http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1370
Set to go on sale in September (in the UK), the 5-Series wagon features Dakota leather upholstery, matt aluminum roof rails, Park Distance Control, and Bluetooth connectivity. More importantly, the wagon has a luggage capacity of 560 liters - 60 liters more than the outgoing model. When the rear seats are folded down, the boot expands to hold a massive 1,670 liters. Should you need more room, BMW offers the Extended Storage package. It features more upright rear seatbacks, which adds 30 liters of cargo capacity by minimizing "wasted space" behind the rear seats.
At launch, four different engines will be available. The 520d has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with 135 kW and 380 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds, before topping out at 222 km/h. Featuring an engine Start/Stop system, the 520d has a combined fuel consumption of 5.2l /100km and a CO2 emissions rating of 137g/km.
Powered by a straight-six turbodiesel engine, with 180 kW and 540 Nm of torque, the 530d accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. Thanks to upgraded piezo-injectors, it emits 165 g/km while averaging a combined 6.3l /100km.
On the petrol side, BMW offers the 523i and the 535i. The 523i features a naturally-aspirated engine with 150 kW and 270 Nm of torque. It enables the wagon to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds, before reaching an electronically-limited 250 km/h. Expect to average a combined 7.8l /100km, while emitting 183 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
The 535i has a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine with 225 kW and 400 Nm of torque. It runs from 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. With the optional eight-speed automatic transmission (a six-speed manual is standard on all models), the 535i consumes a combined 8.5l /100km and emits 197 g/km.
Options include Adaptive Drive, Park Assist, Active Steering, Surround View, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, Speed Limit Info, and two rear entertainment packages.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UK green lights GM loan
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1371
Britain said on Friday it would provide a 270 million pound loan guarantee to General Motors Europe to help secure the company's operations in Britain and the rest of Europe.
"We need Vauxhall to thrive as part of Britain's automotive manufacturing base, and following our negotiations with GM Europe I am confident it will do so," Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said in a statement.
He said the outline agreement followed long and highly complex talks between the government and GM.
Vauxhall is the UK operation of General Motors and has two plants in England, one north of London at Luton, and the other in Ellesmere Port in the north-west. They employ 4,700 people.
"The company has been in discussion with the British Government for many months and this very positive conclusion means that Opel/Vauxhall can forge ahead with its restructuring plans and strengthen its product lines," Opel/Vauxhall said in a statement.
The European unit of beleaguered U.S. automaker GM is seeking 2.7 billion euros in state aid from countries with Opel and Vauxhall plants, as it seeks to slash jobs and production capacity in a bid to become profitable.
Mandelson's department said discussions would continue with GM and other European governments to finalise the remaining details of funding terms and arrangements enabling the implementation of its business plan.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Used vehicle prices on the rise
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1372
The local market is still experiencing severe shortages of used good-quality vehicles, and as a result prices are rising - not only of those vehicles offered for sale, but also of trade-in values. Fewer used vehicles are also leaving the floors.
Mike von Höne, chief executive of TransUnion South Africa, describes the strengthening of used-vehicle prices to be the most important information coming out of the company's recent forum which supplies information on the motor industry.
If only there was a greater supply of good quality-stock, they would be able to sell more, says Von Höne, one of the speakers at the forum in Johannesburg on Friday.
Many motor dealers have survived the crisis in the motor industry thanks to sales of used vehicles.
November saw a peak of 2.4 used vehicles being sold for each new one. In February the figure was 1.83 for each new unit. With new vehicle prices remaining reasonably stable for now because of the strong rand, the difference between the prices of new and used vehicles has narrowed.
Rising vehicle prices are not new - prices have lifted over the past couple of months.
Last year there was a period when the prices of new vehicles were rising while those of used vehicles came down.
Von Höne says this was a good indication of the tremendous pressure consumers were under. The market "literally sold nothing", he observes.
But with fewer people being able to afford new cars, or others too afraid to enter the market, the flow of used vehicles to the market has diminished. Two other key sources have also begun to dry up - banks are repossessing far fewer vehicles, while fleet-rental companies are holding on to their cars for longer to meet the anticipated demand during the World Cup soccer tournament.
Because of the shortage, in certain cases dealers are paying more than the market value for certain models.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carmakers form electric car group
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1373
Toyota and three other Japanese automakers together with a power company have set up a group to promote electric vehicles by standardizing recharging machines and marketing the technology abroad.
Representatives of Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Fuji Heavy Industries and Tokyo Electric Power Co. gathered at a Tokyo hotel Monday to announce the association, which includes about 160 businesses, some of them foreign, and government organizations.
