New Car: 2009 Renault Sandero Stepway

Renault has taken the covers off its Sandero based faux SUV. The Sandero Stepway will be powered by a 112bhp, 1.6 litre 16v Hi-Flex, Renault’s most powerful bio-ethanol powerplant in Brazil. In addtion to the 1.6 litre petrol engine, Argentina will also receive a 1.5 litre dCi diesel unit.

The Sandero Stepway will launch in October in Brazil with Argentina sales following after. European sales should start in mid-2009 where it'll be known as Dacia, but due to high demand of the Dacia Sandero, that could be pushed back to 2010. 2009 will also see the UK launch of the regular Sandero.

Press Release:

A new urban sport vehicle for Mercosur:

Renault is enriching its vehicle line-up in Mercosur with Renault Sandero Stepway, launched from October in Brazil and then in Argentina. The newcomer’s assertive styling is targeted at sophisticated urban customers looking for a vehicle that sets them apart. Renault Sandero Stepway boasts the same fundamental qualities of roominess and reliability as Renault Sandero, this last quality underscored by a three-year/100,000-km warranty in Brazil.

Manufactured at the Curitiba plant, Renault Sandero Stepway is the fifth of six models to be launched in Brazil as part of Renault Commitment 2009. Renault doubled its sales in Brazil between 2007 and 2008 with this strong product offensive. The brand now ranks among the top five best-selling manufacturers in the country.

An all-new vehicle in the Renault Mercosur range:

Renault programmed an Urban Sport variant of Renault Sandero right from the start of the design phase. Developed primarily for the needs of the Brazilian market, Renault Sandero Stepway targets sophisticated urban customers looking for a vehicle with assertive and distinctive styling. The forceful personality of Renault Sandero Stepway is reflected in raised ground clearance, roof bars with an integrated spoiler, exclusivebumpers and grille, and a chrome-finished exhaust pipe. The high-set driver’s position makes for a stress-free urban drive, while driving pleasure is fully delivered by the only engine available on Sandero Stepway : the 112bhp 1.6 16V Hi-Flex, Renault’s most powerful bio-ethanol powerplant in Brazil.

While Renault Sandero Stepway is a natural in the “urban jungle”, it also features all the fundamental qualities of Sandero, such as roominess and robustness. Renault Sandero Stepway has an immense cabin for the segment, seating five adults in complete comfort and boasting a 320-litre trunk. Build quality and robustness are underlined by a three-year/100,000-km warranty in Brazil. Renault Sandero Stepway is also set for launch in Argentina with a dCi engine.

Outstanding sales success for Renault do Brasil:

Built at the Curitiba plant, Renault Sandero Stepway is the fifth of six models to be launched in Brazil under Renault Commitment 2009. Renault is investing one billion reals (400 million euros) in Brazil as part of the plan. Driven by the product offensive kicked off in 2006 with Mégane Sedan and Mégane Grand Tour and continued by Logan in 2007 and Sandero in 2008, Renault do Brasil’s sales attained record levels in first-half 2008. It sold a total 58,800 units – twice as many as in first-half 2007. This 92.4% increase took Renault’s market share in Brazil from 3% to 4.4% in one year, placing the brand among the top five best-selling carmakers in the country. With sales of nearly 18,500 vehicles in first-half 2008, Renault Sandero has made a significant contribution to this success.

Related links:

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New Car: 2008 Renault Sandero

Hyundai expects to sell 50,000 Genesis variants (U.S)

Hyundai announced that it expects to sell up to 50,000 Genesis' in the U.S once both the sedan and an upcoming coupe version are in showrooms.

"I think it's reasonably achievable," Hyundai vice president for product development John Krafcik told reporters. Krafcik said Hyundai could sell up to 20,000 of the sedans and 30,000 of the coupes annually.

The Korean automaker is counting on the launch of the Genesis to boost Hyundai sales and improve the image of the brand. The Genesis sedan, which starts at $33,000, went on sale in late June in the United States. Production of the coupe model will begin in December in Korea.

Spied: 2009 Porsche Panamera vs 2010 Aston Martin Rapide

Porsche has been road-testing the '09 Panamera for a couple of years now. The latest photos show the newcomer being put through its pace alongside the 2010 Aston Martin Rapide in Germany.

