http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1162
Major Japanese carmakers ramped up foreign production to record levels in December, they said Monday, as they continued to move factories abroad and global sales showed tentative signs of a recovery.
Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. said they made more cars at their international factories then ever before during the month, while Honda Motor Co. had record production in China and other parts of Asia.
Toyota said it made 636 102 cars abroad in December, up 33% from the same month a year earlier and its fifth straight month of increases. The company has in recent months been making more cars to keep up with global sales, which have gradually recovered compared to a year ago, when the economic crisis unfolded.
Company spokesman Paul Nolasco said the numbers were a positive sign of a turnaround, but stopped short of saying that a full recovery was under way.
"Turning around and getting there are totally different," he said.
Japanese car companies have been gradually shifting production outside of the country, so that cars are made closer to where they are sold. The spike has also been driven by increasing car sales outside of the country, in part due to government measures to spur buying, such as rebates and tax benefits.
For 2009, Toyota's worldwide production fell 22% from the previous year. Last year, the company made just over half of its vehicles outside of Japan.
Nissan Motor Co. said its production outside of Japan shot up 69% in December to 183 422 vehicles, also a record for the month. This included an 81% increase in U.S. production.
Honda said its foreign output for December was only 3.4% higher globally, but marked the first increase since October of 2008. Production in China shot up over 65%.
Both Nissan and Honda said global production fell for 2009.
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Possible Saab Sale to Spyker This Week
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1163
A wide variety of press reports is suggesting that a deal between General Motors and Spyker over the sale of Saab could be nearing completion. If true, the transaction would save the 63-year-old brand from liquidation, while securing some, if not all, of the company's 3,400 employees.
One report in the Financial Times says that the agreement could be announced as soon as today, though other news outlets believe the sale is far from finalized. One Swedish newspaper has published that Spyker CEO Victor Muller has been in Saab's home of Sweden since Friday. If approved by both sides, Bloomberg News believes that Spyker will acquire Saab for $500 million in cash and preferred stock in Saab.
Bloomberg believes the $500 million is made up of $75 million in cash from Spyker, $100 million in cash from Saab's coffers, and $325 million in stock.
Meanwhile, an e-mail to SaabsUnited gives one symbolic indication that an agreement has been reached. "A Spyker car has been delivered to the SAAB museum in Trollhattan!" wrote one fan in a note to the website.
Should talks between Dutch brand Spyker and Saab-parent GM falter, at least one other company is still waiting in the wings. Luxembourg-based investment firm Genii Capital made an all-cash offer to GM earlier in the year. Still, even Genii spokesman Lars Carlstrom believes the Dutch company will come away with Saab.
"We believe that Spyker is well-positioned in this deal, and I would expect an outcome early next week," Carlstrom said.
As of 9:00a.m. GMT, shares in Spyker Cars were up nearly 30% on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.
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2011 Peugeot 408 Sedan Revealed
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1166
The Peugeot 408 is a long-wheelbase sedan based on the 308 giving more room for passengers sitting in the back.
This model is not to be confused with the recently-spied Peugeot 508 for the European market. That car will replace the Peugeot 407 & 607 beginning in 2011, and be significantly longer than the Chinese market's 408.
The 408 features a large sunroof and a self-contained trunk to keep the cabin light and spacious. Because of the interior room, and the somewhat popular Peugeot styling in China, the automaker and their Chinese joint-venture partner are expecting annual 408 sales to top 100,000 units.
Peugeot's sedan was designed in China and Europe with three objectives: "[E]mbody the Marque's modernity, guarantee maximum safety and offer unrivalled interior space," according to a press release.
At 4.68-meters long, the Peugeot 408 will be produced in Wuhan, China.
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TechArt Releases New Panamera Photos
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1167
Recently shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the TechArt Panamera features a subtle body kit (dubbed Aerokit I) with revised fascias, a new front spoiler, a rear diffuser, and a stainless steel four tailpipe exhaust system. Elsewhere, the company adds a fixed rear wing, aggressive side sills, and 21-inch Formula (or 22-inch Formula II) light-alloy wheels.
For the interior, TechArt offers a wide variety of customization options such as two-tone leather upholstery, decorative stitching, and alcantara headliners. Other items include a sport steering wheel, exotic wood trim, and body-color interior accents.
If you missed seeing it in Frankfurt, the TechArt Panamera will also be shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
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2011 BMW 335is Coupe and Cabriolet Official Info
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1168
BMW Canada has lifted the lid on the official specs for the 2011 BMW 335is Coupe and Cabriolet. The cars will use a 235 kW all-aluminum 3.0-liter inline-6 generating up to 450 Nm of torque.
The automaker's decision to de-tune the same engine as the Z4is, which produces 246 kW, is questionable at best. InsideLine is reporting that BMW has provided three conflicting reasons why this is the case, with one official saying the six-speed manual could not tolerate more power. A second rep said the decision was made for marketing reasons, and a third said the car uses a more restricted intake. The real answer for the car having less power than the Z4is is unclear at this time.
With a temporary overboost, the twin-turbo engine churns out up to 502 Nm. To keep the more-powerful engine cool, the company installed an extra radiator, and a stonger electric engine fan. To accommodate the extra airflow requirements, engineers modified the front fascia to include larger openings.
As a Coupe the car sprints to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds with the seven-speed double clutch. Add 0.1 seconds when using the six-speed manual. As a convertible, the car reaches 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds with either gearbox.
US specs on the car are expected to be the same, reaching 100km/h in 5.0 seconds with the DCT, and 5.1 seconds without.
Equipment on the car includes xenon headlights ringed in LEDs, LED tail lights, and a glossy exterior trim. The car rides on 18-inch light alloys, which may be upgraded to 19-inch M-badged alloys. A full M aerokit is also included, as is a collection of M Sport interior parts.
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Fiat Punto evolves
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1169
In line with the changes introduced to the local Punto line-up late last year, the Punto Evo uses the Grande Punto's architecture, yet adds more goodies to it.
It comes with a host of safety features including knee airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and ESP with hill holder. Fiat's innovative Blue&Me interface governing audio, telephone, trip computer and also GPS is available too.
The car's interior has been reworked with softer lines and softer materials used and the centre console is almost half its previous size. Instruments gain larger dials and a new, bigger, cowl to shade them from the light.
At the rear, there is a new bumper, new rear lights, and the Fiat logo that doubles as a boot release. The new bodywork stretches the Punto Evo by 3cm to 406cm, although other dimensions of width, height and wheelbase remain the same as the Grande Punto.
New engines
Probably the more important feature about this car is that it houses two new engine ranges - the petrol MultiAir and MultiJet II diesel engines.
MultiAir is Fiat's new electronic valve control system that controls air intake on a cylinder by cylinder manner. Valve lift is therefore flexible and varies constantly according to the engine's specific requirements.
This, along with various factors other means, is said to optimise combustion efficiency and have resultant benefits in terms of power, torque, fuel consumption and emissions.
In addition, all engines now come with Start and Stop technology that, rather than idling, shuts down the engine when the car is stationary.
We are unlikely to get the new turbodiesel engine, but South Africa will receive 1.4-litre derivatives of the petrol engine with MultiAir technology. A naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine will also be included in the local line-up.
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