The officials said the time may have arrived for electric vehicles to really take off not only in Japan but also around the world as concerns grow about emissions and dependence on oil. But the main hurdles that need to be overcome are better battery technology, costs and having recharging stations in convenient locations.
"Automakers are competing in many aspects, but the entire industry needs to come together and offer convenience for our customers," said Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga.
Electric vehicles
Nissan is planning to start selling in limited numbers an electric vehicle called Leaf later this year, and Mitsubishi and Fuji Heavy already have electric vehicles on the market. Toyota has begun offering for rental a plug-in version of its gas-electric hybrid vehicles.
But electric vehicles still remain largely experimental. The main users now are government-related groups with only a niche market among regular consumers.
The Japanese government has made reducing greenhouse gases a pillar of its policy, and encouraging electric vehicle use is seen as a key way that can be achieved.
"Please make this an all Japan effort," Teruhiko Mashiko, the economy minister, told the crowd.
Standardised recharging platform
The group is still working out the details of its recharging platform. Standardization would require all makers to agree on the voltage, outlet and other aspects of the technology while also ensuring relatively speedy recharging.
Although some participants expressed hopes the standard would spread internationally, Toyota executive Koei Saga said that was "close to impossible" because of different needs and uses overseas.
Among the other businesses in the group are Pacific Gas and Electric Co., French carmaker PSA, Japanese electronics maker Toshiba Corp. and KDDI Corp., a major Japan telecommunications company.
The association is called "CHAdeMo" which comes from the words "charge" and "move," and sounds like Japanese for, "Care for some tea?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congressional Memo Casts Doubt on Runaway Prius
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1374
Doubts have been raised about one of the runaway Toyota Prius incidents from last week.
Federal investigators have been unable to reproduce the sudden acceleration experienced by a Toyota Prius that James Sikes said went out of control as he drove on a California freeway in the San Diego region last Monday.
"In this case, knowing that we are able to push the car around the shop, it does not appear to be feasibly possible, both electronically and mechanically, that his gas pedal was stuck to the floor and he was slamming on the brake at the same time," reads a report by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the congressional body investigating claims of uncontrolled acceleration by Toyota models.
A Toyota official who also attended the inspection of the car said that an electric motor would "completely seize" if the stop-start system fails to shut off the flow of gasoline to the engine when the brake pedal is pressed.
Reporters have been looking into Sikes' past and have found reasons to doubt his veracity, including a recent bankruptcy filing.
But according to the California Highway Patrol, which first investigated the incident, they're taking Mr. Sikes at his word until it is proven otherwise. And a CHP officer who first caught up with Sikes' speeding Toyota said that he had smelled burning brakes.
Sikes has hired an attorney to represent him.
The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration continues to look into more that 60 reports of runaway Toyota's that were already said to be repaired as part of a recent recall.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cargraphic Turbo Look for Porsche Cayenne Diesel
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1375
Cargraphic has unveiled a new styling package for the Porsche Cayenne Diesel.
Consisting of a rear valence and a stainless steel exhaust system, the package evokes the rear-end of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Of course, to complete the Diesel to Turbo transformation, you'll also need the front valance and side skirts.
If you feel inclined to boost the diesel's performance, Cargraphic offers a revised ECU module. It enables the 3.0-liter V6 to produce 213 kW and 630 Nm of torque - up from 176 kW and 550 Nm of torque.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Novitec Rosso Takes Ferrari California Up to 446kW
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1376
The Ferrari California has had its power boosted and its performance systems improved again by tuner Novitec Rosso. A previous programme took the car up to 368kW. From the factory the 2+2-seater's 8-cylinder motor develops 338 kW and 485 Nm.
Technical highlights include the use of a mechanical supercharger, a custom intake manifold and larger injectors as well as a water-to-air intercooler. A Novitec Rosso stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with sport catalysts was installed and the ECU remapped.
The baby Ferrari now boasts 446 kW developed at 7,900 rpm. Maximum torque goes up to 603 Nm at 5,500rpm. The 0 - 100 km/h sprint takes just under 3.8 seconds and top speed is 325 km/h.
Some of the suspension work includes sport springs that can be lowered by 35 millimeters and a hydraulic lift system that can raise the front of the car by 40 millimeters for better navigation of everyday obstacles like speed bumps.
Aerodynamic and styling changes include new rocker panels with integrated airfoils and black side markers, a rear diffuser, rear spoiler lip and carbon fibre rear molding. Wheels are 9Jx21 size in front and 11.5Jx22 at the rear, shod with 255/30 ZR 21 and 315/25 ZR 22 Pirelli tyres respectively.
Novitec Rosso has a comprehensive interior customisation programme to suit any taste and size pocket.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment