Peugeot Citroen to build its first factory in Russia

PSA Peugeot Citroen, a French automobile and motorcycle manufacturer, is planning to build its first factory in Russia, one of the fastest expanding markets in Europe.

The new plant will be established in the town of Kaluga, southwest of Moscow. The company will start the production by assembling mid-sized vehicles in 2010.

The French auto maker is in goal to have 100,000 vehicles sold in 2010. It hopes to sell three times of that annually in the following years.

Same as other global firms, may it be the maker of Acura Integra cold air intake filter among others; Peugeot Citroen will build their cars in a Russian plant to avoid heavy import duties for the Russian market, a lucrative market as correspondents regard it.

This year, around 2 million new cars were sold in the country. However, analysts say that low levels of ownership mean that there is room for rapid growth in demand.

Separately, Hyundai Motor Co., the world’s 6th largest auto maker, also plans to build a car factory in the county. The Japanese car maker is willing to invest 400 million dollars to establish the plant in St. Petersburg within the first half of 2008. It is also in goal to manufacturer 100,000 vehicles a year.

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Nissan Qashqai hits 100,000 Customer Sales in Europe

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., a Japanese automobile manufacturer, began selling its Qashqai – the company’s very popular compact crossover - last March. During the last week of November, the vehicle reached the landmark of 100,000 customer sales in Europe.

By fact, the UK, Russia, and Italy are the Qashqai’s three largest markets. The demand for Qashqai in most countries, which includes Ireland, has dramatically surpassed expectations.

To tap the surging demand for the car in Europe, Nissan has increased production by 20 percent last June at its factory in Sunderland, to where the compact crossover is manufactured.

The Qashqai has strong distinctive design that sits between a traditional hatchback style and a more robust elevated SUV shape that is very appealing to the European market. European buyers were attracted to the premium quality interior and overall design of the Nissan Qashqai. Nissan says that buyers of Qashqai in Europe typically used to drive a compact hatchback (like a Megane or Astra), an entry-level family hatchback (like a Laguna or Avensis), or an economy SUV (like a Sportage or Hyundai Santa Fe).

The athloneadvertiser.ie says, “The Qashqai was designed and developed in Europe following extensive research of local market buying patterns and a deep consumer analysis of unmet needs among car-buyers. Nissan Europe’s product planners identified an opportunity in the market to design and develop a vehicle which provided more dynamic design, without the perceived aggression of a compact SUV. Yet it should maintain the elevated driving position which is popular, but not at the expense of driving enjoyment. The Qashqai is that model.”

The Qashqai was designed at Nissan Design Europe in London. The technical development was made at the company’s technical centres in England, Spain, and Germany.

So far, the Nissan Qashqai was awarded the maximum five-star rating for adult occupant protection from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). It has obtained the highest ever recorded score for any vehicle. In that case, Honda, the maker of Acura Integra antenna, among others, is likely facing another good opponent in the market.

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The European Cars

According to an international car-safety advocate, Australian motorists have been tricked into thinking European cars are the best when they are the most dangerous. Let us take a while of break from checking this Acura CL strut assembly to have a closer look at this issue …

Based from smh.com, New Zealander Clive Matthew-Wilson, author of The Dog & Lemon Guide 2008, said that Australians were risking their lives as they buy European models. He said, “In Australia and New Zealand, European cars have a certain exotic cachet. It’s so often that people have the impression that they’re getting something better than average when in fact it’s the opposite.”

Matthew-Wilson claims that European cars have a “shocking shelf life”, are poorly built, unreliable, expensive to fix and consistently feature at the bottom of British and German customer satisfaction surveys. He said, “Mercedes Benz definitely hovers among the worst, so does Volkswagen … Yet if you asked 19 out of 20 people on the street they’d say they’d be well above average.” “The best of the Europeans equals the worst of the Japanese. Australian cars are somewhere in-between. Australian cars are really the best for the Australian environment, as obvious as that sounds,” he added.

Matthew-Wilson mentioned that the biggest “lemon” was the Land Rover Freelander 1997-2006 models. Based on the records from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ VFACTS, 7431 units of those models were sold in Australia up to the end of 2006. Matthew-Wilson said that the vehicle has been released to the public with 132 recognized faults, which includes engines that blew up after a few months, gearboxes that “disintegrated without warning and drive shafts that fell off while the car was being driven”. By fact, in the past year, Land Rover was the ninth most popular off-road passenger vehicle in NSW.

