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USA RECALL #6 - The Chrysler 200 from 2016 model year is to be recalled to check the chassis Fastening joints.
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USA RECALL #7 - Pagani Automobili SpA is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Huayra vehicles for airbag issues.
RECALL Subject : Driver Frontal Air Bag may not Deploy Properly
Report Receipt Date: AUG 09, 2016
NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V588000
Component(s): AIR BAGS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 32
NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V588000
Component(s): AIR BAGS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 32
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USA - FCA take home a handful of prizes at the Ruedas ESPN Awards ceremony.
- FCA US LLC is named “Manufacturer of the Year” at the 2016 Ruedas ESPN Awards as part of the 46th Miami International Auto Show
- Chrysler Pacifica earns top honor, winning “Vehicle of the Year” Award
- Fiat 124 Spider, Ram 1500 Rebel and Chrysler Pacifica win “Best Vehicles” in their respective segments
"Ruedas ESPN" has named FCA US LLC the “Manufacturer of the Year” and selected the Chrysler Pacifica as the “Vehicle of the Year” at the 2016 Ruedas ESPN Awards as part of the 46th Miami International Auto Show.
The Chrysler Pacifica, Fiat 124 Spider and Ram 1500 Rebel were also honored, winning “Best Minivan,” “Best Convertible” and “Best Pickup Truck,” respectively.
"Winning the prestigious ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award shows that FCA US is listening to consumers by building vehicles that fit a wide variety of needs in today’s competitive market," said Jaime Florez, "Ruedas ESPN" director and host. "In addition to the three FCA US vehicles winning in each of their segments, the Chrysler Pacifica takes home ‘Vehicle of the Year,’ impressing the judges with its innovative technology, versatility and bold styling.”
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica reinvents the minivan segment with an unprecedented level of functionality, versatility, technology and bold styling. Re-engineered from the ground up on an all-new platform, the Pacifica delivers class-leading gasoline and hybrid powertrains to the minivan segment. With more than 100 standard and available safety and security features, the all-new Uconnect Theater rear seat entertainment system, and a full array of comfort and convenience technologies, the Chrysler Pacifica is a no-compromises minivan ideally suited for today's families.
Awarded “Best Convertible,” the all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider revives the storied nameplate, bringing its classic Italian styling and performance to a new generation. Paying homage to the original 124 Spider nearly 50 years after its introduction, the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider delivers the ultimate fun-to-drive Italian roadster experience with technology, safety and iconic Italian design.
The Ram 1500 Rebel, winning “Best Pickup Truck,” brings one-of-a-kind, off-road design to the full-size truck segment with unique design cues and can-do attitude backed by Ram Truck engineering. Equipped with a factory lift, 33-inch tires, standard air suspension, Bilstein shocks, skid plates, tow hooks and other off-road-ready features, the Ram 1500 Rebel appeals to the truck owner looking for a less beaten path.
For almost a decade and a half, "Ruedas ESPN" has carefully established the criteria to choose the nominees in every category. The vehicles must have been – or are scheduled to be in the market – before the last day of the current year, must have proven standards of quality, high levels of popularity among Hispanics, all while providing value.
The "Ruedas ESPN" executive committee was responsible for generating the nominations. Industry experts group of jurors selected the winners of the 12 basic categories in addition to the top prize, Ruedas ESPN Vehicle of the Year.
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USA RECALL #8 - SET Exhaust accessories may cause burns if standing too close to the exhaust of the 4Runner.
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Electric September hits Nissan dealers with buyers of the LEAF and e-NV200 to receive a £500 reward offer.
Nissan is celebrating reaching 15,000 UK sales of its 100% electric LEAF with a £500 reward to all retail customers purchasing a LEAF or e-NV200 in its ‘Electric September’ sales event.
The £500 reward is on top of a range of attractive deals available. A 24kWh LEAF Acenta is currently being offered on a 3-year PCP with £249 monthly payments, £5,000 Nissan deposit contribution, free home charging unit (worth £390) and just 5.99% APR representative.
The 15,000th LEAF customer was a Mrs Jenny Craik, who purchased her LEAF Acenta from West Way Nissan in Aldershot, Hampshire. Jenny said; “When I was researching a new car, the Nissan LEAF offered great running cost savings against my 14-plate Ford Fiesta, even though the Nissan’s a bigger car.
Together with the environmental positives made it a really attractive package. My husband drives a plug-in hybrid and he’s already competing with me to spend time in the LEAF as it’s just an enjoyable driving experience.”
The 15,000 sales milestone was reached just over a year after Nissan marked 10,000 LEAFs registered in Great Britain (July 2015). Since its 2011 launch, the UK has been responsible for around one in four LEAF sales in Europe. As electric vehicle uptake continues to gather pace, there has been more demand for LEAF in the UK in the last 12 months than the model’s first three years of being on sale.
Ed Jones, EV Manager at Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, said; “Nissan LEAF owners are some of the most satisfied drivers on the roads today. They’ve realised switching to all-electric power delivers so many benefits – running costs around four times cheaper than that of a conventional combustion engine and up to 40 percent savings in vehicle maintenance, to name but a few. There’s good reason the LEAF is the best-selling EV in the UK and we hope our September sales offer will inspire even more people to make the switch.”
The £500 reward offer is valid on all Nissan electric vehicle purchases until 30th September and registered by 31st December 2016. Customers will be issued with a £500 pre-paid debit card issued on registration of the vehicle. Available to cash and finance customers.
The Nissan LEAF is the world’s best-selling all-electric vehicle and there are now more than 230,000 on the road globally with around 61,000 in Europe. In 2015 Nissan announced it had saved 50 million kg of carbon emissions in Europe alone with sales of the LEAF.
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Renault has handed over the keys to its 100,000th electric car, a ZOE, in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.
- Renault has handed over the keys to its 100,000th electric car, a ZOE, in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.
- A pioneer of all-electric vehicles, Renault is the European leader with 27% market share for electric cars
Five years since the launch of its first electric vehicle, Renault has handed over the keys to its 100,000th electric car customer.
The Renault ZOE – the brand’s all-electric supermini – was sold to 41 year old Norwegian, Mr. Åsmund Gillebo. To truly complement his purchase of a ZOE, he has been presented with five years of Fortim recharging and 100,000 minutes of recharging time from Grønn kontakt, two local energy suppliers.
Renault: the European leader for electric cars
In the first half of 2016, Renault sold more than 15,000 electric vehicles (excluding the Twizy), an increase of 32% on the previous year. This success confirms Renault’s status as the European market leader, especially for LCV.
Indeed, on European roads, one in every four electric vehicles is a Renault. In France, half of all electric cars are Renaults. Renault’s main markets for electric cars are France, Norway, the UK and Germany.
In the UK, Renault Z.E. sales grew to 1,199 in the first half of 2016 – an increase of 26.1 per cent. Of this, 1,069 of the vehicles were the all-electric ZOE – a 39.4 per cent increase on the first six months of 2015. Since the launch of its Z.E. vehicles in the UK in 2011, Renault has sold 5,977 electric vehicles to date comprising of Fluence, Kangoo Van Z.E, Twizy and ZOE.
Eric Feunteun, Director of Renault’s Electric Vehicle Division, said: “Every year there are more customers for electric cars and Renault is making a major contribution to this with its constant innovation and dedication to developing infrastructure. Our customer satisfaction, which stands at 98% for the ZOE, encourages us to keep pushing onwards”.
Renault boasts the most comprehensive range of 100% electric cars on the market, enabling it to meet a variety of needs. The range is made up of the compact ZOE city car, the Kangoo Van ZE, the compact urban two-seater Twizy (and its utility version, the Twizy Cargo), and the stately saloon the RSM SM3 ZE (the best-selling electric vehicle in Korea).
