Leaked: Aston Martin Rapide

Leaked: Aston Martin Rapide
LONDON � As the Aston Martin Rapide draws closer to a late-2009 launch, what appear to be official images of the production-ready luxury four-door have surfaced on several European Web sites.

The production Rapide looks remarkably true to the spy photos of late-stage prototypes that have been undergoing tests on the open roads in the U.K. Indeed, the 2010 Rapide hasn't changed dramatically from the 2006 concept that debuted three years ago in Detroit.

The Rapide will be powered by a 6.0-liter V12 mated to a ZF six-speed automatic gearbox.

The car will be assembled in Austria by Magna Steyr and is expected to sell for around $200,000.
Source : www.edmunds.com (2/4/2009)


Ford Inks Deal for Plug-In Hybrid Batteries
WASHINGTON � The Ford Motor Company has finalized a deal to source lithium-ion batteries for the company's first production plug-in hybrid due out in 2012.

The lithium-ion batteries will be supplied by Johnson Controls-Saft, a joint venture between U.S. and French companies. Ford is mum on exactly what vehicle will receive the plug-in hybrid powertrain, but the agreement will provide 5,000 battery packs per year with the option to increase volume to meet market demand.

Ford's prototype Escape plug-in hybrids are capable of running up to 30 miles on electricity before switching to a gasoline engine. Johnson Controls-Saft says it may be possible to extend that range to 40 miles on a production model.

The Chevrolet Volt will use lithium-ion batteries supplied by Korea's LG Chem to achieve a claimed 40-mile electric range.

The French-U.S. supplier venture is led by Mary Ann Wright, a former Ford engineer who worked on the Escape Hybrid. The battery cells will be produced in France and then shipped to America for final assembly to become a complete battery pack.
Source : www.edmunds.com (2/4/2009)

Truckin': Scania to accept Porsche's "token" offer?
"Sometimes your cards ain't worth a dime if you don't lay em down." The Grateful Dead couldn't have realize it at the time, but in the legal world of Mergers & Acquisitions, the lyrics to its cult classic song Truckin' may prove prophetic.

After acquiring majority stake in the Volkswagen group, Swedish law required that Porsche make an offer for Scania, which is in turn controlled by VW. Porsche obliged by submitting a lowball 2.8 billion euro offer, thinking and hoping the tender would be rejected since it had no interest in building vehicles any bigger than the Cayenne. PistonHeads reports that in the meantime, Scania's stock value, fueled by a 50% drop in fourth-quarter sales, dropped to a value below Porsche's offer. With those kinds of numbers, Scania's shareholders could be motivated to take Porsche up on its offer and unload their shares, leaving Stuttgart with more than it bargained for and the capacity to deliver its vehicles on the back of its own trucks.
Source : http://www.autoblog.com/ (2/4/2009)

GM Announces New Round of Incentives Against Backdrop of Dramatic Sales Slide
DETROIT � As sales by Detroit's automakers plummeted in January to the lowest levels in decades, General Motors announced a new round of incentives that run through March 2.

Consumers can choose zero percent financing for up to 60 months, 1.9 percent loans for 72 months or cash back ranging from $1,000 to $2,000, in addition to "most other general market incentive offers," said GM in a statement.

The Presidents Day Sale covers certain 2008 and 2009 Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn vehicles.

The incentives come on the heels of GM's Tuesday announcement that its January sales dropped 49 percent to 129,227.

The new incentives cover a long list of vehicles, including the newly launched Chevrolet Traverse, Chevrolet Malibu, some version of the Chevrolet Silverado, the GMC Acadia, the short-wheelbase Cadillac Escalade and the Saturn Aura. The Cadillac CTS is included in the incentives, but the Cadillac CTS V-Series is excluded.

GM took pains to position the latest incentives as business as usual. "It is normal practice, at the start of a calendar year, to hold promotions to introduce everyone to the new-model-year vehicles and build sales momentum," it said in a statement. "The Presidents Day Sale is just such a strategic marketing activity and is one of several 'shopping opportunities' we see throughout the year."

In the meantime, the dismal sales numbers from Detroit provoked even more criticism from Washington.

The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that auto industry nemesis Senator Bob Corker (R.-Tenn.) said January sales make it "even more crucial" that GM and Chrysler make more substantive progress on restructuring, a condition of the federal bailout. Chrysler reported that its U.S. sales fell 55 percent versus January 2008.

"There really is no progress on the negotiations," Corker said, referring to concessions that need to be taken by bondholders, unions and other stakeholders in the troubled automakers, according to the Journal report. Source : www.edmunds.com (2/4/2009)

VW Down to Last Couple Hundred R32s in U.S.
HERNDON, Virginia � Volkswagen of America's January 2009 sales figures, which were released on Tuesday, contain an interesting footnote about its R32. The German automaker sold just 35 R32s in January versus 336 in January 2008, a 90 percent drop as it winds down its U.S. inventory of the car.

"There is no 2009 model of the R32," Volkswagen of America spokesman Jim Gill told Inside Line. "We adjusted the product mix. The number reflects what's left in the inventory. There aren't many of them left nationwide � just a couple hundred."

Overall, Volkswagen of American said it sold 12,744 cars in January, an 11.6 percent drop over January 2008 sales of 14,412 cars.

"We know 2009 has the potential to be another extremely tough year for the automotive industry due to continued challenges with the economy, yet we are optimistic for a successful future here in the U.S." said Mark Barnes, Volkswagen of America's chief operating officer.

Volkswagen's new CC posted its best sales month since its debut last September, with 1,072 units sold. Source : www.edmunds.com (2/4/2009)

Controversial BMW design chief quits
BMW's somewhat controversial head of design has resigned from the company.

52-year old Chris Bangle's ideas have shaped the existing 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7-Series models, as well as the MINI.

Bangle's 'flame' surface styling in particular polarised opinions, as was first seen in BMWs like the Z4 roadster.

Most recently, the X6 'Sports Activity Vehicle' joined the BMW line-up, featuring trademark Bangle styling cues.

His departure means that Adrian van Hooydonk, current head of car design, will step in.
Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (2/4/2009)