Contrary, European cars were featured on the list of the most popular vehicle makes. It has joined the Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Volvo and Audi.

Jack Haley, NRMA manager of motoring research, said that European cars performed well in the organization’s crash tests. He claims that there was no evidence that the vehicles had shorter shelf lives than other makes.

This is really confusing, don’t you think? Well, a big portion of the real answer to this issue is the experience held by the actual drivers and owners of the European cars. And, a study focusing on this matter would do great help.

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Corvette ZR1 heading to US

Chevrolet, the largest automobile brand owned by General Motors (GM), is about to bring its 2009 Corvette ZR1 to the US market in the third quarter of 2008. The company calls the car “an American supercar that not only establishes new benchmarks for production-based power and performance, but challenges global competitors.”

According to Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper, “The ZR1 redefines what an American supercar can deliver with performance that betters exotics costing two, three or four times as much – and can still be driven as a daily commuter.”

Peper said, “Preliminary testing shows the ZR1 beats the previous Corvette Z06 in every performance category … from acceleration and braking to cornering grip and top speed … It all boils down to the power-to-weight ratio and the ZR1’s is exceptional – better than the Porsche 911 GT2, the Ferrari 599 and even the Lamborghini LP640.” “In fact the ZR1 is expected to be the first production Corvette with a top speed of more than 200 mph,” he added.

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is powered with a 6.2 L, supercharged V8 engine that breathes through a positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger with a new, four-lobe rotor design developed by forced-induction specialist Eaton especially for the engine and a central, horizontal intercooler.

Due to the strengthened, lightweight valvegear, the new ZR1 revs to a dizzy 6600 rpm. The vehicle even kicks out an estimated 462 kW and 823 Nm.

The new Corvette ZR1 has the sporty looks inside and out. It has a raised, all-carbon-fibre bonnet with a clear, polycarbonate window showing the top of the intercooler with “LS9 SUPERCHARGED” embossed on either side and the Corvette crossed flags on the engine cover. The exposed carbon-fibre comes with a clear coat – to protect it from UV light.

Inside, there is a special instrument cluster with a boost gauge, a ZR1 logo on the rev-counter and a speedometer that reads to 220 mph.

Optional features are the chrome wheels and a “luxury trim” package that includes power-adjustable, leather-trimmed sport seats in a choice of four colours and embroidered with ZR1 logos, satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.

At present, the company has no plans to build a right-hand drive model for this new Corvette ZR1. That’s a pretty sad part; some wouldn’t be able to see such sporty Corvette from behind your cars through the Acura CL mirror, in some of the major countries around the world.

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Europe to overthrow US as the world’s biggest car market?

Looks like Europe is up to something … Would it be a massive rollout of premium Acura CL fan shroud? Or, a showcase of thousands of future cars? … Sadly, it’s not. Rather, it is about the growing sales of new cars within Europe, which could possibly bring down U.S. in its thrown being the biggest car market in the world.

Based from a recent research, conducted by Automotive News Europe, the new car sales in US reached a total of 15.6 million units last year. That is equivalent to about 740,000 units more than the sales in Europe.

However, the gap narrowed down by 10,980 units in the first 10 months this year. And, that is close enough for Europe to overthrow the current title holder.

By fact, the recent credit crisis in the US and the surging fuel prices are mainly the hindrance at the midst of its growth.

The time seemed to go well for Europe, on the other hand. The growth in two major markets – Italy and the UK – brought Europe to boost its sales volume throughout this year. Another factor is the increasing demand in central and Eastern Europe.

By numbers, overall European sales surges 1.2 per cent at 13,572,669 units in the first ten months of 2007.

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Targets to cut CO2 car emissions in Europe

The European Commission recently held talks to tackle about EU (European Union) targets in reducing CO2 car emissions – amidst the fear that wrangling between car manufacturing countries might delay or hinder the entire process.

The Commission is looking forward to adopt a draft regulation soon, aimed to reduce carbon emissions to 120 grams per kilometer for passenger cars with five years. But, a tough consequence between European heavyweights has attempted to put the key negotiations on crisis. According to a member, the car manufacturers that have been traditionally producing heavy and energy-hungry cars are concerned that the emission targets will unfairly benefit those businesses that are making lighter and more efficient vehicles.

