking into further reports that there are faulty brakes on its US and Japanese Prius hybrid model.
In the face of the recalls, Toyota UK has announced that it will take almost a week before they can begin to repair the cars affected by the recall, with the actual repair start date not set until February 10th. This is due to the fact that the parts needed to repair the affected vehicles will not arrive until next week.
As the largest car maker in the world Toyota is poised to suffer a huge setback with a loss estimated at about £1.23b once the recall is complete and potential lost sales are taken into account. However, it expects that sales will bounce back over the course of the year. Currently there are about 1.6m Toyota vehicles on the roads of the UK.
The affected UK models are the Aygo, IQ, Auris, Verso, Corolla, and the Avensis. The company said that it will write to around 180,000 UK drivers advising them of the need for repairs after the company found that the accelerator pedals stick or jam at times.
Toyota claims that the repair process will only take about half an hour and is available at Toyota dealers. The company also stated that there have not been any accidents as a result of the problem, and that only 26 incidents with the accelerator pads had been noted across Europe.
According to a spokesman for the car giant, no new models of Toyotas are affected by the recall, and dealerships will continue to accept orders on all makes and models of cars.
January 26, 2010
Filed under: Car Manufacturers, Competitions, Eco Driving — admin @ 10:43 pm
This week sees the launch of the first ever pan-European eco-driving challenge – the Peugeot Eco Cup – which will follow a 1000 kilometre course from Paris to Geneva, with the winners being those arriving at the finish within set time targets having used the least fuel.
Entry to the Peugeot Eco Cup is open to any qualified driver. Would-be competitors can sign up at the dedicated website http://ecocup.peugeot.com by 15 February 2010.
The website features a range of eco-driving tips, an online eco-driving test and details of the four different Peugeot cars available for the event. Applicants select the car category they prefer to compete in, enter their details and submit a 140 word description of what makes a good eco driver.
Peugeot will select 72 competitors from the online entries and then randomly draw entrants to be invited to take the challenge, with four each representing the 18 European countries (and accompanied by a team-mate of their choice), to compete in four different Peugeot cars: Peugeot 207 HDi 90, 308 HDi 110, 3008 HDi 110 and 5008 HDi 110. Each vehicle is a diesel powered practical family car recognised for its excellent fuel economy and low carbon emissions.
The 72 vehicles will all set off from Paris on Sunday, 28th February 2010 towards Geneva via a compulsory 1,000 kilometre route to be covered within the 30-36 hour permitted period.
For each model, the candidate having consumed the least fuel at the end of the course will win a new car. Winners will be announced and the keys to the vehicles will be handed over on Tuesday 2nd March 2010 on the Peugeot stand at the Geneva Motor Show.
January 14, 2010
Filed under: Car Manufacturers — admin @ 11:52 am
Here is a taster video for Peugeot’s new logo and brand plaform.
Well worth checking out more of this at the Peugeot Motion and Emotion website – http://www.new-peugeot.com/ for more of the same.
January 7, 2010
Filed under: Car Manufacturers, Motorsport — admin @ 8:39 am
With its unique gullwing doors, the SLS AMG is a true icon of automotive design.
The exciting interplay between concave and convex surfaces, combined with understated features such as retractable rear spoiler, create an unforgettable visual impact. Classic sportscar proportions – the lengthy bonnet, wide track and short overhangs – heighten the car’s dynamism and power.
The characteristic curved design of the opened gullwing doors extends to other parts of the car – the side mirrors, tail lights, the 3-spoke steering wheel, and the flow of the contrasting top-stitching from the centre console to the instrument panel.
The interior of the gullwing model offers the same level of sports styling as the exterior, with design elements from the worlds of aviation and motorsport apparent throughout.
This Mercedes-Benz must be on the wish list for every fast driving car enthusiast. The sound from the engine makes you really want to drive this fast racing car. Check out this video.