The ZOE, the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe, dominates the market for electric private cars with over 23% market share. The Kangoo Van ZE, the leading electric LCV in Europe for the third year running, sets the benchmark for professionals and has won a number of tenders, including the French Post Office, and the French electricity provider ERDF in Norway.
Lastly, with 17,000 models sold, the Twizy is the trailblazer for new ways to get around all over the world, and is extremely popular in car-sharing initiatives in both Europe and North America.
Renault, a key player in electric innovation
With cutting edge electrical technology, proven by its performance in Formula E, Renault is naturally winning over an increasing number of users. Since it began its electric adventure Renault has adopted a global strategy for electric mobility, and the development of infrastructure in particular.
Renault is involved in a number of projects to install public recharge points, working with public bodies and other players in electric mobility like energy technicians. There are currently over 100,000 public recharge points around the world, 80,000 of which are in Europe, and they are constantly growing in number.
As an example, Renault supports European Commission projects for the TEN-T fund (Trans European Transport Network), which has installed over 2,300 quick charge terminals along highways and major roads in over 15 countries.
In the UK, the ZOE has won numerous awards including What Car?’s ‘Best Electric Car Under £20,000’ for three consecutive years and was most recently voted second in the 2016 Auto Express Driver Power vehicle ownership survey out of 183 cars – Renault’s best ever ranking in the survey for one of its vehicles.
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Nissan, in partnership with the English Institute of Sport, designed & built a trike for Paralympics GB’s David Stone MBE
- Nissan, in partnership with the English Institute of Sport (EIS), designed and built a trike for Paralympics GB’s David Stone MBE
- New 18% lighter titanium trike, pioneered by the Nissan Innovation Team at Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE)
- Nissan has also helped with other sporting projects, including assistance with wheelchair rollers, wheelchair rim grip and glove developments
Nissan, as proud partner of British Paralympic Association (BPA), has used its automotive expertise to support some of the British athletes heading to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
In partnership with the English Institute of Sport (EIS) and British Cycling, the Nissan Innovation Team based at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) has used its engineering and innovation prowess to develop a new trike for three time Paralympic gold medallist David Stone MBE.
The Nissan Innovation Team began the project in 2014, following many of the same procedures involved in designing a car.
Following a full 3D laser scan of David’s existing trike by Nissan Design Europe, a process usually reserved for styling clay models, the team established his new trike could be made lighter than his existing steel / carbon hybrid and his riding position lowered to significantly improve his speed and stability.
The team chose to design the new trike using Titanium Grade9, achieving weight savings of 18%. Their approach followed the same basic material and design philosophy that was applied to the lightweight titanium exhaust system on the Nissan GT-R NISMO.
In the same way a Nissan GT-R driver would notice the reduced weight and improved acceleration, David will notice his new trike can now accelerate faster off the start line and out of slow corners.
Utilising titanium over steel also allowed Nissan to stiffen up the frame, which is key for transferring the power between rider and road.
To measure the stiffness of David’s current trike, highly specialised modal analysis was conducted by Nissan engineers, where sensors were placed across the frame to measure its resonance. The Nissan GT-R NISMO was also tested and developed using the same method.
Nissan also discovered that David’s original trike was built up of a standard bike frame bonded to a heavy steel trike conversion kit, meaning it was over engineered and heavy.
Using the 3D scanning tools the Nissan Innovation Team were able to develop a fully integrated trike design, incorporating a dual wheel drive system. This allows both wheels to be powered yet independently free wheeled, similar to the rear differential on a car.
Throughout the process Nissan also adopted various other techniques such as ‘coast down testing’ of the trike on a track – similar to that used to calculate the aerodynamic efficiency of cars – and allowed David to have access to their environmental chamber where he prepared in high temperature conditions as part of his training programme.
Alec Patterson, R&D Project Manager, who led the team of innovation experts at Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) explained: “Nissan initially discussed with the EIS the ways we could utilise our engineering development expertise for the benefit of Rio 2016 - bound Paralympic athletes.
The David Stone trike project was chosen as it offered potential for significant improvement and could directly benefit from our in-depth experience of vehicle design and manufacture.
David Stone commented: “It’s been an extremely exciting couple of years working with Alec and the Nissan Innovation Team in Cranfield. I never imagined that I would have access to a team of engineering experts who would be able to create something so bespoke for me.
I’m looking forward to riding the new trike in Rio and hopefully making everyone back in Britain proud.”
Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of the British Paralympic Association commented: “We’ve been delighted about working with Nissan on our road to Rio 2016, and have been excited about the innovative approach they have brought to the partnership.
Having access to the expertise and knowledge within the Nissan Innovation Team to benefit some of our athletes is something truly special that they have and hopefully it will help assist the ParalympicsGB team in having a successful Games in Rio”.
In addition to the trike project, Nissan has also provided consultancy to the EIS on various other aspects of how the British Paralympic team’s equipment could be optimised ahead of Rio.
This has included support on identifying a new type of wheelchair roller for athletes warming up ahead of races, feedback on materials for wheelchair athlete’s gloves and input on the best types of testing methods for grip testing wheelchair tyres in various weather conditions.
Nissan also offered support to ParalmypicsGB T54 sprint competitor, Richard Chiassaro, by providing him with a new wheelchair after his was vandalised in December 2015.
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Vauxhall will undertake to take the new Ampera-e for United Kingdom evaluation in the hope they will be able to sell it here.
- Vauxhall to evaluate new EV as part of its commitment to electro-mobility
- RHD cars not planned for current-gen Ampera-e…
- …but importance of UK market holds potential for future models
- Class-leading range to be demonstrated to Vauxhall’s fleet clients
The new Ampera-e electric car, which will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this month, will be evaluated in the UK by Vauxhall with the possibility of right-hand-drive models being produced in a future generation.
Due to be sold by Vauxhall’s sister company, Opel, from 2017 with left-hand-drive, the Ampera-e has a class-leading pure electrical range that can exceed 250 miles without recharging (purely electrical range measured, based on the New European Driving Cycle, or NEDC, in km: > 400; provisional figure).
However, even taking into account the real world impact of driving style, road and weather conditions, the car can still achieve a range of over 185 miles under average, every day conditions.
‘Vauxhall is committed to having a future EV presence in its range,’ said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director.
‘The technology which underpins the new Ampera-e is of great interest to us, and we will be evaluating LHD cars from next spring and demonstrating them to clients.
The fact that Ampera-e is not an eco-luxury or second car for customers broadens its appeal greatly, but it’s obviously vital that the car we sell in our market is right-hand-drive, and that won’t be available in the current generation.’
The class-leading range of 250 miles (provisional figure measured, based on the NEDC) of the Ampera-e – which beats the maximum 186-mile NEDC range of its closest competitor, the BMW i3, fitted with its optional, large 33kWh battery – is not the only feature which will be part of Vauxhall’s appraisal.
Clever integration of the ten battery modules means that the 4.17 metre-long car can accommodate five people, yet still offers a 381-litre boot.
The battery package is located in the underbody and is tailored to the contours of the vehicle, with no space wasted. The battery, developed in cooperation with LG Chem, comprises 288 lithium-ion cells and has a capacity of 60 kWh.
Sports car acceleration
With maximum torque of 360Nm and power equivalent to 204PS, the Ampera-e’s standing-start and mid-range acceleration figures are on a par with many a sports car.
Zero to 30mph takes a mere 3.2 seconds, while 50-75mph – a particularly important yardstick for overtaking performance – takes just 4.5 seconds (preliminary figures). Top speed is electronically limited to 93mph for the benefit of overall range.