Following its premier at the 2006 Detriot motorshow, the Aston Martin hasn't been spied for sometime now. Although at one point, the Rapide was put on hold after Ford had to sell it, we should see the super-coupe sometime in 2010.

Both cars will surpass 5 metres in length.

2009 Porsche Panamera:

Scheduled for an official presentation at the 2009 Geneva motorshow, here are two all-new four-door coupés testing at the Nürburgring race-track. Both, the fourth range from Porsche, known as the Panamera, and the all-new Aston Martin Rapide, are developed to rival the Mercedes CLS and the upcoming Audi A7.

Though the Panamera takes over design elements from the 911 range, there will be significant differences, too: While the first has always been to keep its rear-mounted boxer engine, the newcomer will have a choice of three front-mounted motors, though set back to the centre of the car as much as possible. The entry-level unit will be Volkswagen’s 3.5 litre V6 developing 300bhp, while Porsche’s own drivetrain will be a direct-injection V8 petrol engine, available in naturally-aspirated guise (350bhp) and with twin-turbo (560bhp). There's even talks on a hybrid variant. That should be enough to beat out the competition for a while. The Mercedes CLS 63AMG pumps out 514bhp.

The target for the Panamera is to be a true sportscar while at the same time be a family-car for every-day use with four full seats, easy access to the rear and a luggage compartment of around 450 litres. When it hits the road in 2009, Porsche hopes to be able to sell 20,000 units annually and hopes to shift over 100,000 cars per year.

2010 Aston Martin Rapide:

Following the Rapide concept shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit back in 2006, Aston Martin is now coming up with the real machine. Former owner, Ford had put the project on hold when they decided to sell the biggest pack of shares. After selling this to the group lead by David Richards, one of the first decisions was to revive the project and start developing the production version Rapide. Together with the body, the DB9 will provide its platform and its V12-engine. The latter will be tuned to 480bhp while it delivers 450bhp in the DB9. The car should be released in 2010.

2010 Nissan Micra/March to be less "feminine"

The current Micra has been on the European market since 2003. To date, it's has 2 subtle facelifts.

According to Nissan design director, Shiro Nakamura, the upcoming Nissan Micra, which is already in the design stage, will adopt a more conventional and aggressive or sporty look that will appeal to the male buyers.

“There will still be a strong family look, but we do need to attract more male buyers,” Nakamura said. He also said the styling of the new Micra will not completely abandon the look first established on the mid-1990s Micra, which was built in the UK.

The Micra will be sold in India, Thailand and other parts of Asia. Europe and Australia will also receive the supermini.

Nissan is exploring the idea of changing the Micra’s name. With Nissan management believing the name Micra has become somewhat stodgy and unexciting, they see the advent of an all-new model as a fortuitous time to adopt a new, more vigorous moniker that Nissan christened its then smallest model back in 1992. However, a front-runner appears to be ‘March’, a re-badged Micra in Japan.

Volkswagen Golf engine production halted

Buyers wanting a Volkswagen Golf with a small petrol engine had better get in quick because VW has halted production on some of the most popular engine variants in the range.

The 120bhp 1.4 litre TSI and the 113bhp 1.6 litre FSI petrol engines are no longer available from factory order, which means you can't tailor them to your own specifications. However, if you're a bit more flexible on the paint colour and the options fitted, Volkswagen says you can still buy these engines from stock reserves, cars that have already been built, but not yet bought.

That leaves the Golf range with a choice of just three petrol engines that you can order from scratch. There's the underpowered 79bhp, more powerful 138bhp or 168bhp 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine, and although they are much, much better, they make the Golf way too expensive.

To compensate for the huge gap left in the range, Volkswagen has dropped the price of the 105bhp 1.9 diesel version. Prices now start at £14,305. The rest of the diesel range remains the same. There's a non-turbo 2.0 litre 74bhp, and two 2.0 litre turbo-diesels that give either 138bhp or 168bhp. There's more bad news for fans of sporty Golfs – production has also been halted on the excellent GTI and R32 hot hatch versions. Again, you can buy them from Volkswagen's stock, but no more factory orders are being taken.

