China Retains the Biggest Market Potential for German Car Brands

2010/08/11 | Author: admin

German Flag - GermanyAside from Volkswagen, BMW AG, Audi and Mercedes-Benz have also confirmed that China offers the best growth market for them. Germany luxury cars seem to be selling here better than anywhere else in the world. Just last April, Mercedes-Benz doubled its record sales with 11,300 vehicles sold. Meanwhile, BMW reported increased group sales, including ones for their Rolls Royce and Mini brands.

Last month, these BMW brands showed a 115% increase. Audi, which is currently taking the lead in China, also displayed a pretty impressive sales increase in China, with 61%, selling a total of 19,606 vehicles.

During the first trimester of 2010, Audi was able to sell over 71,000 vehicles. This is a gargantuan 71% sales increase compared to last year. While Mercedes-Benz doubled its sales over the same timeframe, it only sold half as many, with 35,400 vehicles.

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Recall of Chevrolet Corvettes Caused by Steering Problem

2010/07/30 | Author: admin

Corvette ZHZReports in Detroit tell us that 40,028 Chevrolet Corvettes are being recalled because of a steering problem. These vehicles are equipped with a telescoping and tilt steering column. Unfortunately, the column triggers the brakes to apply, causing crashes. The recall affects Corvettes manufactured from March 2004 to January 2006.

GM explains that the repeated action in the steering column causes this signal disruption. Should this happen, a warning will flash on the dashboard signaling a “Service Active Handling System”. The brakes will then be applied to one or more of the vehicle’s wheels, causing the car to pull to the right or the left. This is obviously a road hazard.

According to the car manufacturer, this is very dangerous because if the driver doesn’t react fast enough to the car’s change of direction, it can cause a collision. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, this recall will start on April 30, 2010. The Chevrolet dealers are instructed to repair the vehicles without charging vehicle owners.

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Volkswagen Shows Off the Blue E-Motion in Berlin

2010/06/01 | Author: admin

Blue E-Motion

During the official launch of Germany’s National Electronic Mobility Platform (NEMP) held in Berlin, Volkswagen showcased its Golf blue E-motion vehicle concept to German Chancellor Dr. Angela Markel. The NEMP is the government initiative of Germany to lead the market of electric mobility with its goal of putting 1 million electronic vehicles on the streets.

The Gold blue e-motion and its technical sibling the Jetta blue e-motion will begin sales by 2013. This is after the debut of the Up blue e-motion, Volkswagen’s newly released city driving EV. During the same time, the Lavida blue e-motion will be launched in China. According to Volkwagen, it intends to lead the electric mobility niche by 2018. This will be possible with best sellers like the Golf blue e-motion.

The Golf blue e-motion will be powered by an 85 kW, 270 Nm electric motor paired with an electric engine compartment in front of the vehicle. For driving power, the electricity will be stored in a 26.5 kW li-ion battery pack. The top speed of the Golf is 140 kilometers per hour.

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Sticker price of 2010 A3 from Audi starts at $29,950

2010/05/07 | Author: admin

2011 Audi A3The second diesel offering of Audi for 2009 gives consumers a very practical choice through the functional hatchback form of the 2010 A3 TDI. It is also a greener option that doesn’t dig too deep in the buyer’s pockets. The 2010 A3 TDI starts selling at $29,950 exclusive of the delivery fee of about $825.

A $30K diesel Audi ride comes as a great buy. The A3 is packaged with a great design of interior as Audi is known for and combines it with a sporty performance. The handling is great which makes it a better choice over compact sedans from other brands. And we’ve seen quite a few car insurance companies who offer very good auto insurance quotes for this particular car. Take our advice and go browsing the web!

The 2.0 A3 TDI engine is also very efficient. It can run along the highway with a mileage of 42mpg and about 30mpg while threading the city streets. These figures are as good as a hybrid like the Lexus HS 250h. Aside from the fuel efficiency it offers, the 2010 A3 TDI also looks better in a lot of aspects aside from being more affordable.

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Touring wagon of the BMW 5-Series uncovered in Leipzig

2010/03/24 | Author: admin

BMW 5 Series TouringThe new 5-Series of the BMW have been gaining praises for its design lines, powerful engine, and excellent handling since its launching. The car will soon be rolling out the touring wagon version of the 5-Series. The BMW wagon was first unwrapped during the motor show in Leipzig and it is scheduled to be at dealerships in Europe by September.

It is still not certain if the 5-series wagon will reach the US soil since it just introduced the 2010 GT but it might have no other choice as the E-Class Estate enters the market.

The BMW 5-Series wagon has a longer wheelbase which naturally gives it more storage space but it is very similar to its sedan sibling when it comes to handling and styling of both the exterior and interior.

The touring wagon also features an excellent weight distribution of 50:50. The luggage cover which automatically lowers and retracts with the tailgate comes standard. The wagon also has an air suspension system which levels by itself to ensure that the Touring remains unaffected while carrying heavier loads.

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911 Hybrid from Porsche utilizes Flywheel to store up energy

2010/02/19 | Author: admin

porsche 911 gt3r hybridPorsche engineers and designers take a different path in storing and delivering the energy for their experimental 911 Hybrid GT3 R. Instead of using a battery pack like most car manufacturers do, Porsche adapts a similar technology used by F1 cars on their KERS or Kinetic Energy Recovery System.

Instead of a battery, the technology centers on a flywheel that spins about 40,000 times per minute and captures the energy reclaimed as the driver steps on the brakes. The mechanism is mounted where the passenger sit should normally be.

With a flick of a switch, the flywheel can release the energy to pump power into a generator that can give out about 8 seconds of electricity to a 60 kW motor that powers the front wheels. The speed boost will be useful when overtaking another car or exiting a corner. The 480 horsepower engine still drives the rear wheels.

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Preview: 2010 C70 Convertible from Volvo

2009/09/10 | Author: admin

2010 Volvo C70Another ride to wait for in the upcoming auto show in Frankfurt is the 2010 C70 Convertible from Volvo. It will sport the same steel top, enough space for four adults, Volvo’s excellent safety features, upgraded interior, and redesigned front and tail.

The face of the new C70 reflects some features of the S60 Concept car that we saw during the Detroit Auto Show last January. This might be drawing the new design trim for the next generation of Volvo’s.

The nose of the car gets some revamp to have that three dimensional feel to it. This was achieved by restructuring some elements and giving the front a more wedge-like look. The headlamps get some detailing giving it an angle pointing up and backwards. The lower grille also got some enhancements. Volvo also introduces a new paint scheme to the range through Flamenco Red Pearl.

When you step into the new C70 convertible, you will have a bigger instrument panel before you. The surface of the dash was given a new texture that improves its looks.

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