French manufacturers, such as Peugeot-Citroen, have already reduced the carbon emissions to 140g for their cars. On the other hand, German automakers, such as BMW, Mercedes and Daimler, are left behind because they produce heavier and higher performance models.

An insider close to the talks said, “It’s a typically European fight where the national business interests of individual countries is stopping the sort of concrete agreements that could benefit everybody.”

Presumably, failure to reach an agreement soon enough will lead the Commission causing embarrassment to the environmental policy of the European Union, which claims to be taking the most initiative in the campaign against global warming.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, the EU is in goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8 per cent within 2008 to 2012. Its commitment brought up EU leaders to sign up to the idea of a further 20 to 30 per cent reduction until by 2020.

However, environmental campaigners predict that track record on transport emissions in Europe will likely undermine those commitments. Between 1990 and 2005, carbon emissions from transport in the EU surged by 32 per cent. In the same period, other industrial sectors reduced their emissions by 9.5 per cent.

The Commission is planning to require all new passenger cars to emit an average of no more than 130 grams per kilometer. It is part of cutting down the current levels by around 25 per cent. But, it could further be reduced by 10 grams by innovating air-conditioning systems, tyre pressure monitoring and gear shift indicators.

Manufacturers will be subject to heavy fines in case of failure to meet those targets. That would mean… automakers should now be more focused in achieving it, but may not be more than producing quality Acura CL car bra or new technologies.

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Mitsubishi attributes success to Outlander and Lancer

Last year, Mitsubishi Motor Corp., the sixth largest automaker in Japan and the seventeenth largest in the world by global unit sales, had its global retail sales surging by 15 percent. A big factor contributing to this success is the launch of the company’s two new C-segment models, namely the Outlander SUV and Lancer sedan, more than having premium Mitsubishi Pickup radiator hose on the vehicles the company produces.

Mitsubishi provided both the models a torquey new 2.4 L engine. The engine adds a lower entry point to what was a V-6-only lineup for the Outlander. It also provides a “big block” in the topstep GTS trim for the Lancer, on the other hand.

Since the launch, the Lancer had the all-aluminum 2.0 L engine. Now, the new 4B12 engine comes as a bored and stroked variant of the old. The new has a displacement of 362 cc, boosted up through an 11 mm increase in piston stroke (to 91) and a 2 mm increase in cylinder bore diameter (88). Like the old, the new features 16 valves and Mitsubishi’s MIVEC variable valve timing system on both intake and exhaust camshafts. But, the new is provided with balance shafts to optimize smoothness.

For the Lander GTS, the new engine generates 16 added horsepower and 21 additional lb-ft of torque, compared with last year’s 45-state version). Now, it produces 168 horsepower and 167 lb-ft. This power is even greater compare with the PZEV-rated 2.0 L models, which have been rated at 143 for both horsepower and torque.

Despite the larger engine, there is no much difference with regards to the pump. The city/highway fuel economy remains at 21/28 for the five-speed manual and 21/22 for the CVT.

Other than the new engine, the 2009 Lancer GTS comes with standard high contrast meters and options. It includes traction control, Xenon headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and the FAST Key (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) entry system that allows the driver to unlock and open the door with the key in pocket or purse.

Sounds wonderful for the Lancer, right? Probably, most of you are excited to get a test drive. Then, get one to be your own, but not until early 2008, to when it goes on sale. Just make sure you have about $18,000 on your hand for a purchase.

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Maruti Suzuki re-focusing on European Market

Maruti Suzuki, the largest passenger carmaker in India, is likely to re-focus in the European market and compete against other auto leaders, including Fiat, Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota in the small car category.

Small cars are surging in popularity in Europe after the significant rising of fuel prices, congestion and new laws that penalize high emissions were observed. This fact boosted Maruti Suzuki to produce tiny cars in the “A segment” to be exported by the end of next year.

According to Michael Tyndall, European auto and component analyst for Nomura in London, “There is a trend towards downsizing in the market… There’s almost a divergence. The premium segment is growing strongly. At the same time the small car segment is growing. Everything else in the middle is suffering.”