The Golf's engine range shouldn't suffer these gaps for too long, however, because the new Mk VI Golf is due to arrive at the end of the year.

Kia Forte on sale (KR)

Kia Motors formally rolled out its all-new 2009 Forte sedan on the 22nd August, which will replace the Cerato in the Korean domestic market and the Spectra in selected overseas markets.

At the car's launch, Kia said it expects to sell around 220,000 Fortes, with annual volume growing to 250,000 by 2010, including 170,000 exports to such markets as Russia, Central Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

In Korea, the Forte offers buyers a choice of 1.6 litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with a 2.0 litre four-cylinder expected in NA markets.

Among the new car's features are a navigation system with voice recognition, push-button start/stop, side curtain airbags and stability control. Kia has not said whether the U.S model will carry over the Spectra name or shift to the Forte name when it begins arriving in early 2009.

In the pipeline, is a Forte coupe which is slated for an introduction in 2009. Engines will be carried over from the Forte sedan.

Related links:

More upcoming Kia rumors

New Car: 2009 Kia Forte

Hyundai i10 under consideration for U.S market (U.S)

The ever popular Hyundai i10 city-car might make it to the U.S. If the i10 were to be sold in the U.S, an extra 400 pounds of extra anti-occupant reinforcements would be added on top of the 1.4 tonnes/1,800 pounds gross vehicle weight. The car manages 56mpg UK/46.6mpg U.S.

However, Hyundai is watching the Smart ForTwo U.S launch very carefully to see if an adaption of its Indian-built Hyundai i10 would be right for the shores.

Related links:

Hyundai exceeds 100,000 units in export

Hyundai April sales in India

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2011 Jaguar XJ spied

These latest shots caught by spies show the slow developing mule for the next generation Jaguar XJ. Styling for the all-new XJ will be radically different, a fact that is hardly surprising considering the slow sales rate of the current generation.

Jaguar design chief, Ian Callum, has confirmed styling will be even more daring than the highly regarded XF. This daring feature is expected to be a design that combines the XF's design with the idea of a four-door coupe, thus putting it head to head with the Mercedes CLS-Class, Audi A7 and Porsche Panamera.

A modified version of the current XJ will be used for the new model that currently carries the code-name X351, which is expected to make its official debut in the Spring 2011.

Related link:

Upcoming Jaguar and Land Rover rumors

Facelift for Mercedes flagship sedan

I previously reported on the Mercedes S-Class sedan. The article included a picture of what I though was a facelifted S-Class, but instead, it is a hydrogen-fuel cell.

The Mercedes S Class has only been on the market for a short while. Ahead of its launch, spies have caught a U.S prototype almost undisguised in Germany.

Clearly visible are the new front skirt and fog lights, a revised bumper, as well as the new wing mirrors. There will also be a modified layout of the headlights: while the flashers will move to the bottom of the units, LED daylight driving lamps will be fitted to the outer edges of the front lamp units. A slightly re-designed rear bumper and tail-lights without the coloured “metal” stripes will round off the facelift.

Engines are likely to be tune to offer better fuel economy and lower emissions, whilst rumours state the model will be available with both petrol and diesel hybrids by 2010.

S63 AMG:

Spied with other S-Class facelift mules in Death Valley, CA, the AMG variant will undergo a modest refresh, getting a new, lower front bumper fascia. A set of new exhaust tips may be in the works since this prototype is sporting generic exhaust pipes.

The S63 and S65 AMG models should retain their current powertrains, but may receive a few technology updates. The S-Class facelift is due for unveiling in 2009.

Related link:

Mercedes restyles S-Class sedan

No diesel's for Bentley

Bentley has said it is unlikely to produce diesel models, even though rival's like Porsche are bringing them into the market.

According to a senior company source, Bentley has been conducting customer clinics to ask buyers what they think of diesel models and most have been opposed to the idea.

He added that the company is also opposed to the idea for business reasons: “a lot of our cars are sold in the U.S and Asia and these are not diesel markets. We can not make it stand up just developing a diesel model for Europe.”

Instead, Bentley is forging ahead with plans to have its entire range capable of running on called second-generation biofuels made from waste material, rather than food stocks, by 2012. The company is currently developing an all-new engine which will power the next generation Arnage and Continental models.