The Ampera-e also has the ability to re-charge its batteries while being driven. To do so, the driver just eases off the accelerator in the normal ‘Drive’ mode. The Ampera-e recuperates automatically in overrun and wins back energy from the electric motor, which doubles as a generator.
The motor’s braking effect is increased when the driver switches to ‘Low’ mode, therefore increasing recuperation. Furthermore, the driver can switch to ‘Regen on Demand’ for maximum energy recuperation, via a paddle at the back of the steering wheel.
The drag torque is so high in ‘Low/Regen on Demand’ modes that the brake pedal need not be applied to reduce speed to a full stop in normal traffic, leaving the Ampera-e to be safely controlled by the accelerator (naturally, the brake pedal still needs to be applied in an emergency).
Initial vehicle simulation models show that drivers can increase the range by up to five per cent compared with ‘Drive’ mode, when applying ‘One Pedal Driving’ with the corresponding full recuperation in dense city stop/go traffic.
Fully connected with OnStar and smartphone integration
The Ampera-e has both the latest generation IntelliLink infotainment and OnStar on board, with the award-winning connectivity and service assistant offering a powerful WiFi hotspot for up to seven devices (depending on market). The Apple CarPlay- and Android Auto-compatible IntelliLink systems bring the world of smartphones into the Ampera-e, allowing passengers complete access to their favourite music, or the luxury of streaming movies.
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And the number one Ford Car from TV and Film has been named as...........
- Mustang GT 390 from ‘Bullitt’ named Britain’s favourite film Ford
- Opportunity to see the famous car at FordFest, Santa Pod, Beds, on Sunday, September 18
- Sweeney’s Consul and Professionals’ Capri top UK’s favourite TV Fords
- Last chance to buy advance discount tickets
The Highland Green Mustang GT 390 from the movie Bullitt has been named the all-time star Ford of the silver screen, following a survey carried out by one of the country’s leading events for the Blue Oval, FordFest.
Ahead of the Ford scene season closer, which takes place at Santa Pod, Beds, this weekend, the organisers ran a public survey to find out which of the famous Fords of film and TV resonates most with the British public – and the star of the show will be a replica of the iconic Bullitt Mustang itself, alongside its Dodge Charger nemesis.
Dave Redhead’s Mustang is period correct in every detail, while Chris How’s black 440 R/T Dodge Charger is identical to the one that duelled with Steve McQueen as Frank Bullitt in the most famous car chase of all time.
Hot on its heels, true to form, were detectives Regan and Carter in the Roman Bronze Consul 3000 GT made famous by the Seventies cop drama, The Sweeney, while fellow 1970s law enforcers Bodie and Doyle, The Professionals, were in hot pursuit in the series’ famous silver Capri 3.0S.
Police officers from both sides of the Atlantic completed the top five, with DI Gene Hunt’s Mk 3 Cortina fromLife on Mars in fourth position, and US crime enforcement duo Starsky and Hutch in their distinctive red and white Gran Torino filling the next two positions.
The top 10 film and TV Fords were:
1. Mustang GT 390, Bullitt
2. Consul 3000 GT, The Sweeney
3. Capri 3.0S, The Professionals
4. Cortina 2000 GXL, Life on Mars
5. Gran Torino, Starsky and Hutch
6. Shelby Mustang (Eleanor), Gone in 60 Seconds
7. Escort XR3i Cabriolet, Dempsey and Makepeace
8. Capri Mk 2, Minder
9. GT40, Le Mans
10. Anglia 105E, Harry Potter
As well as the Bullitt pairing, FordFest will pay tribute to some of the other cars that made the Fords on Film top 10, such as the Ford Mustang GT500 ‘Eleanor’ from Gone in 60 Seconds, the 3.0S Capri from The Professionals and the famous red and white Gran Torino from Starsky and Hutch, along with a replica of the ‘Interceptor’ Ford Falcon from Mad Max, which came in just outside the top 10.
Based at the world famous drag strip in Podington, Beds, FordFest’s first year saw incredible attendance, with over 1,700 club cars on display, and 2016 looks set to be even bigger and even better.
From Anglias to Zodiacs, via Mondeos and Mustangs, Fords of all eras will be in display as both club and individual entries, while the drag strip itself will be active, with a Ford-themed ‘Run what Ya Brung’ event taking place, with recent and classic Fords going head-to-head in a new vs. old face-off.
As well as the ‘Run What Ya Brung’, the drag strip will also play host to Fireforce 3, Santa Pod’s very own Jet Car, capable of a sub-six second quarter mile and speeds in excess of 300mph.
A substantial retail village, full of new and used parts, clothing and souvenirs is also a major highlight, as is the party atmosphere of the event itself, with camping available from midday on Saturday September 17, plus a bar and live entertainment.
Other highlights include the massively entertaining Drift Trikes (at just £10 a go), a Show and Shine, entrance photography by Photography UK and stands from the leading Ford titles, Fast Ford and Classic Ford.
FordFest is part of a family of Ford events celebrating Europe’s love for the famous blue oval brand, including the International Ford Show, Classic Ford Show, The Ford Summer Festival and Ford Fair.
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BMW group turns the corner and see's sales in the BMW, MINI and Motorrad parts of the company all grow .
- Worldwide 165,431 vehicles delivered, up 5.7%
- Year-to-date sales rise 5.5%: 1,508,659 vehicles sold
- BMW deliveries up 5.0% in August: 142,554 vehicles
- MINI sells 22,575 in August, increase of 10.3%
- Europe and Asia maintain strong growth
- YTD sales of BMW electrified models already exceed 2015 total
BMW Group sales continued their long-standing upward trend in August with a total of 165,431 vehicles delivered to customers around the world, an increase of 5.7% on the same month last year. This result brings the year-to-date sales total to 1,508,659 – up 5.5% compared with the same period last year and the first time ever the company has sold over one and a half million vehicles in the first eight months of a year.
“The BMW Group’s ongoing sales success across all our premium brands underlines the strength of our product line-up,” said Dr Ian Robertson, Member of the BMW AG Board of Management with responsibility for Sales and Marketing BMW.
“Sales are increasing across the range and our electrified models are proving extremely popular – we’ve already sold more alternative drive vehicles this year than in the whole of 2015,” he continued.
In August, a total of 142,554 BMW brand vehicles were delivered to customers, an increase of 5.0% on the same month last year. Year-to-date sales for the brand stand at 1,282,511 – up 5.5% compared with the first eight months of last year.
The BMW X range continues to drive sales: with 16,612 units delivered worldwide in August, monthly sales of the BMW X1 doubled year-on-year; BMW X3 sales increased 29.7% (12,663); BMW X4 deliveries rose 10.6% (4,118) and BMW X5 sales climbed 9.9% with a total of 12,321 delivered to customers.
Sales of the BMW 7 Series in August more than tripled compared with the same month last year - over 5,000 of the all-new flagship vehicle were delivered to customers around the world in the month.
Sales of BMW’s electrified models remain strong, especially in Europe. Combined global sales of BMW i and BMW iPerformance vehicles are already higher than the 2015 total with 34,664 electrified vehicles delivered to customers so far this year. Of this, 17,809 were BMW iPerformance vehicles and 16,855 were BMW i vehicles.
The BMW i3, which in July launched an additional model with significantly increased electric range, was delivered to 2,848 customers worldwide in August, an increase of 73.2% compared with the same month last year.
Sales of MINI brand vehicles increased by 10.3% in August with a total of 22,575 delivered to customers worldwide. In the first eight months of the year, sales rose by 5.7% (223,913).