Suzuki created A-Star, a new five-door hatchback, which will comply with strict Euro 5 emission standards. It will have a one-liter aluminum engine. The vehicle will be sold in Europe under the Suzuki brand through the company’s network of dealers. About 150,000 A-Star units will be rolled out within a few years from a plant near Delhi. Around 100,000 of which will be export, with the rest distributed in the Indian market.

The involvement of India will not be limited to the A-Star production. A-Star will be the first Suzuki car designed with consideration to Indians based on Maruti Suzuki’s research and development unit.

However, the sales in India will still be the main focus of Maruti Suzuki, according to automotive research group CSM Worldwide. India is the world’s fastest growing automotive market for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

In 2006, Maruti Suzuki was able to have almost 675,000 cars sold, of which 39,200 units were exported. The company is planning to produce over a million cars in India by 2010. But, the plans will need the Indian government to improve its ailing infrastructure, said Osamu Suzuki, chairman of Suzuki. He said that India’s outdated and crowded ports cramp plans for exports; subsequently, the railways, roads and highways must be improved as well.

Last year, Maruti Suzuki has cut back on exports to Europe, considering that it already has a factory in Hungary. It just then focused on the Middle East, south Asia and Africa.

The re-focus requires Maruti Suzuki to give extra effort in maximizing the production at its new factory in India. That may include greater manpower to produce quality parts, as good as Acura Legend alternator, compatible for the car they intend to build.

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The Success of Dacia Logan in Western Europe

Looks like the Western Europe got a successful newcomer – the Dacia Logan. Let’s take a closer look before searching for quality Acura Integra performance pulleys online…

Dacia, a Romanian car manufacturer, is a subsidiary of French manufacturer Renault, which purchased it in 1998. Since then, Renault assigned Dacia to be responsible in building a easy-to-fix car for Eastern Europe, as well as for Asia and South Africa. Surprisingly, Logan made it up to achieve huge sales success in Western Europe. By fact, nearly 15 percent of the Logan’s 159,173 mid-2007 sales total was accounted to France and Germany alone. Want to know the secret? The Logan is being sold as little as 7,600 euros, making it the cheapest car in Europe.

Like many European cars, the Logan is provided with small and efficient engine options. The Logan MCV, the seven-seat station wagon version, was powered with a 1.5 L turbodiesel. The engine generates 85 hp (might not be fast enough for most, but frugal) to run zero to 60 mph in 13 seconds. The wagon consumes around 40 mpg.

The Dacia Logan has been equipped with air-conditioning, power windows, side air bags, and a CD player.

Dacia Logan is being manufactured at Dacia’s automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania. The vehicle also comes in van form and is likely to have pickup for 2008.

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European Automakers to further expand in United States

European automakers are considering further expansion in United States through building plants, which will eventually allow them to create more vehicles for the giant market. The interest is being boosted by the dollar’s falling value, despite the fact that American car companies are shifting production to other lower-cost countries.

Fiat, an Italian automobile manufacturer, is the most recent company that is reportedly planning to build a plant in the United States. According to Fiat’s Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne, Alfa Romeo, Fiat’s sports car brand, needs a North American plant to be profitable. After 13 years of absence, Alfa Romeo is expected to return to United States by next year.

Volkswagen, a German-based automobile manufacturer, on the other hand, is currently searching for a location for a plant in the eastern United States. It was the first foreign automaker that opened an American factory – in New Stanton Pa., - but had closed the facility in 1988. Last month, Volkswagen’s Chief Executive Stefan Jacoby said that the company is looking forward to build the factory by mid 2008.

Unlike BMW and Mercedes Benz, which operate luxury car factories in South America, Fiat and Volkswagen are considered mass-market European brands. According to analysts, the arrival of Volkswagen and Fiat could lead others, such as the French companies Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroen, to expand production to the country as well. But, that is if the euro remains strong.

John Hoffecher, managing director of AlisPartners (a consulting and reorganization firm based in Southfield, Michigan), said, “Currency becomes a critical profitability lever when you’re a globalized business … The way that you keep currency out of it is by having manufacturing facilities around the world. With the U.S. being such a good market to play in, I think you’ll see more and more companies put facilities here.”

BMW and Mercedes both started building vehicles in the United States in the 1990s. Now, they are expanding American production due to the falling value of dollar against the euro. BMW has also been predicted to build engines and transmissions someday in the United States.

The strength of euro makes the Europe-produced vehicles more expensive in the United States. In that case, automakers are triggered to either cope with smaller profit margins or perhaps raise prices. Hoffecker said, however, slowing American auto sales make it difficult for the companies to charge more. He said, “In the scope of the auto industry. $100 makes a difference … The change in currency has has thousands – ten of thousands in some vehicles – of dollars of difference (for European companies).”

Before the dollar’s latest period of decline, the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan, conducted a study that revealed autoworkers in Western Europe earning about $10 an hour more than their American counterparts.

Marchionne said that the weak dollar as well as the competitive pressure in the American car market would make Alfa Romeo a money-loser for the first three or four years after its reintroduction in the United States. He said, “It was already expensive when the dollar was $1.10 to the euro. Now it is more expensive … Mid to long term, I have no doubt” that Fiat will have the need to build vehicles in North America to sell at a profit in the United States.

Volkswagen is hoping to double its North American sales to at least 800,000 vehicles annually. Since it has been building small cars in Puebla, Mexico, a better option for the automaker would be to expand in Mexico rather than putting up a plant in the United States.

Since 2002, Volkswagen was not able to earn a profit in North America. In fact, it lost $800 million dollars last year.

The automakers should first account those facts before getting into a risky decision, just as how we should carefully pick the right Acura Integra mirror online.

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Saturn to launch the 2008 Astra

This month, Saturn Corp., a division of General Motors, will be launching the 2008 Astra, its new compact model to further leverage the connection of its parent company with its European sister division, Opel.

Saturn will be adopting the existing Opel Astra hatchback to apply new and rear fascias, execute engine calibration and safety related engineering changes. It will create a US version of the mid-sized Aura sedan, a derivative of the Open Vectra.

Saturn’s general manager Jill Lajdziak believes that such strategy will work even though the hatchback (as a design format) traditionally has a lukewarm reception among U.S. buyers.

Considering that Ford’s Mazda brand was able to successfully capture the interest of younger American aficionados through its Mazda3 compact, Lajdziak foresees that Saturn will also be able to do the same in a similar population.

According to designer Uwe Muller, the distinctive styling will separate the Astra from the crowd. Compared with its main rival, the Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, the roofline of Astra is approximately one inch lower and the arching side window line “pulls the car down to make it look more sporty while keeping good interior space”. “The car looks like a designer sketch,” he added.

The even practical and spacious five-door Astra is expected to be the best selling version in the U.S. The three-door XR version, on the other hand, will be street credible with its sporty looks and standard 18-inch wheels. Unfortunately, there will be an absence of more powerful engines in US-bound Astra models, making it less attractive for US enthusiasts.

At present, U.S. buyers are only provided with the standard 1.8 L four-cylinder engine that comes with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, generating 138 hp. It is decent enough, but short when compared with the Rabit’s 2.5 L, 175 hp powertrain. It is also less thrilling to offer a four-speed automatic at this point where five and six-speed self shifters are the trend. There are just too many criticisms… accounting the interior and exterior angles.

The good thing about the Saturn Astra is that it could be driven on winding backroads, with excellent handling and roadholding.

Provided with impressive standard equipment, the pricing of the Saturn Astra is competitive at a starting of $15,995 (includes destination charge) for the five-door XE model and $18,495 for the three-door XR.

Pointing out the revitalization of Saturn, Lajdziak said, “finally the promise of brand is being delivered. We were wildly successful in early ‘90s, then we hit some bumps.”

Since March, Saturn has rolled out a succession of new models beginning with the Sky roadster, to respond to the need for broadening the brand portfolio. Lajdziak mentioned that the Sky has been significantly successful at conquest sales, with a 54 percent rate. “It has led the revitalization from utilitarian and boring design… There is no better way than with a beautiful roadster,” he said.

After the Sky and before the Astro, Saturn rolled out the Aura and Aura hybrid, followed by the redesigned Vue and Vue hybrid, and the Outlook crossover. Lajdziak said, “We have design consistency that we didn’t have before … and we are competing in three new segments and new price categories. We are pointing in the right direction.”

Lajdziak’s observation is supported by the year-to-date sales that surged by 7.9 percent – the best performance of any GM division in North America. The company is looking forward on keeping up the momentum. Well let's just hope things go as planned for Saturn.

Meanwhile check out these quality Acura Integra fenders if you're looking for replacements.

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