The premium brand’s biggest growth drivers are the MINI Clubman, with 36,687 sold worldwide so far this year, and the new MINI Convertible – which achieved sales growth of 148.0% in August (2,153).
Combined monthly sales of BMW and MINI in Europe totalled 62,653 in August, up 6.3% compared with the same month last year. Year-to-date sales in the region are up 10.1% with a total of 685,328 vehicles delivered.
All markets in the region have contributed to this year’s strong growth with many achieving double-digit growth including Italy (51,444 / +16.7%), Spain (35,634 / +20.1%) and Scandinavia (34,370 / +15.5%).
Sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in Asia also saw strong growth last month with a total of 59,047 vehicles delivered to customers in August (+13.8%).
In the first eight months of the year, a total of 476,777 BMW and MINI vehicles were sold in Asia, an increase of 8.1% compared with the same period last year.
The region’s biggest market, Mainland China, achieved a 9.4% increase compared with the first eight months of last year, with a total of 329,972 vehicles sold so far this year. Year-to-date sales in many other markets in the region also show strong growth - Japan (46,713 / +8.8%) and South Korea (39,392 / +10.4%) are just two examples.
Sales of BMW and MINI in the Americas decreased 4.4% in August compared with the same month last year, with a total of 38,200 vehicles delivered to customers in the region.
Year-to-date sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in the region total 298,821, which is down 7.0% compared with the same period last year.
While August sales are up in Canada (3,575 / +8.0%) and Mexico (2,976 / +25.5%), the increasingly competitive market in the USA has seen deliveries for the month decrease by 7.2% (30,500).
This year continues to be the best ever for BMW Motorrad, with August sales up 5.7% compared with the same month last year (9,238) and year-to-date sales rising by 2.5% with a total of 103,829 motorcycles and maxi-scooters were delivered to customers in the first eight months of the year.
BMW Group sales in / ytd August 2016 at a glance
| In August 2016 | Compared with previous year | YTD 08/2016 | Compared with previous year | |
| BMW Group Automotive | 165,431 | +5.7% | 1,508,659 | +5.5% |
| BMW | 142,554 | +5.0% | 1,282,511 | +5.5% |
| MINI | 22,575 | +10.3% | 223,913 | +5.7% |
| BMW Motorrad | 9,238 | +5.7% | 103,829 | +2.5% |
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Jaguar Land Rover started production on the new 300,000m² factory in Nitra, Slovakia.
- Work begins on new manufacturing plant in Nitra
- New facility will incorporate leading automotive manufacturing technologies
- Plans to introduce new education initiatives designed to inspire the next generation of automotive engineers
Jaguar Land Rover has started construction of its new manufacturing facility in Slovakia. The ground breaking ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Robert Fico and Andy Garth, UK Ambassador to Slovakia.
Jaguar Land Rover continues to lead the automotive industry in the development of advanced lightweight technologies. The new 300,000m² factory will be at the forefront of aluminium manufacturing and engineering expertise in Slovakia.
It will manufacture a range of all-new aluminium Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, supporting the company’s on-going commitment to deliver high-tech lightweight cars to its customers.
Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The start of construction in Slovakia today represents the beginning of a new phase in our plan to create a truly global business. The factory will strengthen our international manufacturing capabilities as well as complement our existing facilities in the UK, China, India and Brazil.”
The £1 billion plant will have an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles and the first cars are expected to come off the production line in late 2018. It incorporates cutting-edge current manufacturing technologies and it is the first in Europe to use Kuka’s Pulse carrier system which is 30% faster than conventional conveyance systems. It will also feature a highly automated paint shop process to ensure the highest quality and to minimise the environmental impact. Looking to the future, the factory has been designed with the flexibility to enable smart, connected manufacturing technologies which will support improved process efficiency, delivery and quality.
The plant will include a range of environmental measures, such as water saving devices and heat recovery systems, to ensure sustainable and efficient operations.
Since Jaguar Land Rover confirmed its plans in Slovakia, more than 40,000 people have registered their interest in working at the new plant. When fully operational, the plant will employ 2,800 people and wide scale recruitment will start towards the end of 2017.
Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia said: “The Jaguar Land Rover investment confirms that Slovakia is a good place to do business and an investment of such magnitude will have a positive ripple effect not only for the region of Nitra, but also for the whole of Slovakia.”
Working with local communities
Jaguar Land Rover works closely with the communities near to its manufacturing plants around the world and, whilst construction is just starting in Slovakia, the company has already started to establish links with the local neighbourhoods in Nitra and the surrounding area.
Over the course of the next two years, Jaguar Land Rover will work with local organisations to create new education programmes to inspire the next generation of automotive engineers by bringing the world of work to life as well as increasing awareness of the range of careers available to young people.
In addition, it will introduce programmes to offer work experience, training and employability qualifications for people who are unemployed to prepare them for roles in the automotive industry.
Global manufacturing strategy
The UK is the cornerstone of Jaguar Land Rover’s business and remains at the centre of Jaguar Land Rover’s design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Over the past five years, Jaguar Land Rover has employed more than 20,000 people taking its workforce to almost 40,000. It has invested more than £12 billion in new product creation and capital expenditure.
During this time, the Company has invested heavily in its UK vehicle manufacturing facilities at Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Solihull to support the introduction of all-new vehicles such as the Jaguar XE, Jaguar F-PACE, Range Rover Evoque Convertible and Land Rover Discovery Sport. It has doubled its investment in its engine plant in the UK to almost £1 billion – the largest injection into a new British manufacturing plant in decades creating several hundred new jobs.
Jaguar Land Rover has plans to expand its advanced engineering and design centre at Whitley, Coventry and invest in the National Automotive Innovation Centre at the University of Warwick. Jaguar Land Rover’s sustained investment supports the delivery of the UK’s wider industrial strategy.
With plans already in place to take Jaguar Land Rover’s three vehicle manufacturing plants in the UK close to their operating capacity, the creation of overseas manufacturing facilities delivers additional volumes needed to support the company’s future strategy. It allows Jaguar Land Rover to offer its customers even more exciting new models, protect against currency fluctuations as well as building a globally competitive business.
Jaguar Land Rover confirmed plans for its first overseas manufacturing plant in 2012 when it signed a joint venture agreement with Chery Automobile Company Ltd in China. Since then, it has started production of the Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Discovery and the Jaguar XFL in China; opened its plant in Brazil; agreed a new contract manufacturing partnership with Magna Steyr in Austria and introduced three new vehicles to its local assembly facility in India.
Jaguar Land Rover in mainland Europe
Europe has the largest number of Jaguar Land Rover retailers with almost 900 outlets across 47 countries. Since the beginning of 2016, Jaguar Land Rover has sold more than 85,000 vehicles in Europe. Last year, it sold more than 110,000 vehicles in the region making it Jaguar Land Rover’s most successful year in Europe this century.
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First employees for new St Athan plant gaining skills at Aston Martin HQ building the All-New DB11 Sports car.
- First employees for new St Athan plant gaining skills at Aston Martin HQ
- Highly skilled technicians to return to Wales to build the Aston Martin crossover
Earlier this year, Aston Martin announced significant new investments in its long term future in the United Kingdom, choosing St Athan in Wales as the location for its second manufacturing facility.
As a specialist luxury manufacturer, Aston Martin requires highly skilled technicians to hand build its cars, so the new employees for the St Athan plant, which will begin full production in 2020, will commence their careers with Aston Martin at Gaydon.
Over 40 people have begun work across the business where they are being fully trained in the ‘Aston Martin way’ by building the new DB11.
Dr. Andy Palmer CMG, Aston Martin President and CEO said: “We are proud of the fact that we have a world-class team building our cars so it is vital that the new Welsh workforce is equally dedicated and passionate.
It gives me great satisfaction to be able to employ a workforce that is local to the St Athan plant and bring them here to Gaydon to train them to become the skilled technicians required to build our beautiful hand-crafted cars. We have continued to work closely with the Welsh Government throughout the recruitment process and we are very pleased with the calibre of our new employees.”
A recruitment event held in Cardiff in the Spring attracted over 3,000 applicants for the jobs being created at St Athan, from apprentices at the start of their careers to already highly-skilled workers.
First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones said: “We are delighted that Aston Martin chose Wales for its second manufacturing facility and it is a pleasure to see the first group of Welsh employees starting out in their new careers with Aston Martin. The new plant will transform the Ministry of Defence site at St Athan with the economic benefits estimated at half a billion pounds over 30 years.”
Construction work is scheduled to start at St Athan in 2017, centering on the transformation of three super-hangers at MOD St Athan.
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For the first time ever, this year’s Classic & Sports Car Show will feature must-see on-road parades of stunning historic cars.
- For the first time ever, this year’s Classic & Sports Car Show will feature must-see on-road parades of stunning historic cars
- Taking place twice a day in the grounds of Alexandra Palace, the parades will feature everything from supercars to historic racing cars, set against the backdrop of the show’s iconic home and London’s incredible cityscape
- As well as thrilling engine notes, crowds will be treated to a live commentary and appearances from VIP guest drivers
- The show, which runs from 28th – 30th October, will also unveil the public-voted greatest supercar ever and feature a host of other must-see attractions, including an auction from Coys and an Interview Stage in association with Goodwood
- To vote for your favourite supercar , head to the show’s all-new website:
- http://www.classicandsportscarshow.com
Visitors to this year’s Classic & Sports Car Show this autumn will be treated to the sight and sound of some of the world’s most iconic historic cars as they take part in a host of on-road parades in the grounds of Alexandra Palace.
Two stunning displays will take place each day over the course of the three day motoring celebration, which runs from 28th – 30th October, with classic cars, supercars, historic racers and much more revving up and motoring along the roads around the famous London venue.
The cars will drive from the Grove area of Alexandra Palace accelerating past the Palm Court entrance and along the incredible South Terrace – the historic front of Alexandra Palace - giving visitors an incredible chance to see these cars in action at one of London’s most amazing landmarks.
The London cityscape will create an ideal backdrop to enjoy the breath-taking cars in all their glory, as well as a perfect photo opportunity. VIP guest drivers will perch in the driver’s seats of the show’s iconic models, while a live commentary will keep visitors informed of what exactly is catching their eye.
James Elliott, Group Editor of Classic & Sports Car, added: “Our inaugural show last year saw a whopping 15,150 visitors pass through the gates, and this year we want it to be bigger and better.
Six parades over the three days will give our visitors the perfect chance to enjoy their favourite classic cars, supercars and historic racing cars on the move in an incredible and unique London location. We’re really looking forward to getting the cars on the road and giving our fantastic guests even more to savour.”
The parade isn’t the only new addition to this year’s Classic & Sports Car Show. The show has also teamed up with Goodwood to create an unmissable line-up for this year’s Interview Stage. Guests set to appear include legends from across the world of automotive and motorsport. The event will be one of the first live experiences Goodwood has curated outside of the estate, bringing a touch of motorsport royalty to Alexandra Palace this autumn.
One of the major centrepiece features will be the unveiling of the greatest supercar of all time. To vote, simply go to the show’s all-new website http://www.classicandsportscarshow.com/supercar-finalists and pick your favourite.
Once all the first-round votes are in, the winners from each category will be pitted against each other in a final showdown with voting taking place throughout September. All the finalists will be on show, and the winner will be revealed in a spectacular multi-million pound display.
The show will also feature a classic car auction hosted by world-renowned auction house Coys as well as stands from some of the world’s best dealers.
Further details of the show’s content will be revealed over the coming months.
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One of the smallest actors in the world, the Late Kenny Baker, owed one of the biggest cars, and the Rolls Royce is up for auction.
- The 1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche was formerly owned by the late Kenny Baker who starred as R2-D2 in the Star Wars films
- The car will be offered at auction by CCA on 24th September at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre
- The car is estimated at £33,000 to £36,000
A luxury Rolls-Royce formerly owned by the late Kenny Baker will be offered for sale at Classic Car Auctions’ (CCA) September Sale on 24th September at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre.
As one of the most recognisable and popular actors of the Star Wars franchise for his role as robot side-kick R2-D2, Kenny Baker appeared in six of the blockbuster films.
Kenny purchased his 1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche FHC on 6th June 2002 and used it at his daily driver for four years. Standing at 3ft 8in tall, one of the smallest actors in showbiz, the luxury coupé was specially adapted to allow Kenny to drive it, with two foot long blocks of wood fixed to the pedals, as well as a sturdy pile of cushions placed on the driver’s seat.
The car, one of the most expensive Rolls-Royce models available when produced, featured the powerful Rolls-Royce V8 engine, a blue leather interior, walnut and chrome detailing, wooden steering wheel and lambswool over rugs.
Kenny was a self-declared fan of Rolls-Royce luxury cars.In fact, such was his love of Rolls-Royce that he took his final journey to Lytham Crematorium in a gleaming black Rolls-Royce limousine.
“Kenny wanted the best car in the world which just happened to be one of the biggest,” comments Guy Lees-Milne, auction manager at CCA. “Today the only indication of the special adaptation are some small holes drilled in the pedals, evidence of the car’s special story and unique provenance, which is sure to attract the interest of Rolls-Royce and Star Wars fans alike on auction day.”
Offered at auction with a sale estimate of £32,000 to £36,000, the car has had four previous owners, including Baker, and has covered 76,500 miles. Presented in good condition, although in need of a little bit of love, the Rolls comes with a comprehensive history file, original handbook, the V5 clearing showing Kenny Baker as a previous owner, and every tax disc since new.
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Renault supplies 55 ZOE hatchback Zero Emission cars to Europcar for the city-based Deliver & Collect service.
- Renault delivers its biggest ever single UK order of the 100 per cent electric Renault ZOE
- Award-winning supermini to be used by Europcar to support its city-based Deliver & Collect service
- Significant order to contribute to Europcar UK’s goal of five per cent of its vehicles to be electric by 2020
- Renault ZOE chosen for its ease of use and driver feedback
- Zero emissions in use hatchbacks will also benefit customers of the all-electric E-Car Club
- Renault ZOE awarded a Which? Best Buy in 2016, voted What Car? ‘Best Electric Car for less than £20,000’ for the third consecutive year and number two overall out of 150 vehicles, in the 2016 Auto Express Driver Power ownership survey
Renault has delivered its biggest ever UK order of the all-electric Renault ZOE, with 55 of the innovative supermini having been supplied to Europcar UK for use in the delivery and collection of hire vehicles in major UK cities.
With zero emissions in use and offering the benefits of smooth and instant pulling power, the award-winning Renault ZOE is ideally suited to the busy urban-based role.
While supporting Europcar’s Deliver & Collect service, which ensures that customers of the leading mobility player enjoy a highly convenient and flexible hire car experience, the Renault ZOEs will also contribute to Europcar’s continued efforts to be at the forefront of reducing vehicle emissions and introducing customers to new technologies.
Europcar is committed to five per cent of its total UK vehicle fleet being electric by 2020.
Ease of use and environmental compatibility were key factors in Europcar choosing the ZOE. The firm’s decision to invest in Europe’s best-selling EV was also influenced by the positive customer feedback it has received from those who have experienced the Renault ZOE through its rental fleet.
In addition to enabling Europcar employees to deliver rental vehicles to customers at their home or workplace, the Renault ZOEs will provide support to E-Car Club – the all-electric car club that Europcar has a majority stake in and the acquisition of which represented the first ever exit of a crowdfunded start-up.
With E-Car Club attracting more and more private and business customers and working to grow its locations, which span from East London to the Outer Hebrides, the Renault ZOEs will ensure that E-Car Club can quickly access additional cars to meet customer demand.
The 55 Renault ZOEs all feature the Expression Nav level of trim. As standard, the comprehensive specification includes automatic climate control, electric front windows, keycard entry with push button start/stop function, cruise control and speed limiter, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and ETC (Electronic Traction Control), 4x20W Renault R-Link Multimedia system incorporating a 7-inch touch screen, TomTom LIVE satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and voice control.
All have been supplied and prepared by DSG Renault, Morecambe, the dealership having vast experience of Renault’s versatile electric vehicle (EV) range.
Gary Smith, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group said: “Our Deliver & Collect service aims to enhance the rental experience for our customers – taking the time and hassle out of collecting a vehicle at the start of the hire and having to go back to our branch at the end of the journey.
And the addition of the Renault ZOEs at many of our city branches, enabling our employees to get to and from our branches without expending any emissions, makes the Deliver & Collect service all the more environmentally friendly.”
Chris Morris, Managing Director and Co-Founder of E-Car Club, added: “We are delighted to add to our existing fleet of Renault ZOE; a very popular choice amongst E-Car members. This acquisition of vehicles will help support our forthcoming expansions, particularly in Scotland, where we have significant deployment plans within the next six months.
“Our strategic partnership with Renault continues to grow from strength-to-strength, with the ZOE and Kangoo Van Z.E now making up a significant proportion of the E-Car fleet. We look forward to building on this partnership into the future.”
Nick Tame, Sales Director, Groupe Renault UK, said: “We are exceptionally pleased that Europcar has chosen the Renault ZOE as the most suitable vehicle to support its collection and delivery service, and also make a significant contribution to meeting its environmental ambitions.
The significant size of the order illustrates the rapidly-increasing popularity of the Renault EV range in the UK and the vast appeal of the ZOE’s superb all-round package, which has seen it recognised by What Car? as the ‘Best electric car on sale for under £20,000’ for the last three consecutive years and also being voted ‘Best Supermini’, and number two overall out of 150 vehicles, in the 2016 Auto Express Driver Power ownership survey.”
Ben Fletcher, Electric Vehicle Product Manager, Groupe Renault UK, added: “With its exceptional ease-of-use, the Renault ZOE is ideal for its varying roles with Europcar and E-Car Club. As the businesses have already discovered, i
t’s an immensely simple, relaxing and rewarding car for anyone to drive, with motorists adapting to its advanced technology just seconds after getting behind the wheel. With no gears to worry about and a variety of convenient charging options, it’s simply a case of get in and go with the absolute minimum of fuss.”
The ZOE is an all-electric, five-door supermini available in three trim levels that comes with a high level of standard specification, including items such as climate control and sat-nav.
ZOE also has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and was recently awarded the title of What Car? ‘Best Electric Car for less than £20,000’ for the third consecutive year, and ‘Best Electric Vehicle’ in the Auto Express Driver Power 2015 survey. In 2016, ZOE was awarded a Which? Best Buy.
ZOE is fitted with a patented Chameleon™ charger that, unlike other EVs, always allows ZOE to make the best use of whatever charging supply is available in order to speed up charging times. ZOE Dynamique Nav Rapid Charge can charge at up to 43kW, meaning that 0 to 80 per cent full can be achieved in as little as 30 minutes.
For retail customers with a domestic address and off street parking, a 7kW Homecharger will also be fully installed free of charge enabling ZOE to be charged from flat-to-full in just 3-4 hours.
The model’s official NEDC range, depending on version, is up to 149 miles – Renault estimates that in real-world driving conditions that this equates to around 106 miles in summer and 71 miles in winter.
ZOE is available to purchase in two ways. Firstly, under a battery hire scheme, where ZOE pricing starts at £13,945 after the Government Plug-in Car Grant with battery leasing from £45 per month. Benefits include a lifetime performance guarantee for the battery and 24/7 roadside assistance – even if you run out of charge.
You can also buy your ZOE outright. ZOE i ‘full purchase’ models start from £18,945 after the Government Plug-in Car Grant, giving the buyer full ownership of the car and battery and no monthly battery lease payment.
Renault offers a range of electric vehicles to suit private and commercial requirements. In addition to the ZOE hatchback, the Renault EV range comprises of the innovative, two-seater Twizy city car,
Twizy Cargo that offers a load area of 180 litres and a useful 75 kg payload, and the Kangoo Z.E and Kangoo Maxi Z.E vans that combine the same generous load capacity and options as the equivalent diesel versions with ultra-low running costs.
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USA - The 2015-2016 Ford F-150 now has bolt on suspension lift systems available.
New 4 1/2 and 6-inch bolt-on lift kits improve the looks of Ford’s popular pickup, allow for the use of 18-inch or larger wheels and 36-inch or larger tires, and deliver superior ride quality and handling.
Superlift, the leading manufacturer of truck and off-road suspension systems, has announced the release of its all-new lift systems for the 2015-2016 Ford F150. These systems are the most complete and cost effective solutions available to make room for larger tires, increase ground clearance and feature everything needed to make your F150 stand above the crowd.
Ford’s F150 is one of the most popular vehicles in America thanks to its rugged reliability, cutting-edge powerplants, and wide range of available options. Unfortunately, the vehicle’s factory suspension and ride height are the biggest limiting factor when it comes to its off-road capabilities as it severely restricts the amount of tire you can fit under the truck.
Now, thanks to Superlift’s lift systems, 2015-16 F150 owners can get the increased ride height they need to run a larger wheel and tire combo without having to sacrifice ride quality or making the suspension difficult to align.
Superlift’s lift system for the 2015-16 Ford F150 was designed from OEM supplied models using the latest 3D CAD software to ensure an easy installation and precise fit. These lifts restore proper CV and driveshaft angles, require no modification to the tie rod ends, align to OEM specifications, allow the use of 18” or larger factory wheels and maintain awesome ride and handling characteristics.
Available for 2015 and 2016 Ford F150 4WD models, these lift systems offer two ride heights options, 4 1/2-inch and 6-inch lift heights, and a choice of rear shock absorbers, the SUPERLIFT® Superide® or the SUPERLIFT® Superide SS by Bilstein. For vehicles equipped with a two-piece rear driveshaft and carrier bearing, Superlift also offers an option bearing carrier drop kit to ensure complete compatibility.
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WORLDWIDE SALES - Audi is still keeping itself away from the diesel scandal thats hit parent company VW.
- Around 132,350 deliveries in the month, up 2.9 percent
- Sales chief Dietmar Voggenreiter “Sales growth for 80 months in a row is testimony to Audi’s sustainable success”
- Globally balanced growth in all core sales regions
AUDI AG delivered around 132,350 cars to customers in August. As such, global sales exceeded the prior-year month by 2.9 percent. Most recently, the demand for automobiles with the Four Rings developed positively especially in China (+8.8%), the United Kingdom (+13.2%) and Spain (+23.3%).
By contrast, weaker conditions of some markets in South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East were also reflected in Audi’s sales balance.
Cumulative global sales increased by 4.9 percent since January to around 1,234,900 cars and are up in all the brand’s core regions: in Europe (+7.4%), Asia-Pacific (+3.8%) and North America (+5.2%).
“In August, Audi achieved its 80th month of growth in a row. This impressive sequence shows that our business is geared towards solid long-term success,” says Dietmar Voggenreiter, Board Member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG. “In a generally difficult market environment, a healthy, sustainable development is therefore the top priority for us.”
In Europe, Audi increased its deliveries by 6.6 percent to around 48,750 units in August.
The cumulative increase in the region is thus 7.4 percent; around 572,450 customers decided to buy an Audi since January. In the past month, the Four Rings continued to grow sharply in Spain (+23.3% to 2,935 cars); France also achieved substantial growth of 7.7 percent totaling 3,987 sales.
In the United Kingdom too, where the generation changeover for the A3 model had led to decreasing sales in July, figures picked up again for Audi in August with an increase of 13.2 percent to 6,336 customers.
In Germany (+10.9% to 17,678 cars), the company exceeded the 200,000 deliveries mark just after eight months for the first time; here cumulative sales expanded 11.6 percent to 208,378 units sold since January.
The new A4 made a substantial contribution to the positive month in these markets, increasing 60.1 percent to around 12,850 units in the whole of Europe. In August, Russia remained one of the countries where overall demand in the market fell.
Audi sold 1,650 cars in the country, 25.0 percent less than one year ago. In Turkey(-46.7% to 853 cars), sales in August were also below the prior year’s month following the challenging market environment.
In the U.S. market, Audi of America continued to grow with 19,264 cars delivered in August, up 2.5 percent.
Despite the recent lower market pace and falling sales in the premium competition, Audi continues to achieve new record-breaking figures month after month. From January through August, sales went up 3.5 percent year-on-year to 134,562 units.
The brand’s SUVs in particular remain a firm favorite among U.S. customers; in August sales of the Q models increased 9.1 percent to 9,004 units.
While Canada (+6.9% to 2.597 cars) also played its part in the continued positive development in North America in the past month for Audi overall, the passenger car markets in South America again proved more challenging. In Brazil, the region’s largest market, Audi closed August with 1,065 cars delivered to customers, 24.5 percent less than one year ago.
By contrast, the company’s sales in China once again were very positive year-on year: 49,154 deliveries in August represent an 8.8 percent increase.
Once again, growth for Audi was fueled particularly by its premium compact models. Demand for both the A3 (+25.7% to 7,444 cars) and for the Q3 (+45.6% to 8,121 cars) continued to rise sharply in the month.
Across all models, the brand sold 385,734 cars in China since the beginning of the year, a year-on-year increase of 6.8 percent. Additionally, the new A4 L is currently being premiered in Chinese dealerships and is set to continue its predecessor’s success story.
With this model, Audi became the first premium manufacturer to offer a long-wheelbase sedan also in the mid-size segment from 2009 onwards. Since then the annual sales figures for the A4 have increased roughly sixfold in its largest global sales market.
| Sales for AUDI AG | In August | Cumulative | ||||
2016 | 2015 | Change from 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | Change from 2015 | |
World | 132,350 | 128,647 | +2.9% | 1,234,900 | 1,176,992 | +4.9% |
Europe | 48,750 | 45,769 | +6.6% | 572,450 | 533,031 | +7.4% |
- Germany | 17,678 | 15,934 | +10.9% | 208,378 | 186,657 | +11.6% |
- UK | 6,336 | 5,598 | +13.2% | 107,825 | 104,792 | +2.9% |
- France | 3,987 | 3,702 | +7.7% | 41,636 | 39,532 | +5.3% |
- Italy | 3,202 | 3,278 | -2.3% | 41,578 | 36,170 | +15.0% |
- Spain | 2,935 | 2,380 | +23.3% | 36,522 | 31,747 | +15.0% |
USA | 19,264 | 18,794 | +2.5% | 134,562 | 130,063 | +3.5% |
Mexico | 1,261 | 1,258 | +0.2% | 10,014 | 8,984 | +11.5% |
Brazil | 1,065 | 1,410 | -24.5% | 8,762 | 11,548 | -24.1% |
China (incl. Hong Kong) | 49,154 | 45,196 | +8.8% | 385,734 | 361,315 | +6.8% |
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WarrantyWise data reveals the real cost of repairs for exotic cars from the likes of Lamborghini and Aston Martin
- WarrantyWise data reveals the real cost of repairs for exotic cars from the likes of Lamborghini, Maserati, Aston Martin and Porsche
- WarrantyWise’s biggest pay-out is for £15,000 to a Lamborghini Murcielago owner for major engine repairs – WarrantyWise cover is just £166 per month on average for a Murcielago
- A Porsche 911 and Maserati 4200 are the second and third largest pay-outs, of around £10,000 each for engine repairs
- Also in the top 10 is a £9,500 gearbox replacement for a Nissan GT-R and £8,057-worth of gearbox repairs on an Aston Martin Vanquish
- For more sensible warranty cover, WarrantyWise.co.uk offers plans for popular models like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Golf from just £19 per month
WarrantyWise.co.uk has revealed the true cost of exotic car repairs, with data detailing its largest ever payouts. A Lamborghini Murcielago tops the list, with a major engine mechanical repair bill of £15,000 fully covered by WarrantyWise. By contrast, covering your Murcielago at WarrantyWise’s highest level of service will set you back just £166 per month.
The top ten list and beyond is full of some of the world’s most famous performance cars, with the top three largest payouts covering major engine mechanical repairs. Following the Lamborghini in WarrantyWise’s second and third largest payouts were a Porsche 911 and a Maserati 4200 with bills of around £10,000 each. The average monthly cost of WarrantyWise cover for each of the cars is £82 and £146 respectively.
Gearbox issues can leave owners with a hefty bill, too, with big repair costs of just under £10,000 for Aston Martin’s Vanquish and DB9 models needing major repairs to their automatic gearboxes.
Away from the largest repair payouts, WarrantyWise’s data reveal just how expensive relatively minor issues can be in complex, exotic cars. Repairing the ECU in a Ferrari 360, for example, came with a bill of nearly £2,000, with a similar amount required for wheel bearing repairs in a Ferrari 355.
An air-conditioning fix in a Maserati GranTurismo resulted in a £1,885 payout from WarrantyWise and replacing the water pump in a GranTurismo Spider commanded a repair payout of £2,278.
Even the more run of the mill cars aren’t immune to a crippling bill, though, with payouts of more than £5,000 each for family favourites, the Renault Grand Espace and Volkswagen Passat.
Warranties at this more sensible end of the scale, including for popular models like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Golf, start from just £19 per month.
Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of WarrantyWise, said: “When you lay out all the repair payouts WarrantyWise makes, you can see why so many of our customers swear by our service – especially on an exotic car where the bills are rarely cheap. But the fact that we also have the likes of Renault and Volkswagen in our largest ever payouts just goes to show that all cars have the potential to go very badly wrong – and the resulting repair bill can be large enough to really disrupt your life.”
WarrantyWise Top 10 Most Expensive Authorised Repairs
| Make | Model | Issue | Amount Paid |
| Lamborghini | Murcielago | Engine (Major Mechanical) | £15,000 |
| Porsche | 911 | Engine (Major Mechanical) | £10,051.63 |
| Maserati | 4200 | Engine (Major Mechanical) | £10,000 |
| Ferrari | 550 | Electrical (major) | £9996.52 |
| Nissan | GT-R | Replace Gearbox | £9,500 |
| Nissan | GT-R | Gearbox (selector) | £9,500 |
| Aston Martin | Vanquish | Gearbox Auto | £8,057.56 |
| Aston Martin | DB9 | Gearbox (auto) | £7315.45 |
| Lamborghini | Gallardo | F1 Actuator | £6437.27 |
| Ferrari | 575 | Gearbox (selector) | £6161.21 |
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Mitsubishi will have the World Premiere of Ground Tourer SUV Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept at the Paris Motor Show.
- World Premiere of Ground Tourer SUV Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announces the world premiere of the Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept[1] next-generation SUV at the 2016 Paris Motor Show[2]. The concept model is powered by MMC’s own advanced plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) system using triple motors.
The centerpiece of the MMC booth, it will be based on a concept of the ability for cruising across a vast land.
The Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept, along with a variety of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) and 100% electric vehicles (EV) supports the “Driving Beyond: Another Step Forward with SUVs and Electric Power” booth theme.
Joining the Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept at the MMC booth will be the Mitsubishi eX Concept, a compact SUV powered by a next-generation EV system, and 2017 model year European market versions of the Outlander and Outlander PHEV – all being shown for the first time.
The Outlander features a new floor console and improved interior trim quality as well as MMC’s Forward Collision Mitigation System, now with a function to detect pedestrians, Blind Spot Warning and other advanced active safety systems.
The Outlander PHEV meanwhile, adopts an EV Priority Mode that gives greater priority to all-electric operation as well as the same advanced active safety systems as the Outlander.
Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept: Outline
The Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept is a high-end next-generation SUV that easily takes many road surface conditions in its stride.
Featuring MMC’s latest design language together with MMC’s advanced and proprietary electric and all-wheel control technologies, the Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept empowers drivers to pilot their car with confidence under a wide range of driving conditions.
It stirs the driver’s curiosity and sense of adventure as they seek to go further, as they seek to take a step beyond anything they have experienced before.
In its overall design, the Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept projects the image of a “ground tourer” – a car made for cruising across a vast land – expressing Functional Beauty, Augmented Possibility, Sculptured Dynamism, Japanese Craftsmanship.
The front visage with its forceful presence employs MMC’s Dynamic Shield front design concept that portrays the front end’s function of protecting both people and the car. From the side, the Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept uses horizontal lines to convey its high-end SUV styling and vehicle stability.
With a muscularity and intensity that gives the impression it has been carved from a single ingot of steel, the body is clothed in classy styling that flourishes sculptured dynamism highlighted by precise detailing.
Inside, the Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept uses a horizontal dashboard that creates a spacious ambiance, making it easier for the driver to sense changes in vehicle attitude.
Together with an instrument panel with a high center console, the cockpit-like interior wraps around its people, providing a sense of solace and security. Generous use of Burgundy[3] genuine leather trim, color coordinated with the exterior roof color is another touch in creating a classy and comfortable interior space.
On the technology front, in addition to outstanding environmental performance MMC’s advanced triple-motor PHEV system delivers superior motive performance to empower drivers of any skill level to confidently follow new paths as they like through a multitude of different weather and road surface conditions, for an enjoyable and rewarding driving experience.
This PHEV system comprises a next-generation high-capacity drive battery package, three high-output and high-efficiency motors and an engine designed especially for the PHEV system featuring improved electricity generation performance and motive performance.
This combination delivers the punchy performance ideal for a “ground tourer” and makes for comfortable driving on longer trips as well with an electric-only range of 120 km and a combined hybrid cruising range of over 1,200 km.
The triple-motor powertrain, with one unit at the front and two at the rear, delivers a dramatic improvement in the performance of its full-time four-wheel drive powertrain and MMC’s own Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) integrated vehicle dynamics control system, bringing new levels of handling stability.
The Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept also adopts the latest in connected car technology in extracting its performance and functionality to the full.
The technology feeds back to the car route information as well as data on weather and road surface conditions acquired from information networks and from on-board sensors and cameras in order to closely manage energy consumption such as electricity consumption and fuel economy as well as to provide all-wheel control best-suited to many motoring situations.
MMC lineup at 2016 Paris Motor Show
| Model Name | Number on display | Remarks | |
| Press Days | General Public Days | ||
| Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept | 1 | 1 | World premiere |
| Mitsubishi eX Concept | 1 | 1 | Show model |
| Outlander PHEV | 2 | 2 | European specification |
| Outlander | 1 | 2 | European specification |
| ASX | 1 | 2 | RVR or Outlander Sport in some markets |
| Shogun | 1 | 1 | |
| L200 | 1 | 2 | Triton in most markets other than Europe |
| i-MiEV | 1 | ||
| Mirage | 1 | ||
| Total | 8 | 13 | |
[1] Named from the Ground Tourer concept – ability for cruising across a vast land
[2] From September 29 through October 16. Officially, “Mondial de l’Automobile 2016.” For more information please see: http://www.mondial-automobile.com/en/visiteurs/ (English).
[3] A deep and rich reddish purple
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Camouflage kids: unique wrap designed for New Discovery by the children of Land Rover’s designers and engineers
- Camouflage kids: unique wrap designed for New Discovery by the children of Land Rover’s designers and engineers
- Children involved in creating the ultimate family SUV every step of the way
- One-off creative camouflage hides the final design details ahead of its world premiere on 28th September 2016
- New Discovery is created with absolute versatility, capability and technology like no other
In order to create the world’s most capable family SUV you must first understand the needs of the world’s most capable families.
That’s why Land Rover’s designers and engineers take their work home with them.
Throughout the thousands of hours of development that go into making an all-new Land Rover, there’s a team of children testing, challenging and representing the needs of the modern family every day.
And the toughest thing of all? Keeping everything their mums and dads do a secret right up until the new car is revealed.
So who better to create the final camouflage design for the new Land Rover Discovery than the junior brains who already know the new vehicle inside out?
Tasked with hiding the new Land Rover Discovery’s design details, the children, aged between five and nine, set to work on drawing their favourite days out and, of course, signing their names against their work.
The finishing touch? The thick coat of mud applied as the New Discovery proves its world-class capability to seven happy family members inside.
Alex Heslop, Land Rover’s Chief Engineer for Discovery, said: “Being able to get the children involved in our final camouflage design brought a smile to all our faces. They don’t always realise it, but these kids have played a major role in developing the New Discovery.
“There is no better insight into the needs of the modern family than the first-hand experience we glean at home.
That’s why we have up to nine USB ports to charge everyone’s devices, why we’ve got space to hide four iPads away securely and why every seat has been designed to be the best seat in the house.”
The New Discovery embodies Land Rover’s drive to go Above and Beyond, combining British desirability with an unstoppable spirit of adventure.
Packed with technology for the family, the digital Discovery features a system that allows owners to configure their vehicle seating through the InControl Remote app on their smartphone from anywhere.
The world-first Intelligent Seat Fold technology enables the two rear rows of seats to be fully reconfigured in as little as 14 seconds via the InControl Remote app downloaded on any iOS or Android operating system.
The New Discovery development story
35,000 individual component tests…
294 development vehicles…
20 countries…
One New Discovery
Land Rover has completed a grueling Discovery testing and development programme to ensure families around the world will benefit from world-class capability, versatility and safety, no matter what the driving conditions.
The new model is the first Land Rover to undergo a full programme of virtual testing prior to the physical testing process, delivering robust quality and durability before any prototypes are built.
Land Rover’s global engineering team subjected the vehicle to extreme climates and terrains in over 20 countries. Sand driving in +40 degrees Celsius heat in the dunes of Dubai, altitude testing in the Colorado mountains, and ice-driving in the sub-zero temperatures of Arjeplog, Sweden, were all part of the 28-month schedule.
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